God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything

[Repeated from my blog at geoffarnold.com] Over the last year, there have been three important books published on belief and non-belief : * Dan Dennett's Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon * Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion * Christopher Hitchens' God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything I've already written - appreciatively - about the Dennett and Dawkins books, and I must admit that I approached Hitchens with some trepidation. After all, people have been lambasting Dawkins and others for their "intemperate" and "disrespectful" attacks on religion, and that's the kind of thing that seems likely to get Hitchens' juices flowing (metaphorically and literally). But I needn't have worried. First, let me say directly and unambiguously: this is a really good book. Hitchens is a mercurial toper, and he may be (nay, he is) dead wrong on Iraq, but he is a great writer. I find myself reading all of the book reviews that he writes, even if I have no interest whatsoever in the book, just for the pleasure of his prose. He is a literate writer, and he assumes that his readers will recognize quotations and literary allusions without having to be spoon-fed. And he achieves this in an utterly contemporary voice, without retreating into anachronism. So please buy this book, to keep the author well supplied with the vodka which seems to fuel his muse. We need more of his work. Enough of the style: what of the substance? I think that I can best describe my reaction to this book by considering the different uses to which I would put it and its two companions. If a committed theist asked me why she should pay attention to the "new atheism", I would give her Dennett's book. I would hope that she would realize that the modern world provides clear evidence of the diversity of beliefs and non-beliefs, and that perhaps she would agree that this was a subject worth studying, worth considering from outside her (probably exclusive) world-view. What explains belief? Why has belief changed over the years? I wouldn't expect to change her beliefs, but perhaps she could accept that belief and non-belief were legitimate subjects of inquiry. If I met a curious man, embedded in a religious tradition but uncertain of whether (or what) he believed, or if he might actually be losing his faith, I would give him Dawkins' The God Delusion. I'd be hoping that he could appreciate the role of science (and its stepchild, technology) in both understanding and creating the world in which he lives. It's not just iPods and cruise missiles, but also polio vaccine, and clean water, and instruments like the Hubble Space Telescope that help us understand our universe, and DNA sequencing that allows us to diagnose disease but also to see our place in the web of life on this planet. And I would hope that he might come to realize, with Carl Sagan, that the realities of the universe are far more majestic and beautiful than the myths of religion. But suppose that an old friend came to me and asked, "Why are you so fired up about atheism and religion these days? I remember you 15 years ago, and back then you were posting on alt.atheism, and having fun roasting creationists on talk.origins, and reading books on the philosophy of religion. But you didn't talk - and write - about it all the time, and you certainly didn't publically define yourself by your disbelief. So what happened?" Instead of trying to explain all of my reasons, I think I'd simply give them Hitchens' new book and say, "Read this. He puts it better than I ever could. I merely experience the occasional (but increasingly frequent) feelings of frustration, impatience, outrage, and even anger. Hitchens is an unequalled exponent of the art of the rant: he says what I feel, with passion, intensity and wit." This is not a book that seeks to convert. Its purpose is, first and foremost, to explain. To explain why atheists are no longer willing to sit meekly on our hands when the President of the United States says that I don't know that Atheists should be considered as citizens", or when the Archbishop of Canterbury excuses the fatwa against Salman Rushdie, or when Catholic cardinals and archbishops preach that condoms transmit AIDS. Yes, Hitchens also explains why he is an atheist, and the things that he finds mad, bad, or ridiculous about religion. Individual believers will naturally snort, and say that he's not talking about their belief, but that's not the point. He's not seeking to win a debate, or persuade the uncertain: he's laying out facts about the world and his opinions of those facts. And I agree with most of what he says. Perhaps because he is a student of history, and a former Marxist Trotskyite, Hitchens pays particular attention to what he calls An Objection Anticipated: The Last-Ditch "Case" Against Secularism. He's talking (p.230) about the charge that "secular totalitarianism has actually provided us with the summa of human evil." Hitchens' response is lengthy and detailed, and rejects the simplistic lumping-together of the various dictators of the 20th century. He describes how fascism and National Socialism co-opted religious institutions, which responded with unseemly enthusiasm. On the other hand, Communism in Russia and China had more in common with the anticlericalism of the French Revolution. Obviously Communists wished to eliminate any competing source of ideology or loyalty; beyond this, their secularism was less an expression of ontological atheism than of hatred towards the religious institutions which had supported the previous autocracies or imperialists. In fact, Communists were not trying to negate religion, but to replace it, complete with saints, heretics, mummies and icons. It's a complex topic that could fill an entire book, and Hitchens handles it very well. As you may have gathered by now, I really like this book. I really think that it's my favourite of the three, mostly because I learned more from it than the other two, and because it caught my mood so well. Of course there are many things to learn from Dennett and Dawkins, but I've been steeped in their works for the last twenty years, and I think I understand the world from their perspective. With his literary and historical bent, Hitchens provided an intriguingly different point of view. And, as I think I mentioned, the writing is simply superb.

