Richard Dawkins - Science is the poetry of reality

[WolvesBane95]

Dawkins. He reminded me of what science means. There is beauty in the universe, and there is beauty right here on earth. It isn't an idea; its real!

Great white sharks, crocodiles, bald eagles, blue whales. They are all out there!

Nature is profoundly beautiful, as is life. To live a life devoted to it's study is an honor and it's protection a responsibility.

[ZachRose88]

Dawkins is my hero. That's all there is to it. Thank goodness he didn't listen to his critics and did it his own way. Keep fighting the good fight!

[princessmilagro]

Science is under attack? Don't you mean, MY freedom of religion, which this country was founded on, is under attack, by the likes of YOU? Most people in America VALUE our freedoms and our differences. It's what makes us colorful...the melting pot. Left to you, we would not have that freedom, and eventually, would become a police state, and you, too, would lose your freedoms! Funny, how one can come to our country with a "classy" accent, say anything, and sound intelligent. HA!

[ravi00090]

@princessmilagro There are a large number of people in America who take the bible literally. Of course you don't see anything wrong with that, but he did not talk only about America here. If you do not know, a world exists outside of your country as well. The world outside is colourful too. And the world outside has got atheists too. And your country has got atheists too, why blame Dawkins? Atheism is not a religion, it is the inevitable result of free thought and skepticism.

[princessmilagro]

@ravi00090 I'm not blaming anyone for anything. These people, however, make it VERY clear that they want to shut Christians or other religions up, and that is a VERY dangerous precedent! Here in America we still have, somewhat, a freedom of speech and freedom of religion (or absence of religion), which we value most highly! I don't want ANYONE threatening in ANY WAY to take that away from my or my fellow countrymen! If they are out to threaten our existence as we know it, they need to stay away!

[ravi00090]

@princessmilagro I am sorry if some atheists appear like that to you, but we do not advocate impinge on others' rights and liberties to practice whatever they wish to. Atheists are more about promoting science and skepticism. Richard Dawkins himself does not wish to 'shut' any religion. It's just that religion is considered so immune to skepticism that any voice against it and all hell breaks loose. One could similarly counter your argument saying that it's our right as well to express criticism

[princessmilagro]

@ravi00090 Absolutely! My point exactly! It IS your right to express criticism. But I have to disagree with you about how atheists "not advocating impinging on others rights. Madeline Murray O'Hare DID shut Christians up! And DID take away some of our rights to speak! And she STILL wasn't happy! So many atheists are FILLED with hate toward Christians! And Christians get criticized and ridiculed ALL OF THE TIME! It is dangerous for any group to be this hateful! I'm just protecting FREEDOM!

[ravi00090]

@princessmilagro You have to understand that free speech is indeed a double-edged sword. And just by the actions of one woman, you cannot judge an entire group of people thinking in a certain way. I personally am not opposed to individuals. I do NOT disrespect individuals and their worth. I am, however, opposed to the doctrines and the beliefs and for that, I will make no apology. I will criticize religious faith but at the same time, I do admit that I do not advocate ridiculing of individuals.

[princessmilagro]

@ravi00090 Fair enough. I don't mind people being opposed to anything they want to be opposed to. And I am doggedly FOR YOUR freedom of speech, press, religion, or lack thereof. I, unlike most of my so-called Christian "family" am not out to win you, nor the rest of the world, to my way of thinking. Nor do I believe all of the mainstream Christian beliefs. I will never be a robot & arbitrarily believe anything. I may oppose your beliefs, as well, but I respect them, & wish the same in return.

[ravi00090]

@princessmilagro You're respectful of views contrary to your beliefs. I like that. Not many religious people I know are like that. They become offended just by the fact that we think there is no god, even though it's not a personal attack of any kind, it's just that we disagree on the idea of a divine being controlling everything. I believe it would be best for us non-believers as well as believers to constructively talk about this rather than mocking or ridiculing people.

[princessmilagro]

@ravi00090 Don't I know it! My father was a Baptist preacher, and although my father was an extremely loving, intelligent man, who always kept an open mind...I was privy to more hate within the walls of churches, than you could shake a stick at! While I do still actually believe in a God, I have been on a quest for truth as I see it. It has been quite a journey! I don't believe ANY of us have the market cornered on "the truth", although, sadly, most religious people think so.

