Dawkins on Hitchens; American South Found Not To Be Know-Nothing Theocracy

Richard Dawkins reviews Christopher Hitchen’s book God Is Not Great for the Times of London. It comes as no surprise that Dawkins gives it a favorable review. The review may be of interest for those who want to choose between the several recent books on atheism as it does give a good over view of the topics discussed. Besides reviewing the book, Dawkins provides a hopeful sign that “America is far from the know-nothing theocracy that two terms of Bush, and various misleading polls had led us to fear.”

With characteristic effrontery, he took his tour through the Bible Belt states – the reptilian brain of southern and middle America, rather than the easier pickings of the country’s cerebral cortex to the north and down the coasts. The plaudits he received were all the more gratifying. Something is stirring in that great country. America is far from the know-nothing theocracy that two terms of Bush, and various misleading polls, had led us to fear. Does the buckle of the Bible Belt conceal some real guts? Are the ranks of the thoughtful coming out of the closet and standing up to be counted? Yes, and Hitchens’s atheist colleagues on the American bestseller list have equally encouraging tales to tell.

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