|
| The God Delusion | 
| Author: Richard Dawkins Publisher: Mariner Books Category: Book
List Price: $15.95 Buy New: $2.98 You Save: $12.97 (81%)
New (142) Collectible (2) from $2.98
Avg. Customer Rating: 1265 reviews Sales Rank: 270
Media: Paperback Edition: 1 Number Of Items: 1 Pages: 464 Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9 Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.4 x 1.3
ISBN: 0618918248 Dewey Decimal Number: 211 EAN: 9780618918249 ASIN: 0618918248
Publication Date: January 16, 2008 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Condition: New book,ships out next business day,100% satisfaction guaranteed,may have slight shelf wear.
|
| Customer Reviews:
The Dawkins Delusion September 24, 2008 4 out of 13 found this review helpful
As an agnostic, this book promised to be very interesting. Unfortunately, it did not live up to its promise.
The scientific study of religion has been pursued since the late nineteenth century by scholars such as Muller, James, Durkheim, and Weber. Dawkins's book acts as if he was the first to takcle the sujbect scientifically, which is preposterous. Dawkins has no professional expertise in religion and has an obvious bias against it, so his research and approach is hindered by his obvious prejudice. Despite the scientific trappings it fails untimately because, like religion it lacks adequate evidence.
Dawkins dismisses the opinions of others without adequate analysis and some of his arguments are unsupported by any evidence. That's not to say he's wrong, it's just saying that there is no evidence for some of his arguments.
Studying the roots and evidence for religion is an inherently interesting subject, and Dawkins's view is interesting and well expressed, but it is a rhetorical argument, not an empirical or scientific argument and therefore fails to satisfy.
What happened before the "Big Bang"? There is no scientific answer for that. Where did the seeds of life come from? There is no scientific answer for that. "Goddidit" may not be scientific, but it is not ruled out either. Science continues to advance and "Goddidit" does not seem to advance, so science may have an advantage there, but there is still a long way to go. Claiming victory by either side is premature.
That's why I remain agnostic. I don't know for certain that there is "Nothing" and I I don't know for certain that there is a "God." Until there is substantial evidence for one view or the other, fundamentalists on both sides are just blowing smoke.
The best book on the subject! September 23, 2008 1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Richard Dawkins is one of the smartest people in the world! His book is so amazing! All his points are very well made and his logic is really awesome! Everyone must read this book - atheists and believers alike! Best non-fiction book I've read in a long time!
Astounding! September 23, 2008 3 out of 6 found this review helpful
An Excellent Book!! Whether or not you agree with Mr. Dawkins, this book is a must-read!!
This book is a dilution September 21, 2008 4 out of 25 found this review helpful
I read about 80% of the book (I couldn' read anymore). With 16 years of biology under my belt, I found this book poor in theories. I seen Dawkins 4 times debate creation scientist and 4 times was spanked (you tube has some of his debates). I really think he is in it for the money and doesn't believe what he is saying. What did it for me was when asked "how did it all start" his answer was (not an exact quote)that aliens from another planet started everything! When asked about evolving organs, cells and DNA, he just couldn't answer them. FRAUD!!!!!
Failed to Deliver September 21, 2008 3 out of 20 found this review helpful
Being frustrated with the institutional church, I looked forward to reading 'The God Delusion'. I was hoping for an incisive and systematic critique of religion. Instead I found a poorly written polemic, full of stereotypes and baseless generalisations. He repeatedly presents ill-founded definitions, like his distinction between the natural and supernatural, and then proceeds to make generalisations on the basis of these shaky foundations; likewise, his failure to understand the significance of the differences between theism, deism and pantheism (which he glibly dismisses in one page) is not helpful. Moreover, his gives lip service to a distinction between fundamentalism and mainstream Christianity, and then consistently confuses or conflates the two. I believe we need clear, consistent and in-depth critiques of religion, in particular of Christianity, and this is what I have tried to do in my book 'I Met God in Bermuda: Faith in the Twenty First Century', (Winchester, Washington: O-Books, 2009; [...]). Unfortunately, it is because Dawkins book is not based on rigorous scholarship that it fails to pass the test of a good popular work.
|
|
|
Wildlife, nature and the Environment
Sponsored Links

Learn how to get your own Amazon Book shop | |