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The Dawkins Delusion?

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497:. Not four, not two, but three. Christian doctrine is remarkably specific: not only with cut-and-dried answers to the deep problems of the universe and life, but about the divinity of Jesus, about sin and redemption, heaven and hell, prayer and absolute morality. And yet McGrath has the almighty gall to accuse me of a "glossy", "quick fix", naive faith that science has all the answers. 327:
that there be an external criterion for interpreting texts; but argues that Dawkins appears unaware that religions and their texts possess internal means of reform and renewal, and that Dawkins seems unaware of the symbolism of several of the Bible passages which he quotes. McGrath cites the works of numerous authors, including
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remains the finest critique of William Paley's naturalistic arguments for deism available ... he can no longer say that Tertullian praised Christian belief because of its absurdity or that religion necessarily makes one violent. The McGraths are frustrated, then, that Dawkins continues to write
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set out to tell Dawkins how wrong he is. Now enter Alister McGrath ... extended essay covers some similar ground to the others, notably in analysing the extent of Dawkins's ignorance of theology. Of course, the point about that attack, from Dawkins's perspective at any rate, is that it is no
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Other theologies contradict his Christian creed while matching it for brash over-confidence, based on zero evidence. McGrath presumably rejects the polytheism of the Hindus, Olympians and Vikings. He does not subscribe to voodoo, or to any of thousands of mutually contradictory tribal beliefs. Is
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commanded an ethic of 'out-group affirmation' and Christians may certainly be accused of failing to live up to this command. But it is there, right at the heart of the Christian ethic". He believes that Dawkins is right when he argues that it is necessary to critique religion, and right to demand
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that Dawkins is often more accurate than McGrath on historical theology. He gives an assessment of the debate between Dawkins and McGrath while arguing that both men fail to make the crucial distinction between belief in God and faith. He finds it hard to disagree with McGrath's conclusion that
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McGrath an "ideological fanatic" because he doesn't believe in Thor's hammer? Of course not. Why, then, does he suggest I am exactly that because I see no reason to believe in the particular God whose existence he, lacking both evidence and humility, positively asserts?
395: ... and make many justified criticisms." He adds that "Dawkins asserts that God is so improbable that he cannot exist, and that, if he did, he would need explaining ..." But Craddock believes that Dawkins contradicted himself by asserting that the 457:
is more harmful to science than to religion because "most people have a greater intellectual and emotional investment in religion than in science." If forced to choose between them, as Dawkins insists they must, "it will be science that they will renounce".
201:, to which Dawkins devotes considerable attention, McGrath interprets the theologian's arguments as an affirmation of a set of internally consistent beliefs rather than as an attempt to formulate a set of irrefutable proofs. 847: 373:
on the a priori, nonscientific assumption that religious believers are either deluded or meretricious, never pausing to consider the evidence not in his favor or the complex beliefs and practices of actual Christians.
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God as "a petty, unjust ... capriciously malevolent bully", McGrath counters that he does not believe in such a god and knows no one personally who does. Setting aside Dawkins' remarks, McGrath instead points to
256:, but where both can occasionally intertwine. McGrath confirms his position by noting that some prominent scientists are also theists (or at least sympathetic to theism, in Davies' case), pointing specifically to 403:, upon which the universe as we know it depends) needs no such explanation. Craddock concludes, "I am sad that Dawkins, once my hero, has descended to unscientific nonsense. McGrath makes much more sense." 321:
as superior examples of the true nature of Christianity. "Jesus", McGrath argues, "... was the object, not the agent, of violence". McGrath suggests that "far from endorsing 'out-group hostility',
472:, Dawkins writes that McGrath "has now published two books with my name in the title" and wonders whether the professor intended to build a career by "riding on back". McGrath also published 188:, remarking that the capacity of science to explain itself requires its own explanation – and that the most economical and reliable account of this explanatory capacity lies in the notion of 1010: 301:
as an authority on anthropology, as he considers the work to be more of "a highly impressionistic early work" than a serious text. McGrath also points to Dawkins' lack of training in
509:, which first aired in January 2006 but did not include the interview in the final cut. The interview was included in a DVD set offered for sale on Dawkins's website at one point. 29: 671: 701: 885: 481:
Responding to the charge that he is "dogmatic", Dawkins writes that scientists "...are humble enough to say we don't know". Of McGrath himself, Dawkins remarks,
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Appleyard goes on to commend the book as "a fine, dense, yet very clear account, from particular Christian perspective, of the full case against Dawkins."
