Is Religion Dangerous?

by Ward, Keith

• ISBN13: 9780802845085
• ISBN10: 0802845088
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-02-26
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co

Summary

"Is Religion Dangerous? Does it do more harm than good? Is it a force for evil - or even 'the root of all evil', as Richard Dawkins has claimed?" "Many contemporary commentators would answer in the affirmative to all these questions. They would argue that religion is something to fear and something we should oppose because it corrupts minds and leads to terrorism and violence. Religious beliefs, they say, are irrational and immoral, and have no place in modern secular society." "In this intelligent and insightful book, Professor Keith Ward responds to the critics. Looking at the evidence from history, philosophy, sociology and psychology, he focuses on the main question at issue: does religion do more harm than good? He begins by examining the key area of religion and violence and goes on to assess the allegations of irrationality and immorality, before exploring the good religion has done over the centuries."--BOOK JACKET.

Author Biography

Keith Ward is Former Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford and is now Professor of Divinity at Gresham College.

Table of Contents

Introduction: What is religion?	p. 7
Religion and violence	p. 23
The causes of violence	p. 25
The corruptibility of all things human	p. 42
Religion and war	p. 56
Are religious beliefs irrational?	p. 83
Faith and reason	p. 85
Life after death	p. 99
Are religious beliefs immoral?	p. 107
Morality and the Bible	p. 109
Morality and faith	p. 128
The Enlightenment, liberal thought and religion	p. 140
Does religion do more harm than good?	p. 153
Does religion do more harm than good in personal life?	p. 155
What good has religion done?	p. 179
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