The God Delusion – Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins, the evolutionary biologist known for The Selfish Gene and The Blind Watchmaker, has long been one of the most outspoken critics of religion. In The God Delusion, he presents a sustained argument that belief in a supernatural creator is almost certainly mistaken, and that religion has often been a harmful force in the world.
Dawkins begins by distinguishing the personal, intervening God of most religions from the vaguer, metaphorical or pantheistic uses of the word associated with figures such as Einstein. He then examines the traditional arguments for the existence of God, including the cosmological, ontological and design arguments, and explains why he finds them unconvincing. Central to his case is his argument that a designer complex enough to create the universe would itself require explanation, making God improbable, and that natural selection offers a far better explanation for the complexity of life.
Later chapters explore why religion is so widespread, suggesting that it may be a byproduct of psychological tendencies that evolved for other reasons. Dawkins argues that morality does not depend on religion, examines the moral content of scripture, discusses what he sees as the dangers of religious extremism and the teaching of religion to children, and makes the case that atheism can be a positive, fulfilling outlook.
Written with wit and passion, The God Delusion became an international bestseller and a central text of the movement sometimes called the new atheism. It provoked intense debate, and many theologians, philosophers and scientists have offered strong critiques of its arguments.
It is a provocative read for those interested in religion, science and philosophy.
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