Books : The God Delusion

Rating: - A very intelligent man...so why doesn't he do a bit more reading?
Richard Dawkins is a very intelligent man, that much is evident. A professor at Oxford, prolific author, witty and knowledgeable. So why doesn't he actually do some wider reading so that he can accurately report on issues of religion, Christian theology etc. I'm not a scientist, but if I were going to write a piece on science then I would at least read something BY scientists and not ABOUT them, on what they actually think and not what someone has told me they think. Whatever Richard Dawkins is as a scientist I distrust him completely as an accurate reporter of Christian theology. A first-year theology student or informed layperson will simply not recognise the crude characterisations of Christian theology that are painted by Prof. Dawkins. How can someone who is looked up to by so many as a well-informed commentator be so very ignorant of some very basic and accessible issues of what is believed by so many Christians. One has to conclude that Richard Dawkins writes this way because it serves his purpose in the polemical debates. At times, this book descends to the level of fundamentalist rant. It is so sad that someone of Professor Dawkins' standing has resorted to the level of debate enjoyed by those religious fundamentalists' he so despises. For analyses that are just as witty and insightful, but far fairer, try the late Carl Sagan. Other fascinating and stimulating reads are those works on science and religion by people who, unlike Richard Dawkins, are conversant and competent on both eg Prof. Sir John Polkinghorne or Prof. Alister McGrath .

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Rating: - Very tenous argument...uter drivel
I bought this book with high hopes of reading strong and convincing arguments against the idea of there being a supreme being. I'm no religious person and have my doubts that there is a god but this book is soooooo boring, disjointed, repetitive and clogged with very weak and almost ridiculous arguments and analogies. c'mon prof dawkins, u cud hav done better!

total waste of money...i cud have written a better book on the subject!

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Rating: - Too much pretentious waffle and French...
I love to read and always planned on having this book on my shelf. The subject of atheism fascinates me. However, upon trying this work, I found it long-winded, pretentious, boring, superfluous, self-congratulatory and completely uninspired. I know reading some of the reviews on here, that people will think me narrow minded and uneducated for saying such things. But such is life. My only use for this piffle is for getting an early night in.
My apologies Dawkins fans - I think the author was more intent on showing off for the 'hierarchal parasites', rather than expressing his points of view in a manner which is entertaining for all. Big mistake. This book received mass coverage because the news reports nothing but dross. Had this book been placed on a shelf and left for the people to recommend to others, I doubt it would have sold at all. Thanks.

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Rating: - Mostly Froth
I read this book because I am a Christian and I wanted to challenge my faith and see whether it could stand up to the arguments of one of the most well known advocates of atheism. I did enjoy the sections on science in which Dawkins has a clear expertise, but I was unimpressed by the majority of his arguments against religion. The manner in which he delivers his arguments is so emotive that he lacks the objectivity that characterises serious intellectual argument. He is emotionally involved with the topic to the point of enjoying quoting people insulting religion. At times he comes across as an unpleasant mocking character. He also uses religious extremists to illustrate his points that are far from representative of what most religious people think. His arguments are highly selective of the evidence and hardly approach a systematic or rigorous treatment of the subject. I have the feeling that he is being deliberately sensationalist in order to sell more books that seems to be the primary reason for its publication. I started the book as a believer and finished it as a believer.

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Rating: - Dawkins' Great Mistake
Dawkins title lets us believe that he will show that the idea of "God" is a delusion. The book, however, is about religion and religious anachronisms. It is a bit like banging the baby's crib: no one in his right mind, not even theologists, would deny many of the quite superficial arguments or obvious facts Dawkins comes up with. Most religions were born thousands of years ago and - necessarily - mix religious notions with superstition and simpleminded reasonings in order to go down well with the tribes or masses that needed social discipline in the form of dogma.
But Dawkins does not do much to convince that there is no "God". To the contrary, after reading the book one has the feeling that the auther actually believes there is "something" but is trying to shout it down with "scientific" arguments because the idea gives him the creeps.
Still, interesting enough for three stars.