Russ,

Here are some other links about the book and various articles on it:

BBC article with excerpts from the book

BBC video with Dawkins and Jeremy Paxman (rather 'tinny' sound)

Dawkins website with several links concerning the book
Link to the first chapter of the book
Promo clip for the book

Wiki article about "The Dawkins Delusion" by Alister McGrath

Book Review by Chris Knight, Science & Christianity

Personally I find Dr Dawkins to be a little far on the anti-theist side, rather than just an atheist.

When it comes to delusions we know that many people live with delusions about the real world, whether they are christian or atheist, and when it is a sever condition we call it insanity.

Quote
de·lu·sion –noun
1.
[color:"white"]...[/color] a. The act or process of deluding.
[color:"white"]...[/color] b. The state of being deluded.
2. A false belief or opinion: labored under the delusion that success was at hand.
3. Psychiatry A false belief strongly held in spite of invalidating evidence, especially as a symptom of mental illness: delusions of persecution.
(American Heritage Dictionary 2007)


People that have been lied to are deluded if they believe the lie, whether it comes from a friend, a politician, a carny con-man, or a priest doesn't matter: they are deluded until the lie is exposed and they are provided evidence that shows the lie is a falsehood. This kind of delusion is not a major problem, as it can be rectified with learning, with new knowledge of the reality involved. You can guard against it by being a skeptic that looks for alternative validations.

The problems come when people refuse to relinquish delusions that have been demonstrated to be false, such as people that believe in a flat earth, or a young earth. This is where the line between everyday delusions and psychotic delusions is crossed: a belief held in spite of invalidating evidence. It can be demonstrated that the belief in a flat earth is false and therefore the believer is clinically deluded, insane. It can be demonstrated that a belief in a young earth is false and therefore the believer is clinically deluded, insane. They may be relatively harmless to society, as a lot of insane people are.

The problems arise when deluded people think they have a right to kill people, to indoctrinate or to teach kids they have a right or a duty to kill for their beliefs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bB2rt3IKJc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNDBf4PXw0M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97NFNXk8aFc

These people are not harmless, but dangerous extremist militant religious fanatics that are no different from the muslim religious fanatics or the protestant\catholic religious fanatics.

If talking about the "god delusion" brings about general recognition of this kind of fanatic delusion existing in our culture then it is a good thing.

There is a reason the founding fathers put a separation between church and state, and it is because they were familiar with the failure of theocracies.

Enjoy.
[color:"green"]
Note: my time is limited, so I only choose threads of particular interest to me and I cannot guarantee a reply to all responses (particularly if they do not discuss the issue/s), and I expect other people to do the same. Thank you for your consideration.[/color]