[ravi00090]

@princessmilagro I wasn't an atheist. I was a believer in a god, not in any religion, just god. It was through learning more about the nature of reality as well as Natural Selection that I began to question religious faith. The universe we live in is chaotic. Stars explode so we could have a chance at life, because the elements that make us were produced in the fiery nuclear furnaces of stars. We are literally made of star stuff. It's so beautiful, better than any fiction religion propagates.

[princessmilagro]

Sadly, people who are against religion have a valid point! I have been in more churches than I care to remember, because it was dreadfully oppressive, as Christians fight over ANY thing someone may disagree with, i.e., hair, dress, short sleeves, make-up, television, movies, speaking in tongues, dancing (even square dancing...rolling eyes), cards, what is profanity and what is slang, and SOOO much more! Christians are the only group of people who shoot their own wounded.

[princessmilagro]

You are SO right! It is ALWAYS better to be loving, kind, respectful, and tolerant. Isn't that what most religions teach? Unfortunately, the subject of God seems to bring out the nastiness in humans. I think it is terribly interesting to talk, debate, and learn...about different beliefs, doctrines, cultures...everything. It's the mark of being mature and intelligent, not childish, arrogant, and small minded. This should NOT make us angry, but proud to live in a country that celebrates diversity.

[princessmilagro]

I'm sure other countries are colorful and beautiful to visit. But I am a US citizen, born & raised, and I LOVE my country, as you probably love yours. I have NO plans to come to your country, wherever it is, to do anything but visit and vacation. I have NO plans to change your government, your way of life, your religion...nothing. That's your business, and I prefer my government stay out of your business, as well. I want other people of other nations to STAY OUT OF MINE!!!

[georgio210]

see the're is where you are mistaken. this government was founded secular. sure we defend freedom of religion, but the freedom from religion everybit as important. you wouldnt be celebrating your freedom without it. seperation of church and state. keep your fanatic sticky fingers from the law of our land. otherwise you'l be sorry and have little to celebrate for.....p.s you can't pluralize freedom.

[princessmilagro]

@georgio210 Your reply is a perfect example of the likes of you, who DO NOT think about what you believe or what you are saying! I won't argue with people who are so ignorant that they don't know how to use basic English grammar, spelling, & punctuation...lol. However, you wrote this 3 days ago. So many, like yourself, are just plain HATEFUL & BITTER! I said NOTHING concrete that said I am a Christian. My point was simply that we need to protect our LIBERTY in America or we'll ALL be in trouble!

[princessmilagro]

You obviously cannot or did not read the rest of my comments from 5 days ago, which said, unequivocally, that I am NOT against anyone's freedom FROM religion, nor am I a religious fanatic, but a FREEDOM FANATIC! Because I don't want ANY of us to lose MORE of our freedom! I would NOT celebrate if YOU nor I lost more of our freedom. Furthermore, I have EVERY right to voice my opinion about the laws of our land, as do unbelievers OR idiots like you! (Note: I did not insult UNbelievers!)

[princessmilagro]

Instead of being insulting and threatening (i.e., "keep your sticky fingers from the law of OUR land. otherwise you'l be sorry..."), you might try to direct all of that energy & time you spend hating & defending being AGAINST God & people of religion, & put it TOWARD promoting good will between believers and UNbelievers. Because we ALL are EQUALLY at risk of losing our freedom, if we continue to war between ourselves! Btw, not that it matters, but my only son is an atheist. I'm not against YOU!

[georgio210]

that actually wasnt a threat, by no means. if you make this nation "christian" like so many foolish ignorants think it is or ought to be, you will be forfiting and limiting your freedom to choose one way or another, be it gay marriage or any other number of things. thats what i mean by you will be sorry, because when it becomes relative to you, it matters. believe you me. look at the islam issue in europe, prosecuting ppl for blaspheming and crap

[ignoranceisbad]

Dawkins is a confused, arrogant man.

What you call " science " is merely a circle of assumptions. Anyone who studied science in university never uses it to achieve real results in engineering and research and they know that themselves.

And look how he's playing with your mind, he's putting on music and looking on grass hills with clouds...

Don't be drones, people; use your common sense.

Every painting, has a painter, every building, a builder, every book, an author

[ravi00090]

@ignoranceisbad If we all were to give your statements any credibility, humanity would still be lingering in stone age today. By the way, you are a follower of Islam I see in your channel. It is funny and hypocritical for religious people to have a username as "ignoranceisbad".

