Reviews
-In this book McGrath does a good job of condemning aspects of Dawkins' zealotry but in the process does much to condemn his own arguments as well.- (Journal of Religious History, 20 January 2014) -The book is important for a number of reasons ... Dawkins' God ends with a valuable and more general chapter on science and religion, emphasising the limitations of the human mind.- (The Journal of SJT, 2012) -In Dawkins' God, McGrath has written a brilliant book, and it is difficult to think that the exposition of Dawkins' writings and their religious implications, will ever be better stated, explored and criticised... at once dispassionate, robust and readable.- Richard Harries, Times Higher Education Supplement -Alister McGrath's book Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes and the Meaning of Life does a fair and sophisticated job of summarising my position.- Richard Dawkins, Times Higher Education Supplement -Dawkins is disposed of with panache, and with McGrath's ususal clarity and conciseness.- Theology -Lucid and brief, without being perfunctory or dismissive, and fulfils the role of guide to the educated layperson without eliciting boredom from the academic familiar with the field ... The end result of this effort by McGrath is that, once again, I would have no hesitation in recommending the book as a basic text for A-level or first-year undergraduate students looking for their appetite to be whetted for a number of connected fields of scholarship, or indeed for the 'educated layperson' seeking a grasp of the issues without having to wade through hundreds of pages of science and theology ... A very finely judged piece of writing.- Kaleidoscope -With clear and incisive argumentation, McGrath takes Dawkins on and exposes many of the weaknesses in his case for atheism.- Reformed Theological Journal -Wielding evolutionary arguments and carefully chosen metaphors like sharp swords, Richard Dawkins has emerged over three decades as this generation's most aggressive promoter of atheism. In his view, science, and science alone, provides the only rock worth standing on. In this remarkable book, Alister McGrath challenges Dawkins on the very ground he holds most sacred - rational argument - and McGrath disarms the master. It becomes readily apparent that Dawkins has aimed his attack at a naive version of faith that most serious believers would not recognize. After reading this carefully constructed and eloquently written book, Dawkins' choice of atheism emerges as the most irrational of the available choices about God's existence.- Francis Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project -In this tour-de-force Alister McGrath approaches the edifice of self-confident, breezy atheism so effectively promoted by Richard Dawkins, and by deft dissection and argument reveals the shallowness, special-pleading and inconsistencies of his world-picture. Here is a book which helps to rejoin the magnificence of science to the magnificence of God's good Creation.- Simon Conway Morris, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology, Cambridge University -This is a wonderful book. One of the world's leading Christian contributors to the science/religion dialogue takes on Richard Dawkins, Darwinism's arch-atheist, and wrestles him to the ground! This is scholarship as it should be - informed, feisty, and terrific fun. I cannot wait to see Dawkins's review of Alister McGrath's critique.- Michael Ruse, Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy, Florida State University -A timely and accessible contribution to the debate over Richard Dawkins's cosmology which exposes philosophical naivety, the abuse of metaphor, and sheer bluster, left, right and centre. Here Alister McGrath announces what every Darwinian Fundamentalist needs to hear: that science is and always has been a cultural practice that is provisional, fallible, and socially shaped - an enterprise to be cultivated and fostered, but hardly worshipped or idolised. A devastating critique.- David N. Livingstone, Professor of Geography and Intellectual History, Queen's University, Belfast -Alister McGrath critically examines the places where Richard Dawkins' well-established biological science changes into the speculations which undergird Dawkins' own anti-religious faith. In his appreciative examination and ruthless analysis of Dawkins writings and the polemics associated with them, McGrath has done a marvellous apologetic job, as well as providing a particular service for those daunted by scientific authoritarianism. We are all in his debt for rigorously identifying and exposing the weaknesses of some of the commonly used arguments against the Christian faith.- R. J. Berry, formerly Professor of Genetics, University College, London and President of the Linnean Society -Alister McGrath subjects the atheistic world-view of Richard Dawkins to critical analysis and finds it severely lacking in intellectual rigour. As a former atheist himself, and a biochemist turned theologian and philosopher, the author is well placed to appreciate Dawkins' well-deserved reputation as a populariser of evolutionary theory, but equally well qualified to assess his stratagem of using a biological theory for ideological purposes. This book is essential reading for those interested in the traffic of ideas between science, philosophy and religion.