Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11922 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-17
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 64 pages

Synopsis
Do religions have an inherent right to be respected? Is atheism itself a form of religion, and can there be such a thing as a 'fundamentalist atheist'? Are we witnessing a global revival in religious zeal, or do the signs point instead to religion's ultimate decline? In a series of bold, unsparing polemics, A C Grayling tackles these questions head on, exposing the dangerous unreason he sees at the heart of religious faith and highlighting the urgent need we have to reject it in all its forms, without compromise. In its place he argues for a set of values based on reason, reflection and sympathy, taking his cue from the great ethical tradition of western philosophy.

Customer Reviews

Brilliant
Succinct and to the point. Written with wit and eloqunce. If Dawkins has a powerful right hook, Greyling simply knocks the opposition down with a few short jabs and then walks away without even rubbing his knuckles.

To see exactly how effective his arguments are, read the reviews below which give the book just one star, and see the logic that those reviews employ.

Everyone should read this book.

An excellent introduction with some original points.
This short but excellent book will make a fine addition to my collection. While this book may be short it is by no means lacking a punch, A C Grayling articulates himself clearly and gets straight to the heart of the issue at hand.

We start off by looking at whether or not religion is worthy of respect, of which, of course, the answer is no, the only thing that should be worthy of respect is whether a person is a decent human being. "It is time to reverse the prevailing notion that religious commitment is intrinsically deserving of respect."

We then move on to more harder issues such as the inculcation of children into religion and the fact that 3/4 of Church of England schools are primary schools. As Richard Dawkins would say, this is child abuse, forcing a choice upon them before they have the mental acuity in which to make a rational decision for themselves.

If you're looking for a nice introduction for the rational rejection of belief in supernatural entities of any kind, this is it.

A refreshing outlook.
I read this book in one sitting, not because it's very short but because it was amazing. Worlds apart from the sarcastic sneerings of writers like Dawkins with 'The God Delusion', 'Against All Gods' questions our inherent tendency to respect religious views simply because they are religious. His discussions of religion and morality and whether the two should be so closely linked is fascinating. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in a different and perhaps controversial approach to religion.