The God Delusion

[keithpenrod]

So, I just got my copy of The God Delusion.  I'm loving it so far.  I'm curious to hear what other people think about the book (and about Dawkins in general). 

When I was a believer, I never was very comfortable with the way God was depicted in the Old Testament.  And this is precisely why.  (From p 31)

"The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully." 

That's why I didn't like him very much.  I didn't mind the Jesus in the New Testament, or the God that's depicted in the Book of Mormon or in Sunday School class as much, but the one in the OT is a real prick.

[Guardian85]

That is one of my favourite quotes!

I liked The God Delusion quite a bit. It was the first time I had really thought about religious questions after my sneak deconversion (Yes, I am so ninja I deconverted myself behind my own back  ) and the book really laid out the arguments for and against in a surprisingly fresh and interesting way. There is no doubt that the man can write, and that he at times is very funny, even when the topic is serious.

And some here might remember the event with this particular book and the mormon missionary I recounted in an old post. 

[Tank]

The God Delusion definitely radicalised me into the militant atheist I am now 

Dawkins has publicised, promoted and popularised atheism in a manner previously impossible. Assisted by the great theist Osama Bin Laden Dawkins has finally help put theism where it should be, under the harsh light of rational debate. The availability of the Internet has helped this scrutiny become mainstream. Is he a good philosopher? Debatable. Is he a good scientist? On a good day, yes. Is he a great human being? There are better. Is he the right guy in the right place at the right time? You betcha!

[OldGit]

I just found out that there's now a book called The Dawkins Delusion.

[history_geek]

I just found out that there's now a book called The Dawkins Delusion.

He also appears to have another book dedicated to Dawkins as well: Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life

Funny thing is, I found those books while checking if the libraries around here had "The God Delusion"...

[DeterminedJuliet]

I just found out that there's now a book called The Dawkins Delusion.

Another I've seen bandied about is: I don't have enough faith to be an atheist.

All worldviews, including atheism, require faith. Believing anything requires some degree of faith, even if many adherents dont want to think so. I Dont Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist argues that Christianity requires the least faith of all because id is the most reasonable. In a logical, readable, non-technical, engaging style, Norman Geisler and Frank Turek lay out the evidence that the truth about reality is knowable, that God exists, and that the Bible is reliable. In this valuable aid for those interested in examining the reasonableness of the Christian faith, doubters of all sorts will find their abjections answered and Christians will find their confidence in the reasonableness of the faith strengthened.

If that doesn't make your head explode, I don't know what will. I've actually heard Christians use this as their argument; that Christianity is the default and it takes "faith" to become an atheist. Sure it might feel that way if you've been indoctrinated your whole life, but that's called fear of change. It doesn't mean that's how reality works!

[The Magic Pudding]

I just found out that there's now a book called The Dawkins Delusion.

Another I've seen bandied about is: I don't have enough faith to be an atheist.

All worldviews, including atheism, require faith. Believing anything requires some degree of faith, even if many adherents dont want to think so. I Dont Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist argues that Christianity requires the least faith of all because id is the most reasonable. In a logical, readable, non-technical, engaging style, Norman Geisler and Frank Turek lay out the evidence that the truth about reality is knowable, that God exists, and that the Bible is reliable. In this valuable aid for those interested in examining the reasonableness of the Christian faith, doubters of all sorts will find their abjections answered and Christians will find their confidence in the reasonableness of the faith strengthened.

If that doesn't make your head explode, I don't know what will. I've actually heard Christians use this as their argument; that Christianity is the default and it takes "faith" to become an atheist. Sure it might feel that way if you've been indoctrinated your whole life, but that's called fear of change. It doesn't mean that's how reality works!

Abjections?  Abjection: A low or downcast state
Abject: Of the most contemptible kind; Most unfortunate or miserable; Showing utter resignation or hopelessness; Showing humiliation or submissiveness.

My low and downcast state caused by the influence of the delusional is answered by that paragraph, answered and reinforced.

[Sweetdeath]

How the heck does it take faith to be an atheist? ;____; I am very puzzled.

[Guardian85]

How the heck does it take faith to be an atheist? ;____; I am very puzzled.

Haven't you heard? Atheism is a religion according to religious loonies. 
I usually say atheism is a religion the same way not smoking is a habit.

[Firebird]

Maybe I should give the book another chance. I tried reading it a few years ago and didn't make it through, as I found him to be too arrogant for my tastes. I was looking more for something that would convince the unconvinced, or at least something that would make a religious person think twice. That book seemed more like a dressing-down of all religious people, and played too much to the worst stereotypes of atheists.

[Asmodean]

The God Delusion definitely radicalised me into the militant atheist I am now 

I got there all by meself...

God Delusion is a good book, but to me it seems kind of overrated.

[keithpenrod]

How the heck does it take faith to be an atheist? ;____; I am very puzzled.

Haven't you heard? Atheism is a religion according to religious loonies. 
I usually say atheism is a religion the same way not smoking is a habit.

My favorite was the way Bill Maher put it: atheism is a religion like abstinence is a sex position.

[Guardian85]

Atheism is a religion the same way bald is a hairdo.

[Sandra Craft]

My low and downcast state caused by the influence of the delusional is answered by that paragraph, answered and reinforced.

I was thinking that I'd find it hard to be convinced of anything by someone who didn't know their abject from their object.

How the heck does it take faith to be an atheist? ;____; I am very puzzled.

That's just more of the "you do it too!" defense.  Pretty damn weak, but when it all they've got, it's what they use.

Maybe I should give the book another chance. I tried reading it a few years ago and didn't make it through, as I found him to be too arrogant for my tastes. I was looking more for something that would convince the unconvinced, or at least something that would make a religious person think twice. That book seemed more like a dressing-down of all religious people, and played too much to the worst stereotypes of atheists.

I got all the way thru the book and still share your opinion on it.  I agree with most of what Dawkins says but not with how he says it -- if his goal is to convince the unconvinced (and I'm not certain that's either necessary or good) he should take himself out of the fight and leave it to someone with better people skills.

[Amicale]

I got all the way thru the book and still share your opinion on it.  I agree with most of what Dawkins says but not with how he says it -- if his goal is to convince the unconvinced (and I'm not certain that's either necessary or good) he should take himself out of the fight and leave it to someone with better people skills.

Same, BCE. I agree with it, but not how he says it.

I recently read this: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/dawkins-calls-for-mockery-of-catholics-at-reason-rally/

"For example, if they say they're Catholic: Do you really believe, that when a priest blesses a wafer, it turns into the body of Christ? Are you seriously telling me you believe that? Are you seriously saying that wine turns into blood?"

If the answer is yes, Dawkins suggested atheists should show contempt for believers instead of ignoring the issue or feigning respect.

"Mock them," he told the crowd. "Ridicule them! In public!"

Being that it's from CNA, I don't know how much of it is distortion or exaggeration, but if it's the truth at all, then there's a huge issue he's got with people skills. We don't promote understanding or calm discussion or anything positive by mocking people, showing contempt for them, etc. That's just counter productive.

Sigh. Despite my issues with Dawkins, I see my post count title on HAF is now 'The Dawkinator'. Oh joy.