- Dr Denis Alexander, Chairman, Molecular Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute and Fellow of St. Edmund's College, Cambridge "In this book McGrath does a good job of condemning aspects of Dawkins' zealotry but in the process does much to condemn his own arguments as well." (Journal of Religious History, 20 January 2014) "The book is important for a number of reasons ... Dawkins' God ends with a valuable and more general chapter on science and religion, emphasising the limitations of the human mind." (The Journal of SJT, 2012) "In Dawkins' God, McGrath has written a brilliant book, and it is difficult to think that the exposition of Dawkins' writings and their religious implications, will ever be better stated, explored and criticised... at once dispassionate, robust and readable." Richard Harries, Times Higher Education Supplement "Alister McGrath's book Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes and the Meaning of Life does a fair and sophisticated job of summarising my position." Richard Dawkins, Times Higher Education Supplement "Dawkins is disposed of with panache, and with McGrath's ususal clarity and conciseness." Theology "Lucid and brief, without being perfunctory or dismissive, and fulfils the role of guide to the educated layperson without eliciting boredom from the academic familiar with the field ... The end result of this effort by McGrath is that, once again, I would have no hesitation in recommending the book as a basic text for A-level or first-year undergraduate students looking for their appetite to be whetted for a number of connected fields of scholarship, or indeed for the 'educated layperson' seeking a grasp of the issues without having to wade through hundreds of pages of science and theology ... A very finely judged piece of writing." Kaleidoscope "With clear and incisive argumentation, McGrath takes Dawkins on and exposes many of the weaknesses in his case for atheism." Reformed Theological Journal "Wielding evolutionary arguments and carefully chosen metaphors like sharp swords, Richard Dawkins has emerged over three decades as this generation's most aggressive promoter of atheism. In his view, science, and science alone, provides the only rock worth standing on. In this remarkable book, Alister McGrath challenges Dawkins on the very ground he holds most sacred - rational argument - and McGrath disarms the master. It becomes readily apparent that Dawkins has aimed his attack at a naive version of faith that most serious believers would not recognize. After reading this carefully constructed and eloquently written book, Dawkins' choice of atheism emerges as the most irrational of the available choices about God's existence." Francis Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project "In this tour-de-force Alister McGrath approaches the edifice of self-confident, breezy atheism so effectively promoted by Richard Dawkins, and by deft dissection and argument reveals the shallowness, special-pleading and inconsistencies of his world-picture. Here is a book which helps to rejoin the magnificence of science to the magnificence of God's good Creation." Simon Conway Morris, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology, Cambridge University "This is a wonderful book. One of the world's leading Christian contributors to the science/religion dialogue takes on Richard Dawkins, Darwinism's arch-atheist, and wrestles him to the ground! This is scholarship as it should be - informed, feisty, and terrific fun. I cannot wait to see Dawkins's review of Alister McGrath's critique." Michael Ruse, Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy, Florida State University "A timely and accessible contribution to the debate over Richard Dawkins's cosmology which exposes philosophical naivety, the abuse of metaphor, and sheer bluster, left, right and centre. Here Alister McGrath announces what every Darwinian Fundamentalist needs to hear: that science is and always has been a cultural practice that is provisional, fallible, and socially shaped - an enterprise to be cultivated and fostered, but hardly worshipped or idolised. A devastating critique." David N. Livingstone, Professor of Geography and Intellectual History, Queen's University, Belfast "Alister McGrath critically examines the places where Richard Dawkins' well-established biological science changes into the speculations which undergird Dawkins' own anti-religious faith. In his appreciative examination and ruthless analysis of Dawkins writings and the polemics associated with them, McGrath has done a marvellous apologetic job, as well as providing a particular service for those daunted by scientific authoritarianism. We are all in his debt for rigorously identifying and exposing the weaknesses of some of the commonly used arguments against the Christian faith." R. J. Berry, formerly Professor of Genetics, University College, London and President of the Linnean Society "Alister McGrath subjects the atheistic world-view of Richard Dawkins to critical analysis and finds it severely lacking in intellectual rigour. As a former atheist himself, and a biochemist turned theologian and philosopher, the author is well placed to appreciate Dawkins' well-deserved reputation as a populariser of evolutionary theory, but equally well qualified to assess his stratagem of using a biological theory for ideological purposes. This book is essential reading for those interested in the traffic of ideas between science, philosophy and religion." Dr Denis Alexander, Chairman, Molecular Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute and Fellow of St. Edmund's College, Cambridge "In this book McGrath does a good job of condemning aspects of Dawkins' zealotry but in the process does much to condemn his own arguments as well." ("Journal of Religious History," 20 January 2014) "The book is important for a number of reasons ... Dawkins' God ends with a valuable and more general chapter on science and religion, emphasising the limitations of the human mind." (The Journal of SJT, 2012) "In "Dawkins' God," McGrath has written a brilliant book, and it is difficult to think that the exposition of Dawkins' writings and their religious implications, will ever be better stated, explored and criticised... at once dispassionate, robust and readable." "Richard Harries, Times Higher Education Supplement" "Alister McGrath's book "Dawkins' God: " Genes, Memes and the Meaning of Life does a fair and sophisticated job of summarising my position.""" "Richard Dawkins, Times Higher Education Supplement" "Dawkins is disposed of