The Atheist's Guide to Christmas

by Robin Harvie, Stephanie Meyers

Overview

So, what do you get an atheist for Christmas? This collection of smart, funny essays, of course—short works by 42 resolutely secular-minded geniuses about how to survive (and even enjoy) the holiday season…without feeling the Christmas Spirit move you. Editors Robin Harvie and Stephanie Meyers have gathered writers, celebrities, comedians, and scientists to deliver essays ranging from the hilarious to the reflective to the charmingly absurd in The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas, a perfect gift for the Pastafarian who has everything, the Scrooge who wants nothing, and anyone else interested in the diverse meanings that Christmas can hold.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061997976
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/02/2010
Pages:	307
Sales rank:	888,203
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Robin Harvie is an atheist, publisher and author of Why We Run: The Story of an Obsession. He lives in London.

Stephanie Meyers is a book editor and an avid believer in receiving presents, decorating trees, and making the most of post-holiday sales. She lives in New York City.

Table of Contents

Welcome xi

Stories

It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas Ed Byrne 3

Revenge of the Christmas Spirit Neal Pollack 9

The Real Christmas Story Jenny Colgan 15

A Child Was Born on Christmas Day Emery Emery 21

110 Love Street Catie Wilkins 27

Losing My Faith Simon Le Bon 31

Hark the Herald Villagers Sing Zoe Margolis 37

The Christmas Miracle Event: A Story Evan Mandery 43

Science

The Sound of Christmas Simon Singh 57

The Great Bus Mystery Richard Dawkins 63

Starry, Starry Night Phil Plait 71

The Ironed Trouser: Why 93 Percent of Scientists Are Atheists (Depending on Whom You Ask) Adam Rutherford 79

The Large Hadron Collider: A Scientific Creation Story Brian Cox 87

How to Understand Christmas: A Scientific Overview Nick Doody 93

How To

How to Have the Perfect Jewish Christmas Matt Kirshen 103

How to Have a Peaceful Pagan Christmas Claire Rayner 107

I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas Siân Berry 115

How to Stop Worrying and Enjoy Christmas Mitch Benn 125

How to Decorate the Outside of Your House with Lights and Not Have Your Neighbors Hate You: A Guide to Turning Your Home into a Festive Something That Is So Bright It Can Be Seen from Space Jon Holmes 133

How to Escape from Christmas Andrew Mueller 139

Gifts for the Godless Jennifer McCreight 147

Philosophy

If God Existed, Would He Have a Sense of Humor" Charlie Brooker 155

Unsilent Night Hermione Eyre 159

Imagine There's a Heaven David Stubbs 165

A Happy Christmas A.C. Grayling 171

Beloved Buzzkill Allison Kilkenny 177

Stay Away from My Goddamn Presents Jamie Kilstein 185

The First Honest Christmas Round-Robin Letter Julian Baggini 191

There Are No Atheists in the White House Paul Krassner 195

Arts

An Atheist at the Movies David Baddiel Arvind Ethan David 205

A Christmas Album Simon Price 213

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree Natalie Haynes 219

God Isn't Real Robbie Fulks 225

The Godless Concerts Robin Ince 233

Events

God Trumps Christina Martin 241

Designing the Atheist Bus Campaign Graham Nunn 249

The Little Atoms Radio Show Neil Denny 257

James Randi: The Real Santa Claus Sid Rodrigues 265

A Day in the Life of a Godless Magazine Caspar Melville Paul Sims 273

Front Line in the War on Christmas Andrew Shaffer 279

Contributor Biographies 287

About the Editors 305

Secular Resources 307

Editorial Reviews

Stuck on a holiday gift for your favorite atheist? This book will fill him with Christmas-like cheer.... If there’s one overarching takeaway...it’s that atheists have a sense of humor.” — Penthouse

“[E]ntertaining and enlightening… The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas is not only for atheists…nor is it an anti-religious rant or deep philosophical treatise. In essence… a good gift for anyone with a sense of humor.” — Technorati.com

From the Publisher

[E]ntertaining and enlightening… The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas is not only for atheists…nor is it an anti-religious rant or deep philosophical treatise. In essence… a good gift for anyone with a sense of humor.

Technorati.com

Stuck on a holiday gift for your favorite atheist? This book will fill him with Christmas-like cheer.... If there’s one overarching takeaway...it’s that atheists have a sense of humor.

Penthouse