Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up

Mathematician John Allen Paulos presents arguments against belief in God's existence. The book is organized into twelve chapters, each refuting one of the most commonly cited arguments for God's existence. These arguments range from classical positions like the first cause argument and the argument from design to more contemporary ones, including the ontological argument, arguments from faith and biblical codes, the anthropic principle argument, and the moral universality argument. Interspersed throughout are discussions of related irreligious topics, including the nature of miracles, creationist probability, cognitive illusions, and prudential wagers. Paulos examines not only religious arguments but also explores why people find them credible. Despite Paulos's background as a mathematician, the book contains no mathematical formulas. Instead, it uses examples drawn from mathematics, science, and popular culture to develop its logical arguments.