The cosmological argument for the existence of god by w. Yet, in the philosophernovelist rebecca newberger goldsteins latest work of fiction, 36 arguments for the existence of god, the rotund and orotund jonas elijah klapper, the extreme. If you have holds on the shelf, they will be held until we reopen. The unbelievable truth 36 arguments for the existence of god a. She also replicates at the end the very same appendix that made cass fictional book a bestseller. The world shifted, catching lots of smart people off guard, churning up issues that you had thought had settled forever beneath the earths crust. Reading guide for 36 arguments for the existence of god by. Mar 23, 2010 36 arguments for the existence of god by rebecca goldstein. To deny that god exists is to conceive of a being that exists in reality and in the understanding, and then deny its existence contradiction. In 36 arguments for the existence of god, rebecca newberger goldstein explores the rapture and torments of religious experience in all its variety. Rebecca goldstein is a philosopher and novelist, who in her career has weaved phi losophy with fiction writing, supposedly to convey the rather dry and. Transcript for 36 arguments for the existence of god this transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate. The arguments for believing in god s existence, along with rebuttals for each oneostensibly casss bestselling bookare presented in an appendix.
Feb 01, 2011 36 arguments for the existence of god a work of fiction is a brilliant and entertaining novel. Its still january, but 36 arguments for the existence of god by rebecca newberger goldstein is without a doubt the funniest work of existential. Strong resistance to gods existence rebecca newberger goldstein print rebecca newberger goldstein, author of 36 arguments for the existence of god. Rebecca goldstein on 36 arguments for the existence of god. Reading guide for 36 arguments for the existence of god by rebecca goldstein discussion guide for book clubs. World events are being shaped by fervent believers at home and abroad, while a new atheism is asserting itself in the public sphere. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Strong resistance to gods existence rebecca newberger. Rebecca newberger goldstein received her doctorate in philosophy from princeton university. In 36 short chapters, goldstein cleverly manages to both refute and demonstrate each of the socalled arguments for the existence of god. Rebecca goldstein author of 36 arguments for the existence.
A work of fiction vintage contemporaries rebecca newberger goldstein on. Jan 22, 2010 36 arguments for the existence of god this clever novel manages to blend existential ponderings with humor and sharp writing. Jan 21, 2010 overcomplicated yet dazzling, sparked by frequent flashes of nonchalant brilliance, 36 arguments for the existence of god affirms ms. Not only that, but the book is populated almost entirely by really clever people. Goldstein is not impressed by dogma from either side but instead explores the world of meaning in the middle, balancing her work between the scientism of the ivory tower and the numinous experience of the pearly gates. Dec 18, 2009 45 you wouldnt know it from the title, but rebecca goldsteins 36 arguments for the existence of god is a novel. Rebecca newberger goldstein grew up in white plains, new york, and graduated summa cum laude from barnard college, receiving the montague prize for excellence in philosophy, and immediately went on to graduate work at princeton university, receiving her ph. Goldstein talks about the creation of her novels central characters, as well the tension she. Hes been dubbed the atheist with a soul, and his sudden celebrity has upended his life. The characters in 36 arguments for the existence of god explore the great moral issues.
To my mind, 36 arguments for the existence of god is both postreligion and postatheism. This clever story of an academic who becomes a celebrity for his humane embrace of atheism. All wcpl locations are closed through april 30, 2020. She has written a hilarious novel about peoples existential agonies, a pageturner about the intellectual mysteries that obsess them. Dec 01, 2010 36 arguments for the existence of god, by rebecca newberger goldstein pantheon, 416 pp. Cass seltzer, a professor of psychology whose book, the varieties of religious illusion, has become a surprise best seller. There are some differences that reveal rifts so deep that dialogue breaks down. To have the concept of god means that you understand god.
Request pdf on jul 1, 2011, ulf persson and others published 36 arguments for the existence of god by rebecca newberger goldstein find, read and cite. To conceive of god is to conceive of a being that exists in the understanding and also in the world. W ith atheism fashionable and religious fundamentalism on the rise, 36 arguments for the existence of god gently mocks the delusions of both. The arguments also turn up as an appendix to goldsteins novel, which contains 36 chapters, all with titles of arguments for the existence of god. Rebecca newberger goldstein is the author of the novel, mind body problem. Something shifted, something so immense you could call it the world. The main character in 36 arguments for the existence of god is fortytwoyear old cass seltzer, who has managed to jump on the new atheisttide along with authors like sam harris, daniel dennett, richard dawkins, and christopher hitchens and is now enjoying quite a ride. A work of fiction by rebecca goldstein god is in the detail melissa katsoulis when rebecca goldstein, the american philosophernovelist who looks like rapunzel but thinks like wittgenstein, was awarded the prestigious macarthur award commonly known as the genius. Overcomplicated yet dazzling, sparked by frequent flashes of nonchalant brilliance, 36 arguments for the existence of god affirms ms. Jan 31, 2010 yet, in the philosophernovelist rebecca newberger goldsteins latest work of fiction, 36 arguments for the existence of god, the rotund and orotund jonas elijah klapper, the extreme.
