A thought-provoking critique of religion's societal impact and a compelling argument for skepticism towards established beliefs.
Introduction
summary
Impressive phrases
Review
Final thoughts
Introduction
Since Darwin's theory of evolution was presented, creationism seemed to lose its rational basis. However, by accepting scientific rationality, creationism promotes intelligent design, thus maintaining its unquestionable authority. Richard Dawkins, author of "The Selfish Gene," which caused a stir in the scientific and religious communities worldwide, presents another work titled "The Created Deity." In this book, Dawkins logically criticizes creationism, which claims that the complexity of the biological world was created by a deity, through scientific, sociological, and historical examples. Addressing key issues of creationism, from the hypothesis of supernatural intelligence to the concept of a deity creating the primordial universe, Dawkins offers rebuttal theories based on natural selection, sharply exposing the facade and reality of creationism.
Most importantly, Dawkins highlights the social function of religion in this book. Religion has traditionally served as an ideology of domination for the powerful and as solace and hope for the weak. However, Dawkins paradoxically argues that post-deity societies are even more hopeful. He asserts, "Denying the existence of a deity is not moral decay but the pursuit of true love, a fundamental human value. Even without a deity, humans can be sufficiently passionate and spiritual." Through this book, he not only reveals the true nature hidden behind the name of God but also leads readers to develop new beliefs about humanity.
Summary
The purpose of the book is to expose the true face of gods created by human fears and imagination while simultaneously criticizing the damages caused by the greatest delusion in history. Dawkins' arguments are meticulous and relentless, maintaining a long breath until the conclusion of the book.
The book is divided into a total of 10 chapters. Chapters 1 to 4 critique creationism and argue for the non-existence of gods. Dawkins presents rebuttal theories to key points of creationism and claims that various arguments supporting the existence of gods are nothing but delusions. Chapter 5 explains the presence of religion in all cultures through the concept of 'memes,' which are religious genes. Chapters 6 and 7 refute the claim that religion is necessary for morality. Chapter 8 demonstrates through several examples that religion is not as beneficial as often perceived, while Chapter 9 discusses childhood religious experiences. The final Chapter 10 talks about the possibility of replacing the inspiration once provided by religion with something else.
Richard Dawkins presents three main messages through this book. Firstly, religion is antagonistic to knowledge and brings unhappiness to the world. Dawkins argues that even if religion itself does not cause harm, the divisions it incites are detrimental to society. Secondly, he addresses the proof of the existence of gods. While the question of whether gods exist may not matter to believers, Dawkins points out that non-believers cannot help but question whether gods truly exist. He asserts that it is certain that gods do not exist, not because they can be scientifically disproven, but because there is no means to measure their existence. He does not claim that gods absolutely do not exist but rather asserts that the probability of their existence is as low as that of intangible beings like the 'Flying Spaghetti Monster.'
The third message is that atheists need not feel diminished, and being an atheist is a source of intellectual pride.
Through these messages, Richard Dawkins has caused a significant stir in the world. With over a million copies sold, this book has stimulated potential atheists who had doubts about gods or religion, fearlessly dismantling the field of religion scientifically and logically, even delving into its very foundations, which could potentially lead to uncomfortable conversations when people gather to discuss the often sensitive topic of religion.
Impressive phrases
67p) I do not wrestle or agonize over things for which I have no evidence at all; I am content to immerse myself in what there really is, and I find that entirely satisfying.
239p) The author of that book can be forgiven for dishonesty in the huge effort he must have made to deceive himself before he deceived others.
246p) Even if we were to accept that gods do not exist, could religion still offer many benefits? Does it not provide comfort? Does it not motivate people to do good? Without religion, how would we know what is good? In any case, why be so hostile towards religion? If it's false, why do all cultures around the world have religion? Right or wrong, religion is everywhere, so where does it come from?
375p) Religion demeans human dignity. Whether gods exist or not, good people do good and bad people do bad. But if a good person does something bad, it's because of religion.
465p) Our politicians avoid mentioning the word starting with 'R' (religion) and instead categorize their fights as a 'war on terror,' as if terrorism itself were a sentient soul or force. Or they characterize terrorists' motives as originating purely from 'evil.' However, their motives do not arise from evil. Regardless of how we perceive them, their motives stem from pursuing what they perceive as right, faithfully following what their religion dictates. They are not lunatics; they are rational religious idealists in their own way. They perceive their actions as good.
