Essay Questions

Why is Richard Dawkins thinking that religion is perilous to humanity?

Richard Dawkins argues that the perceived merit of religion is to guide people to behave morally. However, Dawkins challenges this notion because there are people who are morally upright but they do not believe in religion. On a similar note, some of the worst characters in society are staunch religious believers. For instance, the reader can relate to the rampant corruption in churches and other places of worship where the clergy is after making money by brainwashing worshippers. According to Dawkins, morality is determined by an inheritable factor, repute, preeminence, and complementation, all of which are not related to religion. Therefore, he considers religion as dangerous because it contributes to extremism.

Are there any benefits for one to adhere to a particular religion?

Dawkins explains that adhering to any particular religion has no specific merit other than the assumption that it regulates human morals. There is a palliative effect which directly correlates to mental superiority when one is a staunch believer of a particular religion. Dawkins compares religion to childbearing. A child follows what he is told by parents without questioning them. Similarly, believers follow what the Holy books and clergy tell them and they are always reminded that God cannot be questioned. Therefore, believers end up being prisoners of what they do not know but assume that they are morally upright because of their strict adherence to religion.

Does science indicate the existence of God?

Science has its own theory of human evolution which does not support the creation theory. The creation theory states that God is the Supreme being who created the world and everything in it. All religious believers follow the creation theory while ignoring the evolution theory backed up by science. According to science, human beings evolved but not created and this clearly shows that it does not approve the existence of God.