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From: PiroNiro
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  • ...also the universe is not rationally ordered....it's just that we discover basic laws which DON'T CHANGE. But then again, looking at quantum physics, this statement might be even further from the truth.

  • I say, for anyone to evaluate their ultimate meaning, worth or dignity, first look at all those below you, less fortunate than oneself. Consider those less able to feed themselves, those suffering pain, war, discrimination, hate, torture, hardship or sadness. If you find yourself at baseline, with no one to consider less fortunate, then sure, one would be inhuman to deny a fairy tale story with a lead character called Jesus.

  • for some reason the bishop reminds of me of patrick stewart.

  • This discussion should be model of how religion/science/God/materiali­sm is discussed. I'm quite frankly sick and tired of the hatred and bigotry spewed out by the likes of Hitchens and Dawkins against people of faith.

    Dawkins here is a short blast of fresh air before he is once again reduced to the old diatribing cramp that he is.

  • 247 sits scratching their heads, finding difficulty comprehending so many difficult words.

  • @WolfySnackrib666 And they look like primates while doing so... Proof of evolution indeed.

  • @knowescapex Well, the creationists believe they never evolved. I can see why someone would believe that, judging from all the things that they are lacking.

  • This is the best theist/atheist discussion I've ever watched.

  • This is an astonishingly well conducted conversation, my hope is restored by vids like this which show that there is still some measure of sense or true sanity in the world today.

    

  • Amazing polite atheists are when they aren't speaking to crazed fanatics. Amazing how polite atheists are when they aren't speaking to crazed fanatics.

  • Comment removed

  • I understand Dawkins' point, but I also believe it is essential that you teach a child your traditions and values and then also teach them to make their own decisions. Being a parent is no easy task, and doing it perfectly is maybe the most impossible thing many people aspire to achieve. The more I listen to Dawkins the more I like him even though I absolutely believe in a God who created our spirits and is our Heavenly Father. In science we have yet to learn to measure spirit.

  • @ehukai26 Teaching a child to think for themself should trump all else, and indoctrinating religion only compromises that teaching. Religious people go to great lengths to rationalise their indoctrination but it's really quite simple - if the child wants to follow a religion, he will. Read him the bible in its entirety by all means, although I suspect if more children read the entire bible it would produce a lot more atheists.

  • Dawkins/Hichens spent their entire lives dropping arguments that were presented to; and addressed by the Catholic Church 12H years ago. My church needs to do a much, MUCH better job in letting these hacks know that their ingenious concepts have already been noted and debunked. Historically, Dawkins/Hichens pts. aren’t even the challenging ones! It is, however, always entertaining to hear someone argue their own insignificance, while using the significance of their intellect to persuade.

  • For the people who had the 'thumbs down' or 'thumbs up', the opinion is irrelevant because they didn't explain why!

    For those who explain why are allot more interesting and considered

  • sad how religion traps brilliant men like this bishop...

  • See, this is the type of format I would like to see more often during professional debates. I could really do without the rigid point-rebuttal structure that's typically utilized; it doesn't often allow for this more conversational tone.

  • religious people are just brainwashed , anyone with a brain can see that the bible is bullshit its comical , i sometimes watch the god program for a good laugh.

  • @LongLiveTheBlues I am an atheist, but I don't think Bible is bullshit. Bible is certainly not a book of inquiry or natural explanation. But it is a wonderful piece of literature. We should study it as a history of human thought evolution.

  • i don't understand why there are so many thumbs down. looks like people took their previously conceived opinions and didn't watch the video

  • @thes1KK The people that gave it a thumbs down are likely either ignorant atheists or ignorant religious people. Open your minds; you don't need to adopt the views of Dawkins, and you don't need to adopt the views of the Bishop. You don't need to be a part of something; be it a part of the atheist movement, or a part of the religious movement.

    I really don't understand why people feel the need to be a part of something.

  • @MartyBlois Atheism isn't a movement. Calling it a movement is somewhat derogatory, as if it is a rebellious ideology, whereas it is merely a blanket term for all people who reject faith, for whatever reason, including people who simply don't give a shit. A bit like "militant atheism", these are terms designed to make Atheism appear as an ideology, which it isn't.

  • amazing bishop, awesome interview, they both showed so much respect for each other

  • @h1roshi918 They clearly easily get along with eachother, it's such a nice break from the trolling environment of youtube.

  • beautiful!

  • If only all religious people were as thoughtful as this guy

  • @NormanBatesIsMyMum

    Don't be so closed minded, the world is larger than your experience of it :)

  • This man should be pope. I think I can count the intelligent, rational religious conversations I have witnessed on one hand, and this is one of them.

    For once, it seems as though Dawkins is not just talking to a robot.

  • @taicleis Anglicans are heretics btw, he can't be a pope

  • The Bisop speaks real truth at 4:33!!

  • 246 dislikes? This is one of the few intelligent religious debates I've heard. What were those 246 people afraid of?

  • Why can't all religious debates be like this?

