VIFF Review: The Root of All Evil?

Richard Dawkins' multi-part television documentary is a provocative, and caustic criticism on religion and the religious world view. The well known biologist, and popular science writer of books such as The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, and Climbing Mount Improbable argues that the consequences of unquestioning faith, violent emnity between religious groups, and attacks on science outweighs the good from religion. The whole enterprise should be abandoned, and the only viable alternative for human society's survival is thinking and belief based on evidence, reason, and science.

He travels the world, interviewing clergy from the Abraham descended monotheistic religions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. In Jerusalem he interviews a former New York Jew who is now a ultra-conservative Muslim espousing his outright disgust with Western society and values. In London he meets with a Jewish rabbi of an orthodox sect which barely interacts with the outside society. But for reasons of familiarity to the audience, the main focus is on Christianity.

In conservative Colorado Springs he interviews Pastor Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals and ally of George W. Bush. The irony seems lost on Haggard as he commands Dawkins not to be arrogant with his scientific beliefs. There are many hilarous moments when Dawkins skewers ignorant and unquestioning belief with Douglas Adams-like wit.

Dawkins explores the evolutionary roots of belief. A child's malleable mind is accepting of parental authority because it is the most effective way for a child to learn enough about the world to survive. But as we grow up, we switch around and learn to question the accepted wisdom, or often not.

If religion is no longer a viable path to morality and social harmony then what is the alternative? Dawkins presents the case for atheism, and a rational scientific outlook on the world. Belief must be backed up by evidence. Morality naturally evolves because a harmonious group can succeed better than a divided group. Without gods, hell, and heaven, humans must make the best of what we have in the here and now, and take personal responsibility for ourselves, the natural world, and our fragile place in it.