The best book ever....
If you haven't read 'The God Delusion' by Richard Dawkins you probably should. Don't worry if you're a god squaddie (fairly unlikely if you're reading my LJ) it probably won't convert you to atheism. It is however, the most intellectually uplifting book I have ever read. It has earned a place (metaphorically at least, physically it's just the wrong size) alongside The Art of War and The Prince (I'm not naming the authors of those books... if you don't know go and look at Wikipedia).
Put simply Dawkins puts forward every 'reason' to believe in god (etc) that I can recall hearing and then demolishes it with a witty argument that ably demonstrates it's logical fallacies. The beauty of it is that Dawkins is evidently very well educated and his family even attempted to indoctrinate him into the Anglican Church. He has suffered for his atheism and is even better placed than I am to denounce all religion. He knows their arguments well and he also knows and understands the philosophers and scientists he can use to defeat them.
Put it like this, if you don't buy this book and you're a friend of mine, let me know you'd like a copy for Christmas and it'll be on your way (as an especially ironic Christmas gift). If I had the cash I'd put one in every hotel room in the world and if I could I'd make it law that only people who have read it are allowed into the Houses of Parliament.
Put simply Dawkins puts forward every 'reason' to believe in god (etc) that I can recall hearing and then demolishes it with a witty argument that ably demonstrates it's logical fallacies. The beauty of it is that Dawkins is evidently very well educated and his family even attempted to indoctrinate him into the Anglican Church. He has suffered for his atheism and is even better placed than I am to denounce all religion. He knows their arguments well and he also knows and understands the philosophers and scientists he can use to defeat them.
Put it like this, if you don't buy this book and you're a friend of mine, let me know you'd like a copy for Christmas and it'll be on your way (as an especially ironic Christmas gift). If I had the cash I'd put one in every hotel room in the world and if I could I'd make it law that only people who have read it are allowed into the Houses of Parliament.