british press have knifes out for Richard Dawkins

by highdose 115 Replies latest jw friends

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  NewChapter

  So what? Why does that matter? What's the point? If God doesn't exist, does exposing that fact make life collectively better?

  This is an odd and irrelevant argument. Facts make us uncomfortable, therefore what is their use? Belief in a god has done much over the years to suppress progress.

  Yet that aside, your arguments are full of logical fallacies. There are more atheists in Europe, therefore, they can't pay their pensions?

  The Netherlands have very secular societies, yet when measurments are taken for happiness, they always rank the highest. Is it atheism? Is it socialism? I don't know. It makes no sense to draw a correlation, when coincidence, or another factor---or hundreds of other factors could be contributing to the numbers.

  Appeal to Consequences of a Belief

  This argument is based on holding that what a person "wishes" to be true, must be true, because the alternative is too undesirable to consider.
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  00DAD

  highdose: can i just point out that i meant this thread to be about Dawkins and not about 00DAD?

  Thank you HD for getting the point! Not surprising considering it's YOUR thread.

  My original comment was intended to point out why I believe the "british press" and others have it out for Dawkins. Not only do they not like WHAT he says, but they don't like the WAY he says it.

  It's curiously funny how that got to some people here and they started turning on ME!

  Dawkins can say WHATever he wants, HOWever he wants and (to some) he's a hero. I merely observe that I think his methods offends many people and suddenly a lot of folks are taking umbrage at my observation as if it was an attack on their hero.

  Pretty funny actually!

  00DAD
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  cofty

  This subject drives me crazy. If atheists are so eager to question everything and reject myth, where is their evidence that atheism creates a better, happier society? I don't see it.

  Scandanavia.
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  00DAD

  You guys all need to read Nietzsche's "Birth of Tragedy"
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  bohm

  00dad: you called dawkins an arrogant asshole. If dawkins is a subject of critisism for wording things strongly, so are you.

  Still waiting to hear what dawkins has said which upset you so much as to call him all that.. Must have been something.
• 

  cofty

  Must have been something. - bohm

  smug, arrogant, pompous, condescending little asshole and is obviously very proud of it - 00DAD

  Indeed!
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  Flat_Accent

  00DAD: here are the links

  This is Dawkins/Lennox - i'd say the better of the two. A more interesting discussion.

  http://vimeo.com/27834228

  And Dawkins/Williams

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWN4cfh1Fac

  I'll steer clear of this other debate though. I'm taking a break from those things.
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  00DAD

  FA, thanks for the link. I'll check it out!
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  00DAD

  bohm: 00dad: you called dawkins an arrogant asshole. If dawkins is a subject of critisism for wording things strongly, so are you.

  Good point! And I agree completely, although I am curious about your need to defend him. He is a big boy, you know.

  Also, if Dawkins has carte blanche to "speak truth" with total disregard to people's feelings, then--by your own logic--so do I. Deal with it.

  What's good for the goose is good for the gander ...

  bohm: Still waiting to hear what dawkins has said which upset you so much as to call him all that.. Must have been something.

  That is a reasonable request. Honestly, I tried to read some of Dawkins writings several years ago and couldn't get past it so I'll have to think on that a bit and get back to you. But in the meantime, consider what just a few of your fellow JWN members posted on this thread:

  • Leolaia's post # 16566 of 16571: "It isn't just Dawkins' religious/conservative critics that have complained about his arrogance. Google "Dawkins" and "elevator"."
  • Mickey mouse's post #Post 4257 of 4258 : " I have tried to read his books but can't get over his tone."
  • darthfader's post # 1297 of 1298: " Richard Dawkins has been called "Darwin's Rottweiler". Im thinking there's a good reason behind that moniker."
  • Flat_Accent's: post #Post 127 of 129: "I originally found him to be rather arrogant as well ..."
  • slimboyfat shared this thread on the subject: Is Richard Dawkins an ostentatious acrimonious supercilious pusillanimous calumnious censorious vituperative querulous embittered obsessive and bombastic bully?
  • Even Cofty admitted, "If you have read the God Delusion I understand why you might not like him ", ( Post 2682 of 2693 )

  All that being said, I honestly feel that this has really derailed what highdose originally had in mind by starting this thread.

  Apologies to HD for the direction my comments have caused some to take. It was never my intention!

  If you and cofty still want to continue this off-topic, ad hominem debate, I suggest we take it outside . But be forewarned, the gloves are definitely off out there.

  00DAD
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  cofty

  But be forewarned, the gloves are definitely off out there. - 00DAD

  You are hilarious! I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you are a teenager. If so it will pass; if not get some therapy.