Ayaan Hirsi Ali writes about the details of her life growing up in Somalia, as a Muslim. Then, she escapes to Europe to avoid a pre-arranged marriage. There, she details how her mind transformed from a Muslim who believed in Islam to an atheist. Since the murder of Theo Van Gogh, she began living her life under cover. She continues to speak out for the rights of women in the Islamic world.
Before reading this book, I always felt that there was something not quite right about religious explanations as to how human beings, animals, plants and all life came to being, regardless of whether one takes The Book of Genesis literally or metaphorically.
Richard Dawkins opened my eyes to a rich, yet simple and satisfying explanation to how life evolved from its simplest forms. As a non-scientist, this was a good introduction for me to be interested in genetics and biology. The explanations here make it easy for one to understand evolution. This book is a wonderful and surprising eye-opener.
Religions have survived for thousands of years and their arguments have evolved to survive that long.
There is something odd about religions and religious doctrines and ideas. There are many things not fitting in. Not many of us are able to articulate what we feel and why we feel the way we feel when confronted with convoluted religious logic, arguments and explanations to what happens and why they happen in the natural world.
Reading this, I remember thinking: Finally there is someone out there with a mind, schooled and trained in science, brilliant and intelligent enough to be able to tackle the complexities of arguing against the idea that personal gods can exist.
Based on what I have read and understood, I cannot see how a supernatural being that exists beyond time and space can exist. I am also more inclined to believe the following:
On the 24th of November 2008, the U.N. passed a draft resolution against defaming religion. It was sponsored by the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). They want nations to pass legislation against blasphemy. At this point in time, it is optional for each member nation of the U.N to adopt this resolution. In the next few months, however, the OIC will be pushing for its enforcement worldwide. What do you think about the U.N passing an anti-blasphemy law? Do you think it's a good thing or a bad thing and why?