Christopher Hitchens' "god is not GREAT: How Religion Poisons Everything," is resoundingly superior to what one might expect from a guy who is a bit untidy, chain-smoking, not far from a bottle, and prompt in interviews with a line of epithets. You might expect the writing to be weighty and dense, sloppy and poorly edited, smoke-screeny and obfuscatory, drunkenly weird, and vilely profane. You'll not find it. Hitchens is clear, a straight talker, courageous, unpretentious, and egalitarian. He writes precisely and as simply as the subjects permit. He is brilliant, thoroughly grounded in the breadth and history of his topics. Add to that, yes, a basic humility, with much humor. Three cheers. Do I promise you will like Christopher Hitchens? No. Not if you have taken the Leap of Faith, not if you are content with your religion, never conflicted about your beliefs, need the worship service to get through the week, value the social contacts of the fine, loving people in your congregation, and believe your own revealed book is sacrosanct. You and your fellows will not like him, might even approach disdaining, if not hating, and surely pitying him. He is fine with that. Peace. Stay with it. All he asks is that the faithful leave him alone, though he doubts they can, will instead try to "save" him, pray for him, convert him or, if not, ultimately consign him to the hell they think he deserves. Hitchens denies the metaphysical, denies any supernatural entity who creates and personally sustains each and every believer, denies an afterlife, heaven or hell, and rejects the heavy guilt engendered by clerics who profit and attain power by keeping followers in need of present and eternal forgiveness. He believes religions intentionally keep members subservient emotionally and mentally, subjugate women, repress sexuality, brainwash everyone, especially children, and destroy real happiness. Religions seek to enslave. And not succeeding, will do their godly best to ostracize, shun, and righteously obliterate the outsider, the infidel. Hitchens is a voice of reason, loving freedom, not intending harm, seeking to enjoy brief life's moments. Joy to him and to the world. * * * As a title, "god is not GREAT" is more of a sales grab than "Religion Is Not Great," which would be more applicable. "How Religion Poisons Everything" shares some of the title's hyperbole, although "poisons everything" appears close to Hitchens' true evaluation. It almost goes without saying that Hitchens attempts no definitive proof or disproof of any god's existence, whether ancient Greek, Roman, Pagan, or Yahweh, which he knows has forever been beyond human capacity. My read is that Gertrude Stein's lovely statement stands: "There ain't no answer. There ain't gonna be any answer. There never has been an answer. That's the answer." Hitchens' immediate and continuing focus is on religion, all religions. Where is a person to turn for help in this life of ups and downs and ultimate demise? Not vertically to any god, but horizontally to those sharing our time and space. The vertical impulse is deception, a false hope, empty. Interdependence, with complementary skills, talents, and knowledge, is our only practical and valid answer. Caution.

I felt it hit all the marks and reaffirms my decision to become an atheist after being brought up Catholic and then free Methodist Christian. It puts Christian apologetics to shame and exposes them for the hypocrists that they are.

