The Devil's Delusion

Atheism and its Scientific Pretensions

By: David Berlinski

Narrated by: Dennis Holland

Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

Militant atheism is on the rise. In recent years, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens have produced a steady stream of best-selling books denigrating religious belief. These authors are merely the leading edge of a larger movement that includes much of the scientific community.

In response, mathematician David Berlinski, himself a secular Jew, delivers a biting defense of religious thought. The Devil’s Delusion is a brilliant, incisive, and funny book that explores the limits of science and the pretensions of those who insist it is the ultimate touchstone for understanding our world.

©2009 David Berlinski (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Brilliantly Sarcastic!

I found this to be a highly engaging, even entertaining, approach to the subject of atheistic pretensions, claims that are highly exaggerated and go well beyond where the boundaries of evidence. Berlinski exposes, sometimes in brilliantly crafted humor, the bankruptcy of scientific-metaphysics, where theory or even fantasy is presented to the popular culture as indisputable fact. Berlinski is not a Christian, but he has, evidently very little patience for presentious and pompous scientific postering like that of Richard Dawkins. He exposes his methodology and even his childish logic as laughable and without foundation. Berlinski is not arguing for the validity of Christianity or the existence of God (for him the verdict is still out and may not be provable), but for a careful and honest evaluation of the evidence, and for those who engage in speculation to admit that that this is what they are doing, rather than cloaking it in pseudo-science. Berlinski is a brilliant scientist himself, Mathmatics and molecular biology, and is uniquely positioned and intellectually equipped to recognize the scientific bluff, and he is I afraid to say so!

Sharp in mind so listen carefully!

It's great to hear from someone who can compentenly assess the probablity (he doesn't do a lot of math in the book but good logic) and find atheistic science void. A delight to listen and ponder.

The Delusion

Spent to much time on Dad’s story and background. Spent too much on Atheist views but would have been better with what real science is showing now.

Entertaining and Enlightening

It is a curiosity that a book written by an atheist, or at least an agnostic, who is a mathematician, could hold me in such wrapt attention. I have one regret only; that this book had an ending.

A Real Thinker

Overall great but you need at least a little understanding of the topics discussed. Great metaphors and more than a little sarcasm.

An abstract book to fight abstract science

David is probably the most scientific scientist I’ve ever read. He thinks purely from the 7-point science philosophy. Words are strung together beautifully, and the points made are logical. The reason for four stars instead of 5 is simply for the abstract nature.

A dazzlingly logical presentation!!

Largely devoid of theology, the author argues the case in the evolutionists own vernacular and fittingly so: for science itself (honest science anyway), demands that the relationship between theory and observation must be congruent! If, after due diligence, there exists deviation from that fundamental requirement, then the SEEKER OF TRUTH IN FACT, must yield to observation, abandon silly postulation, and go back to theory for resolution. Can there be any other way with concrete reason?? Come now all ye that thirst for truth in fact; let us REASON together with logic and prudence, leaving behind superstition and wild speculation. Instead, may we put the evidence to the test and follow it with open minds to wherever it leads.

It lies within us to be seekers or inquisitors. Have we not had our fill of the latter at the expense of the former?? Therefore, let freedom of thought be among the expressions of our humanity as we gallup around the cosmos in our spaceship Earth.

A critique of the pretensions of atheism

Well written - sometimes technical - criticism of those militant atheists who pretend that science excludes the existence of God. The author demonstrates it has not. Thought provoking and challenging. Well worth a serious listen.

Story almost unbelievable...

Obviously the author did a big amount of research, but at times there was so much detail that it was difficult, for me anyway, to stay with the story and not give up...seemed so repetitious and drawn out. Maybe it seemed necessary to give space to problem after problem in order to show the enormity of the abuse, but at times, it seemed just too much.

Brilliant analysis...

I read this book after Tina Beattie's penetrating critique of the new atheists, a growing group led by the ill informed and ego driven Dawkins. Berlinski's book drives deeper into the problems of the atheist militants, and the hard clear logic presented here shows the political and personal motives, not to mention the gross contradictions and inconsistencies, of a new wave of non believing fundamentalists. A must read for a thinking person.