with panache, and with McGrath's ususal clarity and conciseness." "Theology" "Lucid and brief, without being perfunctory or dismissive, and fulfils the role of guide to the educated layperson without eliciting boredom from the academic familiar with the field ... The end result of this effort by McGrath is that, once again, I would have no hesitation in recommending the book as a basic text for A-level or first-year undergraduate students looking for their appetite to be whetted for a number of connected fields of scholarship, or indeed for the 'educated layperson' seeking a grasp of the issues without having to wade through hundreds of pages of science and theology ... A very finely judged piece of writing." "Kaleidoscope" "With clear and incisive argumentation, McGrath takes Dawkins on and exposes many of the weaknesses in his case for atheism." "Reformed Theological Journal" "Wielding evolutionary arguments and carefully chosen metaphors like sharp swords, Richard Dawkins has emerged over three decades as this generation's most aggressive promoter of atheism. In his view, science, and science alone, provides the only rock worth standing on. In this remarkable book, Alister McGrath challenges Dawkins on the very ground he holds most sacred - rational argument - and McGrath disarms the master. It becomes readily apparent that Dawkins has aimed his attack at a naive version of faith that most serious believers would not recognize. After reading this carefully constructed and eloquently written book, Dawkins' choice of atheism emerges as the most irrational of the available choices about God's existence." "Francis Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project" """In this tour-de-force Alister McGrath approaches the edifice of self-confident, breezy atheism so effectively promoted by Richard Dawkins, and by deft dissection and argument reveals the shallowness, special-pleading and inconsistencies of his world-picture. Here is a book which helps to rejoin the magnificence of science to the magnificence of God's good Creation." "Simon Conway Morris, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology, Cambridge University" "This is a wonderful book. One of the world's leading Christian contributors to the science/religion dialogue takes on Richard Dawkins, Darwinism's arch-atheist, and wrestles him to the ground! This is scholarship as it should be - informed, feisty, and terrific fun. I cannot wait to see Dawkins's review of Alister McGrath's critique." "Michael Ruse, Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy, Florida State University" """A timely and accessible contribution to the debate over Richard Dawkins's cosmology which exposes philosophical naivety, the abuse of metaphor, and sheer bluster, left, right and centre. Here Alister McGrath announces what every Darwinian Fundamentalist needs to hear: that science is and always has been a cultural practice that is provisional, fallible, and socially shaped - an enterprise to be cultivated and fostered, but hardly worshipped or idolised. A devastating critique." "David N. Livingstone, Professor of Geography and Intellectual History, Queen's University, Belfast" "Alister McGrath critically examines the places where Richard Dawkins' well-established biological science changes into the speculations which undergird Dawkins' own anti-religious faith. In his appreciative examination and ruthless analysis of Dawkins writings and the polemics associated with them, McGrath has done a marvellous apologetic job, as well as providing a particular service for those daunted by scientific authoritarianism. We are all in his debt for rigorously identifying and exposing the weaknesses of some of the commonly used arguments against the Christian faith." "R. J. Berry, formerly Professor of Genetics, University College, London and President of the Linnean Society" "Alister McGrath subjects the atheistic world-view of Richard Dawkins to critical analysis and finds it severely lacking in intellectual rigour. As a former atheist himself, and a biochemist turned theologian and philosopher, the author is well placed to appreciate Dawkins' well-deserved reputation as a populariser of evolutionary theory, but equally well qualified to assess his stratagem of using a biological theory for ideological purposes. This book is essential reading for those interested in the traffic of ideas between science, philosophy and religion." "Dr Denis Alexander, Chairman, Molecular Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute and Fellow of St. Edmund's College, Cambridge" "The book is important for a number of reasons ... Dawkins' God ends with a valuable and more general chapter on science and religion, emphasising the limitations of the human mind." (The Journal of SJT, 2012)"In "Dawkins' God", McGrath has written a brilliant book, and it is difficult to think that the exposition of Dawkins' writings and their religious implications, will ever be better stated, explored and criticised... at once dispassionate, robust and readable." "Richard Harries, Times Higher Education Supplement ""Alister McGrath's book "Dawkins' God: " Genes, Memes and the Meaning of Life does a fair and sophisticated job of summarising my position"."" "Richard Dawkins, Times Higher Education Supplement ""Dawkins is disposed of with panache, and with McGrath's ususal clarity and conciseness." "Theology""Lucid and brief, without being perfunctory or dismissive, and fulfils the role of guide to the educated layperson without eliciting boredom from the academic familiar with the field ... The end result of this effort by McGrath is that, once again, I would have no hesitation in recommending the book as a basic text for A-level or first-year undergraduate students looking for their appetite to be whetted for a number of connected fields of scholarship, or indeed for the 'educated layperson' seeking a grasp of the issues without having to wade through hundreds of pages of science and theology ... A very finely judged piece of writing." "Kaleidoscope""With clear and incisive argumentation, McGrath takes Dawkins on and exposes many of the weaknesses in his case for atheism." "Reformed Theological Journal""Wielding evolutionary arguments and carefully chosen metaphors like sharp swords, Richard Dawkins has emerged over three decades as this generation's most aggressive promoter of atheism. In his view, science, and science alone, provides the only rock worth standing on. In this remarkable book, Alister McGrath challenges Dawkins on the very ground
