--- product_id: 1692857 title: "God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything" price: "€ 56.06" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.be/products/1692857-god-is-not-great-how-religion-poisons-everything store_origin: BE region: Belgium --- # God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything **Price:** € 56.06 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything - **How much does it cost?** € 56.06 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.be](https://www.desertcart.be/products/1692857-god-is-not-great-how-religion-poisons-everything) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description In the tradition of Bertrand Russell's Why I Am Not a Christian and Sam Harris's recent bestseller, The End of Faith , Christopher Hitchens makes the ultimate case against religion. With a close and erudite reading of the major religious texts, he documents the ways in which religion is a man-made wish, a cause of dangerous sexual repression, and a distortion of our origins in the cosmos. With eloquent clarity, Hitchens frames the argument for a more secular life based on science and reason, in which hell is replaced by the Hubble Telescope's awesome view of the universe, and Moses and the burning bush give way to the beauty and symmetry of the double helix. Review: This Book is Great - god is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens "god is not Great" is a one of the most fascinating books you will ever read. A scholarly, passionate, and witty book that challenges religious dogma with panache. This 336-page book is composed of the following nineteen chapters: 1. Putting It Mildly, 2. Religion Kills, 3. A Short Digression on the Pig; or, Why Heaven Hates Ham, 4. A Note on Health, to Which Religion Can Be Hazardous, 5. The Metaphysical Claims of Religion Are False, 6. Arguments from Design, 7. Revelation: The Nightmare of the "Old" Testament, 8. The "New" Testament Exceeds the Evil of the "Old" One, 9. The Koran Is Borrowed from Both Jewish and Christian Myths, 10. The Tawdriness of the Miraculous and the Decline of Hell, 11. "The Lowly Stamp of Their Origin": Religion's Corrupt Beginnings, 12. A Coda: How Religions End, 13. Does Religion Make People Behave Better, 14. There Is No "Eastern" Solution, 15. Religion as an Original Sin, 16. Is Religion Child Abuse?, 17. An Objection Anticipated: The Last-Ditch "Case" Against Secularism, 18. A Finer Tradition: The Resistance of the Rational, and 19. In Conclusion: The Need for a New Enlightenment. Positives: 1. Hitchens writes with panache. 2. Thought-provoking does not begin to describe this book. 3. Hitchens is the ultimate intellectual entertainer. It takes a brilliant mind and command of the language to be able to convey such lucid thoughts. 4. Any book by Hitchens is a quote fest but this is his Magnum Opus. 5. Hitchens is able to put into words what many of us think. 6. Challenges many religious beliefs of various faiths. 7. The uncomfortable nature of religion and sex. Many poignant examples. 8. The truth about how agnostic cadets are bullied by "born again" cadres. 9. Violations against the Establishment Clause illustrated. 10. How religion and faith distort our whole picture of the world. Example, condoms and AIDS. 11. Debunks many religious beliefs with compelling arguments. As an example, destroys the absurd notion of a young earth. 12. A look back at some fascinating doomsday predictions. 13. The clash of science and religion and how religion thwarted scientific progress. 14. The arrogance of religion exposed. 15. An eye for evolution...you will understand my pun once you read this page-turning book. 16. The fallacy of Noah's Ark. We are all wet to believe such things. 17. The truth behind the ten commandments and what they don't say. 18. The "divine" authority to commit evil. A well developed theme throughout this book. 19. The religious dogma that lead to witch hunt. 20. Instruments of evil illustrated, oh my. 21. What archaeology hasn't uncovered. 22. Faith as a mask of insecurity. 23. No such things as miracles. 24. Many apologetic arguments destroyed. 25. Religion as a political source of control. 26. This book lead me to watch the Oscar-award winning documentary, "Marjoe". A tale of American evangelical hucksterism. Highly recommended. 27. How some religions were invented by opportunists. 28. The cruel practice of slavery and its misguided religious justification. 29. The impact of Dr. King. Fascinating take. 30. Many religious icons presented in a different light. 31. Colonel Robert Ingersoll, enough said. 32. Cruel creeds at work throughout the planet. 33. Vicarious redemption as only Hitchens can express it. 34. Dictatorships and their tools of oppression. 35. Apartheid and its connection to religion, racism and totalitarianism. 36. The lack of evidence for "intercessory" prayer. 37. Very few people are as well read as Hitchens, but what sets him apart is his ability to relay topic-appropriate narratives with flair and this book exemplifies that. 38. Well researched and referenced book. Negatives: 1. This is not an even-handed book and Hitchens makes no bones about it. Hitchens did not write this book to give you the positives about religion so if you are looking for a fair assessment, you must look elsewhere. 