DMB

One could argue that it's Dawkins's job to go on Today since he is Professor of the Public Understanding of Science.

It's certainly time for all intelligent people of goodwill to stand up and be counted in this silly episode. We need the President of the Royal Society to join in and explain in simple language why YEC is not science.

Do not wish to be associated w/ II

When will these idiots realise that in the soviet union the state merely replaced god as an object of 'worship'. It had diddly to do with atheism.

And the US might be pluralistic but it is despite religion, not because of it.
<img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" /> <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" /> <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" /> <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" /> <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" /> <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" />

Do not wish to be associated w/ II

Totally agree with you here- not all views are equal- this is just postmodernist nonsense. Religion is outdated and regressive. It has no redeeming values inherent in it. It is episodes like this current one that has an otherwise lazy sod like myself getting worked up. REason is the best tool we have and I will fight to maintain our possession of that tool. I will not sit by and idly watch the religious march all over our best tool.

I don't think Dawkins should shut up at all- the man isn't being spiteful for the sake of being spiteful, but I guess if you are a religion cloaked in paranoia and persecution complexes then you will see that, regardless of what he says. He tells it like it is, and that's why I like him. What is the point in pussy-footing around fearing to tread on egg-shells with demonstrably false ideas?

[ March 20, 2002: Message edited by: Thomas McPhee ]</p>

Daggah

Except atheism isn't a belief system, philosophy, or religion. There is no reason to assume atheists have anything in common with Stalin outside of a lack of belief in god. Furthermore, communism itself was a secular religion. It was responsible for the deed, not atheism.

Not exactly. America doesn't do a very good job of upholding this ideal. Many religious minorities are still persecuted all over the place - take, for example, Wiccans. Not exactly a place where "everyone's belief gets a respectful hearing." Oh sure, if you're a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, you're entitled to it. Don't believe in the Abrahamic god? Tough luck, heathen.

Dr Rick

The Grand Inquisitor was a Christian and acted on behalf of his religious beliefs. Stalin was a Leninist-Marxist and acted on his political beliefs. Neither committed atrocities in the name of atheism.

No Grand Inquisitors, no Crusaders, and no despot dictators have acted on behalf of atheism.

<strong> Your opinion is just one of many.

stonetools

[quote]When will these idiots realise that in the soviet union the state merely replaced god as an object of 'worship'. It had diddly to do with atheism The United States was set up as a pluralistic state, in which no religion would have prefence and in which all religions and philosophies could be freely practised. The many religions in the US are proof of its pluralism
And maybe, one day , you will even use that tool.
Glad you like him.Pity you can't marry him.
Lets see some demonstrations of these false ideas

Kevin Dorner

No thanks. We already have one person around here who is adept at the art of textually putting his hands over his eyes and ears and saying "I can't hear you..." Why promote the emergence of another when one is too many? As I pointed out to him: convince me the sun exists. He knows full well the result of his own techniques being used against him, so declined.

[ March 20, 2002: Message edited by: Kevin Dorner ]</p>

stonetools

Well, I guess our current Pope will be pleased to know that he did not spend all those years in prison because he was presecuted for his religion.I guess those thousands of churches and mosques that were destroyed by Stalin had nothing to do with religion, either. Funny, the few monks, priests and nuns who survived thne gulags all thought that they were being persecuted for their religion. Its nice to that a bunch of middle class athiests sitting in front of their computers decades later and thousands of miles away have figured it out.
I can argue that way, too. I could argue that Torquemada was just trying to remove political opponents under the guise of religion.but that's sophistry too.
Remember, what Alyosha Karamatsov said about the Grand Inquisitor in the book, "The Brothers Karamatsov:
"THE truth is, he has no religion".
HTH.

stonetools

And apparently unrefuted too

DMB

When was the current pope in prison for his religion? I think you may be thinking of a different Polish priest.