Book Review: Bertrand Russell “Why I Am Not a Christian” Christian Ortiz Course: Psychology of Religion Professor: Neil Kressel Student: Christian Ortiz Essay: Book Review: Bertrand Russell “Why I Am Not a Christian”
Assignment: The assignment asked students to write two book reviews of books chosen from a list of several dozen works offering social scientific or philosophical perspectives on contemporary religion. The goal of the seminar as a whole was to examine a selected
social phenomenon from a variety of social scientific perspectives; this semester the seminar focused on religion and religious conflict. Christian reviewed, Why I Am Not a Christian, by Bertrand Russell.
As a practicing Christian, I found Bertrand Russell’s “Why I Am Not a Christian” to be a disturbing, intriguing, and moving reading experience. This book’s content does not favor my religious beliefs in the slightest and if anything, seeks to dismiss them entirely. This happens mainly within the start of the book, but Russell makes his way back to Christian related topics through a number of social issues in later essays. Russell attempts to reason as to why Christianity is useless and even damaging, while presenting some plausible arguments to support his claims. Many of these arguments are common, but his expression of detail succeeds in addressing most of his points. In some of the most important cases however, he dismisses aspects of Christianity too abruptly, leaving room for believers to reason their beliefs as possible. What I enjoy most about Russell’s
writing is his demonstration of intelligence on religious and related social subjects. Where I have heard many nonreligious people harp on Christianity in senseless ways, Russel not only uses the content of Christianity to attempt to explain its failures, but also cites the bad example that many of its followers exemplify. I even agree with a few of Russell’s points. While I found this to be a challenging and eye opening read, my second impression upon rereading many of his ideas was not as significant. Better yet, upon doing research in challenge of his views, I found more solace and confidence in my faith than before I read the book. Bertrand Russell begins the book with a lecture that was given in the late 1920s in South London, at the Battersea Arts Centre, then known as the Battersea Town Hall. While his vocabulary and speech is 43