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and the psychologist Joanna Collicutt McGrath. It is written from a Christian perspective as a response to arguments put forth in
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concludes with the suggestions that belief in God has "rebounded", that Dawkins' work is more theatre than scholarship, and that
709: 892: 236:, and others, McGrath advocates a modified version of NOMA which he terms "partially-overlapping magisteria". He posits that 166: 115: 820: 1018: 540: 1274: 1259: 1026: 248:
explanations for two partially overlapping spheres of existence, where the former concerns itself primarily with the
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that the McGraths "attend rationally to evidence, and present their findings unemotionally to answer
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may have achieved, it has inspired very grand refutations. Impressive essays by ...
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He objects to Dawkins' assertion that faith is a juvenile delusion, arguing that
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as indicative of an inability to address the most important questions of faith.
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The Dawkins Delusion? Atheist Fundamentalism and the Denial of the Divine
399:(the seemingly arbitrary values for such constants as the masses of the 1213: 950: 915: 302: 142:. The work was published in the United Kingdom in February 2007 by the 28: 1127: 468: 217: 970: 806: 288: 241: 59: 812: 965: 863:
Article from Sheffield Humanist Society, compiling criticisms of
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which refuses to allow its ideas to be examined or challenged."
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denotes little more than "panic" on the part of non-believers.
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McGrath criticizes Dawkins' portrayal of religion as both an
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Dawkins interviewed McGrath for his television documentary,
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as specious. To express his true feelings on the subject of
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McGrath criticizes Dawkins for what he perceives to be "a
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by Nigel Bovey. Two-part Alister McGrath interview about
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as two specific examples. Like Dawkins, McGrath rejects
769:"Richard Dawkins and Alister McGrath-Uncut Interviews" 252:, and the latter concerns itself primarily with the 670: 1111:Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science 169:chose to convert as adults. He cites himself and 1251: 729: 727: 489:. The universe was created by a very particular 886: 724: 461: 291:. McGrath criticizes Dawkins for referencing 287:as well as the basics of Dawkins' theory of 264:, and (atheist but critical of new atheism) 228:. With additional reference to the works of 206:religion specifically conflicts with science 840:by Judith Cole. Alister McGrath interview. 893: 879: 27: 668: 583:Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge 519:Relationship between religion and science 144:Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge 70:Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge 645: 733: 146:and in the United States in July 2007. 1252: 874: 809:, 20 Oct 2017, retrieved 20 July 2020 696: 352: 308:Quoting Dawkins' description of the 204:McGrath proceeds to address whether 190:the monotheistic God of Christianity 184:, McGrath instead cites the work of 848:"In the beginning... there was God" 613: 595: 573: 555: 279:. McGrath examines Dawkins' use of 13: 1019:Manifesto of Evolutionary Humanism 708:. Times Newspapers. Archived from 646:Craddock, Jeremy (16 March 2007). 