The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The God Delusion
Book Review: A Disappointing Book
Summary: 2 Stars
I am disappointed because the author sets up several "straw men" that he easily knocks down and avoids deeper issues. Dawkins does not seem to distinguish between religion and the exploitation of religion, especially political disputes that are packaged as religious disputes. In fact, he claims the opposite, that ethnic strife is usually religious strife. He also lumps all religious attitudes together, people who believe in the literal truth of the Bible (or other religious texts) and those who think that such books have been written by people and should be read in their historical context and take from them only what is valid today.
The best part of the book is Chapter 5, "The Roots of Religion" where he addresses the question of why religion is so widespread amongst humans. But that is only one tenth of the book and the rest seems to ignore that part.
Dawkins explains the persistence of religious beliefs as a result of religious instruction and, in effect, "brainwashing" of children. However, there are beliefs that are not supported by any organized religion and are still widespread. A good example is the superstition about "evil eye." It exists amongst Christians, Muslims, and Jews (in Europe and the Middle East) and it is not part of any of these religions. It also exists amongst Hindus in India. What maintains people's belief in the "evil eye"? Because this superstition has not been sponsored by any major religion or political ruler, the reason for its survival should provide hints about the human need for religion.
Dawkins quotes selectively from the Bible to show that it does not teach morality. In doing so he ignores parts where religion has pioneered concepts of social justice. My favorite is from Leviticus 19.9-10: "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not pick your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger ..."
Book Review: A Godsend... figuratively speaking, of course.
Summary: 5 Stars
In my opinion, no treaties for reason have yet bested Carl Sagan's "The Demon-Haunted World", but this book comes darn close.
Dawkins uses incredible restraint in deconstructing the origins and motives of religious movements, down to rightly acknowledging the fact that indoctrination of babies and young children is a form of child abuse, psychologically tethering young minds to torturous fantasy notions of eternal pain and suffering for failure to obey the ever shifting and politically convenient translation of ancient scriptures.
I would gladly share this book with friends and family who are believers, because I feel that it is written in a conversational and respectful manner. The fact that many disagree (read the negative reviews - the majority of which were written by people who didn't bother to read the book) illustrates the special treatment that religious belief enjoys in our culture - a of wall of silence masquerading as tolerance.
Dawkins is unafraid to call a spade a spade, and covers all of his bases with thorough arguments and scientific explanations of what is known about the material world (and some of our immaterial reflections and perceptions of it, along with some of their likely origins).
I feel this is a book that should be read by anyone interested in the subject of religion, from within or without.
I wish I had this book when I was 12 - it would have saved me from a feeling of isolation I had as a non-believer.
Fear of isolation and alienation are the motivation for so many 'believers' to drink their kool aid like good little followers, believing in anything and everything their tin leaders push on them - this book serves as a much needed antidote.
Book Review: A Good Introduction To The Subject
Summary: 5 Stars
Dr. Richard Dawkins book "The God Delusion" can open one's eyes to the fallacies of religion and a god. However, I did find the book to be weak in some instances. Not in regard to the arguments set forth as being incorrect, but in the sense that the information was not presented with the hard facts and evidence that is available. The book was not as critical as I had thought it would have been. I know it is difficult to write a book and try to include many ideas in the sense that it did not present the hard undisputable facts, artifacts and evidence of biology, astronomy, evolution and paleontology. I think Dr. Dawkins in his book may have been trying to reach the general public who is unacquainted with science and he did not want to bog down the reader with anything that would be too taxing on the mind. Dr. Dawkins does present in his book that "god" should be viewed as a hypothesis, which I do not agree with completely. In his book, Dr. Dawkins indicates that it is amazing how people automatically accept god as factual and truthful without any evidence besides a book and what is taught in the church. I think most of the religious could not and would not even consider god being relegated to a hypothesis. However, the presence of a supernatural being known as "god" is not a testable hypothesis due to fact there isn't any evidence, nor artifacts to test it. The hypothesis is basically void due to the inability to test it. This inability of scientists to test the existence of god is a straw for the religious to grasp. In their way of thinking, scientists can not disprove the existence of god, therefore god exists. This is the kind illogical argument or path that the religious follow. Just because something can not be disproved does not mean something exists.
Therefore it is quite understandable that Dawkins does not participate in debates with the religious on the matter of god etc...I agree with him. Sometimes it seems almost pointless. It is sometimes scary as well considering how insecure, irrational and the violent nature that some people of the religious persuasion can have toward anyone questioning the existence of their God. The prejudice against the atheist is substantial although a conservative estimate of the numbers of atheists in the United States could be as little as 15 million people or as high as 30 million, maybe more. Dawkin's points out the prejudice against the atheist through the comments made by George Bush Sr. regarding whether he recognized the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are atheists: "No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God." Dawkins goes on to say that the reader should try an experiment of replacing atheist with "Jews", "Muslims" or "Blacks" in that statement made by George Bush Sr. How well would it go over if "Blacks" replaced the word atheist. There are thousands of atheists who have served their country in wars throughout the years including several members of my family who served in both WWI and WWII.