god is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens "god is not Great" is a one of the most fascinating books you will ever read. A scholarly, passionate, and witty book that challenges religious dogma with panache. This 336-page book is composed of the following nineteen chapters: 1. Putting It Mildly, 2. Religion Kills, 3. A Short Digression on the Pig; or, Why Heaven Hates Ham, 4. A Note on Health, to Which Religion Can Be Hazardous, 5. The Metaphysical Claims of Religion Are False, 6. Arguments from Design, 7. Revelation: The Nightmare of the "Old" Testament, 8. The "New" Testament Exceeds the Evil of the "Old" One, 9. The Koran Is Borrowed from Both Jewish and Christian Myths, 10. The Tawdriness of the Miraculous and the Decline of Hell, 11. "The Lowly Stamp of Their Origin": Religion's Corrupt Beginnings, 12. A Coda: How Religions End, 13. Does Religion Make People Behave Better, 14. There Is No "Eastern" Solution, 15. Religion as an Original Sin, 16. Is Religion Child Abuse?, 17. An Objection Anticipated: The Last-Ditch "Case" Against Secularism, 18. A Finer Tradition: The Resistance of the Rational, and 19. In Conclusion: The Need for a New Enlightenment. Positives: 1. Hitchens writes with panache. 2. Thought-provoking does not begin to describe this book. 3. Hitchens is the ultimate intellectual entertainer. It takes a brilliant mind and command of the language to be able to convey such lucid thoughts. 4. Any book by Hitchens is a quote fest but this is his Magnum Opus. 5. Hitchens is able to put into words what many of us think. 6. Challenges many religious beliefs of various faiths. 7. The uncomfortable nature of religion and sex. Many poignant examples. 8. The truth about how agnostic cadets are bullied by "born again" cadres. 9. Violations against the Establishment Clause illustrated. 10. How religion and faith distort our whole picture of the world. Example, condoms and AIDS. 11. Debunks many religious beliefs with compelling arguments. As an example, destroys the absurd notion of a young earth. 12. A look back at some fascinating doomsday predictions. 13. The clash of science and religion and how religion thwarted scientific progress. 14. The arrogance of religion exposed. 15. An eye for evolution...you will understand my pun once you read this page-turning book. 16. The fallacy of Noah's Ark. We are all wet to believe such things. 17. The truth behind the ten commandments and what they don't say. 18. The "divine" authority to commit evil. A well developed theme throughout this book. 19. The religious dogma that lead to witch hunt. 20. Instruments of evil illustrated, oh my. 21. What archaeology hasn't uncovered. 22. Faith as a mask of insecurity. 23. No such things as miracles. 24. Many apologetic arguments destroyed. 25. Religion as a political source of control. 26. This book lead me to watch the Oscar-award winning documentary, "Marjoe". A tale of American evangelical hucksterism. Highly recommended. 27. How some religions were invented by opportunists. 28. The cruel practice of slavery and its misguided religious justification. 29. The impact of Dr. King. Fascinating take. 30. Many religious icons presented in a different light. 31. Colonel Robert Ingersoll, enough said. 32. Cruel creeds at work throughout the planet. 33. Vicarious redemption as only Hitchens can express it. 34. Dictatorships and their tools of oppression. 35. Apartheid and its connection to religion, racism and totalitarianism. 36. The lack of evidence for "intercessory" prayer. 37. Very few people are as well read as Hitchens, but what sets him apart is his ability to relay topic-appropriate narratives with flair and this book exemplifies that. 38. Well researched and referenced book. Negatives: 1. This is not an even-handed book and Hitchens makes no bones about it. Hitchens did not write this book to give you the positives about religion so if you are looking for a fair assessment, you must look elsewhere. 2. His brutal unrelenting honesty will rub those who oppose his views in a bad way. 3. I have no problems going after immoral dogma, but I do have some reservations about equating immoral dogma with immoral believer. I think that distinction gets lost in this book. 4. Clearly religion doesn't poison everything as evidenced by many of the good works of religious believers. That much we can say for certain, however I do have a problem with good acts in conjunction with proselytizing. Hitchens has done a very good job of clearing this issue up after the book was released. 5. Having to wait for Mr. Hitchens next great book. In summary, this is one of the most thought-provoking books you will ever read. Hitchens establishes the premise of his book and he never relents. He never holds back and does so with an intellectual passion rarely seen. Fascinating, witty, enlightening, and irreverent but never boring. In the proper context, this is a "bad" book that is good for you. Highly recommended. Further suggestions: "Cruel Creeds, Virtuous Violence" by Jack David Eller, "Why I Became an Atheist..." by John Loftus, "God's Problem" by Bart D. Ehrman, "Godless..." by Dan Barker, "The God Virus" by Darrel Ray, "The End of faith" by Sam Harris, "The Religion Virus" by Craig A. James, "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins, and "God and His Demons" by Michael Parenti.

