Rejecting the many magical solutions offered for human problems, Chester Dolan unmasks the folly that has passed for religion throughout history and the many dangers it poses to the human community. After recounting numerous examples of the fear and hate that many religious systems impose on people's lives, he argues that the world would be a far better place if we could exorcise our presumptuous gods, reject the religion of the mystics, and realize that our destiny rests with us.

Rather than slavish adherence to sacred books and archaic superstitions, religion should mean, says Dolan, nothing more than a genuine fellowship among all people of good will united in mutual respect and cooperation. Only with a discriminating use of reason can we marshal facts and establish procedures to guide human progress. Motivated by reason, concern for others, and moral integrity, we can regain not only our sanity, but the right to think and the freedom to choose.