Bearing in mind that this is a science thread - do you have empirical evidence for that?
The Root of All Evil? UK Channel4 Mon 9th Jan 8pm
by ignored_one 42 Replies latest social entertainment
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doogie
Bearing in mind that this is a science thread - do you have empirical evidence for that?
probably as much as whoever said in that article that there were 66 cures at Lourdes. besides, i said "if one put in the effort," meaning, "someone less lazy than me."
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LittleToe
...ermmm, actually it was Dawkins himself who did the maths
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ignored_one
On soon.
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Double Edge
hmmm, The Root of ALL Evil ... even deranged puppy killers? For me, the title is a bit of a turn-off in that it uses such a broad brush, although I would be interested in the content.
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doogie
...ermmm, actually it was Dawkins himself who did the maths
so be it. (not all atheists worship dawkins, ya know. )
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ignored_one
hmmm, The Root of ALL Evil ... even deranged puppy killers? For me, the title is a bit of a turn-off in that it uses such a broad brush, although I would be interested in the content.
Note the question mark.
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Qcmbr
I watched it.
Cannot disagree with his intention nor 'most' of his observations but I may be doing him a disservice but the presenter wasn't exactly unbiased. I've seen better arguements / discussions on this site by far.
Things I liked:
1/ Talked to several heads of faith exposing how much of their rhetoric is based upon dogmatic assertion rather than any real evidence (Lourdes spokesperson, the American Bible Belt preacher, the converted Jewish muslim etc..) Saying something with conviction does not equal fact nor make it more real. A well illustrated point.
2/ Exposed the real danger of imposing beliefs on others (Bush going to war highlighted against middle east fanaticism.)
3/ Presenter had balls to go toe to toe and call out the religious people - hats off, he whipped them.
Things I was more reserved about:
1/ Several broad brush statements (from the title of the documentary to things like 100million something Americans believe that the world is less than 10000 years old or something like that - extrapolated from Southern Baptists.)
2/ The failure to point out that aethiesm can be dangerous - at one point I really thought he was glorifying a supposedly 'underground' movement of 'free thinkers' in the bible belt. Extremism on any level is dangerous and he kinda embraced anyone not ensnared by religion as somehow on his side. Maybe just my view.
3/ Some silly statements - couldn't see how the world could continue with such religious division and conflict as though religion and conflict was new to humanity and the greatest threat.
4/ He quite quickly lost his patience in the face of religious dogmatism. Seemed like they had to keep cutting it short as he clearly got upset.
5/ Cr*p analogies with 'cosmic teapot' and 'mount improbable' (someone else can explain it - I though it was pretty weak.)
Things he covered:
Evolution and science seeking to improve and discard - faith and religion seeking to entrench without evidence.
Faith works despite evidence and makes people behave in certain ways despite rational experience.
US christianity V Islam
Bible as myth
Religion as a form of competition (especially in the US for cash)
Favourite idea:
Religious people are all aethiests to the gods of others.
All in all very very good - looking forward to the next episode. -
greendawn
"Religion as a form of competition (especially in the US for cash)" that's the crux of the matter the WTS even allied itself with what is to them an evil babylonian that is Jim Swaggart to save money on taxes. Money is money.
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ignored_one
4/ He quite quickly lost his patience in the face of religious dogmatism. Seemed like they had to keep cutting it short as he clearly got upset.
I thought the christian minister and the muslim ex jew came across worse than he did. Both quite happily lied and spouted assertions that have been proven false over and over again.