The Transcendental Temptation
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| Author | Paul Kurtz |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Published | 1986 (Prometheus Books) |
| Media type | |
| ISBN | 0-87975-645-4 |
The Transcendental Temptation: A Critique of Religion and the Paranormal is a non-fiction book by Paul Kurtz. The book was published by Prometheus Books in 1986, a company founded by Kurtz in 1969, but which has published numerous book on skepticism and secular humanism by many authors.
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.
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.