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Just wanted to know what you all thought.

Fantastic book, a little dry in places but over all very enjoyable.

agreed. I find it very enjoyable, and in my opinion, an easier read than the failed hypothesis.

It wasn't bad, though I did find some of it rather silly.

I thought it was more enjoyable as an audiobook with Dawkins reading. That wonderful British humor comes out better verbally than on paper. Loved it.

i cheated and got it on itunes. since i do a lot of driving, i thought it was a good idea...plus dawkins reads it and that is a plus!

if you are new to dawkins then you should enjoy it. I felt like i've already heard much of the things he says in the book.

yeah and some of it is rather silly.

I'm about half way done reading it. I think it's really good; very informative.

What are all these silly parts everyone is talking about?

I thought it was good but I only read it because my husband had bought it and a lot of theists were complaining about Dawkins being too harsh in it.  I did not think he was harsh or rude and it seemed like he was going out of his way to be non-offensive.  I kinda got tired of reading towards the end since it was meant to be read by theists and not people who were already convinced.  I like The Blind Watchmaker a lot better.

Quote from: "seasonsofmadness"I'm about half way done reading it. I think it's really good; very informative.

What are all these silly parts everyone is talking about?

Particularly his turning around of the booing 747 argument springs to mind. I find it silly particularly because he rightfully claims it to be a straw-man of evolution, but then turns it around on god.

I'm not aware of any theists that think that god popped into exist one day, or is composed of a multitude of intricate parts, so that is no less a straw-man.

Also how he clearly rails against the evils of religion, but when challenged about it says that he is merely interested in whether it is true or not, and not whether or not it is bad. His intuition is that the world would be better off without it, and thinks that it is a question for anthropology. Which is a good answer, but I really don't think that his book implies that at all.

Mostly I don't like how he doesn't really engage with any substantial philosophy or theology. If you want a book that really presents excellent arguments for and against god, then I would suggest reading "The Miracle of Theism: Arguments For and Against the Existence of God" by J.L. Mackie. Despite what the name of his book may imply, he is an atheist.

Quote from: "Whitney"I like The Blind Watchmaker a lot better.

WUV!

Quote from: "Hitsumei"

Quote from: "seasonsofmadness"I'm about half way done reading it. I think it's really good; very informative.

What are all these silly parts everyone is talking about?

Particularly his turning around of the booing 747 argument springs to mind. I find it silly particularly because he rightfully claims it to be a straw-man of evolution, but then turns it around on god.

I'm not aware of any theists that think that god popped into exist one day, or is composed of a multitude of intricate parts, so that is no less a straw-man.

Also how he clearly rails against the evils of religion, but when challenged about it says that he is merely interested in whether it is true or not, and not whether or not it is bad. His intuition is that the world would be better off without it, and thinks that it is a question for anthropology. Which is a good answer, but I really don't think that his book implies that at all.

Mostly I don't like how he doesn't really engage with any substantial philosophy or theology. If you want a book that really presents excellent arguments for and against god, then I would suggest reading "The Miracle of Theism: Arguments For and Against the Existence of God" by J.L. Mackie. Despite what the name of his book may imply, he is an atheist.

Haven't read it, but the 747 things sounds silly.  Still, it's not so bad.

It's kind of like a bunch of creationists roll up to the Academy of Sciences attempting to blow it up with a confetti cannon.  RD walks out, and remarks on how ridiculous the thing is and how it has no chance of bringing down the building, then proceeds to wheel it over to the nearest church and fire it at it half a dozen times in some mix of spite, contentment at proving through demonstration that it indeed doesn't work, and the joy of firing the ridiculous weapon at the people that made it even if it isn't doing anything.  "Do you like that?  Well do you?  I was under the impression that this was exactly the sort of thing you would like!"  

I liked "The Selfish Gene" better because I love Dawkins little forays into the animal world.  It's got more coffee table science in it, I guess.  I also liked "The Blind Watchmaker" better.

Quote from: "Kylyssa"I liked "The Selfish Gene" better because I love Dawkins little forays into the animal world.  It's got more coffee table science in it, I guess.  I also liked "The Blind Watchmaker" better.

I also liked those books, but I think that my favorite of his books was "The Ancestor's Tale".

Yes and yes! Blind Watchmaker and Ancestor’s Tale both do it for me

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F216.77.188.54%2FcoDataImages%2Fp%2FGroups%2F160%2F160292%2Ffolders%2F216301%2F1906987joy-smiley.gif&hash=b917bb20226ec23b1c6775beb77a6dc17b0894ec)

Topic split:  viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2946 (http://www.happyatheistforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2946)

Go there ^ if you want to discuss God and morality.

