The God Delusion - Read this book [Archive]

scotth

21st November 2006, 08:05 AM

I bought it this week-end, but I don't have the time to read it right now. Too much work (and yes, being an skeptic don't help to have money in order to eat).

Well, is it good? Is it bad?

I saw Dawkins "Root of all Evil" on TV. Is it more or less the same content?

The book is based on "Root of all Evil", but expanded upon.

It is good.

logical muse

21st November 2006, 08:09 AM

I got a copy out of the local library. I'm too poor to buy one.

It's due back next week. I'd better get off the computer and read some more of it.

eta: Or, since it's around 2am, I could just go to bed.

Miss Whiplash

21st November 2006, 08:14 AM

I read it last week. Absolutely wonderful!

Also, I had no idea he was married to Lala Ward.

Mashuna

21st November 2006, 08:16 AM

I read it last week. Absolutely wonderful!

Also, I had no idea he was married to Lala Ward.

Does that make him a secret Time Lord?

That would be coooool.:cool:

Big Al

21st November 2006, 08:38 AM

I bought it and finished it inside a day. Very well argued - apart from a bit of right-on-ness. Still, Dawkins always puts a bit of that in. However, the core arguments are compelling.

Recommended reading! :D

Lalla Ward also did the illustrations for "Climbing Mount Improbable".

Shevek-72

21st November 2006, 08:40 AM

I'm about half way through that book. I really enjoy Dawkins writing style.

sphenisc

21st November 2006, 09:06 AM

Kochanski

21st November 2006, 09:08 AM

Got it, it is next on my always changing reading list. I have to finish reading Dennett's "Darwin's Dangerous Idea" first.

Just got the dvd of Root of All Evil yesterday, watched the first part, will watch the second part tonight.

Too many books, too many dvds, way too little time....

wahrheit

21st November 2006, 09:09 AM

Can't wait to get my copy and read it...

Cleon

21st November 2006, 10:07 AM

Also, I had no idea he was married to Lala Ward.

That's nothing...You know who introduced them? Douglas Adams. Yes, that Douglas Adams, who became friendly with Lalla Ward while working on Doctor Who.

Man, I love being a geek. :D

wahrheit

21st November 2006, 12:17 PM

That's nothing...You know who introduced them? Douglas Adams. Yes, that Douglas Adams, who became friendly with Lalla Ward while working on Doctor Who.

Man, I love being a geek. :D
My sig shall frame your post, both above and below. :)

Brown

21st November 2006, 12:33 PM

Just got my copy yesterday, and I'm into the second chapter.

So far, it's good, not great, but good. I'm a bit put off by Dawkins's analysis of legal issues, which is superficial and somewhat distorted.

Still, I am interested in reading more.

Brown

21st November 2006, 01:20 PM

Here's a link (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?p=2115916#post2115916) to a thread discussing Deepak Chopra's response to Dawkins's "The God Delusion."

Minarvia

21st November 2006, 01:58 PM

I read it last week. Absolutely wonderful!

Also, I had no idea he was married to Lala Ward.

Thanks for the good opinion. It's on my Christmas list. Yes, ironic! But I did know he was married to Lalla Ward, but only because I looked up Dawkins personal info online after seeing him on South Park. :D

T'ai Chi

21st November 2006, 05:07 PM

It fascinates me about as much as if the Pope wrote a book on evolution.

Francesca R

22nd November 2006, 02:22 AM

I will buy it when it's released in paperback but Random House don't say when this will be and the hardcover was only released on 2 Oct in the UK. (Amazon has dropped the price from GBP 20 to GBP 10)

I read a review in The Economist which was generally positive. But from that, the following stuck me as weak points:

1—On "why is religion so widespread", does Dawkins have anything to offer other than "it is worthless information programmed into children by parents"? That's not convincing. I would favour a stronger link to human psychology and, particularly, Hegel's "struggle for recognition".

2—On "how to expunge religion" Dawkins supposedly agitates for some new zeitgeist whereby parents desist from any religious "indoctrination", and also to "energise atheists" whom he sees as "stigmatised and unelectable to public office". The former is unrealistic and presently tantamount to curtailment of liberty in the form of a nanny-state. As for the latter, it's not clear to me that atheists need any empowering, and I'm not sure what shape "empowering" might take. And that whole idea seems to be in the "atheism is a faith" mold to me.

