Richard Dawkins Discusses the Misconceptions About Atheists

[vain911]

On fox news,he would would have been talked down to.

[katinkers]

I'm actually really surprised she wasn't a complete cunt. It seems almost impossible for the cunt side of news anchors not to come out when they talk about stuff like this.

[Christheatheist1]

@katinkers I too, was impressed about this. She is the first one I've seen that doesn't shout over his words and cut him off. :)

[thebigdee100]

DAWKINS FOR PRESIDENT!! ...or prime minister if he's a UK citizen :)

[fdasherv]

"But why do you think they're so remarkably intolerant of atheists?"

Because they're remarkably intolerant cunts.

[Godzwitchdoctor]

Ok I find dawkins to be the most brilliantly funny commedian in the world at the moment but just by looking at some of these comments you guys, theists like me and atheists alike, have little clue about either side's arguement. Now of course this isn't true for everyone but for those who say theists are illogical and are stupid: grow up, we don't believe what you believe but the majority of philosophy or law in the west comes either from the bible or christians.

learn your stuff.

[MrAzijn]

@Godzwitchdoctor Atheism is not a religion!!! It is by definition the LACK of a belief. While you cannot truly prove that god is real, many people, myself included, choose to simply assume that religion is untrue until proven otherwise because it's genuinely illogical, and there's no evidence to support it. Besides how do you know that islam is not the true religion?

Atheism is just more sensible until more evidence comes to light.

[Godzwitchdoctor]

@MrAzijn

Actually Atheism is a religion because it is a belief of non-belief. Your belief is there is nothing and you believe that there is nothing.

[tranquility4all]

@Godzwitchdoctor Here in the U.S.A. our Laws don't come from christianity or the BUY BULL.

Learn Your stuff & read the U.S. Constitution !

Throughout the Entire World it was a crime to steal & murder long before christianity existed & long before the BUY BULL was written.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@tranquility4all Actually, a good number of our laws/customs do in fact come from religion; specifically Christianity. In many places, "sodomy" (anything that is not traditional intercourse) is illegal; though, this law is not generally enforced. Also in many places, it is illegal to purchase alcohol on Sundays.

Those are the only two I could think of off the top of my head, but there are many laws and regulations that - if you look back far enough - have their roots in religion.

[tranquility4all]

@SeedsOfHatred Here in the U.S.A. We have a Constitution which is not based on any religious ideology. I suggest You read Read It. Have You ever heard the term Life Liberty & they pursuit of Happiness ? Willing Participants (excluding minors) are fee to engage in sexual ( gay or strait) activity. Murder & stealing were crimes long before religion came into existence. Thankfully We have a Secular Constitution which holds irrational religious (especially christian) fundaMENTALism in check.

[tranquility4all]

@SeedsOfHatred After reading Your profile it's obvious You're an Irrational christian fundaMENTAList who hates People especially Women who don't live their lives according to Your insane ideology.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@tranquility4all Nope. Atheist.

Try again, kiddo.

The fact is that I didn't mention the Constitution; I'm aware that it is secular. Rather, I was simply citing various laws that are in (mostly) in practice around the country - such as the ones I mentioned. You would actually be surprised to learn just how many of our daily customs have their roots in religious history.

I'm not your enemy, kiddo, I was simply being informative. Settle down, take a breath, and realize that.

[tranquility4all]

@SeedsOfHatred I know You didn't mention the Constitution. The Constitution protects all Americans. Religious ideology is primarily concerned with the agenda of irrational religious fundamentalist leaders. Where in the Country is it a crime to be a homosexual ?

Are You suggesting the reason We have laws against murder & stealing is because of religion ? The majority of People's daily customs (Work, raising families, etc.) were being practiced long before religion came into existence.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@tranquility4all I mentioned neither murder, nor stealing, nor rape, nor any other basic law you want to come up with. I'm aware that those things have nothing to do with religion.

