Alain de Botton's 'Temples for Atheists' Have a Foundational Flaw

THE GUARDIAN
By Steve Rose

Book Cover

UNITED KINGDOM - Alain de Botton is now proposing a series of temples for atheists to be built around the UK. "Why should religious people have the most beautiful buildings in the land?" he asks. "It's time atheists had their own versions of the great churches and cathedrals." Sounds great, Alain. But what are we worshipping?  De Botton's first monument will be the "Temple to Perspective", a hollow stone tower located in the City of London, that well-known hotbed of religious fanaticism. They come across like witty art installations, but would these follies – sorry, "temples" – convince any religious adherent to cross over? It's unlikely. What De Botton seems to be preaching is his own rather narrow definition of atheism, with its own unified philosophy, set of rules and even architectural brand identity. It feels rather like, er, a religion. [link]