Dawkins has made a name for himself writing popular books about biology and evolution. Now he’s turned his attention to religion in The God Delusion and it comes at a very interesting time. A few other books by scientists (Francis Collins, Owen Gingerich, a Harvard astronomer) are recently out, also discussing the matter of science and religion and whether they can co-exist. Some argue that the two can, so I was hoping that Dawkins, as a scientist, would add to the debate and make the counter-argument: how science and religion are at odds with each other. A very plausible argument, I think.

But instead, Dawkins, in the excerpts he read last night, made it clear that he wanted to talk about religion more as an atheist, rather than from the perspective as a biologist. I have to admit to being a bit disappointed. The parts of the book he chose to highlight yesterday were mocking, almost gleeful attacks on God and religion (calling God “genocidal”, a “control freak” and a “bully”), which could have been made by any smart atheist who knows the Bible. I was hoping he would have taken advantage of his background as an evolutionary biologist to make more unique and stronger arguments about the how scientists cannot be religious.

My caveat is that I haven’t read his book and my impressions are formed only on an hour-long sales pitch Dawkins gave of his book last night. But if his purpose was to convince me to buy his book, then he didn’t do a very good job.

By the way, E.O Wilson will be talking about his new book, calling on scientists and church members to work together to save life on Earth, on November 6 in Harvard Square, also hosted by the Harvard Book Store.