The God Delusion

I'd really love to read this book, or even better, a few from Michael Shermer. But I just don't have the time, I'm overwhelmed by some obligatory readings from the university. =( Thanks for sharing your impressions, though. =)

I just started reading this book a few days ago. I'm onlyt through the second chapter. So far what the author has said makes sense to me. Have you heard of anyone turning into an atheist because of this book?

I have to agree with you. I am reading the book at the minute, I'm only on the 3rd chapter and I'm finding it absolutely brilliant. It's funny because a lot of the things mentioned in it are so close, even exact, to some of my ideas. I mean, just before I began reading it, I was talking about Leprichauns at the bottom of my garden and how they must be real because I said so and no one could disprove it, and there I go reading about celestial teapots and giant green lobsters describing the exact same principal. I have often wondered, and even asked, why people put so much faith in a book and the only answers anyone would get would be "it says in the Bible so it's true" or "look around you, the world is here so God must be" which is ridiculous because I could say that the leprichauns at the bottom of my garden created the world and then I could write it down in a book, would people believe me? No. They would think I was insane, unless of course I showed undoubtable proof that these leprichauns existed so why should it be different for people just because they happen to call their subject "God"?

I'm only halfway through this book, but so far, I agree with you! This book is great and I think it should be required reading. However, your post also reminds me of another fascinating book... "A Year of Living Biblically" where a man actually tries to live word for word, literally by the Bible. It's pretty funny. But yes, I've been an atheist for about as long as I can remember (the last time I believed in God, I also believed in Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, and the Tooth Fairy). If I hadn't already been an atheist though, I think this book would have slapped some sense into me.

Well until I read it I was still confused and agnostic and it changed my whole view. I began not to defend God's side, but to try and prove that science is the true way of reaching the Truth (which unfortunately nobody holds it for now). So I can say this book changed me into an atheist, but it wasn't like a conversion, I had the chance to study most of the belief systems and the arguments and proof they bring, and I took a conclusion on my own. But I wouldn't call "The God Delusion" a Bible. Not only because it would have the opposite meaning of what it really stands for, giving it a fanatic sense, but also because it's not a fictional book and it's not meant for interpretations. It brings facts and the point of view of a great scientist, along with the voices of many other great people around the world, who work for the continuous evolution of human society and technology. What can I say, maximum rating for this book and I recommend it to anyone, no matter what beliefs they have, it will help them.

What I liked about Dawkins's book is that it gives voice to what many people believe to be true but have difficulty explaining their understanding to "true believers"