A thought provoking programme by Professor Richard Dawkins, and one in which I agree with many of the points he raises. However I do have one small gripe...
How on earth can the holder of the Charles Simonyi Chair in the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University use the words Religion, Faith and Belief synonymously?
I agree with him to the extent that Science and Religion are bipolar entities. However I resent his implication that somebody with a scientific background, who interprets the world objectively according to the best evidence provided by the scientific method should not have faith in a God.
To me this train of thought seems to be just as abhorrent as the religious fervor which this programme seeks to dispel. I can see no reason why a scientist should not have faith that existence has some underlying, unquantifiable meaning.
Yes Jon, a thoroughly enjoyable show - next weeks should be very interesting - however I have reservations about the way it is presented; in that it isn't objective. It has an atheist slant which I think detracts from it.
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Ben.
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Tue, 01/10/2006 - 16:01
Dan Luna Rank: Calcite Joined: 17/04/2005 Points: 209
More agnostic than atheistic as he said you can't actually prove there is no God, but I saw it really as an attempt to point out the dangers of uncritically accepting traditional views passed down by people in authority, rather than thinking for oneself. As shown, this is not harmless and has produced many angry and violent people, especially where you have two races that have each inherited their own conflicting beliefs regarding the same bits of land.
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Don't ask me - I wouldn't know a maar from a hole in the ground.
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Wed, 01/11/2006 - 17:25
Dan Luna Rank: Calcite Joined: 17/04/2005 Points: 209
More agnostic than atheistic as he said you can't actually prove there is no God, but I saw it really as an attempt to point out the dangers of uncritically accepting traditional views passed down by people in authority, rather than thinking for oneself. As shown, this is not harmless and has produced many angry and violent people, especially where you have two races that have each inherited their own conflicting beliefs regarding the same bits of land.
Absolutely agree with this.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and am really looking forward to the next one. Jon and I were at a public seminar given by Dawkins last year and whilst I did buy a copy of his new book and had him sign it I really regret that there wasn't time to really talk to him.
One more thing, I do agree with Benauld that the terms religion, faith and belief should not be used synonymously. While I am agnostic and have none of the above I do believe that is possible to have faith or a belief without subscribing to organised religion.
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"Nothing in biology makes sense, except in the light of evolution" - T. Dobzhansky
One more thing, I do agree with Benauld that the terms religion, faith and belief should not be used synonymously. While I am agnostic and have none of the above I do believe that is possible to have faith or a belief without subscribing to organised religion.
I didn't see the programme, but I agree with you about religion/faith/belief. Belief is whether you think something is true or not. Faith is if you can believe without proof. Religion is if you have faith that something greater than yourself caused it.
Rank: Topaz
Joined: 18/12/2006
Points: 2985
I too thought it was an excellent program and I too agree with many of Dawkins' points.
Looking forward to next week's show. I like his "religion is a virus" argument
Jon
Geologists are gneiss!!
Rank: Fluorite
Joined: 31/12/2004
Points: 339
Yes Jon, a thoroughly enjoyable show - next weeks should be very interesting - however I have reservations about the way it is presented; in that it isn't objective. It has an atheist slant which I think detracts from it.
Ben.
Rank: Calcite
Joined: 17/04/2005
Points: 209
More agnostic than atheistic as he said you can't actually prove there is no God, but I saw it really as an attempt to point out the dangers of uncritically accepting traditional views passed down by people in authority, rather than thinking for oneself. As shown, this is not harmless and has produced many angry and violent people, especially where you have two races that have each inherited their own conflicting beliefs regarding the same bits of land.
Don't ask me - I wouldn't know a maar from a hole in the ground.
Rank: Calcite
Joined: 17/04/2005
Points: 209
"Israel is pulling out of a $50 million deal with US TV evangelist Pat Robertson after he said Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine retribution."
BBC News
I rest my case.
Don't ask me - I wouldn't know a maar from a hole in the ground.
Rank: Feldspar
Joined: 01/06/2004
Points: 1090
More agnostic than atheistic as he said you can't actually prove there is no God, but I saw it really as an attempt to point out the dangers of uncritically accepting traditional views passed down by people in authority, rather than thinking for oneself. As shown, this is not harmless and has produced many angry and violent people, especially where you have two races that have each inherited their own conflicting beliefs regarding the same bits of land.
Absolutely agree with this.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and am really looking forward to the next one. Jon and I were at a public seminar given by Dawkins last year and whilst I did buy a copy of his new book and had him sign it I really regret that there wasn't time to really talk to him.
One more thing, I do agree with Benauld that the terms religion, faith and belief should not be used synonymously. While I am agnostic and have none of the above I do believe that is possible to have faith or a belief without subscribing to organised religion.
"Nothing in biology makes sense, except in the light of evolution" - T. Dobzhansky
Rank: Fluorite
Joined: 13/10/2005
Points: 392
One more thing, I do agree with Benauld that the terms religion, faith and belief should not be used synonymously. While I am agnostic and have none of the above I do believe that is possible to have faith or a belief without subscribing to organised religion.
I didn't see the programme, but I agree with you about religion/faith/belief. Belief is whether you think something is true or not. Faith is if you can believe without proof. Religion is if you have faith that something greater than yourself caused it.
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