Categories: uncategorized
Date: 26 January 2012 19:59:10
In the mist of all the current madness my catch a few pages on the train book has been Richard Dawkins The God Delusion. I kind of figured it made sense to read it whilst I was testing my call.
In the introduction Dawkins indicates that he hopes it will make the religious lose their faith / see the error of their ways. Well, whilst it has confirmed lots I have thought myself about faith it has not shaken mine. Whilst I disagree with that a belief in evolution and God are incompatible, I go with the argument God is in a different dimension and created the initial part of the process I do know that I have no rational basis for that argument and it is a bit like saying I believe in Santa Claus, (which I don't)....but it's also v. different because I have faith that God is there in it all.
I, like Dawkins, am appalled by the way religion has been used and misused in our society and over history to perpetrate acts of violence, oppression and abuse. However, I also argue that it has helped some people do great good - just as other motivations - which I would argue may have their root in a supreme being have helped non-Christians do great good.
In terms of not forcing kids into religion and getting them to question things I also agree. Third Party was given a huge grilling when she got baptised by me because I needed to make sure it really was her decision and not a social thing, or a trying to please me thing.
The overall feeling I get reading the book is that he has had some bad experiences which have made him bitter about a few things and this is his way of addressing some of those things. I have basically ended up with the feeling I just want to sit down with him and chat through his life story to find out exactly what the whole deal is and then give him a hug. I am sure he would destest this type of hippy attitude but it's the conclusion I come to after reading the book.