Why I Am Not a Christian
'Why I Am Not a Christian" is an essay by British philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell in which he explains why he is not a Christian. Originally a talk given March 6, 1927 at Battersea Town Hall, under the auspices of the South London Branch of the National Secular Society, England, it was published that year as a pamphlet and was later published, with other essays, in the book Why I Am Not a Christian : And Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects (ISBN 0671203231).
Russell considers a number of logical arguments for the existence of God, including the first cause argument, the natural-law argument, the argument from design, and moral arguments. He also goes into specifics about Christian theology.
His final conclusion:
- Religion is based, I think, primarily and mainly upon fear. It is partly the terror of the unknown and partly, as I have said, the wish to feel that you have a kind of elder brother who will stand by you in all your troubles and disputes. ... A good world needs knowledge, kindliness, and courage; it does not need a regretful hankering after the past or a fettering of the free intelligence by the words uttered long ago by ignorant men.
