Summary
Title: Tilting at Religion
Author: Glenn W. Ferguson
Publisher: Prometheus Books
ISBN: 1591020417
Pro:
• Easy to read and digest, but provides things to think about over the long term
Con:
• More would have been nice
Description:
• Collection of critiques of religion and theism written over many years
Ranges over a wide variety of topics and issues
Mostly short essays providing food for thought
Book Review
Thus we are faced with the apparent paradox that those who reject religion and even ridicule it seem to take it more seriously than the great mass of believers who merely take it and its supposed goodness for granted. Former ambassador to Kenya and past president of the University of Connecticut, Glenn W. Ferguson definitely falls into the former group. Ferguson has been a critical observer of religion for many years and his book Tilting at Religion collects some of his short essays on religion from his journals.
Ferguson’s essays cover the entire gamut of religious beliefs, conflicts between believers, political debates between believers and nonbelievers, and more. He writes on the nature of religion, the existence of God, miracles, afterlife, sin, specific denominations like Roman Catholicism and Southern Baptist, religious education, funerals, and so on. All of the essays are relatively short and all are suitable for the average reader.
Unapologetically an atheist, Ferguson launches his book with a “Credo of the Ignored,” a profession of skepticism and critical reasoning to counter the all too many professions of faith made by religious believers. Atheism, skepticism, doubt, and freethought tend to be ignored in American society — a curious situation, given how much religious conservatives complain about how their religion isn’t taken seriously enough.
Perhaps they are right, however, just not in the way that they mean. To offer substantive and probing critiques of religion is to take it seriously — not taking it seriously means to laugh at it or dismiss it without a second glance. Very often that’s what the media and entertainment do with religion. Atheists and skeptics, however, take religion and theism seriously enough to address them and engage the ideas they promote. Ironically, atheists like Ferguson may be among religionists' best friends in contemporary America.
Ferguson does not offer this book in an attempt to change people’s minds or sway their opinions on religious matters. He writes early on:
- “At a relatively early age, we accept or reject a point of view expressed by a parent, classmate, teacher, parson, or friend or incorporated in some form of communication. It is virtually impossible to document the time frame when the point of view or belief became our own, but once claimed, it is difficult to alter. ...When a belief is captured, experience that tends to refute that belief is ignored. Beliefs nurtured at an early age become impregnable barriers to education or even discussion.”
Ferguson is offering opinions and observations for the purpose of inspiring reflection, not arguments designed to persuade. People looking for good arguments against religion or gods will be disappointed, but people looking for interesting food for thought on religion and society should be rewarded.
The Bottom Line
This sort of book — a collection of short essays written over a long period of time — can be difficult to categorize, especially when written by someone generally unknown to its target readership. Ferguson has had an impressive career in public service and the diplomatic corps, so he offers an interesting perspective on the relationship between religion and society. I enjoyed the book and hope that it finds its audience.
