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The God Desire
- Narrated by: David Baddiel
- Length: 2 hrs and 1 min
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The God Desire
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Summary
From the bestselling author of Jews Don’t Count
David Baddiel would love there to be a God. He has spent a lot of time fantasising about how much better life would be if there actually was such a thing as a Superhero Dad who chased off Death. Unfortunately for him, there isn’t. Or at least, that is Baddiel’s view in this book, which argues that it is indeed the very intensity of his, and everyone else’s, desire for God to exist that proves His non-existence. Anything so deeply wished-for we will, considers Baddiel, make real. The admission of his own divine yearnings makes for a book that is more vulnerable – and more understanding of the value and power of religion – than most atheist polemics. A philosophical essay that utilises Baddiel’s trademarks of comedy, storytelling and personal asides, The God Desire offers a highly readable new perspective on the most ancient of debates.
Critic reviews
"This is such a fabulous book. Honest, powerful, moving. Can’t remember ever liking a book 'in praise of atheism' as much as this. Many atheists don’t really get religion. David Baddiel absolutely does." (Giles Fraser)
"A hugely heartfelt, funny, kind, fascinating, human and clever book." (Alain de Botton)
"Magnificent. Breathtaking. And shockingly rare…another one-sitting wonder." (Stephen Fry)
What listeners say about The God Desire
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 02-05-23
Excellent listen
This is likely the best explanation/ exploration I’ve come across to how it feels to want but can’t connect with a religion/ god.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- BardBeats
- 03-05-23
wonderful as always
Big fan of everything David does. As usual this is funny and thought provoking in a warm, chatty style. A great one-sitting listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- J. Cooper
- 18-04-23
Clever discussion about being an Athiest and God
Applying logic to believing in God really reaffirms why he is an Atheist but also wanting to have a God is also appealing. The story about a divorced at the time Skinner worrying about going to hell as he is not allowed to confess his sins (living with his new partner) as divorced says it all about the Catholic religion and the stupidity of believing in heaven and hell. Yet perfectly happy to sin as long as you can confess and be absolved.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Joe
- 18-04-23
Overall a balanced viewpoint
Short and far too intellectually complex at times, but that’s DB really. Always been a fan since fantasy football with Frank Skinner in the 90s. I wanted to read a different perspective than the legend and no1 king Chris Hitchens and this didn’t disappoint. Well written, thought out and posed very interesting views that I appreciated. Overall a good view definitely worth listening to.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Paloma
- 14-04-23
Left me wanting to hear more from David.
A bit too short. Left me wanting to hear more from David. I’ll just have to listen again.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Andrew Innes
- 18-04-23
Not three bad.
I preferred his previous book a lot more. This was okay, but a bit short for one credit!
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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- jordan david crago
- 03-12-23
Relatable, but unsophisticated
Baddiel essentially presents a version of Freud's wish-fulfilment argument against theism, whereby religion is presented as a comforting illusion which answers our deepest desires: for immortality, for ultimate justice, for the end of all pain, etc. Peter Zapffe presents much the same argument, whereby he claims that we use religion to deny the awful predicament of the human condition, and modern terror-management theorists pursue a similar argument whereby religion is seen as being motivated by a fear of death. I do think there's a lot to be said for these psychological arguments, but Baddiel does no philosophical work to anticipate the obvious objections theists can offer.
For example, a theist could respond that if God exists, and if we were made in His Image and to be in relationship with Him, then it makes sense that we would so desire Him. Christians could also invoke the doctrine of the Fall, and claim that it again makes sense that we desire immortality, true justice, and perfect happiness etc., because that is what we were originally designed for. Baddiel would likely just dismiss all this because he regards theism as self-evidently untrue, but as a long-time student of the philosophy of religion I cannot understand how anyone with even a modicum of intellectual humility and scepticism could think this.
Still, I strongly relate to his wrestle with God, to his deep desire to believe in God, and his very real struggle to do so. I myself have entered and left the Christian Church repeatedly over the last seven or so years, and sadly I feel that is going to continue to be the case. I have the God desire, but even though philosophically I regard theism as rational, still I cannot escape that niggling feeling that when I pray to God I'm merely talking to myself. Perhaps this makes me an atheist/agnostic, or perhaps I'm an Israelite in the spiritual sense, because the word Israelite actually means "one who struggles with God." Perhaps Baddiel is, too.
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