    Why can't we realize that arguing about religion versus atheism is like arguing about arguing about favorite colors? instead we should be focussing on helping our fellow man and increasing our collective knowledge. I myself am a christian (not that it really matters) but the more I learn about science, the more it increases my beliefs. its up to everyone to decide what they believe for themselves. lets agree to disagree, live and let live

  • @belgianmobster17 I agree with your statement, to many people have made these debates degenerate in to childish squabbles, both sides are guilty of this whether its christians saying they hope dawkins burns in hell or atheists calling christians or other people of religion superstitious retards. Even tho im not a fan of richard dawkins its good to see a nice and civilized debate.

  • this is great... two old wise men having a great conversation... with respect

  • Its like the religious Jew hanging from a cliff by a vine. A rat is chewing away at the vine at the top of the cliff and this guy is furiously raying, "Hashem please save me, please help me?!" The vine breaks and as he plummets to his death he calls out, "Allah, Buddha, Jesus, anyone...help me" We are all like this

  • Isn't this ironic that he's talking with a intelligent Christian in his hometown?

  • To me Richard is like the guy testing a car he deeply wishes to purchase. he kicks the tyres, drives the car to breaking point to see if it is worthy. He is deeply disappointed in religion as having failed his many tests. He is waiting for the person who will not disappoint him - this fellow I believe comes the closest

  • @pietrrocks Richard is going to end being an Agnostic soon. Very soon.

  • This guy is the weakest Christian I have ever seen. I don't think this is a debate so much as a Bishop acknowledging his lack of faith.  Sad.

  • ...hmm, hmm,hmm,hmm,hmm... way to go bishop! LOL

  • I really like this interview. It puts forward a legitimate religious view, without apologising. he does not shrink before rationality. I still think he's wrong, but I enjoyed the discussion.

  • That richness is nature her self. Come on, thumbs up. like trees and animals and other shit aha

  • That richness is nature her self. Come on, thumbs up.

  • He's my type of Bishop. I think I'll enrol in his version

  • Why, I am filled with spirits sometimes. Usually during the weekend.

  • @TheRoguesse Haha. Well said.

  • @TheRoguesse Spiritus contra spiritum.

    Booze kills kindness.

  • I'm glad to see less extreme views of both atheists and christians.

  • @Metaldude1945 > I do think most Christians and Atheists have rather moderate views*.

    Unfortunately, it's usually the intolerant ones, the "fundamentalists" of both sides that make themselves heard the loudest...

  • I wonder if the followers of Dawkin realise he is desperately seeking God.?

  • @jonesgerard How ridiculous! No - that is your opinion of what he is seeking...don't say it as if it were truth

  • @jonesgerard LMAO, good joke.

  • @jonesgerard that's what i think!!! for the first time i see mr Dawkins asking question with a hoping gesture here... :)

  • @swingplato Well the bishop is no fool, well educated and with a reasoned approach. All atheists seek truth , younger ones just get off acting petulent but the mature atheist honestly seeks.

  • i believe in Evolution but this bishop is totally cool

  • Richard Dawkins is God.

  • @YetAnthony oh shut up!

  • @YetAnthony Your God is a fool.

  • @YetAnthony you're delusioning man... :))

  • This is an interesting example of a bishop. It seems to me, that he doesnt believe or agree with many things in the bible. He almost seems to be more a deist than a christian. Maybe Sir Humphrey Appleby was right about the english bishops :)

  • dang, i love these types of interviews.. simply amazing.

  • This bishop is ridiculous.... just another moderate saying his religion is the right one (to a certain degree) when there is just the same amount of proof that Islam or hinduism is correct

  • ...It's a little like someone who is only aware of the AM frequency band, on radio, and when people tell him about FM programming, he refuses to allow as possible simply because he won't tune his receiver to that bandwidth. (I am not affiliated with any church or religion, by the way, but I find the whole discussion rather disappointing.)

  • what a great deal of mutual respect for one anothers beliefs, but you know in the back of the bishops mind hes thinking, yeah this guy is fucked up

  • opinions* (plural)

  • Richard Dawkins is against Christ. This man is clearly a sensationalist who is deluded by his hatred of God and his perversion. Judgement day is coming, and it's time to repent and put your love and faith towards Jesus Christ. Accept him as your saviour today! Anyone who takes Darwin's madman ramblings for truth is a nutter - they were just superstitous myths!

  • @TruthfulChristian2 wow... I find it hard to believe that anyone could be so simple minded to say what you just said, people outside the mind set of delusionist (delusionist meaning you !) see your words and religious convictions disturbing, almost sub human, you actually referred to Darwinism as superstitious myths, this is coming from a person that believes in fairy tales. it's scary that people can be this brain washed.

  • Ray Comfort needs to take some lessons from this Bishop.

  • why don't I come over there and punch your fat face for jesus

  • @bonfire5555

    LOL. Classic. I remember that from that Atheist talk show clip on youtube. I was dying laughing.

  • @jdnmlm haha thank you for finally being someone who gets it =D

  • This was such a good discussion. He lost me at the super powers though. Even still well though out discussion.

  • I wonder why Richard isn't bashing religion now as he usually does...Hhhmmmmm...