192:. When considering the subject of 16:Book by theologian Alister McGrath 14: 1291: 857:3 Dec 2006; retrieved 23 Feb 2007 844:6 Feb 2007; retrieved 20 Feb 2007 795: 669:Appleyard, Bryan (3 March 2007). 900: 761: 831:summarising his criticisms of 690: 662: 639: 625: 607: 589: 567: 549: 531: 1: 702:"The Irrevocability of Faith" 524: 493:intelligence who is actually 1043:Letter to a Christian Nation 538:SPCK publication information 128:is a book by the theologian 7: 805:" A critical bookreview by 512: 397:fine tuning of the universe 167:numerous reasonable persons 149: 10: 1296: 1067:God: The Failed Hypothesis 861:"Deluding Who About What?" 462:Dawkins' personal response 377:Jeremy Craddock, a former 214:non-overlapping magisteria 1201: 1119: 1093: 994: 908: 706:Times Literary Supplement 449:Times Literary Supplement 109: 101: 93: 85: 75: 65: 55: 47: 35: 26: 1275:Books by Alister McGrath 1260:Criticism of New Atheism 1219:Flying Spaghetti Monster 1191:The Evolution of Atheism 823:14 February 2007 at the 813:Alister McGrath homepage 745:. London. Archived from 216:(NOMA) as evidence that 160:religious fundamentalism 43:Joanna Collicutt McGrath 986:Michael Schmidt-Salomon 867:. Retrieved 7 May 2007. 419:Whatever else ... 273:evolutionary by-product 1280:2007 non-fiction books 1151:The Irrational Atheist 838:"Religious persuasion" 818:"The Dawkins Delusion" 773:old.richarddawkins.net 648:"Personal incredulity" 503: 485:He's signed up to the 438: 375: 220:is as compatible with 182:irreducible complexity 22:The Dawkins Delusion? 1143:The Dawkins Delusion? 1106:Pitchstone Publishing 1051:The Root of All Evil? 865:The Dawkins Delusion? 852:The Dawkins Delusion? 803:The Dawkins Delusion? 619:The Dawkins Delusion? 601:The Dawkins Delusion? 579:The Dawkins Delusion? 561:The Dawkins Delusion? 483: 417: 364: 343:The Dawkins Delusion? 1183:The Rage Against God 1175:Unscientific America 1075:The Portable Atheist 961:Christopher Hitchens 737:(12 February 2007). 543:3 March 2007 at the 401:elementary particles 369:The Blind Watchmaker 1270:Books about atheism 700:(27 October 2007). 366:... Dawkins's 23: 1101:The Clergy Project 1027:Breaking the Spell 779:on 29 October 2013 425:Marilynne Robinson 379:forensic biologist 353:Critical reception 212:'s supposition of 178:watchmaker analogy 158:conviction" to "a 21: 1247: 1246: 1159:Atheist Delusions 1011:Atheist Manifesto 981:Victor J. Stenger 946:Rebecca Goldstein 842:Belfast Telegraph 632:Publishers Weekly 585:. pp. 21–26. 507:Root of All Evil? 359:Publishers Weekly 329:Kenneth Pargament 210:Stephen Jay Gould 186:Richard Swinburne 121: 120: 116:978-0-281-05927-0 86:Publication place 1287: 1167:The Case for God 1059:God Is Not Great 1035:The God Delusion 1003:The End of Faith 921:Peter Boghossian 895: 888: 881: 872: 871: 833:The God Delusion 807:Alex J. O'Connor 789: 788: 786: 784: 775:. Archived from 765: 759: 758: 756: 754: 735:Dawkins, Richard 731: 722: 721: 719: 717: 694: 688: 687: 685: 683: 674: 666: 660: 659: 657: 655: 643: 637: 629: 623: 622: 615:McGrath, Alister 611: 605: 604: 597:McGrath, Alister 593: 587: 586: 575:McGrath, Alister 571: 565: 564: 557:McGrath, Alister 553: 547: 535: 455:The God Delusion 421:The God Delusion 393:The God Delusion 385:, writes in the 347:The God Delusion 333:Harold G. Koenig 298:The Golden Bough 293:Sir James Frazer 281:Bertrand Russell 135:The God Delusion 81:15 February 2007 77:Publication date 31: 24: 20: 1295: 1294: 1290: 1289: 1288: 1286: 1285: 1284: 1265:Richard Dawkins 1250: 1249: 1248: 1243: 1239:Regressive left 1197: 1115: 1089: 990: 956:Ayaan Hirsi Ali 936:Richard Dawkins 926:Greta Christina 904: 899: 829:Alister McGrath 825:Wayback Machine 798: 793: 792: 782: 780: 767: 766: 762: 752: 750: 732: 725: 715: 713: 712:on 16 June 2011 695: 691: 681: 679: 667: 663: 653: 651: 644: 640: 630: 626: 612: 608: 594: 590: 572: 568: 554: 550: 545:Wayback Machine 536: 532: 527: 515: 466:In a letter to 464: 407:Bryan Appleyard 355: 262:Francis Collins 230:Sir Martin Rees 208:. He points to 175:William Paley's 152: 140:Richard Dawkins 130:Alister McGrath 94:Media type 