The Transcendental Temptation

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The Transcendental Temptation: A Critique of Religion and the Paranormal
AuthorPaul Kurtz
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
PublisherPrometheus Books
Publication date
1986
Media typePrint
ISBN0-87975-645-4

The Transcendental Temptation: A Critique of Religion and the Paranormal is a 1986 book by the philosopher Paul Kurtz. The book was published by Prometheus Books, a company founded by Kurtz in 1969.

Summary[edit]

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[edit]

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.[citation needed]