The God Delusion

by BlackSwan of Memphis 12 Replies latest jw friends

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  BlackSwan of Memphis

  I've been wanting to post this for awhile, but didn't.

  I said something about a year ago in regards to Dawkins that I have to retract. I had made a comment re him which was just rude and made more likely out of being scared or possibly just plain ignorance. Can't find it, but it's quite possible that some might recall it.

  Dawkins is actually so intelligent and funny and deserves kudos for saying it like it is.

  About 3 months ago I started searching for it in my library and they had one copy which was ruined, so they finally got a new one in and I was able to check it out.

  Anyhow, it's an incredible book. And after the first couple of chapters I had to start thinking about some of the things I've said re atheism and atheists.

  I'm not sure how to put it, other than just to say I'm sorry for being such a closeminded twit about things and for talking about something I really had no business talking about, making an opinion without really knowing what I was making an opinion about.

  I've tried to spend some time here reading more than talking. Going back to old posts from long time posters and have learned alot.

  So I am really sorry just for ya know being a butthead.

  Great book and I really recommend it to everyone regardless of religious persuasion. Even if you come away with a belief, one gets a better understanding of atheists and atheism and their views.
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  OnTheWayOut

  My library had a copy, so I finally checked it out. I barely started reading it.
  It's my Holiday weekend book to read in front of the wife. She's afraid to ask.

  Thanks for the recommendation.
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  BlackSwan of Memphis

  otwo, no problem at all. I'm already looking for his other works in my libary as well as some of Sagans.
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  candidlynuts

  i read most of it.

  i found it as preachy as a religious book but did appreciate a lot of the points he made.As the book went along the preachiness did ease up some. the jw's evolution book is mentioned about 3/4 thru the book.

  i do reccomend it , it is an informative read . i've not read any of Sagan's although i have had them reccomended to me.
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  Robert K Stock

  The God Delusion is a very good book. It should be a little preachy. The book is not about getting along with believers but explaining why their position is not reasonable.
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  Awakened07

  I'm reading it now (am on page 324), and I agree it's a good book. A great book even.

  Of course, with a title like "THE GOD DELUSION", it's likely to repel many of those who should read it.

  Everyone should read it though, with an open mind. As you said, you may not become an atheist or agnostic by reading it, but you'll see the whole argument a lot clearer, and see what atheists are about.

  Sure, he uses strong language sometimes. Strong language is sometimes unfortunately needed - if for no other reason - to actually be noticed in all the 'noise'.

  He also uses humor - sometimes with a typically British 'sting' to it. I think it spices up things, although I'm sure some will be offended by it.
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  R.Crusoe

  I would like to see a book by him dealing with human psychology/ sociology. To me there seems a high degree of religiosity in these fields of 'science' which has me questioning some assumptions in much the same way as I do religion. I wonder if science avoids them because of complexity and difficulty in assimilating sequences of variables? Or maybe I just don't know and the book already exists by another author. It does link in for me to the God question!
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  Gopher

  BlackSwan,

  Thank you for posting that. I'm glad to see that you better understand the atheist position now.

  Yes Dawkins is a blunt and direct. It's because the atheists have been maligned for so long, that a blunt defense is necessary.

  Raised a JW as I was, I thought atheists were cold-hearted or crazy. Then I talked to a couple of them. Now I am one!
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  Awakened07

  I would like to see a book by him dealing with human psychology/ sociology.

  You should probably read his "The Selfish Gene" then, where he introduced the word 'meme' which has turned into 'memetics', as a parallel to 'gene' and 'genetics', but applied to human culture etc.

  I haven't actually read it myself.

  Other than that, Wikipedia is never far away:

  Evolutionary psychology

  Sociobiology
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  dawg

  Stock, I hear you man.... hard to be nice when showing others they're misguided.