2. His brutal unrelenting honesty will rub those who oppose his views in a bad way. 3. I have no problems going after immoral dogma, but I do have some reservations about equating immoral dogma with immoral believer. I think that distinction gets lost in this book. 4. Clearly religion doesn't poison everything as evidenced by many of the good works of religious believers. That much we can say for certain, however I do have a problem with good acts in conjunction with proselytizing. Hitchens has done a very good job of clearing this issue up after the book was released. 5. Having to wait for Mr. Hitchens next great book. In summary, this is one of the most thought-provoking books you will ever read. Hitchens establishes the premise of his book and he never relents. He never holds back and does so with an intellectual passion rarely seen. Fascinating, witty, enlightening, and irreverent but never boring. In the proper context, this is a "bad" book that is good for you. Highly recommended. Further suggestions: "Cruel Creeds, Virtuous Violence" by Jack David Eller, "Why I Became an Atheist..." by John Loftus, "God's Problem" by Bart D. Ehrman, "Godless..." by Dan Barker, "The God Virus" by Darrel Ray, "The End of faith" by Sam Harris, "The Religion Virus" by Craig A. James, "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins, and "God and His Demons" by Michael Parenti. Review: Why God is Not Great is Fundamentally Good - In his public life Hitch was crass, honest, abrasive, confrontational, critical, and courageous. As such, he is a hero and will be missed. As to God is Not Great... My first and most probably still most profound experiences with the author were in the way of video and live conferences and/or debates. His ability to compose ideologically superior rhetoric within moments was a testament not only to his genius, but to his efforts in humanism. Hitchens knew his material better than anyone (knew religion and religious doctrine better than the follower), and was more prepared than anyone to voice both fact and opinion based on fact. I couldn't resist but to examine a handful of the one-star reviews of God is Not Great. Mostly in the voice of the determined apologist, those authors (should I dare label them such) attacked Hitchens for his style, his diction, his argumentative logic, and more. I found it pleasurable reading for a Tuesday morning. Unfounded and lacking evidence (something with which Hitchens harbors no such dilemma), these attacks were near comical. That out of the way, I felt obligated and eager to record my own review. As a member of a community of local authors, I was eager to share with my comrades (hope you video followers note my tribute in diction) my experience with this book, its ideas, and its other factors of greatness. Rhetoric: Hitchens's style is wonderfully abrasive at times, thorough and factual at others. I loved it. A true militant atheist, Hitchens pulled no punches in his endeavor to attack the institution of religion--and for all the most moral reasons. No one would challenge these techniques if Hitches was as well-spoken and well-researched on a topic such as torture, murder, or rape (all of which, subsequently, have been condoned and promoted to various degrees and at various times by nearly all religious groups). Another, and perhaps the most important tool in Hitchens's toolbox, is evidence. I remember one reviewer lambasting the book for its reliance on anecdotal backing. First, they must have been reading another book--facts here are presented and cited as such and often. Second, that very claim is one of the best arguments against all modern religious texts. Hitchology: I willingly admit myself to the ranks of the third/fourth (we're coming Islam) largest belief system in the world: the lack thereof. I am an atheist. BIAS, BIAS I can hear the crowd screaming. The best I can do there is to suggest my own honesty. I gave a rather low-scoring review recently to another hero, Mr. Stephen Hawking. All I can to is speak to the character of my own experience with a piece of literature, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading God is Not Great. I learned some, not a lot, in terms of new information (though I am well-read in the genre). However, the value gain here is the cogent and thorough argument in making a case against religion at all levels. As an atheist, I felt my own ideas finding structure. For the believer, consider the read a `knowing your enemy' endeavor. Maybe you'll even be enlightened by rational thought. The chapter "There is no `Eastern' Solution" was one section that is most memorable, as much for its assertions as for its more unique material in the voice of atheism. Most speakers and writers attack the power-trifecta of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Not often do authors take the time to be thorough and universal enough to reveal the misconceptions, violence, and veritable vulgarities of the `other' systems of belief. If you don't have the time or inclination to buy the book, maybe just read this chapter one day over a coffee at your local book shop. Just don't crease the binding; I hate that. Prediction and Hope: One day, common man will see Christopher Hitchens as something of a forefather of the Age of Rationalism (and no, I don't mean god), a time when man (as a race not a gender) will come to understand the silliness, cruelty, and horror that is religion--a time when today's God will join the pantheon of the other 2,769 or so from recorded history that find a home in the realm of mythology. