Against Religion

Brave and controversial, this philosophical study argues against extremist religions, contending that many radical doctrines stem from the same basic roots of fear, misery, and delusion. Citing numerous statistics, this survey shows that traditional faith and belief in a higher power retains strong support the world over, from the United States and Nigeria to Indonesia and Ireland. The revival of Orthodoxy in Russia and Eastern Europe is also discussed, as well as the religious stirrings in atheistic China, the growth of extreme Hindu nationalism in India, and the appeal of Islamic fundamentalism.