|
|
|
|
|
The God Delusion
List price: $27.00
Sale price: $17.82
You save: $9.18 (34%)
Author(s): Richard Dawkins
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 211.8
EAN: 9780618680009
ISBN: 0618680004
Label: Houghton Mifflin
Language(s): English Original LanguageEnglish UnknownEnglish Published
List Price: $27.00
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 416
Package Dimensions:
Height: 1.57"
Width: 5.98"
Length: 1.57"
Weight: 1.28 lbs.
Product Group: Book
Address: 2006-09-18
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Studio: Houghton Mifflin
Editorial Reviews
Product Description:
A preeminent scientist -- and the world's most prominent atheist -- asserts the irrationality of belief in God and the grievous harm religion has inflicted on society, from the Crusades to 9/11.
With rigor and wit, Dawkins examines God in all his forms, from the sex-obsessed tyrant of the Old Testament to the more benign (but still illogical) Celestial Watchmaker favored by some Enlightenment thinkers. 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, buttressing his points with historical and contemporary evidence. The God Delusion makes a compelling case that belief in God is not just wrong but potentially deadly. It also offers exhilarating insight into the advantages of atheism to the individual and society, not the least of which is a clearer, truer appreciation of the universe's wonders than any faith could ever muster.
Customer Reviews Average rating - 4.0
Rating - 5 Date: 2009-01-07
Content: Man speaks the truth!!!, with all due apologies to David Hume and my philosophy Professors in college.
Summary: Truth
Rating - 1 Date: 2009-01-01
Content: First off let me tell you that I am a Christian. Second let me tell you that Richard Dawkins is wrong. If you are wondering if God exists or not then please look everywhere until you find him. There are a number of good books and DVD's on Amazon that show proof of God. The first, of course, is the bible but if you want to do research outside of the bible then look at intelligent design. DNA and its complexity points to God (our creator). I recommend "The Case for a Creator" or even Ben Stein's "No Intelligence Allowed" (this DVD which has clips of interviews with Richard Dawkins). Either one of these should give you great concerns about believing Mr. Dawkins. The more you research intelligent design...the more scientific evidence you will discover supporting creation. God is not the Delusion...He is the solution.
Please don't be fooled by Mr. Dawkins. Look elsewhere for answers.
Summary: Don't buy this book. Save your money as Richard Dawkins is wrong
Rating - 1 Date: 2009-01-01
Content: Shame. Ignorance. Sad. Total lack of intellegence. Save your money and your eternal soul. Do NOT buy.
Summary: Shame
Rating - 4 Date: 2008-12-30
Content: Richard Dawkins and his book, The God Dilution, attempts to test people's faith. I think it is impossible to analyze The Almighty One the same way you would any other scientific theory. It's like comparing apples and oranges. There will always be those people who are faithful, those who are atheists, and those who are on the fence as agnostics. It will all be made clear in the end. I had to give him four stars for his excellent literary writing and continuing the great debate.
I see from reading the reviews on this site some people have recommend my book, "The Enlightenment, What God Told Me After One Million Prayers: A Message for Everyone," and again I just want them to know how much I appreciate their recommendation, especially at such a excellent site. I wrote this book out of love and for the glory of God and Jesus, not for my own fame or fortune. I welcome people to read my book, I'm sure you'll find this non-fiction account of a loving God positive and inspiring
Summary: Excellent literary writing
Rating - 3 Date: 2008-12-29
Content: 'The God Delusion' is an interesting, sometimes fun, occasionally irritating, and mostly antagonistic writing. As a practicing biologist, I find myself reading and reviewing from within the framework of evolutionary theory. But from the concern that this could be too myopic, I consider the likes of Vine Deloria Jr.'s "Evolution, Creationism and other Modern Myths" to be a worthy companion and recommend this to other readers.
I found 'Delusion' to be somewhat scattered at times in what it was either attacking or supporting. Sometimes it was sticking to 'God', but often drifting to religion at large without re-defining the breadth of this term. More accurate clarification of definitions and sticking within these confines would have helped Dawkin's arguments.
The focus in one of the chapters on Adolf Hitler's Catholicism as potentially motivating his efforts was, to me, not as convincing as psychobiographical literature that present an alternative hypothesis. The Swiss psychoanalyst Alice Miller and the psychobiographer Lloyd DeMause, to name just two, have written on the psychology of abuse in childhood and how it impacted the adult lives of many murderous dictators, including Hitler.
In fact, in comparing religion per se versus past child abuse and neglect (a strict and oppressive religious up-bringing can constitute child abuse) as a source of violent motivations in individuals or groups, I would wager that sustained abuse during childhood is more than just the spark that sets individuals down the road to violence. Detrimentally, some religions both promote and exploit the fear that becomes integrated into the child mind which can subsequently be fanned during adolescence and adulthood into the flames of interpopulation conflict. As any psychologist will tell you, these are not motivations which readily can be "argued away" using reason. It would be quite interesting were Dawkins to immerse himself in works following the psychobiological lineage initiated by Ian D. Suttie ("The Origins of Love and Hate") and developed into attachment theory by John Bowlby (the Attachment Trilogy books) and colleagues before addressing this topic anew.
Thoughtful writings that address not only the religious roots of violence to other humans but also to the planet in general that may be of interest to other readers are Paul Shepard's "Nature and Madness" and David Abram's "The Spell of the Sensuous".
Summary: Another angle.......
|
|
|
|