It fascinates me about as much as if the Pope wrote a book on evolutionI'd certainly try reading such a book (provided it wasn't too long)

CFLarsen

22nd November 2006, 04:20 AM

It fascinates me about as much as if the Pope wrote a book on evolution.

What, you don't find it "interesting"?

mummymonkey

22nd November 2006, 05:00 AM

Never mind all that. Are those leather trousers you're wearing?????

Richard

22nd November 2006, 05:18 AM

Never mind all that. Are those leather trousers you're wearing?????

Umm, yes. :)

There are some more pics on the Mystery Investigators web site.

IDEA!!!! - Why not support Prof. Richard Dawkins by having as many photos as we can of us (the good guys) reading 'The God Delusion'.... ? At the zoo, on the street, at the shops, in a church..... The Mystery Investigators has set the ball rolling... now to all of you.

Orangutan

22nd November 2006, 10:25 AM

1—On "why is religion so widespread", does Dawkins have anything to offer other than "it is worthless information programmed into children by parents"? That's not convincing. I would favour a stronger link to human psychology and, particularly, Hegel's "struggle for recognition".

Yes he does, I'm halfway through chapter 5 an he's already past that kind of explanation.

2—On "how to expunge religion" Dawkins supposedly agitates for some new zeitgeist whereby parents desist from any religious "indoctrination", and also to "energise atheists" whom he sees as "stigmatised and unelectable to public office". The former is unrealistic and presently tantamount to curtailment of liberty in the form of a nanny-state. As for the latter, it's not clear to me that atheists need any empowering, and I'm not sure what shape "empowering" might take. And that whole idea seems to be in the "atheism is a faith" mold to me.
I dunno, im not that far into it yet.
I'd certainly try reading such a book (provided it wasn't too long)

Not too long the chapters are short and too the point.

:)

Edit to add I have the hardcover version, It has a nice shiny dust cover :)

Richard

22nd November 2006, 04:22 PM

This is one of Australia's nicest skeptics, Dr. Jennie Louise from the School of Humanities, UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE.

BTW: http://www.reitstoen.com/dawkins.php

rustytunes

22nd November 2006, 04:44 PM

Got my copy last week, just started reading it. I've already been told not to let certain people see it, or let them see me reading it!

Wowbagger

22nd November 2006, 04:59 PM

I finished reading it a week or so ago. Really socks God in the face, it does.

I ordered "The Root of All Evil?" from Skeptic.com, and should get it soon.

I am in the midst of writing a review of all this stuff, but to summarize: It is definately a book you should read!!

ETA: Oops! Almost forgot to mention my one criticism: Dawkins does not spend much time talking about evolution, in the book. Of course, this lack of evolution writing is mostly due to his previously writing large volumes on the subject. However, I feel that someone who knows nothing about evolution, is not going to trust that it is such a plausible theory, from this book alone.
Other than that, it's all excellent.

Orangutan

24th November 2006, 06:38 PM

Got my copy last week, just started reading it. I've already been told not to let certain people see it, or let them see me reading it!

Who can't see you reading it? (Must be family).

firecoins

24th November 2006, 07:37 PM

Did Dawkins create this book or did it evolve over time?

TX50

24th November 2006, 08:08 PM

There are dozens of reviews of this book, and even video of Dawkins reading
extracts of it, at his own site: www.richarddawkins.net

The "Root of all evil?", as broadcast on the UK's Channel 4, is also available
free on the Internet.

Geek Goddess

25th November 2006, 02:01 PM

That's nothing...You know who introduced them? Douglas Adams. Yes, that Douglas Adams, who became friendly with Lalla Ward while working on Doctor Who.

Man, I love being a geek. :D

Cleon, this book is dedicated to Douglas Adams....:)

PeterB

25th November 2006, 08:37 PM

IDEA!!!! - Why not support Prof. Richard Dawkins by having as many photos as we can of us (the good guys) reading 'The God Delusion'.... ? At the zoo, on the street, at the shops, in a church..... The Mystery Investigators has set the ball rolling... now to all of you.