[ignoranceisbad]

@ravi00090

The stone age doesn't exist. You've been deceived. There is no proof for it, only assumptions; just like the evolution theory... just sophisticated fairy tales

evolution theory is like saying that i drove a car with no steering wheel, engine, or wheels to the garage each month. 1st time, I got a steering wheel, 2nd time the engine, then i finally put on the wheels.

the sub-systems can't evolve successively if all of them are needed at once.

[ravi00090]

@ignoranceisbad Stone age doesn't exist? What kind of statement is that? See? THAT is the problem with religion and it's followers. The dogmatic tenacity like that is what is keeping humanity from progressing faster. Again, hypocritical of you to claim that evolution is a 'sophisticated fairy tale' while you are a follower of religion [Islam particularly]. It is not hard to see that you don't know what you are talking about and have not the slightest idea of evolution.

[ignoranceisbad]

@ravi00090

My friend, we can say as much big words as we want, but if you're thrown into an ocean with nothing , who are you going to ask for help ?

Don't be arrogant, you came out of your mother's womb, and you didn't know a thing; Now look how arrogant you are, so much that you claim to know what happened 1000's of years back.

You dig up things in the ground, and you generate a story of the earth. Assumptions are the essence of blind faith.

[Chiungalla79]

@ignoranceisbad

You are a fool. You believe what preachers told you about evolution and take it for granted without any proof. You believe what preachers told you about religion and take it for granted without any proof.

And then you went on and deny evolution and the stone age, because they are not proofen? Proof in the strong sense of the word does not exist. But despite this fact it's still stupid to not believe in those things backed up by evidence, and believe in religion which has none.

[ignoranceisbad]

@Chiungalla79 The whole raison d'etre of science as an " intellectual subject " is to destroy all religion, and prove that there is no Creator. It is in it self, a religious belief. Whenever something in science doesn't make sense, it always hides behind a smokescreen of complexity. Any time a sound argument bothers a science-follower's mind, they just blame their lack of " understanding " on that subject.

I can disprove your false religion, but you have too much faith in it

[Chiungalla79]

@ignoranceisbad

I don't think so. I believe in science because I have the brains to actually understand it. And because I understand how much of science actually works. You use science every day, when you need medicine, go to websites like youtube, eat fruits from modern agriculture, drive a car, pick up the telefon, e.t.c.

Science works. Everyday in your life. But there where never ever anything like proof for anything like a wonder or a prayer. And being mentioned in an old book is no proof.

[ravi00090]

@Chiungalla79 See, that is the problem with these people. They enjoy all the modern wonders of science. From telephone to the computer, internet to medical facilities, and yet hypocritically maintain that it is a force of evil. If a person close to them were to be in a life-threatening situation, they'd rush him/her to the hospital. At that moment, science can save you. Then all the deep religiosity is put to rest temporarily. Why not just pray to your god? Why take people to the hospital?

[ignoranceisbad]

@Chiungalla79 What you're saying has weight. I agree, but all these things you're talking about are based on scientific method applied systematically over and over to achieve a good result. Teflon tape, modified seeds, oil stabilizer, various medicines, etc. are based on hard, patient research in a very specific and humble way.

Science as a set of theories used to explain every thing in the universe is not sound. This " big picture " is constantly changing every few decades.

[Chiungalla79]

@ignoranceisbad

And you really believe that this is a bad thing? What are the alternatives? Stick to one believe despite the fact that is is proven wrong by hard evidence over and over again? You can't be serious.

And yet, that is exactly what religious faith does. There are many claims of religions which are now proven wrong. And still the religion sticks to the very same big picture it has nearly two thousand years ago. Being proven wrong and still stick to your version isn't good at all.

[ignoranceisbad]

@Chiungalla79 yes, I do, because if you keep changing something, if it was ever correct, it was correct before you changed it or after, but if something is continually changing then it is bound to be incorrect.

The truth doesn't change depending on one's perception; rather its one's own perception that changes to reject or accommodate the truth.

[steviej321]

@ignoranceisbad

And you have a circle of logical fallacies.

Science IS used to gain real results and knowledge. Science comes from latin, and in fact means knowledge.

You have been deceived. We atheists have had the strength to question. You should too.

There is no reason for your beliefs.

[ignoranceisbad]

its easier to be athiest, because you have no obligations, you can do whatever you feel like, you have no limits, and you can do anything as long as the ends justify the means..

