Book Review: Why Won't God Go Away - Alister McGrath

Let me introduce you to one of the nicest, gentlest and most intellectual of men that you are ever likely to meet: Alistair McGrath.

This week has been good because I had leisure enough to be able to read one of McGrath’s more recent books, “Why God Won’t Go Away”. This is a wonderfully short read which packs a lot of relevant thought on a topic close to my heart. In short, McGrath’s book is about engaging with the ‘New Atheism’ and trying to understand why it might be that the God-idea simply won’t “go away”.

New Atheism?

Atheism isn’t new. Actually, neither is the ‘New Atheism’ new… but that’s beside the point.

New Atheism, a term coined by Gary Wolf in 2006, was the ‘snappy slogan’ that was slapped onto the kind of atheism that exploded onto the world scene at around the same time. This is the atheism of authors such as Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett and Christopher Hitchens.

The basic premise of the New Atheism runs something like this: science is rational, faith is irrational… because religion requires faith it is therefore irrational. More than that, irrational people are dangerous and should be sorted out. More or less.

McGrath is far more elegant and generous than I in describing New Atheism… so I’ll turn away from my own polemic views and give you a review of his far better work.

Why God Won’t Go Away

McGrath opens by placing New Atheism in its proper historical context, fuelled by the atrocities of 9/11 in America. He then introduces the core ideas and beliefs of the New Atheist ‘manifesto’ and outlines the main themes and arguments against religion and religious ideas. What is lovely about this book is that the author is so very gentle and generous in presenting a balanced account. McGrath, ever the academic yet capable of a surprising light writing style to carry us through the ideas, presents a clear and fair outline of the issues under debate.

Having outlined how the New Atheism all started, he moves into a chapter discussing what is ‘new’ about this movement. Connecting the roots of these ideas to the Enlightenment, McGrath suggests that one of the more striking elements to arise has been the connection of two phenomena: anti-theism and massive online communities.

The third chapter, a really very relaxed account, tackles the accusation that religion is violent. In a very easy-to-read section McGrath outlines the flaws in this idea, as well acknowledging the roots of the very same. For me, this chapter stands as a very real eye-opener to anyone interested in the New Atheist debate because it airs stuff that, quite frankly, I’d never thought about. No big shocks, not necessarily a chapter that will change minds already set on their beliefs… but certainly worth a look. It moves the debate along.

Next comes McGrath’s discussion on the rationality of beliefs. This is where he tackles the basic premise of the New Atheist outlook – the idea that faith is irrational. Drawing on key and well-establishing rational principles, and drawing upon the philosophy and ideas of other atheist thinkers, McGrath invites the reader to reconsider their thinking and accept the limits of reason. In many ways, this chapter goes the furthest in inviting the New Atheist thinker to come out of the Enlightenment mindset and catch up with the thinking that has been taking place in more moderate atheist circles for around 300 years. It’s a short but good read.

The proof of science is the final chapter in the first section of the book, dealt with wonderfully and gently to give the reader a clear bunch of stuff to think about. Here McGrath delves into creating a primer for the philosophy of science and reveals to the critical thinker the framework for what science can and cannot ‘prove’. It’s a masterful read and entertaining to boot, especially given McGrath’s own credentials as a scientist and not just as a philosopher and theologian. He refrains from all temptations to ridicule or belittle those who are not experts in science, and instead provides a short yet informative summary of the key ideas we could all do well to consider.

Finally, in the second section of the book, McGrath looks at how the New Atheism is doing at the close of 2010 and dawn of 2011. This is a pleasant read with, once again, is handled generously and with integrity. Perhaps most surprising is the discovery that New Atheism is perhaps now struggling to come to terms with the debate over the longer-term. We read about how the online community, the powerhouse for the ideas of these four key atheist writers, has become frustrated with the lack of a quick victory over religion. It is here, then, that we finally discover the reasons that might begin to answer the title of the book – why God won’t go away.

Why Won’t God Go Away?

McGrath’s response is that God, as both an idea and an entity, is simply not going away because the basic premise of New Atheism is flawed. Faith, he writes, is not irrational. Simply stating this kind of accusation without substantiating it, McGrath proposes, is not enough.

What I really enjoyed about this book is not so much the examination of the debate and ideas but more the affirmation that atheism, like any other belief, is just that: a belief.

We all act upon our beliefs. Reason does not prove our beliefs, not in the empirical sense. Rather, we hold beliefs based upon our choices as much as upon the evidence we perceive. There are, ‘values and ideas that have shaped human culture and given human existence direction and purpose, but cannot be proved by reason or science.’ (page 59).

Why Should You Care?

Hmm… well, to be honest, I’m not saying you should. That being said, this is a book that any fair-minded theist or atheist would do well to read. It has a mere 99 pages and packs a lot of good ideas into a very readable package. My only criticism, from the perspective of a genuine seeker after truth, is that it is too short and you need to dig further if you want to really delve deep into the arguments being presented.

Overall, if you are an atheist troubled by the polemic of Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett and Christopher Hitchens then this is a worthwhile read. If you are a theist struggling to reply to the atheists around you, then again this is a useful read. And if, like me, you are worried by the anti-theist tone of so much recent media review of the subject of religion then reading McGrath’s short book will give you something to reassure yourself with.

Oh, go on… give it a read. If nothing else, McGrath will entertain you.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com  book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”