The Contemplative Skeptic (Barrett A. Evans)

OVERVIEW

Barrett A. Evans had previously studied to be a pastoral counselor before ultimately rejecting dogmatic faith and letting go of religious beliefs – the threat of eternal damnation, the fear, indoctrination, guilt, and authoritarianism. But there was something he did still yearn for, the spiritual experience – especially “a sense of focus and purpose, an encouragement to live for others, and the solace of certain contemplative disciplines.” He wrote The Contemplative Skeptic to explore how atheists, agnostics, and non-believers could keep spirituality without keeping the Spirit; how a rich life could include both spirituality and skepticism.

In Part I, Evans analyzes religious beliefs. He questions the validity of Christianity by exploring canonical diversity, scriptural discrepancies, and copyist errors (corruptions, transpositions, alterations, miscopies, and other mistakes). He undercuts religious truth claims by exposing the incredible diversity of religious beliefs (including the wide array of denominations and factions within any one religion) and the incompatibility of competing supernatural ideas. He also criticizes the damaging aspects of manipulation, indoctrination, and authoritarianism – the denigration of doubt, the ethical failings, and the implausibility of miracles and other supernatural histories. In short, Part I is a refutation of faith.

In Part II, Evans turns toward spirituality and how you can keep the best of religion (the compassion, love, peace, community, and moral ideals) while still denying there is anything metaphysical at work. He explores several spiritual traditions and draws out the best pieces – the best secular “prayers” and contemplative passages, the religious figures worth revering, and the rituals worth maintaining. Rather than re-define a new approach to spirituality, Evans suggests we work with our richest religious source material, that we secularize and reinterpret the scriptures, hadiths, and canons, that we turn toward wonder and awe without sacrificing honesty or humility.

If you were previously religious, losing faith can feel like falling into a vacuum. But we don’t have to lose the spiritual dimension of our living. Emptying our lives of religion doesn’t have to mean emptiness. We can keep our commitment to goodness, community, and contemplation, our feelings of awe, wonder, and transcendence. We can keep meditation and morality and our deep sense of gratitude. We can retain our spirituality even after we release faith, superstition, and dubious beliefs.

WHAT NOW? (actions for mortal atheists)

I’d suggest combing through Part II for the secular meditations and contemplations that resonate most with you. Evans also includes mindfulness practices, music, chants, and exercise disciplines to supplement.

IN SUM:

Is this book entirely secular? Yes.

If I had to describe the book in one sentence? A refutation of religion and a re-defining of spirituality.

Who should read this book? If you’ve already been persuaded to atheism, the first half of this book may not hold your interest. You’ll get most out of the second half if you aspire to ground your spirituality in secularized religious narratives and practices.