(June 21, 2015 at 2:31 pm)Rhythm Wrote: As far as books go, that won't "rile" believers. More importantly....books that are -readable-...lol
Try Karen Armstrong.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_History_of_God
or
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Battle_for_God
or
http://www.amazon.com/The-Great-Transfor...0385721242
or...catholic...right?
Jonathan Kirsch.
http://www.amazon.com/God-Against-The-Go...0142196339
Not a single one of these books look to argue any "atheist point", btw. They are not -intended- to have a deconversion effect. Nevertheless, they will have that effect on some. Even if your BF isn;t one of those people, if he can read these books and enjoy them you'll at least know he can appreciate a good book about god that doesn't start with the line "In the beginning".
Ah Karen Armstrong!
I must say I'm something of a fan, not the most popular choice in Religious Studies/Theology departments around here but I've read pretty much everything she's ever put to paper. I think she's a former Catholic herself come to think about it....Kirsch... 
. The fact it's not explicit deconversion isn't a problem, I don't actually want per say him to agree with me. I just want to try and pull his confidence up out of the gutter where these weird Catholic guilt trips keep dragging him.
(June 21, 2015 at 2:36 pm)Neimenovic Wrote:(June 21, 2015 at 2:28 pm)Metis Wrote: Is it really that clingy? I know a couple of ex Catholics personally and they seem to agree there's something that lingers.
As for the God Delusion...Might be worth a go, not really a fan of New Athiest works myself since I think their aggressive style tends to rile believers more than persuade them but it's readable enough...Thanks!
Honest? It is. There's this saying, you can't stop being a catholic. Even when you're excommunicated, you're still a fucking catholic.
Catholicism breaks your brain, injects you with fear, guilt and shame and takes forever to get over.
But don't be discouraged. He can and will overcome it. It's best if he could cut contacts with catholics tbh.
God Delusion is primarily a pretty thorough dismantling of superstitious arguments. The movement behind it is secondary. I'm positive it will help. Get him to watch some Hitchslap on YT, that should help too.
He has for the most part, or rather when they heard about me they all ran for the hills tossing holy water behind 'em
Then again, I suppose meeting some of the family for the first time by running into them wearing a T-Shirt depicting Pope Benedict as Emperor Palpatine wasn't the most diplomatic move I've ever made. Just every now and then we run into someone he knows from his parish, like the bitch that got hired as the receptionist at one of the schools he works for.Hitchens words even now are a treat for the ears. Were I even only half as eloquent! Brilliant ideas folks, all helps!
(June 21, 2015 at 2:43 pm)Minimalist Wrote:Quote:I think their aggressive style tends to rile believers more than persuade them but it's readable enough...Thanks!
All it takes to rile those fuckers is to tell them that their god is a myth.
True, but usually when you don't mock them directly they can't weasel out of it or appeal for sympathy from outsiders by squealing about anti-invisible unicornism or whatever.
They're going to be pissed either way, but it gives them less ammo to try and return fire with.
