Going to See Richard Dawkins in March

[jzp5079]

flying out to CA over Spring Break to see friends... stopping along the way in Herb town (at Arizona State) to see Richard Dawkins speak.

Anyone seen him before? Anyone else read God Delusion? Your thoughts?



Also - I urge everyone to pick up a copy of "Feminists Say the Darndest Things (http://www.amazon.com/Feminists-Say-Darndest-Things-Politically/dp/1595230424)" off Amazon.com. A very entertaining read.

[YmoBeThere]

Haven't heard him speak in person but I have listened to his TED podcast. Fascinating...I have saved only a couple from the series and his is one of them.

[billybreen]

flying out to CA over Spring Break to see friends... stopping along the way in Herb town (at Arizona State) to see Richard Dawkins speak.

Anyone seen him before? Anyone else read God Delusion? Your thoughts?



Also - I urge everyone to pick up a copy of "Feminists Say the Darndest Things (http://www.amazon.com/Feminists-Say-Darndest-Things-Politically/dp/1595230424)" off Amazon.com. A very entertaining read.

As an atheist, I really enjoy hearing Dawkins speak, but he's definitely preaching to the choir (irony intended). This clip from a speech in Lynchburg, VA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR_z85O0P2M) is representative.

[jzp5079]

I'm not saying what beliefs I hold - but I observe that many Christians just simply "don't want to here it," which would explain the audiences reaction in that video.

[billybreen]

I'm not saying what beliefs I hold - but I observe that many Christians just simply "don't want to here it," which would explain the audiences reaction in that video.

He handles it well. I particularly love his answer to the 'What if you're wrong?' question.

It should be noted that the audience was packed with Liberty University representatives looking to make a scene.

[jzp5079]

that is a good one - I'm just particularly fond of the religion vs. science debate.

I particularly find this point interesting

http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/

or this youtube video works

http://youtube.com/user/GIIVideo

[colchar]

flying out to CA over Spring Break to see friends... stopping along the way in Herb town (at Arizona State) to see Richard Dawkins speak.

Anyone seen him before? Anyone else read God Delusion? Your thoughts?



Also - I urge everyone to pick up a copy of "Feminists Say the Darndest Things (http://www.amazon.com/Feminists-Say-Darndest-Things-Politically/dp/1595230424)" off Amazon.com. A very entertaining read.

I've never had the opportunity to see him speak, but I hope to one day.

[billybreen]

that is a good one - I'm just particularly fond of the religion vs. science debate.

I particularly find this point interesting

http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/

or this youtube video works

http://youtube.com/user/GIIVideo

I think this thread may belong on the PPB. Nothing wrong with that, we're just heading in that direction.

[jzp5079]

I've never even noticed the public policy board. now i'm going to be wasting more time in the lovely uncw library when I should be studying.

[mehmattski]

Richard Dawkins is the reason I'm an evolutionary biologist. I read The Selfish Gene and The Blind Watchmaker when I was a teenager and I was hooked. I'm currently reading The Ancestor's Tale, which I recommend to anyone interested in learning more about our origins.

Although I agree with him on religion, I don't care too much for his books on the topic. I'd much rather he stick to evolution.

[colchar]

I think this thread may belong on the PPB. Nothing wrong with that, we're just heading in that direction.

I'm actually shocked that we haven't headed in that direction yet.

[billybreen]

I'm actually shocked that we haven't headed in that direction yet.

It's been too one-sided at this point. If Gary or Snowdens were in this thread, it would become more of a debate (not that there's anything wrong with that) and would clearly belong on the PPB.

[TillyGalore]

If Mr. Dawkins, or anyone else, chooses not to believe in God, that is his/their prerogative. That does not make him, or anyone else, a bad person. Nor does my belief in God necessarily make me a good person.

Faith is going to the edge of light and stepping into the darkness. I choose to have faith in God, and believe I have been rewarded for it. Mr. Dawkins may tell you that is how I was brought up, true. But, as an adult I choose to continue to believe.

Also, God does answer all prayers. Not always the way we want them to be answered.

[jzp5079]

If Mr. Dawkins, or anyone else, chooses not to believe in God, that is his/their prerogative. That does not make him, or anyone else, a bad person. Nor does my belief in God necessarily make me a good person.