It is almost as if some people are programmed to believe god and religion although an avalanche (more like 10 avalanches) of evidence supports the scientific explanation for the creation our tiny miniscule planet (The Earth) and all life on it as it is in relation to the immense and infinite universe. Most people want the easy button to explain things. God and religion is the easy button. It is wrapped up in a nice neat package and it is easy to understand. However, physics, astronomy, evolutionary science and biology are another matter. It is complex and may be out of the realm of some people's intellectual understanding.
One of the main points that Dr. Dawkins brings forth is the indoctrination of children into religion. Children who have not yet formed the capabilities of thinking in a critical manner to access whether religion and a god is the kind of thinking that is right or even healthy for them. They are not even given a chance. It is given to them right from the beginning. The question of "Why not let the child decide once they are adults if religion is right for them" arises. Dr. Dawkins points out that Christianity as well as Islam teaches children that unquestioned faith is a virtue. I think it is sad that children are being "brainwashed" to further the untruths and unsubstantiated claims of the Christian religion and all other religions around the world.
Dr. Dawkin's book is a great book in combination with such books as "Evolution and the Myth of Creationism by Dr. Tim M. Berra, "From So Simple a Beginning, The Book of Evolution by Philip Whitfield, "Evolution vs. Creationism by Eugenie C. Scott and "Atheist Universe" by David Mills.
The book by Dr. Tim Berra presents the anthropological and paleontology arguments for evolution along with brief criticism of creationism. Philip Whitfield's book gives a very good overview of evolution. Both books by Scott and Mills present arguments rebutting intelligent design and creationism along with the dangers of such thinking and its effects on the education of children.
I think by reading Dr. Dawkin's book along with the other four books that I mentioned above would give a person who is inquiring a sound basic introduction to this matter. The study of psychology, biology, geology, astronomy, physics and anthropology would give the person the depth of understanding that would help them understand how things actually work and function in this world. Instead most people would rather rely on the sloppy, slippery, constantly shifting timelines of the imprecise writings and teachings of the religious factions that permeate this world, which brainwashes the vulnerable and unsuspecting in the United States and throughout the world.
Religion and the faith in a god is medieval thinking. As our nation continues into the 21st century, it is unfathomable that many people still hold onto such superstitious, nonsensical beliefs that should be relegated to the dark ages. If people devoted as much time to reading and learning a few things about the earth and its natural creation then they do reading the bible and going to church, they would realize how ridiculous they have been all this time by believing in such a fairytale. I think many people are open minded, but just need the time to investigate. However, there those who have religion so ingrained into them, no matter what evidence, argument or logic is presented to them, they will continue to be hooked on their religious drug.
Book Review: A Good Read for Atheists
Summary: 4 Stars
THE GOD DELUSION is aimed at changing the minds of religious believers, specifically Christians, though I doubt that many believers will be able to stomach Dawkins' no-holds-barred criticism of their faith. His examinations of prayer, the Old-Testament Yahweh, and the nature of miracles are always cutting and often hilarious: "[Suicide bombers] were taught [that duty to God exceeds all other priorities] not necessarily by extremist fanatics but by decent, gentle, mainsteam religious instructors, who lined them up in their madrasas, sitting in rows, rythmically nodding their innocent little heads up and down while they learned every word of the holy book like demented parrots." (p. 308) If Dawkins expects many religious people to respond rationally to an assertion like this, he's going to be disappointed.
Fortunately, as a treatise on why God is a foolish and dangerous fantasy, the book appeals just as much to non-believers as believers. Here is a well-thought-out, carefully-researched exploration of the fallacies of religion, with close logic and good arguments. One of the highlights is a sample of the hate-mail Dawkins has recieved from Christians (truly frightening). He also presents a long and thorough exploration of the misunderstandings spread about evolution, including explanations of the anthropic principle and so-called irreducible complexity. Every atheist would be well-advised to look at this chapter, if only to have a ready answer for intelligent design cliches like "how could ______ have come about by chance?"
This book leaves few religious arguments standing, and any believer who does make it through will have some serious thinking to do. At the same time, it is refreshing for the atheist who is tired of the same religious propaganda and would like to see some nonreligious propaganda for a change. Again, this book is not likely to make many converts, but as a thoughtful criticism of religion, it is excellent.
Book Review: A Great Book
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved this book, the best one I have read in a long time (ever?). There is nothing more refreshing than reading an opinion different from your own, that makes you question your own assumptions. I especially enjoyed the part toward the end where Dawkins discusses the indoctrination of children. "Parents should teach children HOW to think, not WHAT to think." I reccomend this book to believers and skeptics alike.