Philosopher Alain de Botton Promotes Religion for Atheists

THE KOREAN HERALD
By Claire Lee

KOREA - Philosopher and author Alain de Botton grew up in a Jewish family where religion was thought to be “completely ridiculous,” and it took him a while for him to say he didn’t agree. “(My family thought) if you are intelligent, you believe in science. … And with respect to my parents, I nevertheless moved away from that position. And even though I am still an atheist, I am now much more sympathetic to many of the lessons and traditions of religion.” The newly released Korean edition, "Religion for Atheists" published five months ahead of the English edition, is de Botton’s philosophical account on how “people who don’t believe in supernaturals” can also benefit and learn from religious teachings and practices. There are many things that modern-day secular people could “steal” from religion, including its education, art and the way it perceives beauty. “Religions remember that we are not just brains but bodies,” he said. Religious art, on the other hand, is interested in what is beautiful but also in what is true, de Botton said. [link]