In this book McGrath does a good job of condemning aspects of Dawkins' zealotry but in the process does much to condemn his own arguments as well. (Journal of Religious History, 20 January 2014) The book is important for a number of reasons ... Dawkins' God ends with a valuable and more general chapter on science and religion, emphasising the limitations of the human mind. (The Journal of SJT, 2012) In Dawkins' God, McGrath has written a brilliant book, and it is difficult to think that the exposition of Dawkins' writings and their religious implications, will ever be better stated, explored and criticised... at once dispassionate, robust and readable. Richard Harries, Times Higher Education Supplement Alister McGrath's book Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes and the Meaning of Life does a fair and sophisticated job of summarising my position. Richard Dawkins, Times Higher Education Supplement Dawkins is disposed of with panache, and with McGrath's ususal clarity and conciseness. Theology Lucid and brief, without being perfunctory or dismissive, and fulfils the role of guide to the educated layperson without eliciting boredom from the academic familiar with the field ... The end result of this effort by McGrath is that, once again, I would have no hesitation in recommending the book as a basic text for A-level or first-year undergraduate students looking for their appetite to be whetted for a number of connected fields of scholarship, or indeed for the 'educated layperson' seeking a grasp of the issues without having to wade through hundreds of pages of science and theology ... A very finely judged piece of writing. Kaleidoscope With clear and incisive argumentation, McGrath takes Dawkins on and exposes many of the weaknesses in his case for atheism. Reformed Theological Journal Wielding evolutionary arguments and carefully chosen metaphors like sharp swords, Richard Dawkins has emerged over three decades as this generation's most aggressive promoter of atheism. In his view, science, and science alone, provides the only rock worth standing on. In this remarkable book, Alister McGrath challenges Dawkins on the very ground he holds most sacred - rational argument - and McGrath disarms the master. It becomes readily apparent that Dawkins has aimed his attack at a naive version of faith that most serious believers would not recognize. After reading this carefully constructed and eloquently written book, Dawkins' choice of atheism emerges as the most irrational of the available choices about God's existence. Francis Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project In this tour-de-force Alister McGrath approaches the edifice of self-confident, breezy atheism so effectively promoted by Richard Dawkins, and by deft dissection and argument reveals the shallowness, special-pleading and inconsistencies of his world-picture. Here is a book which helps to rejoin the magnificence of science to the magnificence of God's good Creation. Simon Conway Morris, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology, Cambridge University This is a wonderful book. One of the world's leading Christian contributors to the science/religion dialogue takes on Richard Dawkins, Darwinism's arch-atheist, and wrestles him to the ground! This is scholarship as it should be - informed, feisty, and terrific fun. I cannot wait to see Dawkins's review of Alister McGrath's critique. Michael Ruse, Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy, Florida State University A timely and accessible contribution to the debate over Richard Dawkins's cosmology which exposes philosophical naivety, the abuse of metaphor, and sheer bluster, left, right and centre. Here Alister McGrath announces what every Darwinian Fundamentalist needs to hear: that science is and always has been a cultural practice that is provisional, fallible, and socially shaped - an enterprise to be cultivated and fostered, but hardly worshipped or idolised. A devastating critique. David N. Livingstone, Professor of Geography and Intellectual History, Queen's University, Belfast Alister McGrath critically examines the places where Richard Dawkins' well-established biological science changes into the speculations which undergird Dawkins' own anti-religious faith. In his appreciative examination and ruthless analysis of Dawkins writings and the polemics associated with them, McGrath has done a marvellous apologetic job, as well as providing a particular service for those daunted by scientific authoritarianism. We are all in his debt for rigorously identifying and exposing the weaknesses of some of the commonly used arguments against the Christian faith. R. J. Berry, formerly Professor of Genetics, University College, London and President of the Linnean Society Alister McGrath subjects the atheistic world-view of Richard Dawkins to critical analysis and finds it severely lacking in intellectual rigour. As a former atheist himself, and a biochemist turned theologian and philosopher, the author is well placed to appreciate Dawkins' well-deserved reputation as a populariser of evolutionary theory, but equally well qualified to assess his stratagem of using a biological theory for ideological purposes. This book is essential reading for those interested in the traffic of ideas between science, philosophy and religion. Dr Denis Alexander, Chairman, Molecular Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute and Fellow of St. Edmund's College, Cambridge