Faith is going to the edge of light and stepping into the darkness. I choose to have faith in God, and believe I have been rewarded for it. Mr. Dawkins may tell you that is how I was brought up, true. But, as an adult I choose to continue to believe.

Also, God does answer all prayers. Not always the way we want them to be answered.

is this the post that pushes it into the public policy category?

[captmojo]

If Mr. Dawkins, or anyone else, chooses not to believe in God, that is his/their prerogative. That does not make him, or anyone else, a bad person. Nor does my belief in God necessarily make me a good person.

Faith is going to the edge of light and stepping into the darkness. I choose to have faith in God, and believe I have been rewarded for it. Mr. Dawkins may tell you that is how I was brought up, true. But, as an adult I choose to continue to believe.

Also, God does answer all prayers. Not always the way we want them to be answered.

We agree, Tilly. Your last sentence reflects what I view as to the WWJD objections I have.

[TillyGalore]

We agree, Tilly. Your last sentence reflects what I view as to the WWJD objections I have.

I think WWJD is more in the case of if you wrong me, do I wrong you back or wrong someone else? This is a big reason why I'm against the death penalty (now, this thread will go to PPB).

[dkbaseball]

I went to see him speak at the Smithsonian in 2000. A likeable and engaging chap (though I don't recall any anti-religion polemics in that particular speech). The Brits generally do this thinking and talking in English thing a lot better than we do, and they are pretty facile in expressing the materialist views they are saturated in. The ironic contrast between their brilliance and their notions that we are just dumb machines is a little comical. Personally, I don't find most of Dawkins' views persuasive, with the possible exception of the meme theory, but he's definitely worth listening to.

[snowdenscold]

Also, God does answer all prayers. Not always the way we want them to be answered.

I guess that depends on your definition of "answers". IMO, God does definitely NOT answer all prayers - because many of the things people ask for he has never intended to give them (e.g. winning the lottery, etc.) If I pray for a winning lotto ticket and don't get it - you'd have to stretch your definition to say that was "answered". Pray that God gives you what you need, not what you want.

Anyway, I'm not going to get jump into this thread because I'm trying to stay out of the argumentative spirit for a bit. Obviously I think Dawkins is wrong and I'll leave it at that. There will always be atheists, brilliant and stupid, and I'm not really going to let myself be bothered by what comes along this generation or next.

[jzp5079]

hey, hes definatly better then Kent Hovind... saw him speak in high school...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjKMhtyI3L8

[TillyGalore]

I guess that depends on your definition of "answers". IMO, God does definitely NOT answer all prayers - because many of the things people ask for he has never intended to give them (e.g. winning the lottery, etc.) If I pray for a winning lotto ticket and don't get it - you'd have to stretch your definition to say that was "answered". Pray that God gives you what you need, not what you want.

Anyway, I'm not going to get jump into this thread because I'm trying to stay out of the argumentative spirit for a bit. Obviously I think Dawkins is wrong and I'll leave it at that. There will always be atheists, brilliant and stupid, and I'm not really going to let myself be bothered by what comes along this generation or next.

Isn't no an answer?

[captmojo]

"I prayed for a cathedral."

"No Henry. You prayed for guidance. You've been given that."

One of my favorite lines from one of my favorite movies.

[snowdenscold]

Isn't no an answer?

Kind of a cop-out IMO - not usually what I think of when I hear the phrase "answers your prayers" (for example, 'I prayed for the winning lotto ticket, but didn't get it - so I guess God answered my prayers by saying no' just seems weird) - but like I said before, it's relative to your definition, so to each his own.

[jzp5079]

Kind of a cop-out IMO - not usually what I think of when I hear the phrase "answers your prayers" (for example, 'I prayed for the winning lotto ticket, but didn't get it - so I guess God answered my prayers by saying no' just seems weird) - but like I said before, it's relative to your definition, so to each his own.

snow - just curious - what did you think of the first video I listed ( I believe about why dosn't god heal amuptees), you can send me a private message if you don't wannt to get to into it on the boards.

[sandinmyshoes]

I want to say up front that I am a believer, albeit not a particularly orthodox one. I have more faith in there being a God, for instance, than I do about the dogma of any single religion. I am also a Christian, though my faith in Christianity is not as strong as my faith in there being a God.

