Julia Simon

I DON'T BELIEVE IN ATHEISTS
By Chris Hedges
Free Press, 185 pages, $25

Poor Einstein. Long after his death, atheists and agnostics, Jews and secular Jews are still trying to claim him for their side. Einstein was remarkably coy—you can interpret his quotes on God and religion in many contradictory ways. But reading Chris Hedges’ new book, it’s not hard to believe the well-circulated rumor (which has even popped up in Richard Dawkins’ chat rooms) that during his life Einstein was more wary of one group claiming him than all the others: the atheists.

Proselytizing atheists have been very busy recently writing religion-bashing best sellers, from Sam Harris’ The End of Faith (2005) to Mr. Dawkins’ The God Delusion (2006) to Christopher Hitchens’ God Is Not Great (2007). Mr. Hedges’ book, I Don’t Believe in Atheists, is a deep investigation into the historical and intellectual failings of these atheists’ ideas.  read more »