In his new book 50 Reasons People Give For Believing In A God, author Guy Harrison details such reasons for god-belief as the obviousness of God, "playing it safe," the fear of hell, that belief in gods brings genuine happiness and comforts, and the fact that so many people are religious.

There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but now Guy Harrison has given us 50 ways to believe in God, or not if you care to read this engaging and enlightening book in light of what it says about the cultural and psychological power of belief. If the number one predictor of which God someone believes in is what culture and time period they happened to have been born in, what does that say about the actual existence (or not) of a deity? Read this book to explore the many and diverse reasons for belief. — Michael Shermer, Publisher of Skeptic magazine. monthly columnist for Scientific American and author of Why Darwin Matters

Many books that challenge religious belief from a skeptical point of view take a combative tone that is almost guaranteed to alienate believers or they present complex philosophical or scientific arguments that fail to reach the average reader. Journalist Guy P Harrison argues that this is an ineffective way of encouraging people to develop critical thinking about religion. In this unique approach to skepticism regarding God, Harrison concisely presents fifty commonly heard reasons people often give for believing in a God and then he raises legitimate questions regarding these reasons, showing in each case that there is much room for doubt.. The book explores similarities between the reasons people give for their belief in Western gods and Eastern gods, and also similarities between the reasons people give for belief in gods and in the paranormal. Whether you’re a believer, a complete skeptic, or somewhere in between, you’ll find Harrison’s review of traditional and more recent arguments for the existence of God refreshing, approachable, and enlightening. From religion as the foundation of morality to the authority of sacred books, the compelling religious testimony of influential people, near-death experiences, arguments from Intelligent Design, and much more, Harrison respectfully describes each rationale for belief and then politely shows the deficiencies that any good skeptic would point out.

50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God is a positive book that encourages people to think freely and challenge the common justifications for belief in gods. There is no name-calling, no condescending attitude and no hate. Although the book is thorough and clear about the weaknesses of reasons for belief, it's gentle enough that one should be able to give a copy to a friend or family member without fear of offending. All I want is a world where people respect science and all minds are free. Don't you want that too? — Guy P Harrison

As a journalist who has traveled widely and interviewed many highly accomplished people, quite a number of whom are believers, Harrison appreciates the variety of belief and the ways in which people seek to make religion compatible with scientific thought. Nonetheless, he shows that, despite the prevalence of belief in God or religious belief in intelligent people, in the end there are no unassailable reasons for believing in a God. For skeptics looking for appealing ways to approach their believing friends or believers who are not afraid to consider a skeptical challenge, Harrison’s book makes for very stimulating reading.

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50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God: Guy P Harrison Guy P Harrison has written a persuasive and frequently humorous book about an important topic. This thoughtful work should be read by religious practitioners, political leaders, and the general public and should be taught as a foundation for explaining the role of religion in society. The author — a journalist with worldwide experience and thorough scientific knowledge — doesn't ridicule supernatural beliefs. He seems fond of believers. But he quietly employs logic to show that invisible gods, devils, heavens, hells, miracles and the like belong in the superstitious past, and cannot be taken seriously by educated modern people. A fine addition to the recent surge of non-believer books. This one is a kinder, gentler version, and fun to read — with this disclaimer from the author: "No gods were harmed in the writing of this book". USA UK Canada

The God Delusion: Richard Dawkins In The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins presents a hard-hitting, impassioned rebuttal of religion of all types. As the author of many, now famous, classic works on science and philosophy, Dawkins has always asserted the irrationality of belief in God. Dawkins attacks God in all his forms, from the "sex-obsessed, cruel tyrant of the Old Testament" to the more benign, but still "illogical, Celestial Watchmaker favoured by some Enlightenment thinkers". He eviscerates the major arguments for religion and demonstrates the "supreme improbability" of a supreme being. "Everyone should read it. Aethists will love Mr Dawkins's incisive logic and rapier wit and theists will find few better tests of the robustness of their faith." — The Economist USA UK Canada

God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything Christopher Hitchens delivers another in the recent rash of atheist manifestos. The same contrarian spirit that makes him delightful reading as a political commentator, even (or especially) when he's completely wrong, makes him an entertaining huckster prosecutor once he has God placed in the dock. Hitchens's one-liners bear the marks of considerable sparring practice with believers. Yet few believers will recognize themselves as Hitchens associates all of them for all time with the worst of history's theocratic and inquisitional moments. The book's real strength is Hitchens's on-the-ground glimpses of religion's worst face in various war zones and isolated despotic regimes. But its weakness is its almost fanatical insistence that religion poisons "everything," which tips over into barely disguised misanthropy. USA UK Canada

Letter to a Christian Nation: Sam Harris Modern religions serve many social goods such as health care for the poor. The problem is that it also services many reprehensible ideas. Sam Harris blows the whistle, pointing out the religions of the world are based on human generated vengeful stories. Harris fearlessly describes a moral and intellectual emergency precipitated by religious fantasies – misguided beliefs that create suffering, that rationalize violence, that have endangered our nation and our future. His argument for the morality, the honesty, and the humility of atheism is galvanizing. It is a relief that someone has spoken so frankly, with such passion yet such rationality. Please buy two, one for you and one for a friend you care about. USA UK

Discover magazine recently called Richard Dawkins "Darwin's Rottweiler" for his fierce and effective defense of evolution. Now Dawkins turns his considerable intellect on religion, denouncing its "faulty logic" and the "suffering it causes". A Christian Response to Richard Dawkins

Buses with the slogan "There's probably no God" will soon be running on the streets of London. The posters are the idea of the British Humanist Association and have been supported by prominent atheist Richard Dawkins, bestselling author of The God Delusion. Atheist Bus Campaign

Not so long ago religion was a personal matter that was seldom discussed in public. No longer. Today religion is everywhere, from books to movies to television to the internet to politics. Now religion is marketed and advertised like any other product or service. How did this happen? Shopping for God

The last three years have seen a great assault upon faith in the publishing world. Titles such as Letter to a Christian Nation, The God Delusion, and God Is Not Great have hit the bestseller charts by denouncing religious belief, specifically Christianity, as both violent and socially dangerous. The Delusion of Disbelief

Christianity is based on the stories and claims of the Bible. If the Bible is not largely accurate history, then Christianity has no foundation. Thus, either the Bible is dependable, historical truth or Christianity is just superstitious mumbo-jumbo. The Bible: Primitive Nonsense?