The God Delusion

By Richard Dawkins; has anyone here with religous belief read it?

nope

No, I've read several of his articles for newspapers/magazines, etc. though. Despite being religious (and consequently disagreeing with a lot of what he says), I tend to agree that other people (non-religious or not) shouldn't be expected to tip-toe around my (or anyone else's) beliefs. No one has the right not to be offended and certainly not over their religious beliefs not being adhered to by others. I do find the whole "aetheism as a religion" movement highly ironic and amusing, particularly when otherwise intelligent people are unable to see the humour and hypocrisy in people being evangelical aetheists. Most attacks on religions are really on the extremes; on one side lunatics killing people over it and on the other people incessantly pestering others to follow their beliefs. Neither are things I approve of or condone, nor do most religious people come anywhere near either camp, but we're still tarred with the same brush. Most people with some sort of belief in God quietly go about their business and unless you asked them, you'd never know they were any different to a non-believer.

Incidentally, anyone else find it odd that the majority of people in the UK still believe in God, but that looking at the people I know, I'd say probably only 1 in 4 of them do?

I've got it on MP3 if you want it G2D.

I've been looking for written articles about the book written from people with religous belief to see how they can counter-act the argument. So far every one I've found has been interesting, following the same pattern.

They all 'debunk' the arguement by attacking apparent mistakes or flaws in the argument and then insulting Richard Dawkins as a fake loony. No one of these attacks ever questions the important points Dawkins rasies, but rather quotes scripture which apparently answers his challenege (in a somewhat ironic way when it contradicts earlier scripture Dawkins quotes).

They then follow to defend their own religion by distinguishing their religion against the others, and mocking other religions beliefs or even groups within their own religion. This is amusing to say the least, and again not an argument.

Every argument against the book seems to miss the point of Dawkins argument altogether; so much so it makes me believe that the people writing these arguements are terrified by what the book contains that they need to react in such a ridiculous way.

I admit that the book really does preach to the converted, and isn't written in a style religous believiers will like (i.e. dismissing it utterly from the first chapter). But I'd like to see them try and defend the important aspects, like creationism.

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

I do find the whole "aetheism as a religion" movement highly ironic and amusing, particularly when otherwise intelligent people are unable to see the humour and hypocrisy in people being evangelical aetheists.

-An example of what I mentioned above. Attacking the argument outright in a ridiculous manner. There's no atheism religion, of course not. Atheists do not want to 'organise' ourselves, but want to get rid of the assumption that religion comes first in everything

Originally Posted by licoricepizza

I've got it on MP3 if you want it G2D.

It's ok thanks. I've got the book. I was re-reading a bit lastnight obviously a bit too deeply.

My alarm went off this morning and I woke up thinking 'I'm not stupid, this is 'god' trying to wake me up', I'm staying in bed!'.

Originally Posted by licoricepizza

I've got it on MP3 if you want it G2D.

Any chance of a copy? It'll give me something to listen to at work this week.

I'll PM you my details.

try www.filefactory.com
good for sharing this kind of stuff

Originally Posted by Ed

nope

Any incentive to?

I am in the middle of the book as we speak.

Quite an intense read to be fair.

I advise anyone who is interested in reading this book to fully clue themselves up on the various states of religious belief; some of it gets quite confuzzling indeed !!

Also, a broad understanding of that man 'Charles Darwin' will stick you in good stead too !!