Natalie Haynes reviews the recently published Atheist’s Guide to Christmas:
There are some God-baiting essays in it, including a Wodehouse pastiche from Professor Dawkins. But most atheists don’t give much thought to religion at all. We occasionally get riled at religious schools teaching creationism, or religious spokesmen telling us that, because they believe life is sacred, we have to die in agony. But we don’t sit cackling in our cellars, wondering where to get a goat to sacrifice, and we don’t believe in Black Magic, unless it’s chocolate.
Most of the book simply reveals that many people who don’t do God love to do Christmas. Claire Rayner writes extensively on the many pagan traditions wrapped up in a modern Christmas. Josie Long offers an array of games and crafts to keep the most petulant Scrooge entertained.
But above all, Atheist’s Guide shows a new side to the rationalist movement. For a start, it gives room even to those who are technically agnostic, like me. I long for an agnostic bus campaign, pondering the unknowability of buses, before deciding that the 38 might get us home whether it exists or not. Second, it shows that atheists are actually for something—fun, kindness, pleasure, charity and scientific wonder.
Read the full review here.