-In this book McGrath does a good job of condemning aspects of Dawkins' zealotry but in the process does much to condemn his own arguments as well.- (Journal of Religious History, 20 January 2014) -The book is important for a number of reasons ... Dawkins' God ends with a valuable and more general chapter on science and religion, emphasising the limitations of the human mind.- (The Journal of SJT, 2012) -In Dawkins' God, McGrath has written a brilliant book, and it is difficult to think that the exposition of Dawkins' writings and their religious implications, will ever be better stated, explored and criticised... at once dispassionate, robust and readable.- Richard Harries, Times Higher Education Supplement -Alister McGrath's book Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes and the Meaning of Life does a fair and sophisticated job of summarising my position.- Richard Dawkins, Times Higher Education Supplement -Dawkins is disposed of with panache, and with McGrath's ususal clarity and conciseness.- Theology -Lucid and brief, without being perfunctory or dismissive, and fulfils the role of guide to the educated layperson without eliciting boredom from the academic familiar with the field ... The end result of this effort by McGrath is that, once again, I would have no hesitation in recommending the book as a basic text for A-level or first-year undergraduate students looking for their appetite to be whetted for a number of connected fields of scholarship, or indeed for the 'educated layperson' seeking a grasp of the issues without having to wade through hundreds of pages of science and theology ... A very finely judged piece of writing.- Kaleidoscope -With clear and incisive argumentation, McGrath takes Dawkins on and exposes many of the weaknesses in his case for atheism.- Reformed Theological Journal -Wielding evolutionary arguments and carefully chosen metaphors like sharp swords, Richard Dawkins has emerged over three decades as this generation's most aggressive promoter of atheism. In his view, science, and science alone, provides the only rock worth standing on. In this remarkable book, Alister McGrath challenges Dawkins on the very ground he holds most sacred - rational argument - and McGrath disarms the master. It becomes readily apparent that Dawkins has aimed his attack at a naive version of faith that most serious believers would not recognize. After reading this carefully constructed and eloquently written book, Dawkins' choice of atheism emerges as the most irrational of the available choices about God's existence.- Francis Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project -In this tour-de-force Alister McGrath approaches the edifice of self-confident, breezy atheism so effectively promoted by Richard Dawkins, and by deft dissection and argument reveals the shallowness, special-pleading and inconsistencies of his world-picture. Here is a book which helps to rejoin the magnificence of science to the magnificence of God's good Creation.- Simon Conway Morris, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology, Cambridge University -This is a wonderful book. One of the world's leading Christian contributors to the science/religion dialogue takes on Richard Dawkins, Darwinism's arch-atheist, and wrestles him to the ground! This is scholarship as it should be - informed, feisty, and terrific fun. I cannot wait to see Dawkins's review of Alister McGrath's critique.- Michael Ruse, Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy, Florida State University -A timely and accessible contribution to the debate over Richard Dawkins's cosmology which exposes philosophical naivety, the abuse of metaphor, and sheer bluster, left, right and centre. Here Alister McGrath announces what every Darwinian Fundamentalist needs to hear: that science is and always has been a cultural practice that is provisional, fallible, and socially shaped - an enterprise to be cultivated and fostered, but hardly worshipped or idolised. A devastating critique.- David N. Livingstone, Professor of Geography and Intellectual History, Queen's University, Belfast -Alister McGrath critically examines the places where Richard Dawkins' well-established biological science changes into the speculations which undergird Dawkins' own anti-religious faith. In his appreciative examination and ruthless analysis of Dawkins writings and the polemics associated with them, McGrath has done a marvellous apologetic job, as well as providing a particular service for those daunted by scientific authoritarianism. We are all in his debt for rigorously identifying and exposing the weaknesses of some of the commonly used arguments against the Christian faith.- R. J. Berry, formerly Professor of Genetics, University College, London and President of the Linnean Society -Alister McGrath subjects the atheistic world-view of Richard Dawkins to critical analysis and finds it severely lacking in intellectual rigour. As a former atheist himself, and a biochemist turned theologian and philosopher, the author is well placed to appreciate Dawkins' well-deserved reputation as a populariser of evolutionary theory, but equally well qualified to assess his stratagem of using a biological theory for ideological purposes. This book is essential reading for those interested in the traffic of ideas between science, philosophy and religion.