Why I am not a Christian
Book review by Garry Marlowe
Title: Why I am not a Christian
Author: Bertrand Russell
Publisher: Routledge Classics
It has been nearly 40 years since the death of Bertrand Russell, and in a world beset by religious mania and cruelty, Russell's book, "Why I am not a Christian", doesn't so much as call for a rational outlook towards the world as much as almost demand it. True this book lacks the technical and detailed arguments against the Christian faith. For such arguments the reader is better helped by a solid serving of Thomas Paine's classic "The Age of Reason" (who Russell devotes a chapter of this book to) or Judith Hayes, "The Happy Heretic". Still, despite lacking in very detailed biblical criticisms (apart from the odd scriptural quote); Russell sets out the rationalist's viewpoint clearly and with great confidence. Such is Russell's great style of writing one can almost feel that you are with a much loved friend, who is taking you into his confidence. This of course is the sign of a great writer, but for Russell, who within the pages of this book is dealing with the subject of promoting the rationalist lifestyle, this is the sign of a very superior writer who is clearly a master of the subject at hand.
Russell opens his book with the several questions, which he proceeds to answer within his own pages. The First Cause argument, the Natural Law argument, the Argument from Design, the moral arguments for deity and the argument for the remedying of injustice. All such arguments put forth by Christians to protect the faith (and faithful) are answered in great style and with a clearness of thinking that is sadly too often lacking in the modern world.
Russell then moves on the discuss at length the character of Christ, including defects in his teaching, for example biblical passages in which Christ assures his followers then still living, that he would return within their lifetimes. Included within this framework, Russell takes on the moral problem of Christ's teaching (and I use the word teaching loosely). With reference to hell, Russell states, "I must say that I think all this doctrine, that hell-fire is a punishment for sin, is a doctrine of cruelty. It is a doctrine that put cruelty into the world, and gave the world generations of cruel torture; and the Christ of the Gospels, if you could take him as his chroniclers represent him, would certainly have to be considered partly responsible for that".
Russell goes on to explain how the church retards progress, and explains what we must do. Russell's logic shines through this book. To give just one example, Russell offers the following point. Take two men. The first man does much good (such as curing diseases); while at the same time has sexual relations with women to whom he is not married. The second man is lazy and shiftless, begets child after child with his wife (who dies from over exhaustion) and half his children die from starvation. Russell points out according to Christian belief that the second man is morally superior, despite such a view clearly being superstitious and contrary to reason.
For atheists seeking to confirm their viewpoint of the world, this book is rationalist dynamite. For Christians certain that their beliefs are true, this book provides a much needed and very welcome kick up the backside.
Bertrand Arthur William Russell [Third Earl Russell] (1872-1970)was a British philosopher, mathematician, social critic, and writer. Twice jailed for his beliefs he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950.
