I think your post was a bit shorter than the "War and Peace" posts of someone who shall remain "thunderously" unnamed.
Well, that would certainly be okay, but probably not the best solution. I'd be happy to go one by one, and certainly I don't have all the answers. This is really tough stuff.
If you want to proceed, isolate the topic of your choice and get back to me. We can start from there.
If you don't have the time, I'll understand.
Meanwhile, thank you for your conversation thus far, edsheppa!
I think your post was a bit shorter than the "War and Peace" posts of someone who shall remain "thunderously" unnamed.
Now, about the "fairies," I think we're in agreement about what Quinn meant. I've also spelled out why that shouldn't convince, but now I'll try to address some of your points.
or Tubridy's if you insist
Come now, it's not a matter of my insistence, it's a perfectly objective fact that "fairies" was Tubridy's term, at least in this interview. Further I'd say he and Quinn are very obviously stressing the term to unfairly characterize Dawkins arguments. So you see, as I pointed out, the strawman's on the other foot.
this sleight of hand begs the question of whether fairies and God really are equivalent.
Practicing some sleight of hand of your own? No one anywhere in the interview suggests that. Dawkins is very clear, it's the belief in God by some people that he considers delusional.
In the first place, no one is saying that adults don't have delusions.
The point that I tried to make is that adult delusions are more widespread than you and Quinn imply. Certainly you must agree that in the past they were very widespread. "Witches" were not suffered to live. Animals were put on trial. Spirits were propitiated. First borns were offered to Baal. I don't think human psychology has changed fundamentally so we are still prey to these impulses.
So even today, adult delusions are widespread. A very substantial number of Americans think the 2000 presidential elections were stolen. Far too many think the US government knew ahead of time or even abetted 9/11. Among very many American blacks, it is common knowledge that AIDS and crack are conspiracies perpetrated against them. These are modern American adults. And there are lots more delusions out there. Plenty here even at this web site.
DAWKINS sets himself up as the one who diagnoses who is delusional.... the people who he finds delusional are the ones who simply disagree with him.
Wrong. Dawkins is an athiest. Deists aren't athiests. Therefore Dawkins disagrees with Deists. But he doesn't think that Deist beliefs are delusional. Your claim is refuted.
Now, if there's no more to say about it, which of my other points would you like to discuss next?
Also, if there's some point of yours you think is important that I didn't address, I'll be glad to do it.