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* Richard Dawkins (2006) makes great play in his recent book ''The God Delusion'' of what he calls the appalling propensity of religious people to base their ideas on [[dogma]] rather than on the [[evidence]]. Well, many do, but this reads strange in a book bursting at the seams with its own dogmas, its uncritical acceptance of [[metaphysical]] theories such as [[Identity Theory]], its refusal to take note of the relevant evidence from [[parapsychology]], and its [[special pleading]] with regard to the views of [[Darwin]] and [[Wallace]] on [[genocide]] (see Smythies, 2007, for details). For example, Dawkins states that he knows that this life is the only life we have. How could he possibly know that? [http://www.scientificexploration.org/journal/jse_22_1_smythies.pdf]
* Richard Dawkins (2006) makes great play in his recent book ''The God Delusion'' of what he calls the appalling propensity of religious people to base their ideas on [[dogma]] rather than on the [[evidence]]. Well, many do, but this reads strange in a book bursting at the seams with its own dogmas, its uncritical acceptance of [[metaphysical]] theories such as [[Identity Theory]], its refusal to take note of the relevant evidence from [[parapsychology]], and its [[special pleading]] with regard to the views of [[Darwin]] and [[Wallace]] on [[genocide]] (see Smythies, 2007, for details). For example, Dawkins states that he knows that this life is the only life we have. How could he possibly know that? [http://www.scientificexploration.org/journal/jse_22_1_smythies.pdf]
Dawkins also intends to teach that atheists can live happy, intelligent, lives—perhaps even happier lives than religious people. He asserts that atheists do not do evil things in the name of [[atheism]], while [[religion|religious]] people have been known to commit atrocities in the name of their religion.
Of course, he knows this in the same way that you, dear reader, know that there isn't an invisible unicorn in the corner of your room.
Dawkins also intends to teach that atheists can live happy, intelligent, lives—perhaps even happier lives than religious people. He asserts that atheists do not do evil things in the name of [[atheism]], while [[religion|religious]] people have been known to commit atrocities in the name of their religion. Several good examples include the Crusades, the Inquisition, and several atrocities written in the Bible, such as Jericho.
==Criticism==
==Criticism==
Robinson's major complaints about ''The God Delusion'' lie in how sheerly false the book is in many aspects. Although Dawkins claims that "the majority of us believe in free speech", she points out that most countries do not, pointing out that [[China]] (population 1.3 billion<ref>http://geography.about.com/od/populationgeography/a/chinapopulation.htm</ref>) does not. In her review, Robinson basically says that Dawkins purposefully ignored important parts of history in his attempt to convince his readers. "It's a shame," she says, "to see him reduced to one long argument from professorial incredulity."
Robinson's major complaints about ''The God Delusion'' lie in how sheerly false the book is in many aspects. Although Dawkins claims that "the majority of us believe in free speech", she points out that most countries do not, pointing out that [[China]] (population 1.3 billion<ref>http://geography.about.com/od/populationgeography/a/chinapopulation.htm</ref>) does not. In her review, Robinson basically says that Dawkins purposefully ignored important parts of history in his attempt to convince his readers. "It's a shame," she says, "to see him reduced to one long argument from professorial incredulity."
In this case, Dawkins was referring to the most likely readers of the book, which would not have been Chinese, or in other countries that deny free speech. The magic of quote mining is ever-present.
===Terry Eagleton: London Review of Books===
===Terry Eagleton: London Review of Books===