Why would his work irk you - surely if it raises constructive discussion/debate, thats a good thing. No?
It irks me that the debate seems to end there. Can't you see? That's my whole point.
Can you recommend any solid arguments/books against atheism/Dawkins? I am genuinely interested as I am new to exploring this subject and so far Dawkins' text is convincing to me.
Can I present a solid argument against Atheism? Thanks for the easy question.
Fundamentally Atheism is a rejection of god or gods. This is really not the same thing as rejecting religious practice, religious bigotry, the social failings of organised religion. All the things Tony and Dawkins (and I, incidentally) hate about organised religion have little or nothing to do with the subject of God (IMO).
Let's not overlook the fact his book isn't entitled "The Failing of Religion" or "The Evil of Religious Bigots" it's "The God Delusion".
So moving away from the subject of the failings of organised religion and onto the subject of God...
Firstly Atheism is a part of The Philosophy of Religion so let's be clear my reference to that subject includes arguments proposing Theism as well as arguments proposing Atheism and Agnosticism. So bear in mind that not believing in god/gods can still represent a n active participation within that subject. I suggest that Dawkins is not willing to approach the broader academic discussion, his is a polemic and as such should be seen in that context - ie. treated as a voice amongst many rather than a definitive and unarguable position (which is pretty much how you referred to his book).
Some Atheists are simply rejecting religion and in that case (may) not really understand their own position, in contrast genuine Atheism is (arguably) an engagement of philosophical discussion from the position of non-belief.
I often consider those with Tony's perspective as not really Atheist - a bit like my children describing themselves as allergic to cabbage when really they just don't like it. Buddism for example is described as a religion and yet is Atheisic.
On the subject of God:
There is a philosophical position which proposes Atheists cannot reject God because they have never actually engaged with the subject of God. This position concludes their rejection is meaningless. Dawkins specifically refers to God, yet does not engage with one of the most fundamental elements of that subject - Faith. Faith appears not to be approached in Dawkins's world picture. He seems not to be able to analyse it and by ignoring it, to my mind, his position on the subject of God is absolutely meaningless. I'd add here that the same applies to millions and millions of supposedly "religious" people.
True Faith is not belief in the supernatural. A common misconception of some Atheists is that God is a belief in the supernatural - that they need to see empirical evidence of God's hand at work. If evidence cannot be produced then Faith is debunked. Again a total inability to understand something which cannot be described in their language constructs. It seems to me that true Faith is a knowledge of God. To "know" God, not to believe in God like you might believe in ghosts or fairies.
Another area is this idea that belief in God is a rejection of science. What if God was simply a word used to describe the laws of nature? To use the vernacular - what if the miracle is simply the fucking incredible wonder which surrounds all of us?
If that were God and you accepted the laws of nature then you actually accepted God?
What if "a man in the clouds" (to paraphrase Tenson) was really nothing to do with anything?
What if those with Faith in God and who know God do not believe God can respond to requests or change the physical world?
That even in their most desperate moments that God will not, in fact cannot, intervene (the scepticism in God as a result of this is generally referred to in the "Problem of Evil").
The subject of prayer is curious, but interesting.
Mathematics and geometry are a massively important part of Islam, what if this is because science and Allah are hand in hand for a real Muslim?
I'd start by just having a mooch through
this