I'm citing other "smaller" (for lack of a better word) laws. I didn't say it was illegal to be a homosexual, I said "sodomy", meaning - as I clearly stated - anything that's not traditional vaginal intercourse. "Sodomy" does not explicitely refer to anal sex.

Alabama is one such state where anything you can imagine

[tranquility4all]

@SeedsOfHatred Alaba,ma is a state where irrational religious ideology has more influence than most states. Many People don't concern themselves with the sexual actions of consenting adults. Many Rational People realize religion is nothing more than a tool designed by some people as a means to control many people.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@tranquility4all I'm aware of everything you're telling me. And I agree with you. As I said, some of the laws I've mentioned are not put into practice.

I also clearly stated that I'm aware that murder's illegal status has nothing to do with religion.

Are you really this dense or are you just not paying attention to me?

[tranquility4all]

@SeedsOfHatred You're dense by insisting that irrational religious ideology has as much influence on Everyday Life. People have been engaging in extra marital affairs & having abortions & children out of wedlock. Check out the percentage of Americans per capita who are incarcerated for violent crimes, divorced, have abortions & children out of wedlock & engage in homosexuality. You will be surprised to learn the percentage of religious people (per capita) are at the top of the list.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@tranquility4all Oh my fucking god, I KNOW. You are not listening to me at all. Religion has influenced our society in more ways than you are apparently intelligent enough to understand. You seem to think I'm defending religion. I'm not. And I'm not saying that religion wrote the fucking Constitution either. I'm simply saying that many of our laws and daily customs stem from religion. Even ones you don't seem to realize.

The fact that you're uneducated in regard to our country's history does

[tranquility4all]

@SeedsOfHatred I'm not saying You're defending religion. I disagree with Your ASSessment that religion has as much control over society as You think.You're uneducated about Our Country's history. Yes We have many religious people in America. However, We have not allowed any religious ideology to take a stronghold on every person's life.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@tranquility4all *Sigh* Ignorance is bliss, I suppose.

I must point out again that truly, you sound exactly like a Christian. You deny the evidence, you deny the history, and you tell me I'M the bad guy because I'm getting frustrated with your idiocy. That is EXACTLY what I would expect from a Christian fundamentalist.

Bravo.

[tranquility4all]

@SeedsOfHatred I disagree with Your ASSessment that religious fundamentalism has a stronghold on our society & that it's the foundation of Our laws. I'm not getting frustrated with Your Pig Headed STUPIDITY, I'm amused by it !

[SeedsOfHatred]

@tranquility4all Whatever you say, kiddo.

[tranquility4all]

@SeedsOfHatred Unlike You I don't need to have anyone to be in total agreement with me.Your condescending response indicates You need to learn about HUMILITY !

Kiddo !

[SeedsOfHatred]

@tranquility4all Nah, I'm already pretty humble. I'm far too good a person to be egotistical.

See what I did there?

[tranquility4all]

@SeedsOfHatred You confirmed Your lack of Humility can't be concealed by Your lack of a sense of humor.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@tranquility4all No seriously, I'm friggin' awesome.

True story.

[tranquility4all]

@SeedsOfHatred I never accused You of lying. I just stated We're not in total agreement concerning the degree of religion's control on Society.

[tranquility4all]

@SeedsOfHatred Have to run some post holiday errands. We may not be in total agreement. However, I've enjoyed Our dialogue. I hope You have as well.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@tranquility4all (Part 2) not mean that I'm being dense. It means that you've never looked into the history of our laws and our customs.

And sadly, as I'm trying to explain these things to you, you seem completely unable to grasp them. This means that you're either handicapped or you are willingly being stubborn. And ultimately, I have the patience for neither.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@tranquility4all (Part 2) outside of traditional, missionary-style intercourse is illegal. This is one such law that is not - as I also stated - enforced. They're not arresting people in Alabama for getting head at lover's lane.

I also cited our country's mysterious fascination with Sundays. There are many things one is not permitted to do on Sundays. This stems directly from Christian history and custom.

