# The Concept of God By Nathaniel Branden **URL:** **By** George H. Smith **Published:** May 1, 1974 --- “This is a magnificent characteristic unparalleled, perhaps, in modern times.” The Basic Principles of Objectivism, a twenty-lecture series originally marketed by the Nathaniel Branden Institute during the 1960's, achieved remarkable success in stimulating philosophical interest among thousands of people, many of whom had no previous acquaintance with philosophy. The reason for this success, for anyone who has listened to the series, is not difficult to understand. Nathaniel Branden has the uncanny ability to transform what are commonly regarded as dreary, esoteric subjects into fascinating topics of discussion. This ability is especially evident in the fourth lecture of the _Basic Principles_ series "_The Concept of God_." This lecture is a clear, straightforward criticism of the idea of a god. It demonstrates the incoherence of the concept of god; it refutes the most popular of the alleged demonstrations for the existence of a god; and it explores the psychological implications of the belief in a god. In other words, it is a concise, easily understood defense of atheism. Of course, it is impossible, within the span of a ninety-minute lecture, to deal with the subject of theism comprehensively. Consequently, this lecture has been dismissed by some as "oversimplified." But there is a crucial difference between oversimplifying an issue, which entails omitting important elements, and discussing an issue in terms of fundamentals, which entails omitting irrelevancies. "_The Concept of God_" is an instance of the latter. It is a masterful example of applying fundamental principles to a complex subject, thereby reducing that subject to its conceptual foundation. And once the foundation is successfully demolished, as it is in this recording, there is no need to engulf oneself in waves of triviality. Throughout this lecture—as, indeed, throughout all of the lectures associated with Ayn Rand and Nathaniel Branden—there is a dominant mood conveyed that ideas are of life-and-death importance. Whatever may have been the flaws in the Objectivist movement of the last decade, and however much one may disagree with the Objectivist philosophy, its capacity to transmit a spirit of intellectual curiosity and excitement cannot be overestimated. This is a magnificent characteristic unparalleled, perhaps, in modern times. In short, this recording, while valuable in itself, can be appreciated more fully when viewed in the context of the Objectivist emphasis on the efficacy of reason and the importance of principles—two tenets that are responsible for bringing many current libertarians into libertarianism. In this sense it has historical interest as well. But, whether viewed as a philosophical critique or as a classic of Objectivist polemics, this lecture is extremely worthwhile. I recommend it highly. _Reviewed by George H. Smith / Cassette Recording (Tape #564, 88 Min.) / BFL Price $9.95_