Richard Dawkins, Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford, has long been famous for his atheism. Now he has written a best selling book advocating it. How best selling? It's on sale in Tesco! Dawkins thinks religion is untrue, unreasonable and harmful. Science can explain life, the universe, and (almost) everything. God causes more problems than he solves. So how does Dawkins try to get rid of the 'God delusion'? As the sales suggest, not by writing some dusty tome. This is entertaining, 'coffee table' atheism. If you like bold rhetoric, fine phrases and passionate polemic you'll love this. It reads like an atheist sermon. There are lots of interesting stories, illustrations and quotations. There are even personal anecdotes and digressions.

Dawkins claims the Gospels are ancient fiction. What about scholarly arguments to the contrary? You wouldn't know there were any. Religious experience is rejected because our brains can create illusions. True, they can do, but this hardly proves all religious experiences are illusory. The real reason for Dawkins' wholesale rejection of religious argument and experience is his chapter on "why there almost certainly is no God".

Dawkins explains that any God would need something far more elaborate than the largest brain or computer we know. He'd therefore need far more explanation than the things he's meant to explain. You think an unexplained universe is unlikely? Well, an unexplained God is more unlikely still! Why must God be anything like a brain or a computer? Dawkins doesn't bother to say. This is the key claim of the main argument of the whole book. Some will take Dawkins' word for it, but there's a great big gap where an argument should be. We can grasp an explanation in terms of God without thinking of anything like a brain or computer. Traditionally, theologians have taught that God has no parts at all, unlike his creatures. So, has Dawkins disproved God? Not at all, but some may wrongly think he has come close.

Dawkins also wants to stir up atheist pride. Atheism is evidence of a healthy, independent mind. Atheists can be happy, balanced and moral. Sadly, reviews suggest that even atheists fear that Dawkins doesn't come across as entirely balanced. He rarely bothers to give the case for God a fair hearing. He shows little insight into what it's like to believe. What are we to make of Dawkins' suggestion that true believers should be thrilled to learn they have terminal cancer? He also objects to the way people urge uncritical respect for religion and avoid argument. Agreed, stifling free debate is dangerous. Unfortunately, Dawkins' name-calling ('dyed–in–the–wool faith–heads') and breezy contempt risks generating more heat than light.

So, why is Dawkins so hostile? He points out how religion can make people anti–science, anti–gay, violent and oppressive. Clearly, he thinks religion does more harm than good. Sadly, he doesn't really support this more complex claim. Surprisingly for a scientist, he ignores scientific studies that seem relevant. Statistically, believers give more time and money to community activities and charities – even non–religious charities – than do secularists. They are on average healthier and happier. Dawkins complains that even moderate believers help extremism to flourish by fostering respect for faith. Perhaps they do, but Dawkins just ignores the ways mainstream religion opposes extremism. (See here for more on these questions).

Dawkins' skill as a populariser of science sometimes shines through. He is an acknowledged expert on evolution and there is interesting science on offer. He compares our natural human perspective with the slit in a Muslim woman's burka. Science helps broaden our view. Unfortunately, when he deals with philosophy, biblical studies, and history he is just as confident, but without such good reason. There's a lot of stimulating stuff here, but if you think this is the definitive demolition of belief in God then you're sadly deluded. But maybe that's not the point. Evangelical atheism is out and proud and on sale in Tesco!

Patrick Richmond, Chaplain, St Catharine's College