God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything - Essay Example

Instruction: Task: Summary The proposed piece of published nonfiction writing is ‘God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything’, that condemns the absence of God. The book is written by Christopher Hitchens and makes claims that organized religion is both violent and irrational. In the controversial text, the author attacks established norms and beliefs in religions such as Islam, Jewish and even Christianity. The former journalist is also touching on a subject deemed taboo because it casts God as a non-existent being (Hitchens 67). Therefore, the writing qualifies to be risky because like in other similar writings, Hitchens uses derogatory facts, and logical arguments to support the statements. On that note, his book is riskier than others because it breaks established norms and values considered sacred by society. Additionally, the writer understands the consequences of doubting God hence uses various fallacies and ideologies to prove the textual validity of his book. In other words, what determines how risky a writer could be is his audience’s background and culture. There are also social expectations that do not want to question conventional cultures and customs hence making the work of a writer both risky and controversial (Hitchens 87). Therefore, the risks that interest me in the text include the questioning of the Old Testament in terms of its influence over the masses. There is also the element of how religion kills the inherent pleasure that people harbor in the context of intolerance and violence. In other words, Hitchens purports that issue of God has been used to deceive people to postpone their happiness and pleasure instead of focusing on other issues. There are also the risks of generating wild debate in the arena of religious doubts especially in the context of logical arguments. Hitchens presents his ideas to oppose the usually held beliefs in the context of communal conformity and conventions. Therefore, the fundamental risk involves the rejection by friends and family members especially for holding an opposing view in the national perspective. Additionally, there is also the use of biblical stories that are questionable in view of scientific experiments and verification (Hitchens 75). On that note, there is urgency to comprehend the weight of risk for a writer in this context is totally unavoidable. This is because the author uses ridicule and mockery of God to further his atheist ideologies without a positive motive. Similarly, it is also paramount to inculcate the use of religious examples to distort the known facts of life and religion especially supplication God (Hitchens 136). Alternatively, in Hitchen’s book, the title is strangely conspicuous with an alarming title that is meant to arouse curiosity than the content therein. In other words, the author intends to create the impression of an ideologue taking the untraveled path of discrediting religion. This also applies to the use of strong terms in the context of intellectual presentations and analysis. Therefore, another fundamental issue that makes a writer’s works both dangerous risky involves the use of persuasive language to brainwash and reform. This begins with a change in the mindset of the audience though conventional help perceptions such as the belief in God and other inherent religious affiliations. On the other hand, it is also permeates to the broader spectrums of the audience without the intellectual ability to evaluate and make rational judgment of the book’s risky contents. It also leads to people forming a biased and prejudiced opinion of the understanding a controversial text such as ‘God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens. Therefore, it is essential for the reader or audience to acknowledge that creative people take such risks while guarded by an intellectual gusto to challenge the establishment (Hitchens 102). This is most reflected in the angry reactions from most audiences in the refusal to read the book because its anti-God stance. However, the use of fallacy does not outdo the essence of fear that is part of the motive for most risk adventures. This is notable in Christopher Hitchens’ book where he warns most readers that the belief in a deity will lead to misunderstanding (Hitchens 139). He also continues to explain the futility an alien being using the theories of faith and reason to divert the reader’s attentions. In other words, these results to several risks those are important to mention and understand because they change the perception of things. For instance, there is the fear of being a member of a satanic group when confronted with the theory of a belief in powerful world deities. It also reflects the inability of the audience members to make decisions that of creative critique thus solidifying the persona of the controversial author. In other words, there is no challenge for the themes and intentions of the book when it generates controversies in the broader features of the community (Hitchens 146). Therefore, this not only heightens the tension between the people, but it also leaders to the work of the author being riskier and more popular. Moreover, the outlook of the targeted audience especially on sensitive religious matters also interferes with the deductive thinking of most readers. It means consistent monitoring of the author’s content in the book and methods of the presentation will eventually assist in the writer’s demystification. Another noteworthy issue with the author is the information communicated in its content chapters. For example, he discusses conflicting issues concerning the pointless view of religion. This is most apparent in a chapter where he describes how religion kills through several believable methods. Christopher Hitchens supports his supposition with the recorded cases of rising religious fanaticism and fundamentalism (Hitchens 156). Similarly, he also makes anecdote mentions of the escalating wars between Muslim and Christian doctrines in relevance to the aspirations of humanity. On the other hand, there is a connection of death through terroristic activities that have taken a militant stance supported by religious bigots. Therefore, in view of the audience, this amounts to the use of forceful facts the rethink their conventionally held views. Similarly, it also jeopardizes the objective thinking of most audience members especially when there is rational framework of assessing the risks of the author’s allegations and fallacious claims (Hitchens 164). In the same context, it only helps in generating controversy that cannot validate the risky creativity of the author’s work. Additionally, the lack of initiative by the audience in terms of conclusive response gives the author to make several risks in the religious and controversial book. For example, the consistent discouragement of the faithful to disobey a being called God is tantamount to blasphemy though the writer does not fear. Hitchens also applies several derogatory terms of concerning religion especially on its connection to God (Hitchens 168). This has generated to a lot of debates and accusations from several theism and Christian quarters who have called on the author to recant his statements. Alternatively, it is significant for authors especially those dabbling in non-fiction to use non-violent phrases that do not interfere with the human perceptions. On that account, there should be determined study on the resulting repercussions of risky writing and finding alternative solutions. Similarly, there should be various literary and scholarly, bodies that regulate the content disseminated to the public to avoid content that may be harmful in morality or otherwise (Hitchens 149). In other words, the audience is supposed to make critical assessments and final evaluations on the content of the books that predispose writers to personal risk. However, it is also the role and the responsibility of the writers to define the limits of their creativity both for understanding and reduced personal harm. Work Cited Hitchens, Christopher. God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis. 2007. Print. Read More