- Dr Denis Alexander, Chairman, Molecular Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute and Fellow of St. Edmund's College, Cambridge In this book McGrath does a good job of condemning aspects of Dawkins' zealotry but in the process does much to condemn his own arguments as well. (Journal of Religious History, 20 January 2014) The book is important for a number of reasons ... Dawkins' God ends with a valuable and more general chapter on science and religion, emphasising the limitations of the human mind. (The Journal of SJT, 2012) In Dawkins' God, McGrath has written a brilliant book, and it is difficult to think that the exposition of Dawkins' writings and their religious implications, will ever be better stated, explored and criticised... at once dispassionate, robust and readable. Richard Harries, Times Higher Education Supplement Alister McGrath's book Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes and the Meaning of Life does a fair and sophisticated job of summarising my position. Richard Dawkins, Times Higher Education Supplement Dawkins is disposed of with panache, and with McGrath's ususal clarity and conciseness. Theology Lucid and brief, without being perfunctory or dismissive, and fulfils the role of guide to the educated layperson without eliciting boredom from the academic familiar with the field ... The end result of this effort by McGrath is that, once again, I would have no hesitation in recommending the book as a basic text for A-level or first-year undergraduate students looking for their appetite to be whetted for a number of connected fields of scholarship, or indeed for the 'educated layperson' seeking a grasp of the issues without having to wade through hundreds of pages of science and theology ... A very finely judged piece of writing. Kaleidoscope With clear and incisive argumentation, McGrath takes Dawkins on and exposes many of the weaknesses in his case for atheism. Reformed Theological Journal Wielding evolutionary arguments and carefully chosen metaphors like sharp swords, Richard Dawkins has emerged over three decades as this generation's most aggressive promoter of atheism. In his view, science, and science alone, provides the only rock worth standing on. In this remarkable book, Alister McGrath challenges Dawkins on the very ground he holds most sacred - rational argument - and McGrath disarms the master. It becomes readily apparent that Dawkins has aimed his attack at a naive version of faith that most serious believers would not recognize. After reading this carefully constructed and eloquently written book, Dawkins' choice of atheism emerges as the most irrational of the available choices about God's existence. Francis Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project In this tour-de-force Alister McGrath approaches the edifice of self-confident, breezy atheism so effectively promoted by Richard Dawkins, and by deft dissection and argument reveals the shallowness, special-pleading and inconsistencies of his world-picture. Here is a book which helps to rejoin the magnificence of science to the magnificence of God's good Creation. Simon Conway Morris, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology, Cambridge University This is a wonderful book. One of the world's leading Christian contributors to the science/religion dialogue takes on Richard Dawkins, Darwinism's arch-atheist, and wrestles him to the ground! This is scholarship as it should be - informed, feisty, and terrific fun. I cannot wait to see Dawkins's review of Alister McGrath's critique. Michael Ruse, Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy, Florida State University A timely and accessible contribution to the debate over Richard Dawkins's cosmology which exposes philosophical naivety, the abuse of metaphor, and sheer bluster, left, right and centre. Here Alister McGrath announces what every Darwinian Fundamentalist needs to hear: that science is and always has been a cultural practice that is provisional, fallible, and socially shaped - an enterprise to be cultivated and fostered, but hardly worshipped or idolised. A devastating critique. David N. Livingstone, Professor of Geography and Intellectual History, Queen's University, Belfast Alister McGrath critically examines the places where Richard Dawkins' well-established biological science changes into the speculations which undergird Dawkins' own anti-religious faith. In his appreciative examination and ruthless analysis of Dawkins writings and the polemics associated with them, McGrath has done a marvellous apologetic job, as well as providing a particular service for those daunted by scientific authoritarianism. We are all in his debt for rigorously identifying and exposing the weaknesses of some of the commonly used arguments against the Christian faith. R. J. Berry, formerly Professor of Genetics, University College, London and President of the Linnean Society Alister McGrath subjects the atheistic world-view of Richard Dawkins to critical analysis and finds it severely lacking in intellectual rigour. As a former atheist himself, and a biochemist turned theologian and philosopher, the author is well placed to appreciate Dawkins' well-deserved reputation as a populariser of evolutionary theory, but equally well qualified to assess his stratagem of using a biological theory for ideological purposes. This book is essential reading for those interested in the traffic of ideas between science, philosophy and religion. Dr Denis Alexander, Chairman, Molecular Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute and Fellow of St. Edmund's College, Cambridge In this book McGrath does a good job of condemning aspects of Dawkins' zealotry but in the process does much to condemn his own arguments as well. ( Journal of Religious History, 20 January 2014) The book is important for a number of reasons ... Dawkins' God ends with a valuable and more general chapter on science and religion, emphasising the limitations of the human mind. (The Journal of SJT, 2012) In Dawkins' God, McGrath has written a brilliant book, and it is difficult to think that the exposition of Dawkins' writings and their religious implications, will ever be better stated, explored and criticised... at once dispassionate, robust and readable. Richard Harries, Times Higher Education Supplement Alister McGrath's book Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes and the Meaning of Life does a fair and sophisticated job of summarising my position. Richard Dawkins, Times Higher