For light summer reading, you can't go past Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion, an Atheist's manifesto.
My position on the whole religion thing has always been atheistic. For some reason as a kid it all seemed kind of tacky. That said, I've always been pretty benign on the question about whether religion should be eliminated from the earth. For a long time I've had a soft spot for Buddhism. But more recently I've become increasingly anti-religious, especially as I learn more about the craziness in America... and the entire Islamic world. And in Britain. And the Destiny Church in Auckland. If you feel the same way, then The God Delusion is the book for you.
In his sturdy black tome Dawkins systematically takes us through every reason why we shouldn't bother with religion. While some scientists take a conciliatory stance on the matter of evolution, telling Christians they have nothing to fear, Dawkins is having none of it. Evolution replaces the need for a God on Earth, and our understanding of the cosmos pretty much evicts him from the heavens, as well.
Dawkins gets so enthusiastic about it that he has a crack at showing that God cannot exist. He makes the point, I think, that the model of the universe science provides is more sensical, if only because it can (at least, according to Lee Smolin) provide a way for the universe to be self generating. With God, however, you're always left wondering, 'so who made him?'.
Seems reasonable, but in terms of slam dunk argument, Dawkins doesn't quite get there. Additionally, critics have slammed him for straying into the realms of theology and philosophy without citing the right books. Whatever. From what I remember from studying philosophy of religion (under Ken 'loves Fosters' Perszyk), logic always hounded theistic arguments into pretty untenable corners. Dawkins hasn't won the day, but for the sort of rational people who are or who eventually become atheists, he's signalled that science can provide a tenable model of the universe that contains no gods.
As you might already have guessed, The God Delusion isn't a book that's going to sway believers. The title is off-putting for starters, and Dawkins' ranty, and often lamentably insulting and arrogant tone, hardly helps. That said, I am sure there are less offensive pro-atheism books out there that are equally persuasive (Daniel Dennett and Sam Harris are oft-mentioned in the same breath as Dawkins, for example) which the easily hurt may read instead. But Dawkins isn't trying to write a polite book. What he's trying to do is motivate atheist readers into actually giving a shit about all the fundamentalist nonsense going on in the world today. He wants them angry as hell! Apparently atheism in America is given as bad a rap as homosexuality. Dawkins wants them to stand up and get angry, real angry. You wouldn't want them angry...
Dawkins envisions a kind of atheist pride movement, emulating the fairly successful (well they still can't get married, can they?) gay pride movement. Such an atheist movement already exists, called 'the Brights'. Okay, the name sucks a little. It's meant to refer to the Enlightenment, but it does sound a bit smug, and several atheist commentators have got upset about it. But you never know, it may catch on. It's easier to say than 'secular humanist', anyway.
Nomenclature aside, the only way I can see any secular movement getting anywhere is to start running themselves like a church. Encourage people to join. Have a barbecue each Sunday. No secret handshakes. Can I see it happening? Hmm. This group would have to provide community support, charity and suchlike to make much an impact. Can that be done without using the big sticks of guilt and conformity that religion utilises so skillfully? 'Cos that won't work on atheists. Yeah, seems difficult, especially when the atheist movement lacks charismatic leaders. In fact, atheists being atheists, charismatic leaders would most likely put them off. Atheists are a lot like cats, actually.
Still, the book (and more importantly its best seller status) is a good sign.
You can view Dawkins' 2006 Channel 4 documentary (two parts) on YouTube.
Posted by stuart at January 7, 2007 7:42 PM