With that stated. I would suggest The Dawkins Delusion as a decent counter point to Dawkins himself. It is, itself, not a work without flaws, but it brings up some interesting points.

I would also suggest the work of Francis Collins and John Polkinghorne, both men of science as well as being believers. Dawkins himself has great respect for both, while remaining perplexed at how they could be believers. Gerald Schroeder is another scientist and an Orthodox Jew.

My point in mentioning these men, is that when I read on bulletin boards or talk to atheists and agnostics I often find that they dwell on that segement of believers who are quite simply afraid of science and see it as a threat to their faith. So I like to remind them from time to time that there are many very intelligent people who embrace science and belief, and often see science as bolstering their belief.

I don't agree with all believer/scientist, like Michael Behe for instance, but I hope more agnostics and athests will eventually acknowledge that there are many brilliant people who are also believers, and that believers do not have a monopoly on simple thinking.

I also offer the link below for anyone interested in the notion of "believing" scientists.

http://www.asa3.org/

[snowdenscold]

snow - just curious - what did you think of the first video I listed ( I believe about why dosn't god heal amuptees), you can send me a private message if you don't wannt to get to into it on the boards.

Honestly - I read the first page, and half of the "Is Jesus the Son of God" page (and some parts of others), found their assumptions and premises to be faulty and biased and displaying a pretty shallow level of biblical and theological analysis (even the url makes assumptions), and didn't feel like reading any more because I knew exactly where it was going and know these issues have been addressed much more fully and in depth throughout Christian history than I would be able to do justice to on an internet message board even if I actually put in some time and effort.

I then spent the next five minutes purposefully constructing the most awkward and lengthy single sentence I could think of as a response.



Dangit, my whole intention was to not get involved in anything in this thread... you goad me jzp =)


Edit: Seriously though - I don't have the time, effort, or inclination to respond to every site on the internet that casts doubt about Christianity. If I feel up to it, I'll engage people on this board and their specific comments occasionally (mainly when I see someone make an incorrect statement concerning scripture/theology that can be easily pointed out) but I'm not going to run down every url that gets sent my way. On that note - if you want a sermon or something that helps address some of the questions where someone actually has taken time and effort and spends a good 30 minutes on the topic - I can link some of that.

[DevilAlumna]

Isn't no an answer?

According to The Onion, it is.

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28812


Is it wrong that whenever I see this headline, I think of Richard Dawson instead? And I wonder why anyone would want to go watch him speak, and then scenes from The Running Man pop into my head.


(Just trying to keep this from moving into PPB territory....)

[Lavabe]

My point in mentioning these men, is that when I read on bulletin boards or talk to atheists and agnostics I often find that they dwell on that segement of believers who are quite simply afraid of science and see it as a threat to their faith. So I like to remind them from time to time that there are many very intelligent people who embrace science and belief, and often see science as bolstering their belief.

I also offer the link below for anyone interested in the notion of "believing" scientists.

http://www.asa3.org/

The Darwin exhibit that started out at the American Museum of Natural History has a very poignant video with prominent scientists who discuss this very issue. I am unsure whether the exhibit is traveling around the country.

There is always Kenneth Miller.

FWIW, somebody just posted me about some new Ben Stein movie coming out called EXPELLED; it's pro-intelligent design (one of the writers, IIRC, has links with the Discovery Institute)/"teach the controversy." It sounds more like a conspiracy kind of movie ... we'll see. In the meantime, he'll be getting an ID award (http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080216/31216_Ben_Stein_Wins_Intelligent_Design_Award_for_ 'Expelled'.htm). The link's author is embellishing a lot when talking about his "lead role" in Ferris Buehler.

If you're going to see Dawkins, you might want to ask what he thinks of Ben Stein... should be a striking answer.

Cheers,
Lavabe

[captmojo]

According to The Onion, it is.

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28812


Is it wrong that whenever I see this headline, I think of Richard Dawson instead? And I wonder why anyone would want to go watch him speak, and then scenes from The Running Man pop into my head.


(Just trying to keep this from moving into PPB territory....)

Family Feud just ain't been the same......:(