These are the things I'm talking about. Laws that are on the books, yet not necessarily

[tranquility4all]

@SeedsOfHatred Yes some States still enforce Blue Laws, Others don't. Some People allow irrational religious fundamentalism to control their lives. Many others don't. That is the Beauty of America. We can exercise Free Choice & don't have to pay kowtow to religious ideology. We can engage in any form of consensual sexual activity as long as it doesn't include minors. We're governed by a secular Constitution NOT irrational religious fundamentalism.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@tranquility4all *Sigh* I'm aware of that.

To repeat; I'M AWARE OF THAT.

You're clearly not listening to what I'm saying.

Good luck, my friend. You'll need it.

[tranquility4all]

@SeedsOfHatred I'm listening to what You're saying. I'm not in total agreement. Your problem is You believe You're absolutely correct about everything.

Do a little research before posting Your unsupported opinions. You need to learn that You're not always correct about everything. You also need to get over Your hostility of all people, Especially those who disagree with You.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@tranquility4all Sorry, kiddo. The fact is that I AM right with this one. You may do the research yourself and find that to be true.

You sound exactly like a Christian who denys Evolution. I'm telling you that the evidence is there, the reasons for why it's there, and you're telling me "Well you think you know everything, you don't!" No, I don't know everything, but when it comes to this, I do know a bit of the history.

Again, you may take a look yourself.

[tranquility4all]

@SeedsOfHatred You keep deluding Yourself that You're right. You're not. If You were We would be living in a society where irrational religious fundamentals would be the equivalent of martial law. Thankfully it's not. Your ASSertion that I'm the equivalent of a christian fundamentalist is another example of You inability to recognize that You're incapable of having a discussion wit someone who disagrees with You. Just because I don't totally agree with You doesn't mean I deny the evidence.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@tranquility4all (Part 3) enforced, and customs that you and I engage in and abide by each and every day without realizing why.

This is basic stuff that anyone with access to the History Channel could tell you.

[tranquility4all]

@SeedsOfHatred Please accept my apology for accusing You of being an irrational christian fundamentalist.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@tranquility4all A little elaboration on the "sodomy" issue; this of course stems from early Christians and their belief that anything outside of vaginal intercourse is unnatural. This can be taken from scriptures.

Religion in general has influenced nearly every aspect of our lives throughout history, and we retain that influence today - including some of our laws.

Think of "Thursday". Do you know why it's called Thursday? Because it's derived from "Thor" in Nordic mythology.

[tranquility4all]

@SeedsOfHatred I don't give a damn about scripture. Irrational christians are opposed to all forms of Birth Control & stem cell research. Yes I'm aware of the origin of Thursday. Thor is a mythological figure like all religious deities. Did You know Stealing & murder were crimes long before religion came into existence ?

[Godzwitchdoctor]

@tranquility4all

I'm from Australia.

[katinkers]

@Godzwitchdoctor i'm not sure that that makes the philosophies equally plausible. that's to me, is what seems immature.

[DoKtaTre]

That's interesting, Richard sir, you say there isn't s "shred of proof" for the Judeo-Christian God — yet for 2 thousand+ years, we've marked the passing of time as "Anno Domini" (In the year of our Lord), the epoch before that denoted as BC (Before Christ).

Tell me, sir, if the resurrection of the coming Messiah (before the advent of any recussitation technology, mind you) isn't proof what would be? Certainly not the otherwise inexplicable escape of Israelite captivity in ancient Egypt, no...

[yohanesmalaysia]

Dakwins hold a very misconception of Christianity, who he think are kind of escaping this life and looking for a 'afterlife'. Christians see that this very life is a precious life and a beautiful life, and we live to the fullness in all sense. The different is we do not affaid to lose, do not stingy to give, do not cowardice to face, as like this is only the one that we have. Able to see life beyond a limited live, give me a much more freedom and satisfaction to live this life to the full.

[WhereIsReligion]

@yohanesmalaysia If a god is watching you all the time it's hard to live life to the fullest.

