Books like Godless by Dan Barker

Richard Dawkins argues that belief in God is irrational, harmful, and unnecessary, presenting scientific, historical, and philosophical evidence to refute religious claims and promote a secular, reason‑based worldview.

Garry Wills’s complete Penguin Classics translation of Augustine of Hippo’s spiritual classic, capturing the original’s philosophical depth and poetic power in clear, contemporary language.

Bertrand Russell’s 1927 essay explains his rejection of Christianity, originally delivered as a talk at Battersea Town Hall and published as a pamphlet.

In God, Dan Barker, a former minister turned atheist, challenges the biblical portrayal of God and argues Richard Dawkins was correct that the Old Testament deity is one of the most unpleasant characters in fiction.

G.K. Chesterton offers a witty, insightful portrait of Saint Francis of Assisi, revealing the saint’s reasoned humility behind his legendary devotion.

Karen Armstrong traces humanity’s lifelong quest to answer profound questions through the evolving concept of God, focusing on Western monotheistic traditions, especially Christianity.

In her critically acclaimed Leaving Church ("a beautiful, absorbing memoir." — Dallas Morning News), Barbara Brown Taylor wrote about leaving full-time ministry to become a professor, a decision that stretched the boundaries of her faith. Now, in her stunning follow-up, An Altar in the World, she shares how she learned to encounter God beyond the walls of any church. From simple practices such as walking, working, and getting lost to deep meditations on topics like prayer and pronouncing blessings, Taylor reveals concrete ways to discover the sacred in the small things we do and see. Something as ordinary as hanging clothes on a clothesline becomes an act of devotion if we pay attention to what we are doing and take time to attend to the sights, smells, and sounds around us. Making eye contact with the cashier at the grocery store becomes a moment of true human connection. Allowing yourself to get lost leads to new discoveries. Under Taylor's expert guidance, we come to question conventional distinctions between the sacred and the secular, learning that no physical act is too earthbound or too humble to become a path to the divine. As we incorporate these practices into our daily lives, we begin to discover altars everywhere we go, in nearly everything we do.

Betty Brogaard chronicles her journey from a fundamentalist upbringing and church marriage to a free‑thought atheist, revealing the questions and research that led her to abandon religion.

Explore the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth with this accessible guide that examines New Testament accounts, Roman history, and recent archaeology to answer key questions about his historicity and impact.