First there was Sam Harris and The End of Faith and his argument that religion does more harm than good. The there appeared Richard Dawkins and The God Delusion arguing that belief in god is irrational and also has done far more harm than good. Now we have Christopher Hitchens weighing in with his book subtitled, "...How Religion Poisons Everything."
These three books, read together, form a solid foundation for a rational view of existence free of the scourge of religion in general and fundamentalism in particular. It is comforting and empowering to read that so many others have raised the same questions, and come to the same conclusions I have over the last 35 years or so.
Hitchens mentions getting himself in hot water by questioning a particularly silly statement in a religious school at a young age. I was punished for answering the rhetorical question, "How can you explain the amazing growth and continuity of the Roman Catholic Church?" with the simple answer: "Infant Baptism!"
If you have even the slightest lingering doubt about the efficacy of religion or your beliefs in the fantastic, I would strongly recommend these three books. The arguments can only be answered with: "I don't care; I believe." No longer good enough for me!
-Chiron, 5/4/07
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