Did 'The God Delusion' affect your faith?

Question

I'm currently reading 'The God Delusion,' I am an atheist and really I'm only reading the book out of interest. However, in the introduction there's a line where Dawkins suggests the book will turn religious people away from their faith. Unfortunately, to me, the book seems just too inconsistent and vague to have this effect.

Answer 1

I think you're right in drawing that conclusion. Dawkins says that, but then goes on to basically preach to the choir.

Dawkins suffers a lot from the same illusions televangelists do when they write a book - that somehow a lot of bluster and rhetoric can "convert" people.... it doesn't work that way, however.

Frankly, of all the current crop of atheist apologists Sam Harris does the best job of understanding the believer's spiritual sensibilities, and trying to appeal to them. Dawkins is just dry as a bone, and Hitchens just comes off as angry and petulant.

Answer 2

I haven't yet read this book but would like to. Although I have no religion I have a feeling that this book will not hold up to close examination. I asked a previous question - is Mr Dawkin's qualified to argue about the existance of God. My reasoning is that God is not presented as having a physical form so what kind of science would you need to investigate the existance of such a being. Chemistry and biology can't be applied to something that doesn't have a physical form. Mr Dawkin's is a scientist qualified in what is called the pure sciences. His argument there fore would have to be more in the direction of psychology, sociology and anthropology. Starting from the stand that God doesn't exist you could support this idea using studies about human history, psychology and human society. But this would not be an argument as it begins with the assumtion of God's non existance. Mr Dawkins is not an expert in these subjects and should therefore not be taken as such. I think those of a religious faith will quickly realise that the book is not an argument but in support of a supposition that God does not exist and does not appear to even address the primary suppostion. My annoyance is that Dr Dawkins is using his status as a scientist to ride a popular wave of anti-theism, for the purpose, I believe of simply making money. It is however influencing the young and gullable who don't think about what they are reading and just see the word Dr or Scientist and assume that he is honest and his material therefore must be valid. In other words Dr Dawkins is taking advantage of the young and nieve, which I don't think is fair.

Answer 3

No. In my assessment, it is in ordinary terms shy of being a masterpiece...of rhetoric. His remorseless yet properly lettered derision stumbled on as a greater stepped forward version of "Theists are huge dummy heads" The relatively advantageous fee became interior the comments. that's sturdy to discover Atheists and skeptics greater worth of the call, notably people who have been very particular and consistent of their panning of this e book especially, and the 'new Atheism' customarily. that's surprising to have greater names of the greater honorable opposition. If any opponent makes any effect, that's at the same time with those. Ware you hunt fundies, lest you become one. RD has stared into the theistic abyss too long. upload: it is the project with deviating from the question (singular) format. definite I did study it. The no became with regards to the religion question. No, i did no longer study all of it, for the comparable reason that as quickly as I study a drunken masterpiece i do no longer throw sturdy time after undesirable funds. Hit the extreme factor 'arguments' in case you are able to call them that. i could propose something f/ various the individuals of the skeptics society. TGD is junk foodstuff.

Answer 4

I haven't read it, not having access to current books in English, and from what I've heard and read on the Internet, I'm not that interested.
It's one man's opinion. No, I'm not afraid reading it would "turn me away from my faith"--nothing could do that unless I chose to allow it to do so. But I have a very busy life and I don't have the time for something that wouldn't be useful to me.
If I were isolated somewhere (stranded for a weekend or whatever) and it were available I might look through it just to see what all the fuss is about, but no one can take from me what I don't choose to give.

Answer 5

I don't believe in God anyway and I read only the very beginning of this book. Actually it bored me and I don't agree with the intentions of this book. I don't want religious people to preach to me, same way I think we atheists should not try to turn others away from their faith. The impression I have of the book is that it is aggressive and disrespectful and I don't think it is convincing for people if their faith is attacked like this.

Answer 6

I'm glad that you are able to read this book objectively and not allow it to try sell you a money-spinning idea. I have begun to hate Richard Dawkins because he just does not understand anything about religion. I began writing a book on religion and it was turned down by a top London literary agent because she said I was an expert on religion like him-he's a scientist not a theologist-he doesn't know WHAT he is talking about, you can't tell someone that if they believe in God that they are misguided, thats the same thing he's accusing Christians of doing to others-telling them they are wrong, anyway rant over!

Answer 7

I completely agree with you

Paz de Cristo

===============================================
I just read, "The God Delusion" was just published in Portuguese here in Brazil. Now there will be more people parroting Dawkins also in latin america

Answer 8

I haven't read that one but I just bought 'The Blind Watchmaker' by the same author. I also bought 'Darwin's Black Box' by Behe, 'Mere Creation' by Dembski, and 'Darwin on Trial' by Johnson.

Did not get the time to read any of them yet.

As a Christian, I owe it to myself to become educated in both that which supports my faith and that which MAY test it.

Answer 9

I might get around to reading it one day but I doubt I'd understand much and no, it wouldn't take me away from my faith. I can no more deny the existence of someone I met than you could.

Answer 10

It helped me realize how troubled the world really is. It's a shock and truly amazing how the world is going out of it's way to take out religion when it is the one and only concern everyone should have. God is all the matters, nothing else.