The God Delusion

Hi Sunshinecup, I initially felt the same way you did about Dawkins being too extreme. In fact I'm in the midst of arguing to other atheists on a different forum(although I am an atheist myself), that his approach toward religious moderates is too heavy handed, and not that different from extremists on the other side. However, reading the first section of the book has given me something to think about. He cites numerous examples of how atheists are being denied access to services or due process and are becoming targets in the same way communists were targeted by McCarthyism. In his introduction to the book, he writes that he is aiming the book at people who feel that it's not safe to confess to atheism, even though they don't really believe in God. He does NOT write that he's trying to turn theists into atheists; he just wants atheists to stand up to abuse. I haven't finished the entire book, but so I should stop before I risk misrepresenting him, but so far it seems more reasonable than I had expected after the hype.

It is when the author here, clearly states he has hopes of turning people in to Atheist. When you go to an extreme like that, your doing more than sharing your ideas.

Some people believe in informing themselves on both sides of the story, it's not necessarily proselytising to simply want to inform others about what one believes to be true

I am sure u will never understand because atheists are never really trying to convert other people. They don't need to. But I am sure u can explain why "religious" people have killed, coerced, and bribed in order to convert people of other faith to their own.

As a militant atheist who writes articles on the subject, I hope I can offer another point of view to your opinion on this. I don't care what people believe, I really don't. My mother is catholic, as is my grandmother. My two daughters both believe in God, just not God as the bible depicts. I respect their individual beliefs, and wouldn't dream of intruding on them, as I hope they respect my choice to not have those beliefs. Where people like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Brian Flemming and others speak out, and myself for that matter, are when religion is infringing on basic rights, governing laws of a society or attempting to impact the lives of the entire population, even though the entirity doesn't share those beliefs. While I respect individual belief, I can't abide those beliefs attempting to govern my life based on their religion. You say you have your beliefs and don't bother anyone with them, that's wonderful. If your beliefs work for you, then I applaud you for them, whether I happen to share them or not. However, not everyone is as considerate as you. Governments attempt to run nations based on religion, lobbyists attempt to use the bible to impact or change laws, to restrict science and medical procedures (abortion, stem cell research, etc). This is why atheists, and the atheist movement in general, has started speaking up, and will continue to do so. Our beef isn't with your individual beliefs, it's with those beliefs being used as an excuse to govern a way of life.

You obviously haven't read the book, and have little knowledge on what it's about. Dawkins doesn't attempt to disprove God, his book is about the rational versus the irrational and the impact on society. And likewise, it cannot be proven that there IS a god, although the burden of proof lays on the one claiming existence.

Dawkins isn't trying to disprove, but convince or open people minds, I think once that's happened, people will see the truth

Yes, I've heard of 'the God who wasn't there' and I may consider buying it in the future because I am interested in that sort of subject. Thank you for your post, it was very interesting!

Thats no proof at all. How would this God create everything? What solid proof do we have? We cant hear or see him. How can he be so powerful, but never tampers with Earth, we're supposed to believe that?

I love how people jump to assumptions, even though they've never read the book. You have no idea what it's about, since you've never read it, and yet you are prepared to rant and rave about it? More of that religious tolerance, huh? *grin*

Rant and rave? thats a bit harsh Is that what atheism teaches? accusations? and as for not reading this book how do you know? have you read the bible?

even bigger grin

His book The Blind Watch-Maker, which is a defence of Darwinism and to a great extent an attack on creationism is an amazing book, it literally changed my whole outlook on Darwinism and cleared up so many areas that I was ignorant of- to put that in context, I was a believer in evolutionary theory before I read it just thought I knew how it worked, then realised shortly into the book that what I knew was superficial and imperfect, I would recommend the book to anyone especially to those like myself who thought that they knew what Darwinism is about and how it works

You're misinformed on many points. First of all, you can't possibly be an atheist and be spiritual. Doesn't work both ways. Secondly, you claim believers don't give a damn about non believers ideas. You're more right than you know. They care so little about us that they assume they can change laws and change society to suit their religion, and the fact that we don't believe the same means nothing to them. Which is why people like Richard Dawkins speak up. He's not trying to disprove God. He's trying to tell people to use the brains you were born with and don't believe something irrational simply because someone told you it's true. We're not out preaching against God in the streets. We're fighting laws, and fighting governments and fighting lobbyists who ARE out in the street preaching about God, trying to make everyone conform to their morals and their beliefs. The fact that you can't see that worries me, actually.