Do you know Dr. Dawkins?

catholiboy · 12-07-2006

I appraise your altruism.

However, I will make clear as I have done before is to do with the politics of religion.
It is this which needs to be sorted out.

Abstruce · 12-07-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyrotex

Indeed.

I admire Dawkins. He is so articulate and persuasive in his books and other writings. He is one of those rare folks I refer to as a "fun read". Daniel C. Dennett is another.

His anti-religion stance does sound rather heated and some of his statements could have been better thought out, but in general, I agree with him. The damage done to our world and our societies in the name of one religion or another is ghastly and heart-wrenching. Even now, mass slaughter is taking place because "God wants someone to do it". It is about time that someone speak up against this tragedy. Dawkins is a good start.

Excellent choice of words!!!!!

Dr. Dawkins has a new book out "The God Delusion" I have it on my must read list.

I also belong to ACA (Atheist Community of Austin) they have meetings with about 15-20 in attendance, the sad thing is that I never get time to go meet with them.

The reason I bring this up is I think it is almost funny that there is no large organizations supporting Atheistic viewpoints.

Yet there are mega originations supporting religious folklore.

What I am trying to establish in my ramblings?

When I look at all Religion it comes to me as common sense that the whole thing is made up. It is so obvious on many levels.

Now I look at the United States having a possible 90% of the population that worships one God or another.

I ask why is there so small a percentage of people who can decipher fact from reality? Why am I like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole?

This brings me to something AE said.

"Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions."

JQ

Pyrotex · 12-07-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michaelangelica

Background Briefing - 26*November*2006* - Richard Dawkins and God

Thank you ever ever ever ever so much for this link. Fascinating and illuminating. I must get Dawkin's new book.

I am now a "tooth fairy agnostic" !!!

Pyrotex · 12-07-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abstruce

...I think it is almost funny that there is no large organizations supporting Atheistic viewpoints. ...JQ

There are a few out there.
I even joined a couple.
BUT... many atheistic orgs have their own problems. They are "fronts" if you will, for other ideas and ideologies. I get the Skeptical Inquirer magazine from whatever they're called (too lazy to look it up), and they are by and large, rational and intelligent.

catholiboy · 12-07-2006

Be careful in your choice of words, Abstruce.

Is it really made up, and is it really so goddamned obvious? And if so, who are you to say that this means there is no possibility of a God not existing?

Decipher fact from reality... ???

I fon't know who AE is, but I'll immediately reply: don't you consider it a possibility that the status quo, as it were, may have been formed by intelligent, thinking people? Look at the greatest of scientists in history, and you will see that none of them deny the possibility of a supernatural being existing. Einstein, Hawking, Newton...

maikeru · 12-07-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyrotex

His anti-religion stance does sound rather heated and some of his statements could have been better thought out, but in general, I agree with him. The damage done to our world and our societies in the name of one religion or another is ghastly and heart-wrenching. Even now, mass slaughter is taking place because "God wants someone to do it". It is about time that someone speak up against this tragedy. Dawkins is a good start.

There are terrible things which are done in the name of many causes. Religion may be one, but power, lust, greed, madness, the cult of personality, and many other aspects of human nature find their expression through unfortunate methods. It's rare that "God wants someone to do it" for religion alone, unless there are also politics and spoils involved.

Pyrotex · 12-07-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by catholiboy

...Is it really made up, and is it really so goddamned obvious? And if so, who are you to say that this means there is no possibility of a God not existing?...you will see that none of them deny the possibility of a supernatural being existing. Einstein, Hawking, Newton...

The logic is rather easy. Just replace the word "God" with Jove, Mithra, Baal, Dionysius, Athena, Umma Gumma, Zeus, Bachus, or any of hundreds of other gods, and you would have no problem at all seeing that they were "made up". Piece of cake.

Einstein and Hawking both published that they do not believe in "personal gods" are not "religious". Their quotes have been taken out of context by "true believers". Newton DID believe in God, and did one of the most serious researches on the Bible performed until centuries later. He found it to be so internally inconsistent and vague as to be unusable as a scripture. He continued to attend church services after that, but wrote very little more about his beliefs.

Also, let's turn your logic around a bit: Einstein never denied the possibility of the existence of little, furry green unicorns from Mars. True statement. You cannot take this as evidence for the existence of little, furry green unicorns from Mars, without making yourself look just a tad silly. Replace the words "little, furry green unicorns from Mars" with "god" and the logic does not get any better.

Pyrotex · 12-07-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by maikeru

There are terrible things which are done in the name of many causes. Religion may be one, but power, lust, greed, madness, the cult of personality, and many other aspects of human nature find their expression through unfortunate methods. It's rare that "God wants someone to do it" for religion alone, unless there are also politics and spoils involved.

Politics and spoils are often involved, indeed. I'll give you the point. But how many non-religious agencies can you name that persuade its members to go out and slaughter as many people as possible while committing suicide?--AND--that their reward will be eternal life in paradise?

The Kamakazi warriors of WWII come to mind, but I can think of no others.

cwes99_03 · 12-07-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyrotex

Indeed.

I admire Dawkins. He is so articulate and persuasive in his books and other writings. He is one of those rare folks I refer to as a "fun read". Daniel C. Dennett is another.

His anti-religion stance does sound rather heated and some of his statements could have been better thought out, but in general, I agree with him. The damage done to our world and our societies in the name of one religion or another is ghastly and heart-wrenching. Even now, mass slaughter is taking place because "God wants someone to do it". It is about time that someone speak up against this tragedy. Dawkins is a good start.

Sorry Pyro, I have to call you on this one.

I agree that some pretty horrible things are going on in this world, but your labeling them as done because God wants someone to do it I think is way off basis.
Find me a scripture in the Bible that you think supports this ideology and I'll find you 15 or 20 that say that you should not. Really though, all I need to find is one.
"vengence is mine, sayeth the LORD"
I'm sure you've read it.

Thus the acts you and others speak of are misattributed to God, but do find a large square target on the philosophies and governments of men who have dominated their fellow man to the tune of much death and hatred.