them on people, especially by oppressive or violent means or by encouraging a culture of unquestioning obedience. There’s a direct link in Dawkins’ mind between faith and violence, and identifying this fixed idea helps us understand the inner logic of his criticism of religion. Dawkins develops Harris’ earlier argument for the irrationality of faith with much greater force and clarity. The irrationality of religious beliefs, he asserts, directly parallels the irrationality of religious believers,