I've read the God Delusion as well, but wasn't overly impressed. Dawkins brought up some interesting points, but there were none that I already knew before. Well written book, but I rather prefer to read a good SciFi story.

ngdgdsjsgahaha

Quote from: "maestroanth"U r fucking stupid.............

You know, I'm still seeing too much flaming on this board. Maybe I should make 6  new posts about it?

Quote from: "maestroanth"unregister me for my response. i mean it, I'm done

Fine by me. I hope you follow up on this.

Quote from: "maestroanth"U r fucking stupid.............what does a god damn scifi story relate to his book, you defeat his entire purpose.  You brag on what you already "knew".

I'm agnostic, but god damn.

unregister me for my response. i mean it, I'm done

End.

I think you relate sci-fi to typlical god.

sry on my interpretation it sounded wierd.

sry fr braggin and bejng stupid   .

Quote from: "maestroanth"

Quote from: "Tom62"I've read the God Delusion as well, but wasn't overly impressed. Dawkins brought up some interesting points, but there were none that I already knew before. Well written book, but I rather prefer to read a good SciFi story.

U r fucking stupid.............what does a god damn scifi story relate to his book, you defeat his entire purpose.  You brag on what you already "knew".

I'm agnostic, but god damn.

unregister me for my response. i mean it, I'm done

End.

I think you relate sci-fi to typlical god.

sry on my interpretation it sounded wierd.

 :pop:

Stay tuned....

Seems like a fitting place for this clever (if a little to long) God Delusion Test
( though it may deserve a thread of its own )

[youtube:2qbuu2qr]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCX0JJ16dFM[/youtube:2qbuu2qr]

My Score +5

That was hilarious, but I love Edward Current anyway. I thought it sounded like him, hahaha.

My score: +5 as well, because I do believe that if you meditate on something deeply it CAN provide insights you wouldn’t ordinarily come to via normal dayâ€"toâ€"day thinking. But I don’t believe it comes from any sort of divine revelation.

Quote from: "Kodanshi"That was hilarious, but I love Edward Current anyway. I thought it sounded like him, hahaha.

My score: +5 as well, because I do believe that if you meditate on something deeply it CAN provide insights you wouldn’t ordinarily come to via normal dayâ€"toâ€"day thinking. But I don’t believe it comes from any sort of divine revelation.

thats where my +5 came from ..,

Quote from: "maestroanth"

Quote from: "Tom62"I've read the God Delusion as well, but wasn't overly impressed. Dawkins brought up some interesting points, but there were none that I already knew before. Well written book, but I rather prefer to read a good SciFi story.

U r fucking stupid.............what does a god damn scifi story relate to his book, you defeat his entire purpose.  You brag on what you already "knew".

I'm agnostic, but god damn.

unregister me for my response. i mean it, I'm done

End.

I think you relate sci-fi to typlical god.

sry on my interpretation it sounded wierd.

Uhhh,  WTF?  Don't you have an extremely random thread that no one will understand to create or something?

About the book, I thought it was pretty good, although I can see how its definitely not for everyone as he's very blunt with, well ... everything.  The Blind Watchmaker was a good book too, although I now gag at the mention of a Biomorph, haha.

Quote from: "G.ENIGMA"Seems like a fitting place for this clever (if a little to long) God Delusion Test
( though it may deserve a thread of its own
YOUTUBE
My Score +5

Posted that already. I'm still at 0.

Quote from: "Whitney"I thought it was good but I only read it because my husband had bought it and a lot of theists were complaining about Dawkins being too harsh in it.  I did not think he was harsh or rude and it seemed like he was going out of his way to be non-offensive.  I kinda got tired of reading towards the end since it was meant to be read by theists and not people who were already convinced.  I like The Blind Watchmaker a lot better.

I completely agree. The Blind Watchmaker was a more enjoyable read for me.
At several points during The God Delusion I found myself thinking "Oh come on Richard, you can do better than that!"

I have not read Ancestor's Tale.
Maybe I'll pick it up!

Definitely do. Utterly fascinating and very beautiful.

Hey mods plz delete that post in a quote of mine.

Quote from: "maestroanth"Hey mods plz delete that post in a quote of mine.

I don't know what you're referring to, maestroanth. You need to be more clear in what you mean.

it's in the brown area 7 posts up from this one by Twiddler quoting something I typed.

I'd like it deleted is all.

Quote from: "maestroanth"it's in the brown area 7 posts up from this one by Twiddler quoting something I typed.

I'd like it deleted is all.

Sorry, don't post stuff if you don't want it to be on the internet.  We can't go around editing everyone's posts when you later decide you didn't want to post something you posted.

Quote from: "maestroanth"ngdgdsjsgahaha

That was the most life affirming statement I have ever read Thank You :P