There is no strength in giving in to what you like; its easy.

but when you are told to have a notion of right and wrong, good and bad, its a headache

[pacloro]

@ignoranceisbad so you dont believe in science but do believe in a god you have never seen or a book that you khow nothing about just because of the fact that youve been brainwashed by your parents to believe in that?

[ignoranceisbad]

Just because you have never seen something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. God Exists without being a physical entity, he cannot be imagined.

My religion is supported by the sound intellect. All Dawkins and the like can come up with is complex assumptions, and extreme arrogance, thats why its unlikely they will see the truth

Athiesm basically means you get to do whatever you like, its easy; so there's nothing to be proud of l

[pacloro]

@ignoranceisbad i dont se anything proud of thinking in something that hasn't been proven,thats what science is for to prove what religion cannot.

[ignoranceisbad]

Scientific method has only ever done good in tangible, experimental, and practical situations.

When people try to use it to prove everything, it becomes more of fantasy, because it has to resort to assumptions, which serve as a base for more assumptions, that lead to more assumptions, etc..

and then you can go anywhere. A good example is quantum mechanics which says you can have one particle in two places; so you can believe the most absurd things as long as they're " scientific ".

[pacloro]

@ignoranceisbad is it so different from religion?

[NotDuncan]

@ignoranceisbad 'Athiesm basically means you get to do whatever you like, its easy; so there's nothing to be proud of' What you're saying here is that without the threat of a godhead to punish you, you would in turn go out and do whatever you want to. The fact is that statement is pure and utter garbage.

In order to function in this world, and indeed live with myself I treat people in a rational manner. I don't need the threat of hellfire and damnation to keep me in line.

[ignoranceisbad]

@NotDuncan Keep you in line with what, your lines keep changing depending on what you like. You invent the rules as you go along.

In essence your actions aren't based on rules; you invent rules to justify your actions....

And what mandate does one human have to govern another human. Matter of the fact is, the one who has the most power ( not the one who is right ) that gets to keep people in line.

[ignoranceisbad]

@NotDuncan Your logic is very simplistic: playing whatever role society gives me is right; whatever interferes with that role is wrong.

Plz go read up on the Milligram and Standford Prison Experiments. Islamically , you have an obligation to object to any authority that tells you to do what is wrong. And unlike atheist logic, " wrong " is well-defined, it doesn't change every fifteen years.

[ignoranceisbad]

@NotDuncan History shows that when enough people start doing " wrong " things, they eventually become " right "

In Islam, if something is wrong, no matter how many billions of people do it, it's still wrong.

That actually makes sense.

[ravi00090]

@ignoranceisbad You said "In Islam, if something is wrong, no matter how many billions of people do it, it's still wrong.That actually makes sense."

Funny how I can easily throw it back at your religion and any other religion in general.

If something is wrong, no matter how many billions of people believe in it, it's still wrong. That....actually makes sense.

[ignoranceisbad]

@ravi00090 billions of people believing something doesn't make that thing wrong or correct. However, it may generate a false perception that its right.

[OmiXel]

What a man...

[nealsc37]

I agree that science is the poetry of reality, but I think God is the poet. When Dr. Dawkins was interviewed by Ben Stein in the movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," he said that intelligent design could be a possible explanation, but the designers would have to be from a highly evolved society that came and planted us. So he's OK with intelligent design as long as the designer isn't God. So why is intelligent design being eliminated from discussion?

[ravi00090]

@nealsc37 Because it is based on a feeble premise and the proponents of Intelligent Design are possessed by an arrogant certitude. Even when Richard Dawkins said that there is a possibility that the designers could be from a highly evolved society, he said it is possible, he did not definitively claim that is the case. Other than that, Mr. Dawkins always says that we do not know yet. This is why science is reliable because it does not have an arrogant certitude like religion, which is terrible.

[nealsc37]

@ravi00090 I never said that Dawkins said it was definitely the case that we were designed from a more evolved society. You're not reading my posts very well. I understand that nobody can prove the existence of God. Knowing that, I also understand that I may be wrong about the existence of God. I doubt it though. There's arrogance on your side of the fence with atheists that are so absolutely certain their is no God. You can't disprove the existence of God either.

