Organised religion is a pernicious anachronism that should be abolished, according to Christopher Hitchens. His book is subtitled “How religion poisons everything” in case there was any doubt about his position. Organised religions are pretty much indefensible anyway, but his arguments are still worth reading — I learned a few interesting bits of history. And it’s bracing to see so many dogmas held up in such a cold and unflattering light.
God is not Great takes iconoclasm to new heights. Hitchens heaps scorn on the usual zealots, from Osama bin Laden to various Popes (including the current one). But his targets cover the full spectrum of celebrity, from the sublime (Mother Theresa, M. K. Gandhi, the Dalai Lama) to the ridiculous (Mel Gibson is memorably described as an “Australian fascist and ham actor”). The only famous exception is Martin Luther King, Jr, who manages to come out looking like a decent (if flawed) human being.
I enjoyed reading God is not Great, but I think it does miss the point a bit. In the conflict between Reason and Faith, Reason wins easily; but that’s because Faith isn’t playing the game. Some say that if people believe religious dogmas even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, then this simply confirms how marvellously strong their faith is. You just can’t use logic against this kind of position, but that what Hitchens tries to do. This approach only seems to work here because he is preaching to the converted. Or perhaps I should say unconverted.
God is not Great is a compelling book. It should make for a lively discussion at your next church reading group meeting. And if everyone actually reads it then it might be your last meeting.
Bennett, Remind me to lend you “The God Delusion” By Richard Dawkins….
It appears a book like this still doesn’t answer how love was created or why man is flawed? We are flawed because we rebel against our Creator and we love because he loved us so much to even give us a chance at life. That brings up a good question, how did life get created? We didn’t just start from little atoms and boom here we are in human flesh. Where did the concept of language come from? I am sure some grunts and mumblings didn’t create latin or hebrew. Where are the real facts?