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A review by martysdalton
The Dawkins Delusion? Atheist Fundamentalism and the Denial of the Divine by Joanna Collicutt Mcgrath, Alister E. McGrath
medium-paced
2.0
For years I worked for the publisher of this title, IVP, I no longer do and doubt I'd be qualifed to anymore, given the signature they require on a statement of belief, included as part of their employment contracts. I've abandoned Christianity and am better for it in countless ways. Dawkins has been an informative and challenging figure in my life post-christianity. I recently read The God Delusion for a second time, this time as an atheist, and found it excellent. Is it harsh towards religion? Absolutely. But I don't mind that, religion deserves harsh critique.
Alister's counter title, though clearly he's a very intelligent and well-researched writer, is ultimately unconvincing. The first 20 pages are not counterpoints so much as elaborate and combative name calling. He wanders around some insults and finally lands where so many apologists land: "Dawkins just doesn't understand the literature, he hasn't done the research"... Sigh. I'm so bored and tired of this tactic and discrediting. Ultimately, though I will agree with Alister's last section of the book that religion isn't all bad the way Dawkins characterizes, Alister fails to present anything alternative.
There's not a single correction. There's only complaint. The extraordinary claims of life after death, resurrection, miracles, prayer, the Trinity, on and on and on (from just a single religion mind you!) still have no more evidence, persuasion or power. Of course Dawkins isn't right about everything, and I'll give you that he overlooks many benefits that different religions create in society, BUT it doesn't do anything to prove that "God" is in fact anything more than...a delusion.
Alister's counter title, though clearly he's a very intelligent and well-researched writer, is ultimately unconvincing. The first 20 pages are not counterpoints so much as elaborate and combative name calling. He wanders around some insults and finally lands where so many apologists land: "Dawkins just doesn't understand the literature, he hasn't done the research"... Sigh. I'm so bored and tired of this tactic and discrediting. Ultimately, though I will agree with Alister's last section of the book that religion isn't all bad the way Dawkins characterizes, Alister fails to present anything alternative.
There's not a single correction. There's only complaint. The extraordinary claims of life after death, resurrection, miracles, prayer, the Trinity, on and on and on (from just a single religion mind you!) still have no more evidence, persuasion or power. Of course Dawkins isn't right about everything, and I'll give you that he overlooks many benefits that different religions create in society, BUT it doesn't do anything to prove that "God" is in fact anything more than...a delusion.