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REVIEWS < AGAINST RELIGION psychoanalysis to show why these funda- on science and reason, not on myths and by Tamas Pataki mentalist beliefs and actions are not only wishful thinking. He expounds on why the Scribe Short Books, Melbourne, 2007 unenlightened but are threatening the foun- metaphysical claims of religion are false, ISBN 978-1-921215-18-6 (136pp pb) dations of civil societies everywhere. We're __ outlines the "transparent fables" in the "holy Available: http://www.scribepub.com.au seeing it today in the growth of their undue books" of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, everal books questioning the basis of influence in world affairs, he says. expands on savage moments in religious his- Siicon and religious belief have been Pataki criticises Richard Dawkins's propo- _ tory, and deplores how religion is forced published recently. Here we review three of sition in The God Delusion that religious upon impressionable young children in a them, starting with Against Religion by belief is an accidental by-product of biology __ way that's akin to child abuse. . Tamas Pataki, an honorary senior fellow in that confers evolutionary advantage and is Monarchs who have ruled under "divine the philosophy department at the University also a by-product of our tendency to fall in right", Vatican leaders who accommodated of Melbourne and an honorary fellow at love. Pataki’s stance is that religion satisfies _ Nazi horrors for the sake of realpolitik, and Deakin University. Pataki analyses the psy- unconscious needs and dispositions, and the vile apartheid system in South Africa are chology behind religions, focusing mostly thus is not in the realm of the rational. Itisa part of the territory in Hitchens's response to on the so-called Abrahamic monotheistic creature of and reaction to human needs, “the ‘case’ against secularism". Finally, he religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, particularly the need to be loved. A polemic points to the confrontation between faith and and concludes that they are based on fear, with a compelling psychological bent. civiisation in ve intent od Becoming a . Pe F . : nuclear power. at we need, he says, is a wishful ste "pheaaay? "feonoinee GOD IS NOT GREAT: renewed Enlightenment, a humane civilisa- which is a form of mental illness. How Religion Poisons Everything ton, in which we can ask the eternal ethical In his philosophical critique, Patakiexam- by Christopher Hitchens questions without religion oti the dis- ines the factors that are common to most Allen & Unwin, Aust & NZ, 2007, by sod dis ee th te ar 1c inquiry, religions and also considers the undue influ- arrangement with Warner Books, New fie the coal life, Hitchens icinformative ence of "the religiose", which he takes to York, USA, 2007 and insi htful if not controversial include most groups that can be defined as ISBN 978-1-74175-222-9 (307pp tpb) signa’, — "fundamentalist". While he doesn't dispute Available: www.allenandunwin.com that many members of religions perform B ritish journalist, author and well-known charitable tasks based on love and moral "public intellectual" Christopher : principles, he argues that religion is not Hitchens launches a scathing attack on identical to morality: confusing the two religion in God Is Not Great, taking no pris- is not only fuels the pretension of the "religious oners. Everywhere he's been in his travels, right" to the high moral ground. from the Balkans to Ireland, from Israel to When fundamentalists are so filled with Pakistan, from Lebanon to the USA, he's G reat the certainty of being the chosen elite doing _had cause to reflect on conflicts resulting the will of the Supreme Being, it's no won- from clashes of religious belief systems. If der, says Pataki, that they commit acts of these religions are so great, why do so many i Beer ‘a violence in the name of this often harsh of their adherents behave so appallingly to Christopher God, insist on invoking theocratic laws, sub- _ those who don't share exactly their brand of “H iIteher oy jugate women and homosexuals out of fear, _ faith, he asks. Religion obviously is not the tehens and sacrifice reason to revelation. Pataki answer to regional or world peace. utilises developmental psychology and Hitchens argues for a secular world based psychoanalysis to show why these funda- mentalist beliefs and actions are not only unenlightened but are threatening the foun- dations of civil societies everywhere. We're seeing it today in the growth of their undue influence in world affairs, he says. Pataki criticises Richard Dawkins's propo- sition in The God Delusion that religious belief is an accidental by-product of biology that confers evolutionary advantage and is also a by-product of our tendency to fall in love. Pataki's stance is that religion satisfies unconscious needs and dispositions, and thus is not in the realm of the rational. It isa creature of and reaction to human needs, particularly the need to be loved. A polemic with a compelling psychological bent. 70 + NEXUS on science and reason, not on myths and wishful thinking. He expounds on why the metaphysical claims of religion are false, outlines the "transparent fables" in the "holy books" of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, expands on savage moments in religious his- tory, and deplores how religion is forced upon impressionable young children in a way that's akin to child abuse. Monarchs who have ruled under "divine right", Vatican leaders who accommodated Nazi horrors for the sake of realpolitik, and the vile apartheid system in South Africa are part of the territory in Hitchens's response to "the ‘case’ against secularism". Finally, he points to the confrontation between faith and civilisation in an Iran intent on becoming a nuclear power. What we need, he says, is a renewed Enlightenment, a humane civilisa- tion, in which we can ask the eternal ethical questions without religion entering the dis- course, pursue unfettered scientific inquiry, and divorce the fear, guilt and repression from the sexual life. Hitchens is informative and insightful, if not controversial. www.nexusmagazine.com AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2007