richard_dawkins_-_the_god_delusion

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CHILDHOOD, ABUSE AND RELIGION 321to see the punishment of the damned in hell.' Nice man.*The fear of hell-fire can be very real, even among otherwiserational people. After my television documentary on religion,among the many letters I received was this, from an obviouslybright and honest woman:I went to a Catholic school from the age of five, and wasindoctrinated by nuns who wielded straps, sticks andcanes. During my teens I read Darwin, and what he saidabout evolution made such a lot of sense to the logicalpart of my mind. However, I've gone through life sufferingmuch conflict and a deep down fear of hell fire whichgets triggered quite frequently. I've had some psychotherapywhich has enabled me to work through some of myearlier problems but can't seem to overcome this deep fear.So, the reason I'm writing to you is would you send meplease the name and address of the therapist you interviewedon this week's programme who deals with thisparticular fear.I was moved by her letter, and (suppressing a momentary andignoble regret that there is no hell for those nuns to go to) repliedthat she should trust in her reason as a great gift which she - unlikeless fortunate people - obviously possessed. I suggested that theextreme horribleness of hell, as portrayed by priests and nuns, isinflated to compensate for its implausibility. If hell were plausible,it would only have to be moderately unpleasant in order to deter.Given that it is so unlikely to be true, it has to be advertised asvery very scary indeed, to balance its implausibility and retainsome deterrence value. I also put her in touch with the therapist shementioned, Jill Mytton, a delightful and deeply sincere womanwhom I had interviewed on camera. Jill had herself been raised ina more than usually odious sect called the Exclusive Brethren: sounpleasant that there is even a website, www.peebs.net, entirelydevoted to caring for those who have escaped from it.Jill Mytton herself had been brought up to be terrified of hell,had escaped from Christianity as an adult, and now counsels and* Compare Ann Coulter's charming Christian charity: 'I defy any of my coreligioniststo tell me they do not laugh at the idea of Dawkins burning in hell'(Coulter 2006: 268).
322 T H E G O D D ELUSIONhelps others similarly traumatized in childhood: 'If I think back tomy childhood, it's one dominated by fear. And it was the fear of disapprovalwhile in the present, but also of eternal damnation. Andfor a child, images of hell-fire and gnashing of teeth are actuallyvery real. They are not metaphorical at all.' I then asked her to spellout what she had actually been told about hell, as a child, and hereventual reply was as moving as her expressive face during the longhesitation before she answered: 'It's strange, isn't it? After all thistime it still has the power to ... affect me ., . when you . . . whenyou ask me that question. Hell is a fearful place. It's completerejection by God. It's complete judgement, there is real fire, there isreal torment, real torture, and it goes on for ever so there is norespite from it.'She went on to tell me of the support group she runs for escapeesfrom a childhood similar to her own, and she dwelt on howdifficult it is for many of them to leave: 'The process of leaving isextraordinarily difficult. Ah, you are leaving behind a whole socialnetwork, a whole system that you've practically been brought upin, you are leaving behind a belief-system that you have held foryears. Very often you leave families and friends . . . You don't reallyexist any more for them.' I was able to chime in with my ownexperience of letters from people in America saying they have readmy books and have given up their religion as a consequence.Disconcertingly many go on to say that they daren't tell theirfamilies, or that they have told their families with terrible results.The following is typical. The writer is a young American medicalstudent.I felt the urge to write you an email because I share yourview on religion, a view that is, as I'm sure you're aware,isolating in America. I grew up in a Christian family andeven though the idea of religion never sat well with me Ionly recently got up the nerve to tell someone. That someonewas my girlfriend who was . . . horrified. I realize thata declaration of atheism could be shocking but now it's asif she views me as a completely different person. She can'ttrust me, she says, because my morals don't come fromGod. I don't know if we'll get past this, and I don't
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Also by Richard DawkinsThe Selfish
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TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS61-63 Uxbridge
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ContentsPrefaceChapter 1Chapter 2Ch
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Tread softly, because you tread onm
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PrefaceAs a child, my wife hated he
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PREFACE 3If you feel trapped in the
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PREFACE 5herding cats, because they
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PREFACE 7Free Inquiry, especially,
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A D E E P L Y R E L I G I O U S N O
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A DEEPLY RELIGIOUS N O N - B E L I
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A D E E PLY R E L I G I O U S N O N
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A D E E P L Y RE L 1 G I O U S N O
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A DEEPLY R E L I G I O U S N O N -
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 31The God of the
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T H E G O D H Y P O T II E S I S 33
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T II E G O D H Y P O T H E S 1 S 35
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T H E G O D H Y P O T H E S I S 37M
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 39although it ha
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 41enterprise. Ri
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 43God; because,
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 45Anecdotes of s
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 47Carl Sagan was
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 49Huxley was not
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T H E G O D H Y P O T H E SIS 51can
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T H E G O D H Y P O T H E SIS 53in
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 55McGrath goes o
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 57the Cambridge
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 59unequivocally
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 61non-interventi
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T H E G O D H Y P O T H E S I S 63s
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 65Another typica
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T H E G O D H Y P O THESIS 67NOMA -
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T H E G O D II Y P O T H E S I S 69
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 71longer based o
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THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 73advanced techn
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A R G U M E N T S F O R G O D ' S E
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A R G U M ENTS F O R G O D ' S E X
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ARGUMENTS F O R GOD'S E X I S T E N
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A R C U M E N T S F O R G O D ' S E
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A R G U M E N T S FOR G O D ' S E X
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ARGUMEN T S FOR GOD'S EXISTENCE 101
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A R G U M E N T S F O R G OD'S E X
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A R Ci U M E N T S F O R G O D ' S
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ARGUMENTS F O R G OD'S E X I S T E
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W H Y T II E R E A L M O S T C E R
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W H Y T H E R E A I. M O S T C E R
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W H Y T H ERE AL.MOS T C E R TAINL.
