http://richarddawkins.net/article,1148,n,n

The God question
by Sarmad Abbasi, Literate, NOS, The News International
Thanks to Sarmad Abbasi for the link.

Reposted from:
http://jang.com.pk/thenews/may2007-weekly/nos-20-05-2007/lit.htm#2

The God Delusion
Author: Richard Dawkins
Published: Bantam, September 2006
Price:Rs 1200
Pages:416

"Simple, passionate, straightforward, rational, uncontrived and
uncompromisingly honest, 'The God Delusion' is perhaps the most
important work by Richard Dawkins.

'The God Delusion' sets up a simple hypothesis: the existence of God
is extremely unlikely. What is fascinating and important (and this may
come as a surprise to creationists) is that the book points out the
weaknesses in its own case: it frankly admits that it is providing
only an argument not a proof, and at other times, a counter-argument
and not a refutation.

An important point made by Dawkins is that when we argue, collect
facts or make observations to ascertain if an assertion is true, our
arguments only partially convince us of the truth of the assertion.
Thus, in practice, we end up assigning probabilities to the truth of
the assertion. Once, these probabilities become sufficiently low, we
act as if the statement was not true. For example, there is a positive
probability of having an earthquake in Lahore tomorrow. However, it is
so low that we act as if it is not going to happen. Dawkins extends
this analogy: there is nothing inherently different when one is
arguing for or against the existence of God. A rational approach is to
listen to arguments provided from both camps, examine them with an
open mind, use one's own intelligence to construct further arguments
and assign probabilities to the existence of God. And this is where
Dawkins makes his most important point. When we examine the arguments
with this approach, the conclusion stares us in the face: the
likelihood of the existence of a creator is extremely low.

Dawkins also answers questions of his methodology because, and it is
quite understandable, his approach would be shocking to most people in
this country (and many others). Isn't the existence of God a matter
which requires special treatment? How can we use the same methodology
to answer this important question that we use to investigate a petty
crime? Can reason alone lead us to the truth of this important matter?
Dawkins' reply is that this matter seems more important simply because
we are told that it is more important. If we are to 'reason' that this
matter is so important that reason alone is not enough to settle it,
then we are accepting the answer to this question without
investigating it. Anyone who has reached an affirmative answer this
way has not reasoned it out. We may respect a person's right to
believe in a creator but 'only in the sense and to the extent that we
respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children are
smart'.

A large part of the book devoted to tackling age old arguments that
are usually presented by theist in order to 'prove' the existence of
God. It is well known that these arguments are either flawed or
incomplete. Some of them are completely absurd and others simply
hilarious. At best they can be used to show the likelihood of a
creator; that is, to shift the probability of the existence of God a
bit towards the positive side. Most of these arguments are easily
dismissed except one: the argument of design. Dawkins devotes
considerable time on this argument. How does one explain the apparent
design in the universe? How can we explain the perfection of an
eagle's eye or the complexity of human brain without an intelligent
designer?

Firstly, he points out a flaw in the intelligent designer theory: it
creates a bigger problem than it solves. If one were to say that a
Boeing 747 was assembled by an intelligent designer then we are still
left with the question, who designed the designer. 'God tries to have
his free lunch and be it too!' Thus, the God hypothesis does not solve
the problem but poses an even bigger one. Dawkins argues that 'God is
the Ultimate 747' whose existence will require yet another designer.
Secondly, Dawkins points out that the answer to the apparent design
and complexity in the universe is not chance. It is evolution:
Darwinian evolution.

Darwinian evolution satisfactorily solves perhaps the most intriguing
question in all of sciences. It explains the apparent design that we
see in the universe. Generally speaking, evolution is harder to
understand because it operates on time-scales that are so large that
our brain is not equipped to comprehend them. Although, Dawkins does a
good job of explaining evolution and how it explains apparent design
in the universe, the theory is better and more thoroughly explained in
two of Dawkins' earlier titles 'The Blind Watchmaker' and 'Climbing
Mount Improbable'.

Dawkins also highlights the dark sides of religion and religious
fundamentalism. How religion has been responsible for wars, murders
and even genocides. He points at particularly disturbing developments
in the United States. He is particularly critical of creationists who
have subverted the teaching of science. Above all, he argues, that
religious fundamentalism is a very well-accepted form of child abuse.
Children are taught never to question and have no choice but to accept
the faith of their parents. They are denied the most fundamental
right: to choose their own religion (or none at all).

Because of the nature of the subject, it is inconceivable for many
people to think critically about the existence of God. And Dawkins'
arguments will definitely seem bizarre if not downright evil to many
among the faithful. Dawkins' positive contribution with this book is
to raise our consciousness and shown us that we can rationally
approach and deal with the question of God and its relevance to our
lives and society.

Above all, this book has created the much needed space for those who
question everything and do so most uncompromisingly."