Why I Am Not a Christian

Nonfiction | Essay / Speech | Adult | Published in 1927

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Background

Essay Analysis

Key Figures

Themes

Index of Terms

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Literary Devices

Logos

One of the three main types of rhetorical appeals, as defined by Aristotle, Logos comes from Greek and means word or thought. In rhetoric, Logos refers to arguments that appeal to the audience’s reason and logic. Russell uses it in almost every section of “Why I Am Not a Christian,” and it’s one of the most prominent literary devices in the text. Bertrand Russell believes that logic is vital in understanding how the world works and in explaining why he—and, by extension, others—are not Christian. By using logic, he addresses many common arguments for being Christian, believing in God, and following the words of Christ. Because Russell is a philosopher, he’s trained in logical reasoning and employs it to his benefit.

Pathos

A third of Aristotle’s rhetorical appeals were based on Pathos, which comes from the Greek and connotes experience and emotion. The goal of Pathos is to persuade through emotional means; an emotional investment naturally draws sympathy and makes an impression, helping people remember the speaker’s arguments. In “Why I Am Not a Christian,” Russell employs Pathos in many of his arguments to emphasize the cruelty that people have experienced because of Christian beliefs. One example of Russell’s use of Pathos is the story of Jesus Christ destroying a fig tree simply because it was out of season and thus wasn’t bearing any fruit. Another is when he notes the fate of pigs that were used as prisons for demons and forced to drown themselves in the sea, again by Jesus Christ. These stories illustrate the questionable morality of Jesus Christ himself and inspire sympathy for the living beings that are destroyed because of a whim.

Hypotheticals

A literary and rhetorical device based on conjecture, a hypothetical could be true or could happen but isn’t necessarily real. Russell offers a series of hypothetical situations to exemplify how Christianity has impeded progress. By using a hypothetical, he can suggest a situation that rings true but doesn’t necessarily reference a specific event or story. Russell shares the story of a woman who may want to leave her marriage or terminate a pregnancy. However, instead of being allowed to do so, she’s forced to stay in the marriage and carry the fetus to term because of Catholic doctrine. He uses this hypothetical to elicit sympathy and explain the stakes of his argument about how Christianity impedes progress and causes suffering.

Quotation

The use of a group of words or phrases from a specific text, speech, etc., quotation is used to prove that a specific argument and piece of analysis has evidence and to best represent the point of view of the quote’s originator. In “Why I Am Not a Christian,” Russell uses quotes to focus attention, build an argument, and illustrate his points. Throughout the text, he quotes and references fellow philosophers who have either made the point he’s arguing or discussed a similar topic. One specific instance of quotation is in the section titled “The argument from design,” which examines the argument of intelligent design. Russell quotes Voltaire and notes how he joked that noses were made to fit glasses and not the other way around.