Here's Cody the religion-hating dog.

http://www.ratbags.com/codyanddawkins1.jpg

firecoins

27th November 2006, 07:50 PM

We should but 100 copies and give them out after a church lets out saying "nobody loves you"

Richard

27th November 2006, 09:29 PM

Here's how I spent my 41st birthday.

idunno

28th November 2006, 12:40 PM

where can i find «the root of all evil free in the net?:)

Wheezebucket

28th November 2006, 02:27 PM

Cody the Religion-Hating Dog is my new hero. He hates religion AND he can read. I bet he loves watching lectures.

PeterB

28th November 2006, 06:36 PM

Cody the Religion-Hating Dog is my new hero. He hates religion AND he can read. I bet he loves watching lectures.

I haven't tried taking him to a lecture. I couldn't take him to the Australian Skeptics Christmas party last year because we had it in a Thai restaurant and he was worried about what might be on the menu. We're going Chinese this year and he smiles every time he trots past one of the cats.

(Wonderful line from an episode of Futurama on TV here this week: "Peacocks are beautiful too, but you don't eat them before they're cooked".)

I don't know what he has against religion, but he reverts to the original feral wolf kind whenever a Bible-thumper dares to step onto our porch. This can be quite handy, because I can get rid of them without having to be impolite. The last one was a Jehovah's Witness and I was able to get away by waving my hand in the direction of the sounds of Cody growling, barking and hurling himself against the front door and saying something like "My dog sounds very upset. I'd better go and see what's wrong".

Here is the picture again. I'm not doing this to be smart - I didn't attach it correctly last time and it could disappear from that message at any time.

Yahzi

29th November 2006, 01:45 AM

The wife got it for me for Xmas - I'll read it on the plane...

I got her "Uri Geller debunked," by Randi. It's gonna be a very skeptical Xmas!

:D

articulett

29th November 2006, 02:47 AM

It fascinates me about as much as if the Pope wrote a book on evolution.

Yes...as well it would. Believers do like to berate people they have never read if that person is known for not agreeing with their delusion. Everyone I know who disses Dawkins hasn't even read him. And the pope does give his opinions on evolution--however he doesn't provide evidence for his beliefs; wheras, Dawkins does. But rest assured, true believers are immune to reason and they avoid all subject that may cause their faith to waiver.

What fascinates you is irrelevant. I think you are trying to parlay that old theistic crap that only those who believe in X can write about it. Have you read greek mythology? If you read about it would you expect the person who wrote it to believe in Zeus. Being an expert in invisible and immeasurable entities that no one seems to agree on the definition of or what this entity may have inspired or desires is the same as being an expert on how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Yes, this might be a question that you can marvel at and seek to find experts on. Dawkins shows why such thinking is no more than an illusion. Randi doesn't believe in psychics...but he's an expert on the ways people can fool their fellow humans--especially those like yourself who believe that they cannot be fooled (and hence no evidence is ever necessary.) I know you would be more fascinated by the claims of Sylvia Brown than Randi. But should you ever reach the stage where you can bear to think you are wrong--do read it...or read something of Randi's. You have some mighty unsubstantiated beliefs for someone who visits a skeptic's forum.

The Atheist

29th November 2006, 02:55 AM

Cleon, this book is dedicated to Douglas Adams....:)Chit! I was sure he was dead.

Geek Goddess

29th November 2006, 06:52 PM

Chit! I was sure he was dead.

He is. But the book is still dedicated to him. Or, at least, in memory to him: (from the copy I'm reading)

In Memoriam
Douglas Adams
(1952-2001)

"Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful
without having to believe that there are
fairies at the bottom of it too?"

Richard

2nd December 2006, 04:30 AM

A trip from Sydney to Manly Beach with some members of Australian Skeptics.

PeterB

2nd December 2006, 06:24 AM

A trip from Sydney to Manly Beach with some members of Australian Skeptics.The fourth picture must be of me (and Cody), but at least I made it to dinner.:czhypnotic:

Foster Zygote

2nd December 2006, 07:14 PM

That's nothing...You know who introduced them? Douglas Adams. Yes, that Douglas Adams, who became friendly with Lalla Ward while working on Doctor Who.

