The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
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Book Reviews of The God Delusion
Book Review: The straw that broke religion's back
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great read for anyone on the fence about religion. I would have called myself agnostic before reading The God Delusion. I had never thought much about it, and figured agnosticism was a sensible, neutral position. But it turns out I wasn't even clear on the meaning of the word, nor was I clear on the meanings of "atheism," "Christianity," "Islam," etc. In this book, Dawkins lays out the case for atheism and decimates the claims of most major religions.
Without giving a recap of the entire book, I'd like to say that it changed the way I think. I was never interested in discussing religion, even when I called myself a Christian. I found it uncomfortable, mostly because I was unable to think about it without being reminded of my many doubts about its claims. I decided to claim agnosticism in my teens, and it wasn't until I read this book last year that I admitted I had been an atheist pretty much the whole time.
Having freed myself of the discomfort I felt when thinking about religion -- and of thinking about things that run contrary to the claims of religion, like certain scientific claims -- I experienced a surge of interest in science, history, and politics (among other things). These things, I realized, had turned me off because of their religious implications. I became so interested in biology, for example, that I might have become a biologist had I been exposed to it an earlier age. I've got religious belief to thank for closing that door.
Back to the book, though: Dawkins is a gifted writer, and the book is an engaging read even if you don't agree with its premise. I've since read several of his books, and he excels at communicating difficult concepts in ways that are easily understandable. Even when he isn't spot-on in his reasoning (I've heard from a few philosophy buffs that his arguments in that area are fairly sophomoric -- e.g., his "Ultimate 747" argument, which seemed reasonable enough to me), he makes it clear how he arrived at his conclusions, and you can choose to agree or not at any step along the way. Unlike many Christian apologist authors, he actually gives you the dissenting viewpoint as well as his own, without modifying it to make it easier to tear down. (And, to be honest, he really doesn't need to. Religious claims are shaky enough on their own.)
If you're on the fence like I was, this is a great introduction to a lot of the things you'll probably be interested in after reading it. If, like me, this ends up being the final push over the cliff into atheism for you, it's one of the most worthwhile books you'll ever read. Having now read deeply into a lot of the subjects brought up in The God Delusion, I consider my initial proclamation of atheism one of the defining moments of my life. And I have Richard Dawkins to thank for that.
Book Review: This book was suprisingly good!
Summary: 5 Stars
When you approach a book with a title such as THE GOD DELUSION, you expect a book that primarily pokes fun at religion or the belief in a supreme being. After hearing some of Richard Dawkins lectures, I wondered why this book would be any what intellectual for being a book about making fun of religion as proof of religions lack of evidential value. I finally decided to buy and read this book through (cover to cover) after doubting my own convictions about God only because so many atheist describe it as the ATHEIST 101 guide to why people choose not to believe. Very quickly I was surprised to find that the book was actually quite good.
Knowing full well that Richard Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist, I wasn't the least bit surprised to see several uses of Darwinian Evolution in his discussions. I was surprised that he could eloquently answer so many of my questions about the need for religion. He thoroughly (in my opinion) refutes religion on the basis of science, morals, evidence, betterment of life, guide to making people more complete, and as a forum of child abuse to indoctrinate children to have an unquestioning attitude as to their parents religious convictions. I found the book to be an easy read and quite enjoyable. Never have I given so much attention to a book in my life.
My biggest surprise was his discussion of a double blind test on the healing power of prayers. I begin to see religion as a complex forum of non-proven beliefs that thrives on people's superstitions. Shortly there after, I saw prayers and miracles being no more acquainted with a god as being the cause of good luck from a rabbit's foot. Quickly, I saw that a lot of our beliefs (or evidence for belief) is solely based on superstition accompanied by some book that we do not question.
Though, I did not fully agree that religious moderates offer a gateway for religious fanaticism, I did agree with Professor Dawkins that such unquestioning beliefs could be used by someone with evil intents to lead people into committing horrible acts that they would not normally commit. While I think someone should not become an atheist solely on this book (atheism should be a process and not an overnight decision), I do feel that Professor Dawkins invites people to reach the security that it is okay to question their own beliefs and demand proof of such religious teachings. I also feel that this is the book that acts as a beacon for those who are now atheist to not be afraid to admit that they don't need a god to be happy people and that they should be willing to admit that they do not believe in any forum of deity. In the end, I think this an atheist book that will help people to change the way they perceive atheist if they are only will to crack open the cover and read it for themselves.
Book Review: A must read for everyone
Summary: 5 Stars
I just finished reading, for the second time, The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. It is an awesome book with many great points. Don't be put off by the title of the book, that's not really the main point (it is a point, don't get me wrong). The real main point of the book is to get people to think. To evaluate evidence, to think logically, and to not blindly believe in something just because you were told to believe in it. The book does a fantastic job at showing not only why the odds of a god existing are so incredibly small as to be negligible, why people may believe in a god (an idea with a Darwinian explanation), how we can be moral in the absence of religion (and to show that morality really doesn't come from religion at all), but also why we should not be forced to tip toe around religion.
