Christianity - A Good Thing?

Other people read books, I only seem to have time for book reviews ...

Anyway, there is a new book out, "Letter to a Christian Nation" by Sam Harris, apparently a follow-up after his first was greeted by "thousands of emails from enraged Christians" - I don't know of what persuasion.

His arguments are that Christianity is "dangerously irrational" (I don't recognise that at all although it may be true of some Christians, I guess), "its persecution of other religions is deeply-rooted" (rather a strong phrase, but perhaps it shows that we are at least sincere and consistent), "sin is a guilt-inducing concept" (can't argue with that - is it a bad thing?), and "faith perverts trust, respect and tolerance" (er, what? I'd have to see that argument).

(All quotes are from New Statesman, whose reviewer feels that he "[fails] to address the most challenging arguments".)

The book has a foreword by our good friend Richard Dawkins, of whom Terry Eagleton said in the London Review of Books "Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is The British Book of Birds and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology." (also quoted in NS.)

Anybody up with where the latest debate is? Answer in not more than 500 words.