"People say I'm strident" (Why does Richard Dawkins think science is losing its war with religion?)

The Guardian ^

[AreaMan]

One evening in 2006, at a colleague's house, I met a friend of her teenage daughter. He was intellectually curious, and obviously bright - but implacably loyal to his parents' born again Christian faith. We spent pretty much the whole evening arguing with the poor boy, appealing to his logic and reason - all to no effect. There must, we despaired, be some seminal atheist text we could refer him to. We just couldn't think of one.

But lo - ask, and ye shall receive. Not a month later, Richard Dawkins published The God Delusion, a scorching manifesto for secularism. Even by the standards of Dawkins' 1976 bestseller, The Selfish Gene, it was a spectacular success, with sales exceeding 1.5m.

This week, as Dawkins retires from the Charles Simonyi professorship for the public understanding of science, the Oxford post he has held for 12 years, you might expect him to feel that the secular, scientific cause to which he has devoted his career is winning. On Tuesday, campaigners announced plans for an atheist advertising campaign to appear on the side of buses with the message: "There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." The campaign, which was launched by TV comedy writer Ariane Sherine, blogging on Commentisfree.co.uk, hoped to raise £5,500 from supporters, which Dawkins had pledged to match with his own money, but by yesterday public donations had already raised more than £96,000.

[AreaMan]

An interview with Richard Dawkins, Grand Poobah of the "You can send them to school but you can't make them think." club.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

The better question is: "Why does Richard Dawkins feel that the two just have to be at war in the first place?"

[perfect_rovian_storm]

[Coyoteman]

The better question is: "Why does Richard Dawkins feel that the two just have to be at war in the first place?"

Its probably because of the constant attacks by fundamentalists.

The scientists on these threads get the same treatment, being called Nazis and relegated to hell. That's why so many have left in disgust.

[Pete]

Off the top of my head, I recommend Mathematics: Is God Silent?.

Good even if you aren't a math geek. Covers science in general as well as math in particular.

[messierhunter]

There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.

Translation: Start sinning like there's no tomorrow or we'll harass you endlessly. Don't think about the consequences or reasons not to, just do it like a hormone-riddled adolescent.

People who live by a faith-driven moral code make atheists feel self-conscious and it fills them with fear of judgement, even when the faithful aren't being "preachy." Sad to think of what will be said when the encounter they thought "probably" couldn't happen actually takes place.

[johnny7]

What does LeBeau think?

[RichInOC]

Because you are, sir.

[y6162]

Richard Dawkins=sociopath

[Robwin]

“Its probably because of the constant attacks by fundamentalists.

The scientists on these threads get the same treatment, being called Nazis and relegated to hell. That’s why so many have left in disgust.”

Oh, please, spare me the whine. I’ve seen some rather insulting comments dished out by you secularists toward we Theists also. Moreover why should you and yours care if you are consigned to hell, as you don’t even believe it exist?

It is unfortunate that people on both sides resort to the insult as a way to make a point, but to allege it is only done by “fundamentatlists” makes you look even sillier than your atheism does.

[Minus_The_Bear]

Dawkins is an asshat. He should stick to the field he was trained in... biology. Nobody cares about his thought on sociology or humanism. The guy is just another Chomsky.

[Diamond]

That's why so many have left in disgust.

What is so disgusting about Natural Selection?

Cordially,

[usslsm51]

Why sir, does the mention of hell, a place which no self respecting scientist would admit exist? Why fight against something that does not exist? Go fishing in you bath tub for brook trout, makes as much sense.

[WorkingClassFilth]

"There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

LOL! So, it would follow that there is "probably" no Hell, either, so just assume> on the basis of your limited understanding and go out, do whatever, and brazenly count on the final turn of the cards being in your favor. That's real bright.

Faith is the substance of things unseen . . .

[AC-130 Gunship]

"The scientists on these threads get the same treatment, being called Nazis and relegated to hell."

Baloney, but in any case, boo-frickin-hoo. Now here's your box of Kleenex.

[LearsFool]

Science is the study of God’s creation. The same tools of reason, observation, experimentation, induction and deduction which honest science employs in the search for truth regarding Nature are also called upon in the search for truth regarding Nature’s Creator.

This fool’s invented philosophy may be at war with religion, but science is not.

[DustyMoment]

There’s a reason that conservatives, as a whole, are happier than liberals.

His name is God.

He is our Creator, our Father and His Son is our Savior.

Mr. Dawkins may disagree but that’s what makes horseracing.

For me, I believe in both. And science has been slowly proving the existence of God for many decades.

I wouldn’t start the sinning or the celebrating just yet.

[Mojave]

The scientists on these threads get the same treatment

Atheism is a science?

[Hacksaw]

That's why so many have left in disgust.

Even worse, nobody noticed or cared.

[AreaMan]

Because you are, sir.

I know you are but what am I?

Why not...since we're elevating the discourse.