543p) I believe that when I die and decay, there will be nothing of my ego left to survive. I am not young, and I love life. But I disdain trembling in fear at the thought of annihilation. Even if happiness eventually ends, it is still genuine happiness, and value does not diminish just because reason and love are not endlessly sustained.
588p) There are certainly exceptions, but many people's main reason for clinging to religion is not the comfort it provides but rather unconscious acceptance due to upbringing and the absence of awareness of alternatives (non-belief). This, I think, applies to the majority of those who consider themselves creationists. They simply haven't properly learned about Darwin's astonishing alternative. Perhaps the same myth that humans 'need' religion could be applied here.
Review
Ultimately, this book, which argues that there is no god, is not simply written to criticize 'religion,' but rather, leveraging the author's background as a doctoral candidate in zoology and biologist, it systematically and logically explains why 'religion is nonsense.' Furthermore, it considers readability so that ordinary people do not give up while reading due to its systematic and logical structure.
I am fundamentally irreligious, meaning I don't believe in organized religion. However, I am not an atheist. I think gods could exist. I'm not interested in arguing about whether they do or don't exist because there is no proof either way. I just don't find it strange to think that this world might have been created by a god. That doesn't mean I don't believe in evolution. I do believe in evolution, so I don't subscribe to creationism as described in the Christian worldview. However, I do believe that some transcendental entity, as a god, created this universe. Of course, I don't think this god directly created stars and planets like the sun or the earth. I believe this god created various elements for some reason, and those elements naturally gathered randomly to form things like the current solar system.
Humans, due to their vulnerability and imperfection, need gods, and while gods may exist in imagination, they have a significant impact on human life. Gods provided explanations, admonishments, comfort, and inspiration to humans, and while explanations have been replaced by science, admonishments teach humans how to live, and comfort and inspiration are used to fill spiritual emptiness and loneliness. Just as children spread their wings of imagination and imagine what they desire, religion is nothing more than a fantasy that exploits the crevices of adult minds.
Richard Dawkins has extensively gathered materials from both theology and scientific fields to logically analyze arguments for and against the existence of gods. Of course, all analyses lean towards the conclusion that gods do not exist. Among the logical arguments the author cites, many seem familiar to those who have read recent scientific reasoning. Nevertheless, despite the scientific evidence debunking phenomena previously attributed to gods, there are still events or situations within Christianity that do not align with its core principles, and I found myself empathizing with the author's points.
The Christian-centric philosophy that dominated the Middle Ages gradually lost its ground as scientific advancements proved phenomena previously attributed to gods scientifically. Following the development of science, the emergence of the Big Bang theory led to speculations about the permanent disappearance of gods, but modern theologians have connected the primordial explosion to creationism, using the Big Bang theory as evidence for the creation of heaven and earth.
Personally, as one's perspective broadens with accumulated life experiences, I believe societal absurdities tend to reinforce skepticism towards the existence of gods. As the author suggests, many people might outwardly deny the existence of gods while inwardly conforming due to societal expectations. In a society dominated by such individuals, the courage of authors like Dawkins to assert atheistic principles openly deserves applause. Merely looking at the table of contents of the book, which includes hypotheses about gods, arguments in favor of god's existence, and reasons why god's nonexistence is nearly certain, one can grasp how intricately Dawkins refutes the existence of gods. Regardless of whether gods exist, the fact that such a thorough critique of god hypotheses is possible and attempted is remarkable.
As someone who harbors strong doubts about the current religious framework despite acknowledging the possibility of gods' existence, I found this book intriguing. Hence, I believe it's a worthwhile read for those who share similar sentiments. The sections discussing the harmful aspects of religion were particularly enjoyable to read. Despite the book's thickness, Dawkins' easily understandable language, diverse examples, and citations from various scholars made it digestible without much difficulty. It was a book that resonated deeply with me.
Final thoughts
It would be difficult to claim that all of his arguments are entirely correct. However, there is certainly much empathy towards the notion of looking at religion more objectively and acknowledging the negative impacts it has on human society. We have experienced and witnessed countless religious conflicts, political disputes, and wars fueled by the dominance of certain religions. By analyzing with a critical eye the atrocities committed under the guise of gods, we can grasp the significance of what Dawkins refers to as "The God Delusion."
While gods may be believable, I believe religions are not. Religion is a part of the culture that humans have cultivated for a long time. It is not the divine word that fell from the sky but rather a historical artifact rooted in and grown within human life. Therefore, when nations faced persecution, gods became ruthless avengers against enemies, and in times of peace, they became merciful mothers.