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #21,105 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #3 in Atheism (Books) #4 in Rationalist Philosophy #18 in Religion & Philosophy (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 10,168 Reviews | ## Images ![God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71-7dFLrE5L.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Media Language, Media Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This Book is Great *by B***K on May 13, 2011* god is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens "god is not Great" is a one of the most fascinating books you will ever read. A scholarly, passionate, and witty book that challenges religious dogma with panache. This 336-page book is composed of the following nineteen chapters: 1. Putting It Mildly, 2. Religion Kills, 3. A Short Digression on the Pig; or, Why Heaven Hates Ham, 4. A Note on Health, to Which Religion Can Be Hazardous, 5. The Metaphysical Claims of Religion Are False, 6. Arguments from Design, 7. Revelation: The Nightmare of the "Old" Testament, 8. The "New" Testament Exceeds the Evil of the "Old" One, 9. The Koran Is Borrowed from Both Jewish and Christian Myths, 10. The Tawdriness of the Miraculous and the Decline of Hell, 11. "The Lowly Stamp of Their Origin": Religion's Corrupt Beginnings, 12. A Coda: How Religions End, 13. Does Religion Make People Behave Better, 14. There Is No "Eastern" Solution, 15. Religion as an Original Sin, 16. Is Religion Child Abuse?, 17. An Objection Anticipated: The Last-Ditch "Case" Against Secularism, 18. A Finer Tradition: The Resistance of the Rational, and 19. In Conclusion: The Need for a New Enlightenment. Positives: 1. Hitchens writes with panache. 2. Thought-provoking does not begin to describe this book. 3. Hitchens is the ultimate intellectual entertainer. It takes a brilliant mind and command of the language to be able to convey such lucid thoughts. 4. Any book by Hitchens is a quote fest but this is his Magnum Opus. 5. Hitchens is able to put into words what many of us think. 6. Challenges many religious beliefs of various faiths. 7. The uncomfortable nature of religion and sex. Many poignant examples. 8. The truth about how agnostic cadets are bullied by "born again" cadres. 9. Violations against the Establishment Clause illustrated. 10. How religion and faith distort our whole picture of the world. Example, condoms and AIDS. 11. Debunks many religious beliefs with compelling arguments. As an example, destroys the absurd notion of a young earth. 12. A look back at some fascinating doomsday predictions. 13. The clash of science and religion and how religion thwarted scientific progress. 14. The arrogance of religion exposed. 15. An eye for evolution...you will understand my pun once you read this page-turning book. 16. The fallacy of Noah's Ark. We are all wet to believe such things. 17. The truth behind the ten commandments and what they don't say. 18. The "divine" authority to commit evil. A well developed theme throughout this book. 19. The religious dogma that lead to witch hunt. 20. Instruments of evil illustrated, oh my. 21. What archaeology hasn't uncovered. 22. Faith as a mask of insecurity. 23. No such things as miracles. 24. Many apologetic arguments destroyed. 25. Religion as a political source of control. 26. This book lead me to watch the Oscar-award winning documentary, "Marjoe". A tale of American evangelical hucksterism. Highly recommended. 27. How some religions were invented by opportunists. 28. The cruel practice of slavery and its misguided religious justification. 29. The impact of Dr. King. Fascinating take. 30. Many religious icons presented in a different light. 31. Colonel Robert Ingersoll, enough said. 32. Cruel creeds at work throughout the planet. 33. Vicarious redemption as only Hitchens can express it. 34. Dictatorships and their tools of oppression. 35. Apartheid and its connection to religion, racism and totalitarianism. 36. The lack of evidence for "intercessory" prayer. 37. Very few people are as well read as Hitchens, but what sets him apart is his ability to relay topic-appropriate narratives with flair and this book exemplifies that. 38. Well researched and referenced book. Negatives: 1. This is not an even-handed book and Hitchens makes no bones about it. Hitchens did not write this book to give you the positives about religion so if you are looking for a fair assessment, you must look elsewhere. 