Another great point, among the many great points, that I think Dawkins makes in the book is that we should not force children to be a certain religion, for children are not old enough to choose for themselves. As Dawkins puts it, there is no such thing as a Christian child, Muslim child, Buddhist child, etc, but a child of Christian parents, a child of Muslim parents, and children of Buddhist parents. Just as we (or I would hope most of us) would never say that there exists a Republican child, Democrat child, or a Marxists child, we should not say a child is a part of a particular faith. Children are too young to evaluate the evidence and decide for themselves.
The God Delusion is not just a book for people who are already atheists, though I am sure atheists like myself are in the majority of those who read the book. The book is good for everyone, whether they be atheists, agnostics, spiritual or religious. The book opens your eyes to the world, it makes you think logically, rationally and scientifically. It shows you that you should evaluate the evidence before believing in something. Believing in something blindly, without real evidence, or without asking yourself if the evidence provided is flawed (or just plain wrong), is a disgrace to being human. It's a disgrace because we have the ability to look at the world objectively, but many of us close our eyes to it, and believe whatever we are told. It is rather sad how many people do not even look for evidence before they believe in something.
I advise everyone to read this book with an open mind (and no, not so open that you blindly believe everything Dawkins says). I am not saying you have to agree with what Dawkins writes, but just open the book, and start reading. If you're atheist or agnostic, read the book. If you're on the fence about whether or not you believe in god, read the book. And if you're very religious, what harm can reading the book do? So you should read the book too.
Book Review: A Lesson To All
Summary: 5 Stars
I have enjoyed this book, as well as Dawkin's similar work, very much. I find him enlightened and a great communicator of valuable life-affirming ideas. He longs for people to think for themsleves and as such, he argues succsessfully, make the world a more harmonious and tolerant place.
On a personal level i'd like to say that after digesting Mr Dawkin's comments, i generally feel inspired to adpot a more outwards and vocal approach to my own entirely atheistic views. Not to necessarily enforce my views on people face to face (this kind of thing is annoying when unsolicited), but to do more in the way of joining organizations and becoming invloved in internet communities and so forth actively promoting scientific facts and the challenging of ignorance.
The problem, however, is that i love my wife.
She is a serious-mided Catholic who was brought up in an almost exclusively Catholic community in Poland - a predominantly Catholic country.
Now, i have always been an atheist and if pushed will maintain with, i think, solid reasoning that religion is merely a human concept (not a divine one) that does us more harm than good and is at best quaint in it's more minor traditions and at worst the epitome of stupidity and danger.
What to do?
I love my wife dearly and i say this in all honesty, she is a very honest and lovely person. She is kind, considerate and liked by everyone she meets. As much as i disagree with religious convictions, she says the church for her is very important and for me... that really is that. I respect her for her loving personality and as decent a person. We naturally have some differences of opinion, for instance, will our children be brought up Catholic? This is not a prospect i look forward to, but relationships (human relationships) are all about compromise and respect. And so, i think constructively how our children may be very fortunate in having two parents who dissagree on major issues in life, but still get on very well and love each other.
This has been a lesson to me.
I thank Richard Dawkins immensely for his valuable work and i do think it's important to redress certain problems of ignorance and coercion in our societies, BUT... i implore everyone to see the human being there first, before the religion of the person.
I have to dissagree with Mr Dawkins on just one point. When he says "it is time to stop being so damn respectful", i contest that it is NOT time to stop being respectful, but it's time to promote the overwhelming benefits of scientific enquiry whilst being very careful that we don't forget that there are many decent people in this world who happen to believe in God and also in love.
Book Review: A formidable presentation ...
Summary: 5 Stars
. but unlikely to convince many theists. However, unlike Sam Harris
The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason
or Christopher Hitchens
God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
Dawkins is at least respectful even if he strongly disagrees with theists. He does seem to be making a sincere effort addressed to them and not at them (as Harris and Hitchens seem to have done). I was surprised just how respectful Dawkins is, not of the religions but of the theists he addresses. And given his world-class understanding of evolutionary biology and clear presentation, those less die-hard in their theism or still hanging on to their religious upbringing may think twice after reading this book: in fact, as reading this and just recent Daniel Dennings'
Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
I registered as a Bright (as Dawkins and Dennings have done) online at the Brights Network.. Many, including myself, have raised in supernaturally soaked environments: it can take a long time to wean ourselves from the comfort of not only a belief of some supernatural kind in God, of supernatural Buddha nature, of the soul and life after death as someone else would tell us it is.
Dawkins is not without admiration for the canonical Jesus. But he includes some enlightening quotations from Thomas Jefferson and from the treaty with Tripoli signed by John Adams in 1797 which should definitely make anyone claiming the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation wince. Dawkins does express great concern with the amount of religious fanaticism to be found in the U.S. today. Dawkins alludes to Christopher Hitchins' biography
Thomas Jefferson: Author of America (Eminent Lives):
that a biologist of such renown as Dawkins knows so much more about our founding fathers than I do puts me to shame.
This is a book well worth reading and re-reading. It may be the best non-fiction work I have read in the past year. Along with Dennett's "Breaking the Spell" and Carl Sagan's
The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God
it helped me to finally go of the unproductive vestiges of my childhood religious conditioning.