The God Delusion

"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 that will be required reading for anyone interested in this most emotional and important subject.

I find the views expressed by mr dawkins quite interesting but sadly they rely completely on the exclusive validity of science and human reason which itself is flawed. The history of science is littered with theories which have subsequently been shown to be wrong and many false theories have been the product of perfect reasoning. Mr Dawkins recently complained that books on religion and the spiritual outsell books on science by 3 to 1. I believe there are 2 reasons for this. The first is that many theories expressed in modern science are superseded or contradicted by others before they have left the shops.Readers questions are left unanswered. The views of Mr Dawkins will probably also be outdated one day. The second reason is that the spiritual life more than reason is essential to mankind. A restrictive scientific viewpoint does not satisfy us. It is quite rational to accept the existence of an Original Being even though Mr Dawkins has not found him. Many of his colleagues in the scientific world already know that a belief in the existence of God does not necessarily conflict with their work in science. There are many pathways to the truth and science is only one of them. It is arrogant to assume that human reason is the only way.Reason should not make itself a cripple by limiting the boundaries of its knowledge to only those things it can understand. There may be many forms of intelligence out there in the universe and some of them may have risen above our own. Religion can and does live with and value reason. It is time now for science to live with and value religion even though at present it doesn't understand it.

Colin Crawley - Colin Crawley



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