Is God a delusion? (Nicky Gumbel)

Having read "The God Delusion", if you want to read a short book addressing a fair number of the issues, try "Is God a delusion?" by Nicky Gumbel (Alpha International, 2008). This book is available for less than €10 on www.amazon.co.uk

The main section within this brief book is only 90 pages long and covers three main issues:

• Has science disproved God?
• Does religion do more harm than good?
• Is faith irrational?

The book, in considering these issues, summarises Dawkins' views very concisely and without going into intense detail outlines credible responses to criticisms undermining religious belief.

There are two further sections in the book. "A theologian's perspective" seems to me to add very little to the first three chapters. However, the Appendix "Who is Jesus?" is a solid 20-page summary of the arguments for the historical reality of Christ. The article also summarises the extraordinary claims Jesus made about himself (meaning he was a liar, a lunatic or the Son of God) and sets out the evidence for the resurrection. This material will not convince a sceptic but it conveniently brings the main points together in one concise article .