Book Presentation

In the bestseller American Fascists, Hedges investigated the dangerous motives of the Religious Right. In his follow-up, I Don’t Believe in Atheists, Hedges explores the dangers posed by contemporary atheism. He asserts that these atheists propose a utopian vision, embracing a belief system that is as intolerant, chauvinistic, and bigoted as that of religious fundamentalists. They suggest a route to collective salvation and the moral advancement of humans through science and reason. However, the utopian dream of a perfect society is one of the most dangerous legacies of the Christian faith and the Enlightenment. Human fallibility is absolute and the only chance we have of saving our society is to acknowledge our imperfection. Hedges sees similarities between atheists and Christian fundamentalists. Both groups have built belief systems that are in service of themselves and their own power. He calls for people to reject simplistic utopian visions and instead accept the limitations of being human.

Chris Hedges is the author of the bestseller American Fascists and the National Book Critics Circle finalist War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning. He received a degree from Harvard Divinity School and has taught at Columbia University, New York University, and Princeton University.

This is a summary and not a critique or a review of the book. It does not offer judgment or opinion on the content of the book.  This summary may not be organized chapter-wise but is an overview of the main ideas, viewpoints and arguments from the book as a whole. This means that the organization of this summary is not a representation of the book.