The God Delusion
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4.3 • 228 Ratings
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- £5.99
Publisher Description
THE FOUR MILLION COPY INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
The brilliantly argued and impassioned classic polemic from the world’s best-known atheist. Sensationally incisive and perennially timely, this is required reading for everyone.
‘A resounding trumpet blast for truth’ Matt Ridley
'[The God Delusion] deserves multiple readings; not just as an important work of science, but as a great work of literature’ Steven Weinberg, Nobel Laureate, Times Literary Supplement
‘If its merciless rationalism doesn’t enrage you at some point, you probably aren’t alive’ Julian Barnes
‘Entertaining, wildly informative, splendidly written’ Rod Liddle, Sunday Times
'There is not a dull page . . . a book that makes me want to cheer its clarity, intelligence and truth-telling’ Claire Tomalin
‘My favourite book of all time . . . a heroic and life-changing work’ Derren Brown
‘Spirited and exhilarating . . . Dawkins comes roaring forth in the full vigour of his powerful arguments’ Joan Bakewell, Guardian
‘At last, Richard Dawkins, one of the best non-fiction writers alive today, has assembled his thoughts on religion into a characteristically elegant book’ Steven Pinker
‘The world needs passionate rationalists unafraid to challenge long accepted beliefs. Richard Dawkins so stands out through the cutting intelligence of e God Delusion’ James D. Watson, Nobel Laureate and co-discoverer of DNA
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The God Delusion caused a sensation when it was published in 2006. Within weeks it became the most hotly debated topic, with Dawkins himself branded as either saint or sinner for presenting his hard-hitting, impassioned rebuttal of religion of all types.
His argument could hardly be more topical. While Europe is becoming increasingly secularized, the rise of religious fundamentalism, whether in the Middle East or Middle America, is dramatically and dangerously dividing opinion around the world. In America, and elsewhere, a vigorous dispute between 'intelligent design' and Darwinism is seriously undermining and restricting the teaching of science. In many countries religious dogma from medieval times still serves to abuse basic human rights such as women's and gay rights. And all from a belief in a God whose existence lacks evidence of any kind.
Dawkins attacks God in all his forms. He eviscerates the major arguments for religion and demonstrates the supreme improbability of a supreme being. He shows how religion fuels war, foments bigotry and abuses children.
The God Delusion is a brilliantly argued, fascinating polemic: required reading for anyone interested in this most emotional and important subject.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The antireligion wars started by Daniel Dennett and Sam Harris will heat up even more with this salvo from celebrated Oxford biologist Dawkins. For a scientist who criticizes religion for its intolerance, Dawkins has written a surprisingly intolerant book, full of scorn for religion and those who believe. But Dawkins, who gave us the selfish gene, anticipates this criticism. He says it's the scientist and humanist in him that makes him hostile to religions fundamentalist Christianity and Islam come in for the most opprobrium that close people's minds to scientific truth, oppress women and abuse children psychologically with the notion of eternal damnation. While Dawkins can be witty, even confirmed atheists who agree with his advocacy of science and vigorous rationalism may have trouble stomaching some of the rhetoric: the biblical Yahweh is "psychotic," Aquinas's proofs of God's existence are "fatuous" and religion generally is "nonsense." The most effective chapters are those in which Dawkins calms down, for instance, drawing on evolution to disprove the ideas behind intelligent design. In other chapters, he attempts to construct a scientific scaffolding for atheism, such as using evolution again to rebut the notion that without God there can be no morality. He insists that religion is a divisive and oppressive force, but he is less convincing in arguing that the world would be better and more peaceful without it.
Customer Reviews
See AllExcellent logical and well researched...
It's reassuring to know that I am not alone in my inability to accept the absurdity of religion against the available scientific evidence. Peace, equality, love, and humility are the only possible saviours of humanity.
Totally Rational and Logical
Please, if you are at all curious about the beliefs that people have in the supernatural - read this. It is a clear, intelligent, rational discussion questioning the basis for these beliefs and our acceptance of them in society.
The only people who will not enjoy this book are those who have such faith in the supernatural that no amount of evidence or logic could convince them otherwise.
Brilliant
Genuinely thought provoking and interesting. Hilarious at times. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the topic of God and religion.