The O Project
Humanists working to do good. Working with others
Dialogue between the religious and non-religious
A Quest for Global Peace: Rotblat and Ikeda on War, Ethics and the Nuclear Threat (2006) by Joseph Rotblat and Ikeda Daisaku
This series of dialogues between two leading ethical thinkers brings together the courage and humanity of humanist Rotblat (an 'inventor' of the nuclear bomb and later campaigner against nuclear proliferation) with the spiritual wisdom and global visionary outlook of Daisaku Ikeda, the leader of the world's largest and most influential lay Buddhist organisation. Buy from Amazon
I Sold My Soul on Ebay: Viewing Faith Through an Atheist's Eyes (2007) by Hemant Mehta
Mehta is “the eBay atheist,” the nonbeliever who auctioned off the opportunity for the winning bidder to send him to church. Since then, Mehta has visited a variety of church services–posting his insightful critiques on the Internet and spawning a positive, ongoing dialogue between atheists and believers. I Sold My Soul on eBay tells how and why Mehta became an atheist and features his latest church critiques, including descriptions of his visits to some of the best-known churches in America. Buy from Amazon
Conversations on Matthew’s Gospel Between an Atheist and a Christian by Leslie Scrase
As an ex-minister, Leslie Scrase writes with personal insight into both sides of this debate and describes it as "an attempt at a genuine conversation two people who believe that they have something of value to share." Readers have described it as "a very apt and challenging dialogue" and "fair to both sides". Buy from the British Humanist Association
The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth (2006) by Edward O. Wilson
In this daring work, E.O. Wilson proposes an alliance between science and religion to save Earth's vanishing biodiversity. The book is written in the form of a letter to a Southern Baptist Minister with personal anecdotes from Wilson's life. Buy from Amazon
Jim & Casper Go to Church: Frank Conversation About Faith, Churches, and Well-meaning Christians (2007) by Jim Henderson and Matt Casper
A pastor hires an atheist to help him critique several Christian churches throughout the United States. Buy from Amazon
Inspirational individuals
Andrew Carnegie (2006) by David Nasaw
Celebrated historian David Nasaw brings new life to the story of one of America's most famous and successful businessmen and philanthropists who happened to be an atheist. The embodiment of the American dream, he pulled himself up from bobbin boy in a cotton factory to become the richest man in the world. He spent the rest of his life giving away the fortune he had accumulated and crusading for international peace. Buy from Amazon.co.uk
It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life (2001) by Lance Armstrong
People around the world have found inspiration in the story of Lance Armstrong - a world-class athlete nearly struck down by cancer, only to recover and win the Tour de France and establish a a cancer foundation. "I think we all have obligations to be good, honest, hard-working, caring and compassionate," Armstrong has said "I do not believe that because you are not prepared to submit yourself to a god or a higher being, that when you get to the end of the road, you will be sent down. I'm not prepared to believe that." Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Bertrand Russell: 1872-1920 The Spirit of Solitude v. 1 (1997) by Ray Monk
The first volume of a biography of Bertrand Russell, covering the first 50 years of his life: his childhood, his early works including "Principia Mathematica", his relationships with prominent contemporaries, his bizarre sex life, his conscientious objection in World War I, and his visits abroad. Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Bertrand Russell: 1921-70 The Ghost of Madness v. 2 (2001) by Ray Monk
The second volume of Russell's biography has at its centre the tragic and moving story of the philosopher's relationship with his son John. It traces Russell's joy at John's birth to his frightened dismay at his collapse into schizoprenia. Buy from Amazon.co.uk
America's Most Hated Woman: The Life and Gruesome Death of Madalyn Murray O'Hair (2006) by Ann Rowe Seaman
Madalyn Murray O'Hair's 1963 U.S. Supreme Court case ended school prayer. Her Christian-baiting lawsuits spanned three more decades; she was on TV all over the country, foul-mouthed, witty, and passionate, launching today's culture wars over same-sex marriage and faith-based initiatives. She was a man-hater who loved sex, a bully whose heart broke for the downtrodden. She was an ideologue who spewed toxic rage even at the followers who made her a millionaire. Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Research
Atheists: A Groundbreaking Study of America's Nonbelievers (2006) by Bruce Hunsberger and Bob Altemeyer
Based on a survey of nearly 300 members of atheist organisations in the USA but most interesting are smaller comparisons of Canadian atheists and religious fundamentalists (as well as agnostics and inactive believers). Three chapters describe the levels of dogmatism, zealotry, and religious prejudice found among the active atheists. The more religious a group was, the more their personalities, prejudices, and beliefs separated them from everyone else. Read contents and Introduction or buy from Amazon.co.uk
