The God Delusion

by Richard Dawkins

Dawkins can at times be a great writer - his 'Selfish Gene' was a joy to read. The God Delusion is an interesting and thought provoking discussion on god, religion and the effects they have on our politics and culture.

He makes the point that he has been dismissed as a fundamentalist atheist, and replies this is not so, being as he is confident but not entirely sure that there is no god. Dawkins argues that the worst he does is argue using words, wheras religious believers use suicide bombing, rocket launchers and all kind of other methods to kill and maim people who they disagree with.

He rightly points out the huge gap between contemporary morality and the morality in the Bible. How many people today regard it as acceptable for children to be executed if the dishonour their mother or father? Yet this is what it states in the Bible. Many contemprary christians would argue that not all such things apply today or should be interpreted litearlly. So, Dawkins reasons, if we are to ignore sections of the bible, and rely on our own inner morality and common sense, what need do we have for the Bible at all?

My own view is that it is indeed true that Religion generally can be very harmful, and the world would be a better place if there was noone to fight to the death for their religious beliefs. Are not the conflicts between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland; Hindus and Muslims in Kashmir; Jews and Muslims in the middle east ample enough evidence for situations where religous differences have been a factor in divides that have caused violence? Yet I also feel that evangelising for atheism is not a good idea. I think Dawkins strays clear of this, and I can only commend his book.