The Bonobo and the Atheist by Frans de Waal

This book’s full title is The Bonobo and the Atheist: In Search of Humanism Among the Primates by Frans de Waal. This is an absolutely wonderful book. But I am sure that he rattled a number of people with his views. Saying that he went easy on religion is only the mildest comment.

I cannot help but agree with him in calling Christopher Hitchens an Evangelical Atheist. I think some people have made atheism into a religion. I also think that some people have made socialism into a religion. When people only talk dogma and that their way is the only true way, to be it sounds like religion. There are religious people who do not respect other people’s beliefs or opinion. However, there are atheists who are exactly the same.

I am sorry, but agree with Frans de Waal. I grew up in going to the Presbyterian Church. The churches I was exposed to were places where people were not afraid to question anything. I am not religious, but I am also not against it. I just do like Fundamentalist. I think that communism is the fundamentalist form of socialism and this to me explains its murderous bent.

Of course there are some good reviews on Good Reads. Frans de Waal certainly hit a nerve with some reviewers. I do like the review by W. W. Norton on Scientific American. Tessa Kendall puts out a well-written review on The Guardian.

AC Grayling takes a short at Frans de Waal light pass on religion at Prospect Magazine. Here Tessa Kendall defends Frans de Waal on her Blog.

Frans de Waal talks about Moral behavior in animals on TED. Werner Haag talks about Frans de Waal at the Atheist Community of San Jose. Science journalist Lone Frank interviews Frans de Waal.

Also, an index of the books I have reviewed are on my website at Books. Follow me on Twitter.