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W H Y T H f ' R i . A L M O S T C 1
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W H Y T l i l - I U ; A L M O S T C
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W H Y r i-i r R r A I M O S T C t R
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W H Y '11IKRK A L M O S T (.: F R T
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no evidence of its own, but thrives
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W H Y r H E RE A 1. M O S T C F.RTA
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I ! T R t AI.M15S I' ('. I R !' A f
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W H Y T H E R E A I . M O S T C H R
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A I. M O S I C 1 R I'A I N M is X <
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W i I Y 1 II F. R F A 1 Vi (.) S T
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W H Y r 11 r u r -\ i. \i o s r c r
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W 11 Y '1 11 !•; R I. A I VI () S
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!' R I ALMOST l' I U '[ A I \ I Y i
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W H Y T H !• R E A I. M O S "I" C
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extravagant God hypothesis and the
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W H Y T H K R K A L VI O S I C E R
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W H Y T H H R B A L M O S T C E R T
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WHY T H E R K A L. M O S T C R R T
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W H V T H t R t A I M O S T C E R T
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WHY THERE ALMOST CERTAINLY IS NO GO
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W H Y T H E R i ; A L M O S T C E R
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T H E R O O T S OF R K 1. i G I ()
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THE ROOTS OF RELIGION 165themselves
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THE ROOTS ()1 ; R fc L I G I O N 16
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T H 1-; R O O T S O F R E I 1 C 1 O
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T H E R O O T S OF R E L I G I O N
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T H I', R O () T S OF R K I. I G I
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THL R O O T S OF R E L I G I O N 17
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T H E R O O T S OF R I: I. I (i I O
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T 11 E R O O T S O F R K L 1 (. 1 O
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THE ROOTS OF RELIGION 181psychologi
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THE R O O T S O F R E L I G I O N 1
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THE R O O T S O F RELIGI O N 185boo
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T H E ROOTS OF RELIGION 187Breakfas
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T H E R O O T S O F R E L I G 1 0 N
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T H E R O O T S O F R E L \ G I O N
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T H E ROOTS OF RELIGION 193the prob
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T H E R O O T S O F R E L I G I O N
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T H E R O O T S OF RELIGION 197'mem
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T HE ROOTS OF RELIGION 199ambiguity
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T H E R O O T S OF R E L I G I O N
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T H E ROOTS OF RELI G I O N 203They
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T HE R O O T S O F R E L J G 1 O N
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T H E R O O T S O F R E L 1 G I O N
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THE R O O T S OF M O R A L I T Y :
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T H E R O O T S OF M O R A L ! T Y
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T H H R O O T S O F M O R A L I T Y
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T H K R O O "I S O ! ; M O R A M T
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T H F , R O O T S O F M O R A L I T
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\ I i') K A I I M : \V 1 ! \ A i d
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R (> O I S (i I Y1 O l< A I I I "I
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R O t ' i l s O F M d l t A I I'I'V
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K O O I S O! M O R A I . I H : «
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K O O I S O I V! (> R A 1 1 T Y : W
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1K O O I \ < ) i VI O K A I . i l >
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HO I s o r M (.> R A ! I ! Y : \\ I
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O O K \ \ i> 'Mil Xi I'H ,\ j / J.
