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The Problem with God: Interview with Richard Dawkins
Beliefnet ^ | 12/05 | by Laura Sheahen

Posted on 12/13/2005 8:34:28 PM PST by tbird5

The renowned biologist talks about intelligent design, dishonest Christians, and why God is no better than an imaginary friend.

British biologist Richard Dawkins has made a name for himself defending evolution and fighting what he sees as religiously motivated attacks on science. Dr. Dawkins sat down with Beliefnet at the World Congress of Secular Humanism, where his keynote address focused on intelligent design.

You're concerned about the state of education, especially science education. If you were able to teach every person, what would you want people to believe?

I would want them to believe whatever evidence leads them to; I would want them to look at the evidence, judge it on its merits, not accept things because of internal revelation or faith, but purely on the basis of evidence.

Not everybody can evaluate all evidence; we can’t evaluate the evidence for quantum physics. So it does have to be a certain amount of taking things on trust. I have to take what physicists say on trust, for example, because I'm a biologist. But science [has] a system of appraisal, of peer review, so that I trust the physics community to get their act together in a way that I know from the inside. I wish people would put their trust in evidence, not in faith, revelation, tradition, or authority.

(Excerpt) Read more at beliefnet.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: crevolist; dawkins; evolution; faith; god; richarddawkins; skeptics
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To: wigswest
John 20
 
 24.  Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
 25.  So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"   But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
 26.  A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
 27.  Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
 28.  Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
 29.  Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

81 posted on 12/15/2005 5:34:47 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: tbird5
But who wants to believe a lie?

No one, Dick.

But...



NIV John 8:45
   Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!
 
NIV John 14:6
   Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
 
NIV John 18:37-38
 37.  "You are a king, then!" said Pilate.   Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
 38.  "What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him.
 
NIV John 14:6
  Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.


 
"What is truth?" Dawkins asks....


82 posted on 12/15/2005 5:44:17 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: Williams
A good scientist knows the limitations of his vocation.

Well spoken, Dirty Harry!

83 posted on 12/15/2005 5:46:07 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: GarySpFc

I sure do!


84 posted on 12/15/2005 5:47:08 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: RunningWolf

Wonder if he is the 'master'?


85 posted on 12/15/2005 5:48:18 AM PST by Just mythoughts
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To: Williams
The definition of a black hole is that no information can ever escape it or be knowable in any way.

And Scientists say these these things DO exist, and somehow they came from what is called the Big Bang, which, by definition, would be the largest 'black hole' ever, yet, stuff DID come out of this BH, even though, by definition it can't.....

OH!! I'm SO confused!!

86 posted on 12/15/2005 5:50:03 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: SupplySider

It's the INTERPRETATION of the evidence that is in question!


87 posted on 12/15/2005 5:51:36 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: SupplySider
I have to think there is something wrong with this interpretation.

You are right!

God's ways are not ours, and His thoughts are not ours.

88 posted on 12/15/2005 5:53:54 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: SupplySider
I don't understand....

You are correct!

89 posted on 12/15/2005 5:54:38 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: SupplySider
Why would God insist on torturing forever someone who repents?

HE wouldn't.


We report - you decide.


(My prayer)
"Oh Lord; give this man some clear insight to Your eternal qualities that Satan has blinded him to so far."

90 posted on 12/15/2005 5:57:28 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: SupplySider
We all filter the Truth of the Bible through our own minds and hearts, and what is obvious and clear to one man may be obviously different to another.

You are right.

WAY to many of us will interpret the Bible from our life eperiences, instead of interpreting our experiences using the Bible.

91 posted on 12/15/2005 6:00:13 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: bvw

Time is Nature's way of making sure that everything doesn't happen at once.


92 posted on 12/15/2005 6:01:02 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: DennisR

Ya beat me to it!! ;^)


93 posted on 12/15/2005 6:02:22 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: Elsie

Dawkins is a bigot. No surprises here.


94 posted on 12/15/2005 6:06:59 AM PST by jwalsh07
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To: Elsie

Dittos to your prayer, Elsie!


95 posted on 12/15/2005 6:25:13 AM PST by pby
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To: SupplySider
Punishment according to one's sins, yes, but why would God be unwilling to accept repentance and acceptance just because they came moments after a deadline?

John 21, verses 20 - 22 is a discussion of the apostle who betrayed Jesus. The key verse is John 21:22:

Jesus said unto him, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me."

For some, there is hope even in Hell. Many who have had near-death experiences talk of seeing and visiting Hell, yet have been removed from that awful place and given another chance.
96 posted on 12/15/2005 6:32:01 AM PST by BraveMan
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To: clee1

The pride of some people knows no bounds. I hope he is awakened before it is too late and his imaginary friend has arranged for him a little nook or cranny in the bowels of Hell.


97 posted on 12/15/2005 6:42:36 AM PST by Paved Paradise
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To: Old Landmarks
Of course the fact that Dawkins would balk at a God that is more complex than His creation is silly...as if that would somehow be a problem.

Actually Dawkins was balking at ID which claims complexity is an indication of intelligent design. He was pointing out that the argument was not being applied to the designer, so essentially ID is based on theology and not science.

98 posted on 12/15/2005 6:51:04 AM PST by bobdsmith
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To: Paved Paradise

Jesus said to us "Go ye unto all the world, and preach My Gospel to every creature." This yutz has obviously "heard" the Gospel, and has just as obviously rejected it.

Therefore, under the heading of "Cast ye not pearls before swine.", I hope he NEVER gets it. God my have infinite patience and love for all his children; I do not. After an entire adult lifetime of mocking God and God-fearing people, I hope this guy never gets it - and I say this in full knowledge that one day I'll be judged for it.


99 posted on 12/15/2005 7:04:25 AM PST by clee1 (We use 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 2 to pull a trigger. I'm lazy and I'm tired of smiling.)
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To: clee1

Remember when you were in a state of unbelief. Some day his heart might be turned from stone to flesh but if not, we know the all-merciful, all-knowing and all-loving God will be just.


100 posted on 12/15/2005 7:26:16 AM PST by Paved Paradise
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