The Transcendental Temptation
{{Short description|Book by Paul Kurtz}}
{{Infobox book |
| name = The Transcendental Temptation: A Critique of Religion and the Paranormal
| image = The Transcendental Temptation.jpg
| caption =
| author = Paul Kurtz
| country = United States
| language = English
| publisher = Prometheus Books
| pub_date = 1986
| media_type = Print
| pages =
| isbn = 0-87975-645-4
}}
The Transcendental Temptation: A Critique of Religion and the Paranormal is a 1986 book by the philosopher Paul Kurtz.[https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/601260 GoodReads website, The Transcendental Temptation] The book was published by Prometheus Books, a company founded by Kurtz in 1969.
Summary
Kurtz analyzes the bases of religion: how provable are the claims of the famous prophets who founded religion in their name: Jesus, Moses, Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Ellen G. White and others? He asks what the prospects are for developing a humanistic society based on scientific and humane foundations.
The book considers several aspects of religion including the existence of God, belief in the afterlife, reincarnation, mysticism, astrology and ufology; he concludes by directing the reader towards rational skepticism.[https://books.google.com/books?id=0lKxDwAAQBAJ Google Books website, The Transcendental Temptation]
Reception
In the award of the Norton Medal (endowed by Charles Phelps Norton) to Kurtz in 2001, The Transcendental Temptation was noted, amongst Kurtz's other contributions to secular humanism, as a seminal work on the topic. The award also noted Kurtz's founding of the Center for Inquiry.[https://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2001/04/5160.html University of Buffalo website, UB to Hold 155th General Commencement Ceremony May 13, article by Mary Beth Spina dated April 27, 2001]
References
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Category:1986 non-fiction books
Category:American non-fiction books
Category:Books critical of religion
Category:English-language non-fiction books
Category:Nontheism publications
Category:Prometheus Books books
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