if any religious people read Dawkins' book Selfish Gene, will they all become atheist?

Question

i've heard anybody read 'selfish gene' will turn into athesit, why is this book so powerful?

Answer 1

Because Dawkins is an excellent writer and explains things so they are easy to comprehend. I was mostly atheist before reading him though. Although he did make me feel alot better and more confident about my atheism. I read the god delusion but haven’t got to the selfish gene yet.

Answer 2

I don't think anyone seriously claims that, anymore than a sensible christian would claim anyone who read the bible would become a christian.

It's a great book but its about evolution, the asides about religion are a bit off topic, though I agree with them in principle - sophisticated christians tend to accept the facts of evolution so I'd advise anyone to look it up, or other books on evolution such as 'almost like a whale' or 'mendel's demon'.

So will it turn you in to an atheist? Probably not, though it should (if you're capable of thought) stop you being a creationist.

Answer 3

As with any book that changes people; it doesn't convert all people.

I have no idea where you heard that but that is definitely not true.

Dawkins does say he did convert one person (just that he knows about) but I haven't ever heard about everybody *shrugs*

But anyways, Dawkins IS a very intelligent and witty person.

Answer 4

No, I don't think that is the case. Religion isn't really based in science and logic, and so many religions produce a discourse that discourages critical thinking abilities from an early age anyway. If people really don't want to stop believing what they believe, nothing will persuade them.

Answer 5

I don't think thats true. I can mix different views with my religious ones- but then again I don't believe the bible is 100% the word of god.

I do know others who think god started evolution- like the pope
(well at least the good one who died, this one who knows and who cares)

Answer 6

I've read it, and it didn't turn me into an atheist. Dawkins is pretty inept as a critic of theism, mainly because he's completely illiterate theologically. If he were familiar with nontraditional theisms such as process theism, he might realize (along with theistic scientists such as John Polkinghorne, for example) that he is attacking a specific theology, and not theism as such.

Answer 7

Why does everybody automatically assume that believing Evolution Science when it's properly explained equals denial of religion? That kind of absolutist crap makes no sense to me.

Answer 8

Dawkins is appealing to those who are unhappy with religion, and might be sitting on the fence, not the devout.

Answer 9

The book was good but not that good. Those whose faith is changed by a book probably didn't have that much faith to begin with.

Answer 10

No its not, ive read it and it only furtherd my beliefs in God becuase i was not ignorant walking into the book and i took time to research what the book stated unlike many other they read it and its auto fact to them, just like tv.