Questioning the Assumption of God and Religion

This criticism of theism, especially monotheism, questions the assumption that rejecting God means rejecting religion. Drawing on Western philosophical critiques of religion and non-theistic Eastern religions, Ray Billington shows how a religion without God could work.

The concept of religion without God has informed not only the theories of Nietzsche, Kant and Spinoza, but also expressions of belief in Indian and Chinese religions—Hinduism, Theravada Buddhism, Zen, and Taoism. Concluding with a look at the future of faith, this is a wide-ranging and lucidly-written look at what it means to have faith and how this is distinct from religious belief.

Ray Billington is an experienced and respected author on Eastern religion and philosophy. His books include Understanding Eastern Philosophy, Living Philosophy, and East of Existentialism, all published by Routledge. He also writes occasional journalism, most notably as a contributor to The Guardian's "Face to Faith" column. An ex-Methodist minister and onetime chaplain with the SAS, he has now retired from his post as Principal Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of the West of England.