Dawkins begins by introducing the "God hypothesis." He states that the belief in a God who intervenes in human's daily lives is absurd. This is a contradiction of the interventionist perspective on religion. Next he discusses evidence for and against the existence of God. Ultimately he concludes that the existence of an interventional God could be determinable through science, but that the science doesn't support this theory. He appeals to the scientific pursuit of the question "why." If the numerous complexities and specific details which make life and evolution possible indicate a friendly universe, then Dawkins believes that scientists are obligated to discover why. He argues that to attribute this complexity to God would be a means of avoiding responsibility or of taking the easy way out.
Trying to understand the purpose of religion, he explores the benefit of adhering to a religion. In Dawkins' view, the benefits of religious belief are probably due to a placebo effect rather than any direct correlation to improved mental function or superiority. He suggests that the human capacity for development serves an evolutionary advantage for child rearing. Kids rely upon their parents, so it is beneficial for them believe in higher authorities than their parents in order to eventually break away. He continues by concluding that religious belief bears childish resemblance in the sense that children distinguish mind from matter and believe in inherent meaning or purpose, both essential elements of religious belief.
Since one of the primary arguments in favor of religion is its value as a moral regulator, Dawkins offers several reasons moral virtue is valuable even without a belief in God. He lists four reasons: genetic affinity, reciprocation, reputation, and establishing superiority. These all serve so-called selfish aims, but Dawkins attributes this to the actual genetic makeup of the human being. In an especially astute point, Dawkins observes that the Christian moral code often is not even derived from biblical standards. In fact Jesus did not center his ethical standard on the accepted Jewish scriptures of his day. Dawkins explains how religion propagates itself by using shame and segregation to preserve group think. He argues that religion is dangerous to humanity because of its potential for extremism and its propensity to be used to encourage people to stop asking questions.