[yohanesmalaysia]

@WhereIsReligion Why is that a problem? Unless you do not have a true consciousness of God in you, then you may find that God is watching you so that He can "against" you, rather of "for you and in you, and you in Him".

[WhereIsReligion]

@yohanesmalaysia Because he is always watching you, it would be in the back of your head..."Oh I probably shouldn't go to this party"Etc. I could be wrong but that is my thinking but everyone is different. God isn't on someones side because that would be biased towards some of his creations.

[yohanesmalaysia]

@WhereIsReligion I wonder the worries, anxieties and regrets in you may be much more than I have, looking at your obsession with such questions. For you to have that "I probably shouldn't go to this party..." one can have 1001 reasons, ."because I am not looking great today", "I am feeling tried", "xxx that I hated also is here", "the food/girls/boys here is suck", "I am not up to their standard/style/fashion..." etc. Friend, get a life, a life that is abundant that you ever experience. :)

[yohanesmalaysia]

@yohanesmalaysia A life that is so abundant that you can ever experience, which is in God through Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, "The thief comes not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." :)

[WhereIsReligion]

@yohanesmalaysia I don't have worry's because my life here on this earth is only temporary. I just think the thing I stated earlier was a silly thought.

[AtheismKills]

@WhereIsReligion Why? Because He'll stop you from murdering and raping people? Why would you want to do that anyway? Unless you want to harm either yourself or others, why not have God on your side?

[WhereIsReligion]

@AtheismKills Really? No. Just because there may/or may not be a god doesn't mean if there isn't there is no moral. Man can act and think for himself.

[cycophile]

2:00 so if you faith is in doubt... whats that telling you? A) get intimidated, B) start using your brain.

[milesalpha1]

Freemasons now? Is there anything really stupid you won't say? Let's see, so far you get to decide who is Christian, you get to decide what's murder, you get to decide what people believed, you get to make ridiculous assertions, and you get to make pointless additions. Freemasons? You also apparently get to decide history, find me a peer reviewed paper on your Stalin theory, and good luck.

[tiarnan76]

More lies by Dawkins:

1) "..atheists are gentle people.." Really? Is that how he'd describe the Communist dictators who slaughtered millions. Or what about many thousands of atheist youtubers that cosntantly harangue and threaten anyone who believes in a Creator?

2) "...atheists live life to the full...non atheists dont..." Atheists have no OBJECTIVE morals and therefore would be LESS likely to live their life in a good moral way, and would therefore not live their life to the FULL.

[Vexille1983]

@tiarnan76

1) Communist dictators were Communists before they were atheists. And atheists don't threaten or emotionally blackmail others with unfounded beliefs about Hell.

2) NOBODY has objective morals. Religious morals are very subjective. There is nothing objective about villifying homosexuality, eating specific kinds of meat, and calling blasphemy a worse offence than either theft, murder or rape.

[tiarnan76]

@  Vexille1983

1) All Communist dictators were Communists before becoming Atheists? Really? I'm afraid you'll have to prove that.

2) Christians do have Objective morals. Jesus gave many instructions on morality through his many parables. The fact that Christians, through Christ, believe in the perfection of God, would therefore make their morals objective - as they come from a perfect source.

Atheists have no pure source so while one may think murder is wrong another may think its ok.

[Vexille1983]

@tiarnan76 I meant that being Communist was more important to them than their Atheism.

Christian morals are man made. Just because people like you believe they're divinely inspired doesn't make it so. No amount of belief transforms something into a fact.

Its not a matter of personal taste like you seem to suggest. The majority of people agree that murder, theft and rape are wrong. More wrong than blasphemy, homosexuality or following a different religion or none at all.

[milesalpha1]

@tiarnan76 A truly ridiculous set of arguments. How many atheists shoot up abortion clinics? Seems christian morals are not terribly objective after all.

