God Is Not Great (edit title)

• Rated 0 stars

“Very fascinating. I agree with most of his arguments thus far about the toxic nature of religion, not because I am an atheist, but because I am a Christian and I abhor the willingness of man to pervert his spiritual nature in order to better himself in this world. This book, honestly, needs to be regeared for Christians here in the US, so that we will not look at it and think "heresy!" when we see the title -- we need to rethink whether our beliefs are just religion, or if they are reflective of God's truth.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Polemical and strangely touching. Hitchens would like to believe in God (and has tried) but religious practices have embittered him.”

• Rated 2 stars

“I read this book and found myself asking the same questions he asks. How he can disprove the existence of God? He makes a strong case against religous groups, yet fails to undermine the foundation of their beleves. He can no more disprove God anymore than those that attempt to prove there is a God. His chapters on the Bible gave me a laugh, some very funny bits. ”

• Rated 4 stars

“This is one half of the absolute requirements for atheist reading.

Whereas Dawkins' The God Delusion provides great logic for the rejection of the concept of God as implausible and improbable, this book successfully argues that religion is ill-adaptive for humans. The subtitle is really the point of this work: "how religion poisons everything." Hitchens makes the point splendidly. ”

• Rated 4 stars

“My first book read in regards to Atheism and it was very intellectual. Definite like!”

• Rated 3 stars

“Hitchens pulls no punches in his take on all organized religions. He especially focuses on the three monotheistic religions and systematically takes them apart piece by piece - both in terms of the inconsistencies of their doctrines and the historical cruelties that can be laid at their doorsteps. He doesn't neglect other religions/philosophies either and points out the violence that can be laid at the doorstep of Buddists, HIndus and Sikhs. I think what I found most compelling in his arguments (although in some ways he is preaching to the choir in this book, as not many believers would tolerate his no-holds-barred approach) is how he looks at the treatment of women and children by religion. Not one of the so called 'great' world religions treats women and children with dignity, nor do they accord them their basic human rights. If there is a compelling argument to reject the idea that everyone is entitled to their beliefs, it is this argument; for religion denigrates women and grants men permission to treat them and children as little more than chattel; to beat, abuse, kill, maim, even burn alive. I see no redeeming quality in religion and Hitchen's book gave me tons of examples which supports my thinking on this. ”

• Rated 0 stars

“This guy's an idiot”

• Rated 4 stars

“Christopher Hitchens is not just an atheist. He is an anti-theist. He not only believes that there isn't a such thing as God, but that God is a bad idea- a bad concept, a concept from which little good comes. He endeavors to prove it in this book and I think he did a pretty good job.

He does this by a) telling stories about things done in the name of religion- all religions and b) pointing out that good things that have come from religion could have come about without it- that religion is not necessary for human beings to be good.

Others have written that this book denies any beauty in the world, that it is brutal or heartless. I think they are referring to the parts about Mother Theresa and the Dalai Lama and Dr King. I have long known some of what he wrote to be true. The rest surprised me.

He doesn't slander these people, but he does take off their haloes in order to show that religion is not what makes people good. This made me think: What do I know about these people? Do I love them because I actually know something about them? Or do I just love what they symbolize (peace, brotherhood, love, etc)? And do I need them as that symbol?

Is Hitchens denying the beauty of peace and love because he disillusions the reader about these figures? No. In fact, he does the opposite- he puts the importance of those things above the most powerful forces in human society.

I marvel that he wasn't afraid to say some of these things. He speaks of circumcision as a barbaric practice unfair to children. He speaks of Islamic reactions to printed words and cartoons.

Such criticisms are the truths that get you labeled a "bigot" or intolerant (as if it's such a compliment to be "tolerated") and he tosses them out with acid humor, leaving me shocked and delighted.

I think it's time that religion was brought to task. I think it's time someone started a conversation about this- an honest one.
I think Christopher Hitchens is just the badass to do it.”

• Rated 5 stars

“Excellent.”