Book description
There have in recent years been a number of books - notably those by
Christopher Hitchens, Richards Dawkins and Sam Harris - that have taken
issue with religion and argued against it. Both sides in the debate have
expressed themselves acerbically because there is a very great deal at
stake.
The God Argument
thoroughly and calmly examines all the arguments and associated
considerations offered in support of religious belief, and does so fully
aware of the reasons people have for subscribing to religion, and the
needs they seek to satisfy by doing so. And because it takes account of
all the issues, its solutions carry great weight.
In the first part of the book, Grayling asks: What are the arguments
for and against religion and religious belief right across the range of
reasons and motives that people have for being religious, and do they
stand up to scrutiny? Can there be a clear, full statement of these
arguments which once and for all will show what is at stake in this debate?
In the second half of the book he asks: What is the alternative to
religion as a view of the world and a foundation for morality? Is there
a world-view and a code of life for thoughtful people who wish to live
with intellectual integrity, based on reason, evidence and a desire to
do and be good that does not interfere with people's right to their own
beliefs and freedom of expression?
The God Argument
is the definitive examination of these questions, and a statement of
the humanist outlook that recommends itself as the ethics of the
genuinely reflective person. Professor Grayling himself neatly
exemplifies the values of calm rationality which are at the heart of
Stoicism, and which influenced early Christian thought A. C. Grayling
is Master of the New College of the Humanities, London, and a
multi-talented author. He believes that philosophy should take an
active, useful role in society. He has been a regular contributor to
The Times
, Financial Times
, Observer
, Independent on Sunday
, Economist
, Literary Review
, New Statesman
and Prospect
, and is a frequent and popular contributor to radio and television
programmes, including Newsnight
, Today
, In Our Time
, Start the Week
and CNN News
. Grayling s other works directly and indirectly related to this one
include The Good Book
and Towards the Light: The Story of the Struggle for Liberty and
Rights that Made the Modern West.