[tiarnan76]

@milesalpha1 If you kill, then by that very act alone you rule yourself out from being a Christian...if I was to go round using your name, murdering people would you willingly accept the blame, for the acts I had done? No, then why should real Christians accept the blame for wolves in sheeps clothing? On another note, the act of abortion is murder I hope you're not going to condone the mass killing of millions of innocent children?

[tiarnan76]

@milesalpha1 And by the way if youre looking for an utterly ridiculous set of arguments then just listen to Dawkins in this video....People have always believed in God all over the world - Scandinavians believed in the Judeo Christian God - There are 30 million Chrsitians in India - there are millions of Christians in China, Japan etc....The belief in the Judeo Christian God is the original belief and it is only the rise of the myriad of Babylonian religions which have diluted it.

[tiarnan76]

@milesalpha1 And just so you know you're beloved theory of evolution with the primordial soup etc dates back to Babylon/Sumeria too - all the beliefs and pseudo religions have occult origins - but I'm sure you're well aware of that and the fact that even Darwins grandfather (Erasmus) was writing about the theory of evolution long before Chalres. He was also a Freemason so I'm sure you can do the math on that.

[SittingDuckDK]

@tiarnan76 lol... you are a joke! Why dont you go and join your beloved Westboro Baptist Church - something tells me you got alot in commen with those gentle honest folks...

[UnitedKingdomify]

I'm in love with this anchor. She's beautiful. Only seen via YT vids and never do catch her name, but I don't mind, s'not like I need it to appreciate her looks. lol

[GodsArePeopleToo]

@UnitedKingdomify it's paula zahn

name's right there on the screen where it says 'NOW'

lol

[UnitedKingdomify]

@GodsArePeopleToo Ha ha. Thanks. I suppose I was too busy looking at her when she was on screen, and when she wasn't, well, Dawkins was wagging his chin, s'good form to pay attention to him. =)

[LordAvoc]

She sure had a nasty tone in her voice when she was asking those questions.

[stuirteag]

He is being a bit messy when he says "we're just people who hold a different believe system.." -we actually hold NO believe system !

[kram83au]

@stuirteag i think hes referring to a healthy belief in the natural world,science etc. peace to you brother. and the posts still remain idiot free.

[lordblazer]

@kram83au

you really don't have to be atheist to have these healthy beliefs. ITs just the religious right wingers are in loonyville, and want to go back into the dark ages of ignorance.

[muresandani]

@stuirteag belief is not the same thing as faith. We hold no faith, but we do hold the belief that there is no supernatural god.

[96anky]

@stuirteag You are wrong. Just because you believe in something does not mean it's spiritual. Try hold a consistency with your vocabulary and reasoning.

[youknownoyuno]

@stuirteag Maybe he should've said atheists hold a different opinion.

[jiin5993]

@stuirteag Technically we do. We believe for example:

- this is the only life we have and are going to get

- rational reasoning and intellectual honesty are the proper ways to find out what's true

of course atheïsm itself is not a belief system, but many if not all atheïsts hold the (exemplary) system mentioned above.

[iamborat100]

@stuirteag I have a belief in things as an atheist, its just none of them include a deity...

[sinbysin666]

@stuirteag Everyone has a belief system. It doesn't have to include religious beliefs.

[WhereIsReligion]

@stuirteag Well, yeah technically.

[Godzwitchdoctor]

@stuirteag

Actually you are incorrect, you have a belief that there is nothing but the natural world, which you cannot prove, where are theists say there are things outside the natural world, which we cannot prove.

[myteethareshiny]

Wow. There are no theist comments on here yet. Amazing!

[LogicalStatements1]

Sorry theists but I hope you all mentally 'grow up' one day >.>



[HappyRandyBoy]

Great Post, Thanks! cheers.

[HappyRandyBoy]

Hear, Here... Richard.

There's virtually no escape from the foolish thiest nonsense around us all.

Its very frustrating at times to deal with when your confronted by it on a daily basis.

[endthedisease]

When was the original air date?

[ilisbaani]

@endthedisease Early February 2007

[Christheatheist1]

Thank you for putting this up