Man, I love being a geek. :D

I read The Blind Watchmaker after reading D.N.A.'s enthusiastic recommendation in The Salmon Of Doubt.

scotth

11th December 2006, 08:06 AM

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/thum_924457d733def5c1.jpg (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=3074)

Myself, my wife Susan (she has registered 'Fearless Jones' on the forum but has yet to post) and you all know Geek Goddess on the right.

We have just finished dinner and are about to begin with the desert.

Questioninggeller

16th January 2007, 04:40 PM

where can i find «the root of all evil free in the net?:)

Here's the video:
ol5OWI7ZJZA

(Double click on the video to open it in a new window. This allows you to view a toolbar on the right with others segments of the show.)

Twilek

17th January 2007, 10:58 AM

I just finished it this weekend and thought it was pretty good. It certainly made me look at things from a different angle from time to time than I would have thought to do myself, and there were a few "Ah-ha" and "Cool" moments that made me smile and nod.

On the downside, I occasionally found points abruptly rushed to in ways that made me have to read twice because I thought maybe I missed something, and tangents suddenly halted with a "but we won't go there right now" attitude (sometimes actually stated) leaving me thinking, "No, lets, lets!". Also the ending pages just seemed to fizzle out and I closed the book a bit disappointed...like there should have been more, or at least a big bang wrap-up of the whole thing.

But overall, an interesting read. It was my first Dawkins experience, and I'd like to read some more of his work.

baron

17th January 2007, 11:24 AM

Possibly the only book I've read that I've found worthwhile and interesting whilst imparting not one iota of information that I wasn't already aware of.

If you're a thinking person then I would be quite amazed if this book presented anything new. However, I'd still recommend it, so I don't know what that says about me.

Marmaduke

19th January 2007, 04:14 PM

I went to pick this book up today, and was happy to hear that it was sold out in that particular shop, and was scarce in other bookshops. The lady said it was supposed to be on their best seller wall, but she wasn't sure when they'd get a new shipment.

I was also sad because I didn't get my book.:(

steenkh

22nd January 2007, 08:41 AM

I got "The God Delusion" as a Christmas gift. Unfortunately, it was the CD-edition: 7-hours of hearing the book read aloud! I am not blind, and a paper book that I can browse thorugh is much nicer.

There are not incidentally somebody out there who would swap a CD-edition for a paper edition?

Poppythinks

23rd January 2007, 10:25 AM

hi cody the dog, love your photo....... cat-theists also think TGD
is the cat's whiskers :-)

JonWhite

23rd January 2007, 12:37 PM

Don't most cats act as if they are gods, expecting absolute obedience from their subjects?

Sybarite

23rd January 2007, 04:32 PM

Did Dawkins create this book or did it evolve over time?

Definitely.

Comments on the book: Some new stuff, but mostly stuff I've already read here or there.

Angus McPresley

10th February 2007, 12:18 AM

I've read about a quarter of it so far. Not very impressed. The writing style lacks much of the vivid imagery and positive up-beat-ness of his evolutionary writing. There's a general feeling off distain and squelching-around-in-the-mire which doesn't really encourage me to read on, it also make the arguments appear abrupt and rather superficial.

I agree. I'm 3/4 of the way through and am not very impressed so far (despite being a big fan of his evolutionary books). The whole thing seems to me to be not terribly... rigorous. And there are a few places where he resorts to childishness, such as when he responds to arguments in a schoolyard voice, or as Bob Newhart (seriously). Maybe one horse laugh is worth ten thousand syllogisms, but here it would seem to me to just give his critics ammunition. I wish he had taken the high road.

Also, too many times I can anticipate what a religious person's response would be to his supposed pointed questions, having seen these topics debated. Dawkins often seems ignorant of a lot of these counter-arguments, or else purposely doesn't address them, which I don't understand.

Then, I have yet to read a book on any philosophical subject which impressed me, so maybe it's me.

ETA: I should point out that I have no problems with Dawkins being a "militant" atheist -- I think opening up the debate this way will do nothing if not help a lot of atheists come out of hiding.

FaisonMars

10th February 2007, 12:38 AM