[MrBlackjackGuy]

@nealsc37 Intelligent design is a flaw to science

[Akira89M]

@nealsc37 he might be talking about panspermia I think. which is the idea that a society would send its genes and DNA to another world if they were about to go extinct to ensure the survival of their genes, but the chances of that happening on our world is highly unlikely, since it contradicts the history of evolution of life on this earth. That ben stein movie was a creationist propaganda film, however intelligent design does contradict logic and when you understand how the Universe formed.

[Cacacos]

@nealsc37

You don't think that god is the poet... the people who raised you made you believe that.

Instead believing in things just because someone told you that, or beacuse you 'feel' that it is real... wouldn't you better start to analyze and then, based on reason, and thinkg, and critical mindset, make your own conclusions... no matter how hard they will seem to your deepest fellings (like god, for exeample)...

[nealsc37]

@Cacacos You are arrogant. I have already analyzed and looked into this area deeply and came to my own conclusion that God is the poet. What makes you think my parents are Christians? You immediately jump to the conclusion that my parents were Bible thumpers that forced their views on me. Nothing could be further from the truth. My sister is an atheist, but very much respects my views. We have many talks on the subject too. Why don't you start respecting views that differ from yours.

[croutonfada]

@Cacacos I have to agree with Nealc that that's a pretty arrogant statement. If you refuse to even accept that he thinks what he thinks you are removing his right to freedom of conscience and treating him like a toddler. Not on and no way to hold a discussion. And before you hop on me I'm not an accomodationist.

[nealsc37]

@croutonfada Thank you.

[croutonfada]

@nealsc37 He admitted to a possible alien designer of life on this planet, not a designer of all life or indeed of the non-living universe(s) which is a very different thing. He has said that he was trying to be polite and try to engage with Stein, who spent the interview deliberately misunderstanding him and then went on to twist Dawkins' words in the rest of the documentary.

[nealsc37]

@croutonfada You live your life your way and I'll live it mine and we'll see how it turns out. If you're right and I'm wrong, neither one of us will even know it. If I'm right though, I feel sorry for you and all everyone else that chose to reject God.

[ravi00090]

@nealsc37 I won't say much to you except quoting Thomas Jefferson who said : “Question with boldness even the existence of God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear”. So I think your fictional character is a pathetic, narcissistic character that is so full of vanity that he cannot stand rejection, which even many human beings can accept. Simply pathetic.

[nealsc37]

@ravi00090 I'm sorry your view of God is so negative. You sound pretty jaded on the subject, so I'm not going to waste my time trying to explain your many misconceptions about God.

[ravi00090]

@nealsc37 That is not even a proper response to my post. What you posted is a terrible cop-out, just like innumerable arguments in favour of the existence of a god.

[nealsc37]

@ravi00090 Sure it's proper. You don't want to hear my viewpoint, so what's the point in arguing with you? You'll never convince me and I'll never convince you. By the way, there are lots of great arguments for the existence of God. I have friends who are both atheists and agnostics that admit to me that they understand why someone could believe in God, they just don't. If you had that kind of attitude, I would post something different.

[ravi00090]

@nealsc37 I do understand why someone can believe in god. The belief in god provides comfort and solace, softens hardships and gives you something to hold on to, the entire belief of the afterlife. Unfortunately, that's not attitude we should have. It thrives on ignorance and moreover, it divides human beings terribly. You are bound to say that your faith is the right faith and that others are wrong. What you may horribly fail to understand is that others think the same of their faith.

[ignoranceisbad]

as you say, someone would believe in superman-like creature, so he feels better in a time of distress.

God is the Creator, he is not some physical manifestation. God Exists without place, and time; he cannot be imagined, so he is not a fairy tale, because fairy tales involve times, places, and imagination.

The things you see around you, by way of their attributes indicate they have a begging. They are in need of the one who began them. They cannot come by themselves.

[croutonfada]

@nealsc37 Sure, yeah, I'd love to. That's not how faith interacts with society at large though. I have to live with laws and customs that interfere. I also didn't choose to reject god as such. I simply no longer believed in god. The idea that there is a choice in acceptance or rejection is a Paschal's Wager type argument that is founded on a false idea. Either way I wasn't talking about any of this in my comment, I was just pointing out that you weren't quite right about Dawkin's alien designer.

[nealsc37]

@croutonfada Now we're getting into semantics. If you don't believe in God, it's the same thing as rejecting. Actually, I was correct about Dawkin's comment on the possibility of an alien designer. He simply indicated it was a possibility!

[LordNapalm]

Great clip. And thanks for the encouragement. :)