Religion and Science by Bertrand Russell

Russell seemed confident, even in 1935 when this book was written, that science had effectively triumphed over religion in the minds of most people. He no doubt would have been appalled to see that in twenty-first century America religious faith is still going strong. But his analysis of the issues that religion and science dispute over is entirely lucid and rational, even though it is clear which side of the debate he is on. I myself have no objection to any of his arguments, which are wholly logical. Yet unlike many secularists, Russell is not under any illusions that science and reason will ultimately produce the best of all possible worlds or save the human race from extinction. He is a true rationalist, devoid of most of the sentimental prejudices that most atheists and secularists are not even aware they possess. Russell is the most reasonable opponent that any religious person could hope to encounter, and he is always a pleasure to read.