Education Supplement Dawkins is disposed of with panache, and with McGrath's ususal clarity and conciseness. Theology Lucid and brief, without being perfunctory or dismissive, and fulfils the role of guide to the educated layperson without eliciting boredom from the academic familiar with the field ... The end result of this effort by McGrath is that, once again, I would have no hesitation in recommending the book as a basic text for A-level or first-year undergraduate students looking for their appetite to be whetted for a number of connected fields of scholarship, or indeed for the 'educated layperson' seeking a grasp of the issues without having to wade through hundreds of pages of science and theology ... A very finely judged piece of writing. Kaleidoscope With clear and incisive argumentation, McGrath takes Dawkins on and exposes many of the weaknesses in his case for atheism. Reformed Theological Journal Wielding evolutionary arguments and carefully chosen metaphors like sharp swords, Richard Dawkins has emerged over three decades as this generation's most aggressive promoter of atheism. In his view, science, and science alone, provides the only rock worth standing on. In this remarkable book, Alister McGrath challenges Dawkins on the very ground he holds most sacred - rational argument - and McGrath disarms the master. It becomes readily apparent that Dawkins has aimed his attack at a naive version of faith that most serious believers would not recognize. After reading this carefully constructed and eloquently written book, Dawkins' choice of atheism emerges as the most irrational of the available choices about God's existence. Francis Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project In this tour-de-force Alister McGrath approaches the edifice of self-confident, breezy atheism so effectively promoted by Richard Dawkins, and by deft dissection and argument reveals the shallowness, special-pleading and inconsistencies of his world-picture. Here is a book which helps to rejoin the magnificence of science to the magnificence of God's good Creation. Simon Conway Morris, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology, Cambridge University This is a wonderful book. One of the world's leading Christian contributors to the science/religion dialogue takes on Richard Dawkins, Darwinism's arch-atheist, and wrestles him to the ground! This is scholarship as it should be - informed, feisty, and terrific fun. I cannot wait to see Dawkins's review of Alister McGrath's critique. Michael Ruse, Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy, Florida State University A timely and accessible contribution to the debate over Richard Dawkins's cosmology which exposes philosophical naivety, the abuse of metaphor, and sheer bluster, left, right and centre. Here Alister McGrath announces what every Darwinian Fundamentalist needs to hear: that science is and always has been a cultural practice that is provisional, fallible, and socially shaped - an enterprise to be cultivated and fostered, but hardly worshipped or idolised. A devastating critique. David N. Livingstone, Professor of Geography and Intellectual History, Queen's University, Belfast Alister McGrath critically examines the places where Richard Dawkins' well-established biological science changes into the speculations which undergird Dawkins' own anti-religious faith. In his appreciative examination and ruthless analysis of Dawkins writings and the polemics associated with them, McGrath has done a marvellous apologetic job, as well as providing a particular service for those daunted by scientific authoritarianism. We are all in his debt for rigorously identifying and exposing the weaknesses of some of the commonly used arguments against the Christian faith. R. J. Berry, formerly Professor of Genetics, University College, London and President of the Linnean Society Alister McGrath subjects the atheistic world-view of Richard Dawkins to critical analysis and finds it severely lacking in intellectual rigour. As a former atheist himself, and a biochemist turned theologian and philosopher, the author is well placed to appreciate Dawkins' well-deserved reputation as a populariser of evolutionary theory, but equally well qualified to assess his stratagem of using a biological theory for ideological purposes. This book is essential reading for those interested in the traffic of ideas between science, philosophy and religion. Dr Denis Alexander, Chairman, Molecular Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute and Fellow of St. Edmund's College, Cambridge The book is important for a number of reasons ... Dawkins' God ends with a valuable and more general chapter on science and religion, emphasising the limitations of the human mind. (The Journal of SJT, 2012) In Dawkins' God , McGrath has written a brilliant book, and it is difficult to think that the exposition of Dawkins' writings and their religious implications, will ever be better stated, explored and criticised... at once dispassionate, robust and readable. Richard Harries, Times Higher Education Supplement Alister McGrath's book Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes and the Meaning of Life does a fair and sophisticated job of summarising my position . Richard Dawkins, Times Higher Education Supplement Dawkins is disposed of with panache, and with McGrath's ususal clarity and conciseness. Theology Lucid and brief, without being perfunctory or dismissive, and fulfils the role of guide to the educated layperson without eliciting boredom from the academic familiar with the field ... The end result of this effort by McGrath is that, once again, I would have no hesitation in recommending the book as a basic text for A-level or first-year undergraduate students looking for their appetite to be whetted for a number of connected fields of scholarship, or indeed for the 'educated layperson' seeking a grasp of the issues without having to wade through hundreds of pages of science and theology ... A very finely judged piece of writing. Kaleidoscope With clear and incisive argumentation, McGrath takes Dawkins on and exposes many of the weaknesses in his case for atheism. Reformed Theological Journal Wielding evolutionary arguments and carefully chosen metaphors like sharp swords, Richard Dawkins has emerged over three decades as this generation's most aggressive promoter of atheism. In his view, science, and science alone, provides the only rock worth standing on. In this remarkable book, Alister McGrath challenges Dawkins on the very ground