What can I write that hasn't already been said about the character that is Christopher Hitchens. Yes he is a contrarian, his humor can be dark, incisive, and cutting to those who agree with him and mean-spirited and strident to those who don't. But this book isn't written to gain new converts, it is mostly candy for atheists. Mr Hitchens says in the book that he doesn't think religious belief will ever end and he isn't in the business of telling people what to think. He is looking for the rational crowd to be more outspoken to ensure that this voice is heard. A book like this shouldn't have to be written. To most rational people, a book on this subject is directly equivalent to a dense treatise on whether Santa Claus can plausibly deliver all those presents in one night. But this book does provide a place for us all to vent our frustration at the dominant role that ludicrous beliefs have had in the public square. But while I don't think he will gain many converts, the New Atheists have definitely initiated a call-to-arms to be more vocal about our ridicule of religion. This may be the lasting impact of books such as this. The fact that Christopher Hitchens won't gain new converts isn't a discredit to his arguments, it is merely a statement on the inertia of changing peoples minds on a topic they hold near and dear. Most people are taught from their impressionable years onwards that religious claims are true. Religion provides false but comforting answers to questions of death, suffering, meaning and justice. The atheist can't exactly go door to door to say, 'surprise there is no god', 'when you die, you are gone for eternity', or other not-made-for-Hallmark statements. But like the author, I prefer the reality we find ourselves in. We only have one chance in this world. Each kiss to your wife, kind word to a friend, good deed done, every sunset on the beach, could be your last. As William Burroughs once said, 'Life is a vacation from two eternities, who wants to waste those precious years worrying about what happens when you get back to forever". I find the description of reality and the creation myths of the world's religions to be boring and uninspired. I side with the Reverend Carl Sagan in a spirit of wonder and awe at the true nature of our universe and our evolution. If only religions had tapped in to the true magnificence of our universe, instead of the narrow path they had chosen. But our hopes about the reality of the universe have no bearing on their truth. I believe that there are two options, either god is evil or he doesn't exist. Thankfully the latter is true and we are spared an oppressive god who disproportionately starves poor African children, sends tsunamis after poor villages and decides who wins football games. I can hear the grumbles already, that god gives suffering to test our faith, to break us down so we can come to believe in him. Aren't there more subtle ways for an all-powerful deity to teach us lessons, isn't this method of inflicting suffering on the world to get a point across a bit barbaric and why does god disproportionately teach lessons to those who are poor and dark-skinned. Either way, I could go on and on but this topic kind of bores me. There are no good arguments for a belief in god. But this is a very entertaining book about a great writers favorite topic, you can't go wrong. You should be thoroughly entertained by this therapeutic romp at the expense of the absurdities that have dominated the social sphere underneath the domain of religion. But most rationalists won't get anything new from it.

This book was in impeccable condition and the seller had it to me nearly 5 days before it was projected to arrive.

Christopher Hitchens died over 12 years ago, and it is said he wrote this amazing book because of his fear of an American Counter Enlightenment where religion plots its way back into power to reverse the freedoms gained in the last 60 years. He was very prescient as we see from the corruption of the Supreme Court and the plans y The Federalist Society since before Citizens United to ban books, revise history, eliminate black history, and wipe all references to LGBTQ+ people, and tell heterosexuals what they can and cannot do in the privacy of their own home. Christopher draws from his strict religious schooling, his deep familiarity with the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Gospels, the entire history of Christianity, as well as the Koran and Hadiths of Islam, to his worldly travels as correspondent for numerous magazines, and his exquisite command of language to remind us of the enlightenment values that formed America; that America has the only purely secular Constitution in the world, and the reasons the founders understood that only in this separation could Democracy and the free practice of religion survive. As we watched the meaning of the 2nd Amendment twisted beyond recognition without having to change a single word, so we are seeing the meaning of the 1st Amendment being twisted to mean the opposite of the founders intentions - all without having to change the words. God Is Not Great is a wake up call to the dangers to religious fanaticism that claims to be the basis of our Judeo-Christian civilization, when in fact the major religions fought tooth and nail against women’s rights, gay rights, integration, universal suffrage, birth control, a woman’s right to control her body, among other things. This book reads like a mystery novel and whatever level of belief you have, you will better understand the true underpinnings of the American constitution.

The late Christopher Hitchens saw afar from an early age and experience extended his gaze exponentially. If for no other reason read this book for the countless references to history, literature, science and art as well as multiple religions. It is truly mind-expanding! It is laden with insight, common sense and wit. Yes he can be sharp and cleaves to the bone in places but the search for truth can require that. In the end he encourages us to seek truth rather than simply accept dogma, whether weathered and moldy or fresh and without basis in fact. Do yourself a favor and read this book.