2. His brutal unrelenting honesty will rub those who oppose his views in a bad way. 3. I have no problems going after immoral dogma, but I do have some reservations about equating immoral dogma with immoral believer. I think that distinction gets lost in this book. 4. Clearly religion doesn't poison everything as evidenced by many of the good works of religious believers. That much we can say for certain, however I do have a problem with good acts in conjunction with proselytizing. Hitchens has done a very good job of clearing this issue up after the book was released. 5. Having to wait for Mr. Hitchens next great book. In summary, this is one of the most thought-provoking books you will ever read. Hitchens establishes the premise of his book and he never relents. He never holds back and does so with an intellectual passion rarely seen. Fascinating, witty, enlightening, and irreverent but never boring. In the proper context, this is a "bad" book that is good for you. Highly recommended. Further suggestions: "Cruel Creeds, Virtuous Violence" by Jack David Eller, "Why I Became an Atheist..." by John Loftus, "God's Problem" by Bart D. Ehrman, "Godless..." by Dan Barker, "The God Virus" by Darrel Ray, "The End of faith" by Sam Harris, "The Religion Virus" by Craig A. James, "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins, and "God and His Demons" by Michael Parenti. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Why God is Not Great is Fundamentally Good *by W***L on July 24, 2012* In his public life Hitch was crass, honest, abrasive, confrontational, critical, and courageous. As such, he is a hero and will be missed. As to God is Not Great... My first and most probably still most profound experiences with the author were in the way of video and live conferences and/or debates. His ability to compose ideologically superior rhetoric within moments was a testament not only to his genius, but to his efforts in humanism. Hitchens knew his material better than anyone (knew religion and religious doctrine better than the follower), and was more prepared than anyone to voice both fact and opinion based on fact. I couldn't resist but to examine a handful of the one-star reviews of God is Not Great. Mostly in the voice of the determined apologist, those authors (should I dare label them such) attacked Hitchens for his style, his diction, his argumentative logic, and more. I found it pleasurable reading for a Tuesday morning. Unfounded and lacking evidence (something with which Hitchens harbors no such dilemma), these attacks were near comical. That out of the way, I felt obligated and eager to record my own review. As a member of a community of local authors, I was eager to share with my comrades (hope you video followers note my tribute in diction) my experience with this book, its ideas, and its other factors of greatness. Rhetoric: Hitchens's style is wonderfully abrasive at times, thorough and factual at others. I loved it. A true militant atheist, Hitchens pulled no punches in his endeavor to attack the institution of religion--and for all the most moral reasons. No one would challenge these techniques if Hitches was as well-spoken and well-researched on a topic such as torture, murder, or rape (all of which, subsequently, have been condoned and promoted to various degrees and at various times by nearly all religious groups). Another, and perhaps the most important tool in Hitchens's toolbox, is evidence. I remember one reviewer lambasting the book for its reliance on anecdotal backing. First, they must have been reading another book--facts here are presented and cited as such and often. Second, that very claim is one of the best arguments against all modern religious texts. Hitchology: I willingly admit myself to the ranks of the third/fourth (we're coming Islam) largest belief system in the world: the lack thereof. I am an atheist. BIAS, BIAS I can hear the crowd screaming. The best I can do there is to suggest my own honesty. I gave a rather low-scoring review recently to another hero, Mr. Stephen Hawking. All I can to is speak to the character of my own experience with a piece of literature, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading God is Not Great. I learned some, not a lot, in terms of new information (though I am well-read in the genre). However, the value gain here is the cogent and thorough argument in making a case against religion at all levels. As an atheist, I felt my own ideas finding structure. For the believer, consider the read a `knowing your enemy' endeavor. Maybe you'll even be enlightened by rational thought. The chapter "There is no `Eastern' Solution" was one section that is most memorable, as much for its assertions as for its more unique material in the voice of atheism. Most speakers and writers attack the power-trifecta of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Not often do authors take the time to be thorough and universal enough to reveal the misconceptions, violence, and veritable vulgarities of the `other' systems of belief. If you don't have the time or inclination to buy the book, maybe just read this chapter one day over a coffee at your local book shop. Just don't crease the binding; I hate that. Prediction and Hope: One day, common man will see Christopher Hitchens as something of a forefather of the Age of Rationalism (and no, I don't mean god), a time when man (as a race not a gender) will come to understand the silliness, cruelty, and horror that is religion--a time when today's God will join the pantheon of the other 2,769 or so from recorded history that find a home in the realm of mythology. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ More or less, what I expected *by W***T on August 6, 2020* My first (and so far only) reading of anything by Christopher Hitchens. Not a 'page turner' but I did find several things worth saving for future use (some profound, some just funny). See below. The book is, more or less, what I expected. The author concentrates on the three Abrahamic monotheisms (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) with only a brief chapter addressing other "Eastern" religions. (I would have been interested in a more thorough assessment of other / "Eastern" religions). The book is well written and easy to read. This is not a book that dives into the deeper sociological or anthropological questions of why people believe what they believe. It is much more a review and summary of the existing and historical contradictions and hypocrisies of the three Abrahamic monotheisms - with many relevant examples. For me, the book's focus and conclusions were effectively, "preaching to the choir" but it certainly provides plenty of examples of obvious, fundamental problems with these religions that an honest adherent would/should (presumably?) have difficulty rationalizing, contradicting or refuting. I do not recall reading much/anything here regarding the, "religion causes bad/immoral behavior" vs. "religion is used to justify bad/immoral behavior" 'split.' Hitchens' conclusion (based on the book's title and the content) seems to come down primarily on the "religion causes bad behavior..." side. It's not really an either/or question in any case but I expected some discussion of 'true' (very rare?) vs. 'faux' (the majority?) believers. The tendency for people to pay only lip service to whatever religion dominates their culture and to selectively use bits of that religion to justify their bad behavior when convenient. It seems clear (to me) that most "believers'" religion is simply what they were born into (like their nationality or ethnicity), not something they truly 'believe.' Noteworthy excerpts: Chapter 4: "I move, therefore, that candles be brought." While discussing religious preoccupation with the (often/always 'imminent') end times, Hitchens refers to the story of a day in the late 18th century when a (puritanical) Massachusetts state legislative session experienced a severe darkening of the midday skies prompting some legislators to request a suspension of business so that they could go home to die. The speaker responded with, "Either the day of judgement is here or it is not. If it is not, there is no occasion for alarm and lamentation. If it is, however, I wish to be found doing my duty. I move, therefore, that candles be brought." Chapter 5: "I had no need of that hypothesis." Laplace's famous (possibly apocryphal) response to Napoleon's question of why Laplace's Celestial Mechanics model/calculations did not include the figure of god. ("Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse.") Chapter 7: "Though shalt not follow a multitude to do evil." Hitchens' example of one of the more "moral" rules in the Bible/Exodus (especially in contrast with many of the others like, "Though shalt not suffer a witch to live" used for centuries to justify the torture and burning of women who did not conform.) Chapter 13: [On the various religious justifications for American slavery] "The chance that someone's secular or freethinking opinion would cause him or her to denounce the whole injustice was extremely high. The chance that someone's religious belief would cause him or her to take a stand against slavery and racism was statistically quite small. But the chance that someone's religious belief would cause him or her to uphold slavery and racism was extremely high,..." ... "If I search my own life for instances of good or fine behavior I am not overwhelmed by an excess of choice." Chapter 14: "Make me one with everything." So goes the Buddhists's humble request to the hot dog vendor. But when the Buddhist asks about the missing change from this $20 payment, the vendor replies, "Change comes only from within." ... "Scientists have an expression for hypotheses that are utterly useless even for learning from mistakes. They refer to them as being, 'Not even wrong.' Most so-called spiritual discourse is of this type." ## Frequently Bought Together - God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything - The God Delusion - The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.be/products/1692857-god-is-not-great-how-religion-poisons-everything](https://www.desertcart.be/products/1692857-god-is-not-great-how-religion-poisons-everything) --- *Product available on Desertcart Belgium* *Store origin: BE* *Last updated: 2026-09-11*