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What I Believe
- 3 Complete Essays on Religion
- Narrated by: Terrence Hardiman
- Length: 2 hrs and 25 mins
- Categories: Religion & Spirituality, Spirituality
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Summary
Remarkably relevant, beautifully written, and filled with wit and wisdom, these three essays by Bertrand Russell allow the listener to test the concepts of the good life, morality, the existence of God, Christianity, and human nature. "What I Believe" was used prominently in the 1940 New York court proceedings in which Russell was judicially declared "unfit" to teach philosophy at City College of New York. "Why I Am Not a Christian" concludes that churches throughout history have retarded progress and states that we should instead "look to our own efforts here below to make this world a fit place to live in." Finally, "A Free Man's Worship", perhaps the most famous single essay written by Russell, considers whether humans operate from free will.
Critic reviews
"Russell is one of our time's brilliant spokesmen of rationality and humanity, a fearless champion of free speech and free thought." (The Swedish Academy, on awarding Bertrand Russell the Nobel Prize for Literature, 1950)
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What listeners say about What I Believe
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Judy Corstjens
- 18-03-13
Ahead of his time
I'm glad to think that Bertrand Russell lived until 1970 and therefore long enough to see some of the liberal reforms for which he argued, come to fruition. In these essays from the early part of the 20th Century, he is too coy even to use the word 'homosexuality', but makes oblique references as he argues for greater tolerance. In a way, these essays have dated because our society has (thankfully) moved on so much. In his day he would have been dynamite!
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Peter Jacobsson
- 19-08-05
An Amazing Recording
Bertrand Russell, a true defender of reason and a writer of the highest caliber. What a wonderful privilege to be able to consume his thoughts in this way. A sheer delight!
12 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MJ
- 18-11-11
Inspiring and provacative
Russell lived and died long before I was on this earth, but I feel so close to him in philosophy after listening to his essays. He articulates what I have thought and felt since abandoning christianity, and theism in general. I can listen to Russell over and over.
10 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gary
- 18-01-18
All earthlings can profit from these essays
Incredibly good well written set of essays that flow together. If you are a human being and have your basic needs met and have time to reflect about yourself and the nature of being human, these essays should be required reading. 'Love with knowledge' is our guide for morality. The Euthyprho dilemma explained in terms of God's fiat is the first time I've ever really understood it.
I still hear the special pleading arguments which were outlined in this book used by people today even after they have been shot down in this book. 'Everything that is needs a cause, therefore God (or Bob or the Super AI) must exist'. Who created God (or Bob, or the Super AI)? We can just as easily say the universe has always existed or even more intelligently not make a statement on what we don't know beyond the best facts known. Oh, how I hate the argument that morality proves the existence of God and the other tired old tropes all of which are refuted in this book.
There was one argument that I found silly. Russell criticizes Jesus cursing the fig tree. Spinoza had dismissed that 250 years earlier, because as Spinoza had said it is obviously an allegory about the nation of Israel. I read other modern books by atheist that think as Russell did about that. I just find that silly and weak.
We, after our basic needs are met, will always want to know about our place in the universe and books like this one gives us more guidance than most.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Charles
- 23-03-04
Excellent Logic
I'll be brief. Mr. Russell is brilliant and engaging. This is clear headed logic at it's best....what a great respite from status quo insanity.
22 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jim McFarland
- 16-12-18
can be hard to follow
by far, the most valuable and insightful essay is the first "what I believe " laying out Russell's advice on how to live a good life. However, it can be hard to follow Russell at times as he loves overly long sentences. I recommend reading the text whilst listening.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- George
- 15-07-04
Clarity, clarity, clarity
This recording covers works that are 90-50 years old. Amazing and dead on point for our modern "faith based" everything.
Highly reccomended
15 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Austin
- 01-05-09
A brilliant breath of fresh sense!
Accessible, rational, interesting. Russell is the most insightful and sensible author I've come across. I desperately wish we could get more of him in audio form.
6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Arno
- 19-07-17
I adore Russell
Which scene was your favorite?
"Good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge! Love without knowledge or knowledge without love are harmfull to humanity"... and history proved that.
"I say quite deliberately that Christian religion as organized in its churches has been and still is the principal enemy of moral progress in the world".
"Science can help us to overcome this craven fear imposed by religion".
Isn't he nice, isn't he smart! have always adored Russell, he was/is/ and will be my lighthouse in the ocean of knowledge and perfection pursuit.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ben Up the Tree
- 09-10-20
The Immovability of Human Prejudices
I think it is quite remarkable that excusing some of the dated and often prejudiced language used at the time, Bertrand Russell still delivers an empathetic look on how society can prosper with love and acceptance at its core. It boggles my mind that these essays, written in 1925, lays out the path to an enlightened society and that… well… upon reflection, it is clear nothing has changed in almost 100 years. These could have been penned this year and have been just as accurate. I hope those who follow the teachings of religions and hold strong political views can appreciate these writings as thoughtful exercises within their own beliefs. It certainly opened my eyes to opinions, which I held as true, which needed reexamining.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Longtom
- 29-10-17
great introduction to Bertie
This is a fantastic audio book. It is well read and so incredibly-written. Bertrand Russel is essential reading. He is thoughtful and sensitive, and does not pull punches.
1 person found this helpful