Agnostic

A Spirited Manifesto

By: Lesley Hazelton

Narrated by: Lesley Hazleton

A widely admired writer on religion celebrates agnosticism as the most vibrant and engaging - and, ultimately, the most honest - stance toward the mysteries of existence.

One in four Americans rejects any affiliation with organized religion, and nearly half of those under 30 describe themselves as "spiritual but not religious". But as the airwaves resound with the haranguing of preachers and pundits, who speaks for the millions who find no joy in whittling the wonder of existence to a simple yes/no choice?

Lesley Hazleton does. In this provocative, brilliant book, she gives voice to the case for agnosticism, breaks it free of its stereotypes as watered-down atheism or amorphous "seeking", and celebrates it as a reasoned, revealing, and sustaining stance toward life. Stepping over the lines imposed by rigid conviction, she draws on philosophy, theology, psychology, science, and more to explore, with curiosity and passion, the vital role of mystery in a deceptively information-rich world; to ask what we mean by the search for meaning; to invoke the humbling yet elating perspective of infinity; to challenge received ideas about death; and to reconsider what "the soul" might be.

Inspired and inspiring, Agnostic recasts the question of belief not as a problem to be solved but as an invitation to an ongoing, open-ended adventure of the mind.

©2016 Lesley Hazelton (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"In Hazleton’s vital, mischievous new book, the term [agnostic] represents a positive orientation towards life all its own, one that embraces both science and mystery, and values the immediate joys of life…In each of her wide-ranging reflections….she remains intimately grounded and engaged in our human, day-to-day life.” (New York Times Book Review)

“To be agnostic is not to sidestep the question of belief, for Hazleton, or to commit to a wishy-washy moral framework. It is instead to have enough backbone to stand firm in the liminality of uncertainty. She wants readers to give agnosticism a fair shake, and many will be convinced by her appealing voice and accessible prose.” (Publisher's Weekly starred)

"Here, with clever elucidation, are artful essays that celebrate the wonder of the unknown... Hazleton does not deny possibilities; she denies only assured and implacable dogma.” (Kirkus Reviews)

essential and accessible for anyone involved...

Faith is sacred, beliefs suspect, convictions dangerous - an essential contribution to religious peace !

The best Agnostic book I’ve found

I felt seen as I read this book. Hazleton has a wonderful way of describing what it means to be Agnostic. As the only proper agnostic in my family this was a refreshing read. I am so grateful this book was written and that I found it. Much love to the author <3
And no love to the butt of a human who wrote the one-start review saying this was boring. So rude 😂 this book is not boring if you are interested in the topic.

Leave some room for doubt 😊

Lesley reads her book aloud with good phrasing, paces and kept my interest.

Explores an aspect of humanity on the intersection of beliefs and non- belief.

Generous in spirit, and worth a second read or listen

Brilliantly profound

And highly human, Ms. Hazelton manages to find hope, beauty and meaning hanging strung between impossible certainties and the very likely mundane imperfections of a life well lived.

Amazing

What a beautiful way of viewing life...doubt is powerful...and I appreciate it even more reading this magnificent book of ideas. Thank you for sharing your views and journey.

I could't get past the voice

I tried listening to this, but the author/narrator's voice is just not made for audiobooks. I will purchase this book to read. Audible really should have paid someone to read this. The author's gravelly voice is just not ... pleasant.

Boring

This book was boring. I don't understand why authors of books like this find the need to make them boring.