Sense and Goodness Without God: A Defense of Metaphysical Naturalism

Carrier makes a comprehensive case for metaphysical naturalism by doing what few others do: state a position, explain how he himself arrived at the position, and why you should to. While there is some playful religion-bashing going on in certain chapters, he cites his sources and steers clear of the sophistry. While the book is touted as ready for mass consumption, it really is for college-educated readers who can deal with some dense ideas. He begins with a breakdown of his own mode of philosophy and methodology that may go right over the heads of those not familiar with philosophical concepts. But this is all necessary to really understand where Carrier is coming from; it is what justifies his position. You know when he's doing a good job when he makes statements that you don't necessarily agree with but, by defining his philosophy, methodology, logic, and reasoning, the case is airtight. This book is by no means perfect; Carrier is a bit self-indulgent at times. But the framework of his big arguments and refutations are flawless. When I was thinking, "But wait! What about X? How do you account for that?", out of no where, Carrier provides the answer to the begged question. He has a knack for this that adds an aura of authenticity to the work. If you are a theist who is fearful of the above, then this book is sinful and dangerous. If you are a theist who is interested in broadening your horizons and challenging predispositions, this book is a wonderful place to start.

Like many people, I grew up in a nominally religious household and never really questioned my beliefs until a few years ago. After starting a family, I made the decision to figure out once and for all what I really believed. After many hours of study and thought, I finally ran into Richard Carrier's book. It basically answered all of my nagging questions about the ultimate questions. If you're one of those people that has grown tired of enduring the cognitive dissonance required by traditional faith, I highly recommend this book. It articulates ideas that you may not have the vocabulary or background to express. It also has great references for further reading. Overall, when it comes to understanding what life is about, it has given me some much needed peace.

Richard Carrier has long been a hero to the freethought community and to me personally. He was a Founding Father of the Secular Web and has contributed innumerable outstanding essays and articles to Internet Infidels. So I naturally had very high expectations of this book. Nevertheless, the book exceeded even my highest expectations. You will be very pleased with "Sense and Goodness Without God." You will be pleased, that is, unless you are a Christian or other mystic and expect this book to be full of logical holes. It isn't. The reasoning here is absolutely airtight. Thank you, Richard Carrier, for yet another masterful work! David Mills Author of "Atheist Universe"

I have to confess right off the bat that I am a huge fan of Columbia historian Richard Carrier. His essays posted on the Secular Web are some of the best written on a wide range of historical subjects and philosophical topics. His new book, Sense and Goodness Without God is a brilliant addition to an already impressive body of work. Here he takes on the nature of the universe itself and our place in it, and explores the questions all of us have about making sense of morality, existence, and the meaning of life. The range of subjects he covers here is truly astounding, and he delves into them deeply without ever losing his audience with jargon or philosobabble. On top of this, his investigation is informed by a powerful commitment to intellectual honesty, and infused with a rare sense of true love for life. A remarkable, readable book that I recommend whole-heartedly to anyone interested in the question of finding meaning and joy in life.