78: 42: 40:Alister McGrath 17: 12: 11: 5: 1293: 1283: 1282: 1277: 1272: 1267: 1262: 1245: 1244: 1242: 1241: 1236: 1231: 1226: 1221: 1216: 1211: 1205: 1203: 1199: 1198: 1196: 1195: 1187: 1179: 1171: 1163: 1155: 1147: 1139: 1135:Darwin's Angel 1131: 1123: 1121: 1117: 1116: 1114: 1113: 1108: 1103: 1097: 1095: 1091: 1090: 1088: 1087: 1079: 1071: 1063: 1055: 1047: 1039: 1031: 1023: 1015: 1007: 998: 996: 992: 991: 989: 988: 983: 978: 973: 968: 963: 958: 953: 948: 943: 941:Daniel Dennett 938: 933: 928: 923: 918: 912: 910: 906: 905: 898: 897: 890: 883: 875: 869: 868: 858: 845: 835: 815: 810: 797: 796:External links 794: 791: 790: 760: 749:on 6 July 2008 723: 698:Kenny, Anthony 689: 661: 650:. Church Times 638: 624: 606: 588: 566: 548: 529: 528: 526: 523: 522: 521: 514: 511: 463: 460: 446:writes in the 436:attack at all. 429:Terry Eagleton 354: 351: 337:Terry Eagleton 285:teapot analogy 258:Owen Gingerich 224:as it is with 151: 148: 119: 118: 113: 107: 106: 103: 99: 98: 95: 91: 90: 89:United Kingdom 87: 83: 82: 79: 76: 73: 72: 67: 63: 62: 57: 53: 52: 49: 45: 44: 37: 33: 32: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1292: 1281: 1278: 1276: 1273: 1271: 1268: 1266: 1263: 1261: 1258: 1257: 1255: 1240: 1237: 1235: 1232: 1230: 1227: 1225: 1222: 1220: 1217: 1215: 1212: 1210: 1209:Blasphemy Day 1207: 1206: 1204: 1200: 1193: 1192: 1188: 1185: 1184: 1180: 1177: 1176: 1172: 1169: 1168: 1164: 1161: 1160: 1156: 1153: 1152: 1148: 1145: 1144: 1140: 1137: 1136: 1132: 1129: 1125: 1124: 1122: 1118: 1112: 1109: 1107: 1104: 1102: 1099: 1098: 1096: 1092: 1085: 1084: 1080: 1077: 1076: 1072: 1069: 1068: 1064: 1061: 1060: 1056: 1053: 1052: 1048: 1045: 1044: 1040: 1037: 1036: 1032: 1029: 1028: 1024: 1021: 1020: 1016: 1013: 1012: 1008: 1005: 1004: 1000: 999: 997: 993: 987: 984: 982: 979: 977: 976:Michel Onfray 974: 972: 969: 967: 964: 962: 959: 957: 954: 952: 949: 947: 944: 942: 939: 937: 934: 932: 929: 927: 924: 922: 919: 917: 914: 913: 911: 907: 903: 896: 891: 889: 884: 882: 877: 876: 873: 866: 862: 859: 856: 853: 849: 846: 843: 839: 836: 834: 830: 826: 822: 819: 816: 814: 811: 808: 804: 800: 799: 778: 774: 770: 764: 748: 744: 740: 736: 730: 728: 711: 707: 703: 699: 693: 678: 673: 665: 649: 642: 636: 633: 628: 620: 616: 610: 602: 598: 592: 584: 580: 576: 570: 562: 558: 552: 546: 542: 539: 534: 530: 520: 517: 516: 510: 508: 502: 498: 496: 492: 488: 482: 479: 477: 476: 471: 470: 459: 456: 451: 450: 445: 444:Anthony Kenny 441: 437: 434: 431:and ... 430: 426: 422: 416: 414: 413: 412:New Scientist 408: 404: 402: 398: 394: 390: 389: 384: 381:who is now a 380: 374: 371: 370: 363: 361: 360: 350: 348: 344: 340: 338: 334: 330: 325: 320: 319:New Testament 316: 311: 310:Old Testament 306: 304: 300: 299: 294: 290: 286: 282: 278: 277:memetic virus 274: 269: 268:as examples. 267: 263: 259: 255: 251: 247: 246:equally valid 243: 239: 235: 231: 227: 223: 219: 215: 211: 207: 202: 200: 199: 195: 191: 187: 183: 179: 176: 172: 168: 163: 161: 157: 147: 145: 141: 137: 136: 131: 127: 126: 117: 114: 112: 108: 104: 100: 96: 92: 88: 84: 80: 74: 71: 68: 64: 61: 58: 54: 50: 46: 41: 38: 34: 30: 25: 19: 1234:Reason Rally 1229:RationalWiki 1224:Out Campaign 1189: 1181: 1173: 1165: 1157: 1149: 1142: 1141: 1133: 1094:Institutions 1081: 1073: 1065: 1057: 1049: 1041: 1033: 1025: 1017: 1009: 1001: 864: 854: 851: 841: 781:. 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Index


Alister McGrath
Religion
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
ISBN
978-0-281-05927-0
Alister McGrath
The God Delusion
Richard Dawkins
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
dogmatic
religious fundamentalism
numerous reasonable persons
Antony Flew
William Paley's
watchmaker analogy
irreducible complexity
Richard Swinburne
the monotheistic God of Christianity
Aquinas'
Quinque viae
religion specifically conflicts with science
Stephen Jay Gould
non-overlapping magisteria
Darwinism
theism
atheism
Sir Martin Rees
Denis Noble
science

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