In this book McGrath does a good job of condemningaspects of Dawkins' zealotry but in the process does much tocondemn his own arguments as well. (Journal ofReligious History, 20 January 2014) The book is important for a number of reasons ... Dawkins' Godends with a valuable and more general chapter on science andreligion, emphasising the limitations of the human mind. (TheJournal of SJT, 2012) In Dawkins' God, McGrath has written a brilliant book, and it is difficult to think that the exposition of Dawkins'writings and their religious implications, will ever be betterstated, explored and criticised... at once dispassionate, robustand readable. Richard Harries, Times Higher EducationSupplement Alister McGrath's book Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes andthe Meaning of Life does a fair and sophisticated job ofsummarising my position. Richard Dawkins, Times HigherEducation Supplement Dawkins is disposed of with panache, and with McGrath's ususalclarity and conciseness. Theology Lucid and brief, without being perfunctory or dismissive, andfulfils the role of guide to the educated layperson withouteliciting boredom from the academic familiar with the field ... Theend result of this effort by McGrath is that, once again, I wouldhave no hesitation in recommending the book as a basic text forA-level or first-year undergraduate students looking for theirappetite to be whetted for a number of connected fields ofscholarship, or indeed for the 'educated layperson' seeking a graspof the issues without having to wade through hundreds of pages ofscience and theology ... A very finely judged piece of writing. Kaleidoscope With clear and incisive argumentation, McGrath takes Dawkins onand exposes many of the weaknesses in his case for atheism. Reformed Theological Journal Wielding evolutionary arguments and carefully chosen metaphorslike sharp swords, Richard Dawkins has emerged over three decadesas this generation's most aggressive promoter of atheism. In hisview, science, and science alone, provides the only rock worthstanding on. In this remarkable book, Alister McGrath challengesDawkins on the very ground he holds most sacred - rational argument- and McGrath disarms the master. It becomes readily apparent thatDawkins has aimed his attack at a naive version of faith that mostserious believers would not recognize. After reading this carefullyconstructed and eloquently written book, Dawkins' choice of atheismemerges as the most irrational of the available choices about God'sexistence. Francis Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project In this tour-de-force Alister McGrath approachesthe edifice of self-confident, breezy atheism so effectivelypromoted by Richard Dawkins, and by deft dissection and argumentreveals the shallowness, special-pleading and inconsistencies ofhis world-picture. Here is a book which helps to rejoin themagnificence of science to the magnificence of God's goodCreation. Simon Conway Morris, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology, Cambridge University This is a wonderful book. One of the world'sleading Christian contributors to the science/religion dialoguetakes on Richard Dawkins, Darwinism's arch-atheist, andwrestles him to the ground! This is scholarship as it should be- informed, feisty, and terrific fun. I cannot wait to seeDawkins's review of Alister McGrath'scritique. Michael Ruse, Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy, Florida State University A timely and accessible contribution to the debateover Richard Dawkins's cosmology which exposes philosophicalnaivety, the abuse of metaphor, and sheer bluster, left, right andcentre. Here Alister McGrath announces what every DarwinianFundamentalist needs to hear: that science is and always has been acultural practice that is provisional, fallible, and sociallyshaped - an enterprise to be cultivated and fostered, buthardly worshipped or idolised. A devastating critique. David N. Livingstone, Professor of Geography and IntellectualHistory, Queen's University, Belfast Alister McGrath critically examines the places whereRichard Dawkins' well-established biological science changesinto the speculations which undergird Dawkins' ownanti-religious faith. In his appreciative examination and ruthlessanalysis of Dawkins writings and the polemics associated with them, McGrath has done a marvellous apologetic job, as well as providinga particular service for those daunted by scientificauthoritarianism. We are all in his debt for rigorously identifyingand exposing the weaknesses of some of the commonly used argumentsagainst the Christian faith. R. J. Berry, formerly Professor of Genetics, University College, London and President of the Linnean Society Alister McGrath subjects the atheistic world-view ofRichard Dawkins to critical analysis and finds it severely lackingin intellectual rigour. As a former atheist himself, and abiochemist turned theologian and philosopher, the author is wellplaced to appreciate Dawkins' well-deserved reputation as apopulariser of evolutionary theory, but equally well qualified toassess his stratagem of using a biological theory for ideologicalpurposes. This book is essential reading for those interested inthe traffic of ideas between science, philosophy andreligion. Dr Denis Alexander, Chairman, Molecular Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute and Fellow of St. Edmund's College, Cambridge
