How To Be An Agnostic [Paperback]

The authentic spiritual quest is marked not by certainties but by questions and doubt. Mark Vernon who was a priest, and left an atheist explores the wonder of science, the ups and downs of being 'spiritual but not religious', the insights of ancient philosophy, and God the biggest question.Acknowledgements Introduction: There's Something, not Nothing Socrates' Quest: The Agnostic Spirit Cosmic Religion: How Science does God How to Be Human: Science and Ethics Socrates or Buddha? On Being Spiritual but not Religious Bad Faith: Religion as Certainty Christian Agnosticism: Learned Ignorance Following Socrates: A Way of Life How To Be An Agnostic: An A-Z Further reading and references Index

'Mark Vernon - a former Anglican priest who left the church only to find dogmatic unbelief just as unsatisfying - shows how being an agnostic can be a modern version of the spiritual life. If you are discontented with simple-minded atheism and literal-minded faith, this is the book for you.'- John Gray, author of The Immortalization Commisssion: Science and the Strange Quest to Cheat Death

'This lucid and eminently readable book brings home to the reader the importance of recognising the limits of our knowledge. At a time when public and private discourse is often characterised by an aggressive and unrealistic certainty, it is an important contribution.'- Karen Armstrong, one of the world's leading commentators on religious affairs

'As ever, Mark Vernon writes with sharp insight and a generous understanding of how humans search and create meanings to sustain their lives. He is, quite simply, one of the few writers in England today who really understands the impulse to religious belief and how a faithless age can respond. There are few others I trust to bring such intelligence and sympathy to these issues.' - Madeleine Bunting, The Guardian

'Between religion and atheism is a third way into which Vernon takes his readers. IlS#