God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything

Another lesson learned book, quite informative and provocative, looking at the role of religion in our society.  Very different from Dennett’s read a few months ago, this time by faculty member, Christopher Hitchens (not a NYU faculty member!).  He writes a compelling book, not in the scientific perspective like Dennett, but more a “why in the world would anyone want religion to play a part in one’s life – it has and continues to poison our world," hence the name of the book: God is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.  Hitchens holds no religion as a safe zone.  He shares examples of the “alleged exploits” of Muslims, Catholics, Jews, Protestants, Mormons, Hindu’s, the cult religions, Wiccas, etc.  He tends to how the “ultra conservative” crazed members of a particular religious group will act to hurt the general population - terrorists of 9/11, ulta-protestants who killed at abortion clinics, etc.  He makes the assertion that religion is “man-created” and hence we have created our own demise.  He attempts to prove how religion is bad for our health (Catholic hierarchy telling its flock not to use condoms) then how religion is child abuse (forcing young teen women to be victims of savage abuse through cutting genitalia, Jewish boys being circumcised by clergy biting it off and spitting the foreskin out from their mouths), and then he moves to show how the Bible/Koran are myths/stories created by man, and not very good stories at that.  He dispels miracles by Catholic saints that the Koran was borrowed from Jewish and Catholic myths.  Clearly many of the points Hitchens makes are true.  My take – sorry for editorial -- is that religion is flawed.  My view on religion, flawed once man tries to interpret and lead others.  Hitchens shows all that is wrong with organized religion. The book is compelling, though I feel it is flawed.  Religion does a great deal for individuals, and who am I to judge whether it “works” for someone or not?  Hitchens chooses to do just that.  A super intellectual who wants to demonstrate that his examples taken together proves the point, who needs religion.  Hmm… lots of people need it, and actually thrive because of it.  If nothing else, a really on target view from a non-believer.  Worth a read to reinforce or challenge your beliefs.