The Root of All Evil? (2006)
The Root of All Evil?, later retitled The God Delusion, is a two-part documentary series presented by Richard Dawkins. It was first broadcast in January 2006 on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. The series runs for a total of 90 minutes, divided into two episodes of 45 minutes each, excluding advertisement breaks.
In this documentary, Dawkins, a well-known evolutionary biologist and outspoken atheist, challenges the concept of faith, particularly focusing on Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. He argues that religion can often divide society and be a source of conflict.
Dawkins visits various religious sites and interviews different figures, including pastor Ted Haggard, then president of the National Association of Evangelicals, and Yousef al-Khattab, an American-born Jew who converted to Islam.
The documentary also touches on the subject of religious education, questioning the morality of indoctrinating children with religious beliefs.
Dawkins compares religious faith to a virus, suggesting it is passed down from generation to generation, much like genetic information, but with potentially harmful effects on critical thinking and society at large.
Dawkins’ critical view of religion is encapsulated in the documentary’s exploration of the moral framework provided by religions and the potential dangers of accepting unproven traditions as facts.
The series culminates in a powerful discussion on secular ethics versus morality based on religious law, challenging viewers to consider the role of religion in modern society.
The title The Root of All Evil? was not Dawkins’ preferred choice, as he did not believe that religion is the root of all evil. He insisted on adding a question mark to the title to reflect his stance.