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T H E ' G O O D ' B O O K A N D T H
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H E ' G O O D " B O O K A N D T H E
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THE ' G O O D ' B O O K AND T H E M
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T H E ' G O O D ' B O () K A N D T
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T H E ' G O I H ) ' B O O K AN l> T
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T H E ' G O O D ' BO O K A N D T H
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' ! I K ' G O O 1) ' B O O K A N I"
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T H E - G O O D ' B O O K A N D T H
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T H i : ' G O O IV Si O O K A N D T
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TII 1- ' G O O D ' B O O K A N D T
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F i l l • ( . O O D ' B O O K A N
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T H |{ • (. O O D ' B O O K A N D
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HI-: ' G O O D ' B O O K A N D T H
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T H I: ' G O O D ' BO O K A N D T H
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1 M I. • C; O () I) ' B O O K A N
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Page 266 and 267: G O O I") ' B O O K A N D T 1 i I ,
Page 268 and 269: T H E ' G O O D " B O O K A N D T H
Page 270 and 271: T III ' (, () O D ' H O () K A X D
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Page 274 and 275: CHAPTER 8What's wrong withreligion?
Page 276 and 277: 282 THE GOD DELUSIONbomb anybody, b
Page 278 and 279: 284 THE GOD DELUSIONof the lecture,
Page 280 and 281: 286 THE GOD DELUSIONof the church i
Page 282 and 283: 288 T H E GOD D E L U S I O Nmentio
Page 284 and 285: 290 THE GOD DELUSIONpeople is their
Page 286 and 287: 292 T H E GOD D ELUSIONdoing his du
Page 288 and 289: 294 THE GOD DELUSIONconsequentialis
Page 290 and 291: 296 THE GOD DELUSIONliving in Brita
Page 292 and 293: 298 THE GOD DELUSIONSecular moralis
Page 294 and 295: 300 THE GOD DELUSIONof religious up
Page 296 and 297: 302 THE GOD DELUSIONTaliban of Afgh
Page 298 and 299: 304 T H E G O D D ELUSIO Nhimself.
Page 300 and 301: 306 THE GOD DELUSIO Nbelieve what t
Page 302 and 303: 308 T H E G O D DEL U S I O Nthat f
Page 304 and 305: C H I L D H O O D , ABUSE AND R E L
Page 306 and 307: CHILDHOOD, ABUSE AND RELIGION 313at
Page 308 and 309: CHILDHOOD, ABUSE AND RELIGION 315Ed
Page 318 and 319: CHILDHOOD, ABUSE AND RELIGION 325be
Page 322 and 323: C H I L D H O O D , ABUSE AND RELIG
Page 326 and 327: CHILDHOOD, ABUSE AND RELIGION 333.t
Page 328 and 329: C H I L D H O O D , A B U S E A N D
Page 330 and 331: CHILDHOOD, ABUSE AND RELIGION 337th
Page 332 and 333: CHILDHOOD, ABUSE AND RELIGION 339He
Page 334 and 335: CHILDHOOD, ABUSE AND RELIGION 341de
Page 338 and 339: CHAPTER 10A much neededgap?What can
Page 340 and 341: 348 THE GOD DELUSIONBinker - what I
Page 342 and 343: 350 THE GOD DELUSIONfriends - and i
Page 344 and 345: 352 T H E GOD DELUSIONtrying out id
Page 346 and 347: 354 THE GOD DELUSIONconsoled by the
Page 348 and 349: 356 T HE GOD DELUSIONdoctor's lie r
Page 350 and 351: 358 THE GOD DELUSIONare most afraid
Page 352 and 353: 360 THE GOD. DELUSIONevidence for t
Page 354 and 355: 362 THE GOD DELUSIONpowerful enough
Page 356 and 357: 364 THE GOD DELUSIONthe way matter
Page 358 and 359: 366 THEGODDELUSIONmathematics work,
Page 360 and 361: 368 THE GOD DELUSIONcould safely be
Page 362 and 363: 370 T H E GOD DELUSIONand that limi
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372 THE GOD DELUSIONof simulating a
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374 T H E G O D DEL U S I O Nagains
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376 T H E G O D D E L U S I O NAfri
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378 THEGODDELUSIONNational Secular
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Books cited orrecommendedAdams, D.
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382 THE GOD DELUSIONDennett, D. C.
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384 T HE GOD DELUSIO NHodder &c Sto
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386 THE GOD D E I, US1ONShermer, M.
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NotesPreface1 Wendy Kaminer, 'The l
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390 T HE GO D D E L U S I O N34 Hen
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392 THE GOD DELUSION64 This account
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394 THE GOD DELUSIONChapter 7: The
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396 THE GOD DELUSIONThe dark side o
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398 THE GOD DELUSION146 Guardian, 1
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IndexA for Andromeda (Hoyle), 72Aar
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402 T H E GOD D E L U S I O NDonne,
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404 T H E G O D D E L U S I O NLinc
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406 T HE GOD DEL U SIGN'skyhooks',
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