Christopher Hitchens witty cuts to the truth good read

Having finished reading this book the first thing I would point out to a potential reader is that the subtitle provides a better description than the main title. Hitchens goes to great length to point out the many and varied crimes of institutionalized religion. This is something that not even the most devout Catholic would deny. The crusades, the inquisitions, burning people alive and other horrible and immoral acts fill the history of religion like a syringe filled with poison. Hitchens' main point, and also something that I thing most people of any religion would agree with, is that these acts shouldn't be forgotten or forgiven simply because they were done in the name of any particular religion. Immoral acts are immoral no matter who does them. Indeed in the varied reviews that people have given of this book, critical reviews nearly always forget to even mention these crimes and immoral acts. They might get caught up with something as pedantic as the wording of a scriptural quote. To me this seems like a rather pathetic argument. It's much like a murderer in court saying "Look, forget about him saying I killed all those people - he said I wore brown shoes when I was clearly wearing black!". It picks at minute details to distract from the larger ones. That's not to say that reasonable religious readers will agree with this book wholeheartedly. Hitchens makes no attempts to hide the fact that he does not believe in God, and feels there is absolutely no compelling reason to do so. He even goes on to point out that if you were to practice your religion and beliefs in the comfort of your own home, he wouldn't have the slightest problem with it. He does, however, object to the god described in the old testament as an immoral monster. Overall there is a lot to take from this book, regardless of your personal views on the matter. Its focus is perhaps less controversial than The God Delusion in that the crimes detailed are a matter of historical record and considered horrific mistakes even by the most conservative of church-goers. If I had to make only one complaint about this book it would be that I didn't always feel that the examples given fell exactly in the subject of the particular chapter where they were placed. The examples were compelling and important to know about, but sometimes I feel they would have been better used at different points in the book to support some other argument. I would recommend this book to anybody regardless of their beliefs if only so that they can be aware of the wrong that can be done in the name of religion and do their best to avoid it ever happening again.

Christopher Hitchens died last year and until he died I had never heard of him. I read eulogies from his fellow journalists and then heard no more until last week when, by chance, I came across some video clips of Hitchens speaking about his views on religion and I found them fascinating. I then found that Hitchens had written a book, God is not Great: how religion poisons everything. I bought the book and have now read it. Firstly, I have only read a couple of chapters of Richard Dawkins The God Delusion and I have to say that Hitchens did a far better job than Dawkins. Religious people do not like God is not Great. Not because it tests their faith but because of what it reveals about what goes on in the name of religion. Hitchens tells us, almost in passing, that he has received death threats, nasty phone calls and threats of violence for holding his view that he believes that religions poison everything. Having been born and brought up in a country where freedom of speech is taken for granted, I wonder at who it could be that would so object to someone's views that they threaten murder. That's for their conscience! As for the book, it is entertainingly written and full of stories aimed at the three main monotheisms: Christianity, Jewry, Islam. He regales us with story after story of the things that clerics hiding under these three banners get up to and have got up to for millennia. Hitchens reveals a great number of sources too: he's not just letting off steam. I have to say that I read this book for the overview it provided and not to learn the deep and detailed information that Hitchens sometimes goes into: it's there if you want it, of course. I like Hitchens' style as it is keen, ascerbic, funny, witty, well sourced and contains many words that I had never come across before. At least it will improve your vocabulary. I have to say that another motivation for reading the book is that I arrived at a similar position to Hitchens vis a vis religion over the last two or three years having seen religious brainwashing and its consequences at first hand. No God will work in that way with those people: something else is most definitely going on and I could support these things no longer, having realised what was happening. I imagine there will be people who read this mini review and who might feel angry with me for having written it: well, that's for you to come to terms with. I am glad I read the book, I learned many things about religions that I did not previously know and Hitchens gives a message that we all ought to consider. You do not have to agree with him! What's wrong with the book? Well, Hitchens has a mission, to clarify why he thinks religions poison everything. He gives no time to the good that good people in religions often do. He does not attempt to redress any imbalances in his arguments at all in this respect. If he were alive to answer this point I am sure he would ask, why on earth should I? Overall, if you are deeply committed to your religion you might not want to read this book but I think you should suspend your faith, read it and then explore fully what Hitchens has to say. Don't dismiss this book with anger in your heart! If you give Hitchens a fair hearing and stick to your guns then fine. I recommend this book to everyone but if your English reading skills are weak, it will be difficult for you: Hitchens' English language skills are highly developed and he's writing for an educated audience. No offence to anyone, just a friendly warning! DW

Todas las religiones merecen análisis y justo escrutinio sin nublarlo con sentimentalismos o posturas dogmáticas, exactamente fue lo que hizo Christopher Hitchens en este excelente libro, fue un erudito preocupado y ocupado por una mejor humanidad, llevando en alto la razón y la verdad.

Um grande estudo mostrando porque religião não tem nada de divino ou sobrenatural, tendo sido contruida por seres humanos. E que causou e continua causando um mal imenso!