Its still january, but 36 arguments for the existence of god by rebecca newberger goldstein is without a doubt the funniest work of existential philosophy youll read all year. Rebecca goldstein is a philosopher who has written. Mar 20, 2010 w ith atheism fashionable and religious fundamentalism on the rise, 36 arguments for the existence of god gently mocks the delusions of both. She trivializes the cosmological argument and also the even more dubious a priori ontological arguments and the refutations are more often than not silly. More than likely there will be many readers intimidated by the title alone of rebecca newberger goldsteins novel, 36 arguments for the existence of god. The argument from the paucity of benign mutations d. It builds to a public debate over god s existence that isnt going to make anyone forget dostoyevskys grand inquisitor and concludes with the titular 36 arguments that seltzers book refutes, filled with such hairsplitting redundancy that one suspects his was one of those bestsellers bought in great numbers by people who never. Dinner party hostesses used to be warned to steer the conversation away from politics and religion. Jan, 2010 to my mind, 36 arguments for the existence of god is both postreligion and postatheism. Her brilliant sixth novel, 36 arguments for the existence of god, intelligently approaches one of lifes big questions from the perspective of a psychology professor looking to all the world like he has the answers, yet comically unable to. Steven pinker interviews rebecca newberger goldstein, author of 36 arguments for the existence of god. It builds to a public debate over gods existence that isnt going to make anyone forget dostoyevskys grand inquisitor and concludes with the titular 36 arguments that seltzers book refutes, filled with such hairsplitting redundancy that one suspects his was one of those bestsellers bought in great numbers by people who never. A work of fiction, and nonfiction studies of kurt godel and baruch spinoza.
True, it carries a 52 page appendix, also titled 36 arguments for the existence of god, which lists 36 arguments, many of which you may have seen in your intro to philosophy class, then outlines and argues against each. Jan 19, 2010 steven pinker interviews rebecca newberger goldstein, author of 36 arguments for the existence of god. The arguments for believing in gods existence, along with rebuttals for each oneostensibly casss bestselling bookare presented in an appendix. The existence of god is a subject of debate in the philosophy of religion and popular culture a wide variety of arguments for and against the existence of god can be categorized as metaphysical, logical, empirical, or subjective. Apr 28, 2018 36 arguments for the existence of god thus offers the same engaging cocktail of philosophy, roman a clef fun, and scholarly soap opera that marked her earlier books, especially the bestselling. Feb 11, 2010 rebecca newberger goldstein is the author of the novel, mind body problem. Arguments for the existence of god flashcards quizlet. Her awardwinning books include the novels the mindbody problem, properties of light, 36 arguments for the existence of god. A work of fiction is a hilarious, heartbreaking, and intellectually. So the 36 arguments are a novel, the appendix to that novel, and the appendix to a nonfiction book within the fiction. I stress that, above all, 36 arguments is a story and not a disguised tutorial on the existence vel non of god. During this time you will not be able to place new holds on physical materials. In the foreground is the novel itself, a satire of academic life, complete with competition, backbiting, and egomaniacal, charismatic professors. A work of fiction by rebecca newberger goldstein about the book after cass seltzers book becomes a surprise best seller, hes dubbed the atheist with a soul, and becomes a celebrity.
By turns hilarious, moving and devilishly clever, goldsteins novel is an exhilarating romance of heart and mind. I stress that, above all, 36 arguments is a story and not a. In defending the faith, however, it is useful to present a way of proving the existence of god that. Hilarious, heartbreaking, and intellectually captivating, it is a luminous and intoxicating novel. Rebecca newberger goldsteins 36 arguments about god the. As a macarthur geniusgrant recipient, rebecca newberger goldstein has described herself as setting out to write philosophically motivated novels. There are many arguments that can he presented to prove the existence of god. A work of fiction and nonfiction studies of kurt godel and baruch spinoza. In the appendix, 36 arguments for the existence of god are presented in order to be refuted. The characters in 36 arguments for the existence of god explore the great moral issues of our day in a novel that is deeply moving and a joy to read. Thoughtful, witty, and i cannot stress enough really entertaining, 36 arguments is part campus comedy, part romantic farce, part philosophical treatise. What is this stuff, you ask one another, says the narrator in rebecca newberger goldsteins new novel 36 arguments for the existence of god.
795 404 260 1649 505 1386 750 1063 1512 336 1316 1592 898 1533 1565 217 903 770 286 480 846 1649 2 1042 1638 618 888 1682 629 1079 1332 1572 911 1006 1619 234 609 261 213 398 165 640 3