  • Good stuff, but um, couldn't Dawkins' camerman afford a tripod?

  • @Godsfirstborn

    Children dont know where to stand on neither politicial nor religious issues , every men born as human , l have never heard son of catholic parents , or have never heard son of islam but l heard moslem parents , catholic parents , or jewis , so basically it s very absurd putting children in politic and religios issues , because they are called children and can not know where to stand of this kinda issues .

    Regards

  • This is when the Bishop's argument started falling apart. I can handle his sort of neo-Catholic perspective on the beauty in the universe. But that being said, it's not fair for him to say that miracles such as the "Virgin birth" shouldn't play any part in the discussion when the institution he abides to has systematically implemented the figure of the VIrgin Maria into daily life for Catholics. It's as though he side-steps everything written in the Bible, but still calls himself a Catholic.

  • did you watch the whole clip? hes not arguing that young children can make up their mind, he is saying the exact opposite, which is why he is against religious indoctrination of children. he thinks a person should have their own opinions and decide for themselves which religion, if any, they want to practice. dont put words in his mouth, thats rude.

  • @kristopopins: Yes I did, did you? It is not only religion which labels children from an early age. other crap and labels are forced upon them as well "Global Warming" "evolution" "racism" "sexism" It is wrong and ignorant of dawkins to say children as young as 5 are mature enough to have their own minds and decissions.

    Dawkina is grasping at straws, desperate to make mans religion look bad. I am not for mans religion, But their are better arguments than the this one against it..

  • ya ive watched it twice. he does not say children can make up their minds at age 5, im not sure where your getting that from, but its not in this video. and ive never heard of a global warming child, an evolutionist child or even a sexist child either.

  • @kristopopins: he says children should make up their own minds, maybe not those exact words. His whole argument is pathetic. I am not in support of mans religion but by the time a baby can walk he/she has over 20 labels placed on them by where they live eg "hes a new yorker", their race "hes an asian", what football team their father goes for "he's a gunners supporter", what their parents do on the weekend "hes a opera fan". It is not just religion. Dawkins is blinded by his hate of religion.

  • @Godsfirstborn : yes labels are forced on children. we call this education and culture.

    however, many children, even younger than 5, make life and death decisions every day.

    children survive if they make the right decisions. they die or are maimed if they make the wrong decisions. this has nothing to do with morality.

    Dawkins is having a very interesting and fruitful discussion. if we view a video without preconceived notions, we may learn something.

  • those crap and labels as you say are theories which have mountains of evidence behind them.

  • @cuervocorazon  do you know what you arer talking about?

    or you on auto pilot and just keep answering everything with: "which have mountains of evidence behind them."

  • @Godsfirstborn if I were to tell you that the boogeyman is in my back yard would you believe me? of course not, you would ask me to prove it.

  • @cuervocorazon

    what does that have to do with anything???

    you say there is mountain of evidence, evidence for what? children being labeled as "christian" "hindu". do you think before you type?

    I never said that was not true i just said children get labeled what ever their parents like or what group they join, not just religion. Children are not educated, mature, old enough to decide what religion, belief or life they want. Dawkins is grasping at straws.

  • your the one that labels those things as crap so therefor you are the one that doesn't think before you type, I believe its wrong to impose those kinds of things upon children if thats what your getting at.

  • as for the evidence I was talking about, I was refering to global warming, and the other things you said were crap, all of them are proven facts, thats what I said has mountains of evidence behind them.

  • @cuervocorazon

    heard of climategate?  its interesting

  • I have just checked it and yes its quite interesting, global warming is a natural process, and there are unfortunately there are people who are going to cover the natural part about it up, but thats what politicians and journalists are for mate, to suppress public notion and keep the sheep in line.

  • @cuervocorazon

    The earth warming up has/is happening all the time, but it balances itself out, It is like a sound wave, comes and goes.

    The earth was hot then we had the ice age then ice age left. it is No Where near as bad as the scientists, politicans, media mae it out to be, it is just to get more money. in the past 100 years the temperature has risen 1/2 a degree.

    The biggest methane producers are all living creatures on the planet.

    There is nothing anyone can do about it.

  • @cuervocorazon

    I know you are trying to change the subject to believers in god trying to defend themselves. This clip and discussion has nothing to do with that.

    if you told me there is a boogyman in the backyard and ment it i would be right in assuming you are as young as you appear to be.

  • Of course forcing things on to children is wrong, I was simply responding on to you calling things like CO2 crap.

  • ok after checking this carefully I can see that I was being rash, so I apologize for it, to begin with: Global warming and evolution, these are proven things.

    racism and sexism are pointless things because we all belong to the same species: Homo Sapiens.

    and 5 year old children are not old enough to make their own decisions so I agree that Dawkins is wrong there.

    again I recognize that I have posted stupid things as arguments so my bad.

  • this bishop is the most rational and well-spoken religious man i have heard...props to him...

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  • people with different opinions having a rational debate- seriously rare.

  • @bluetwofour

    More like a conversation, or a discussion as Dawkins called it.

    But nevertheless, very pleasant to watch, rational indeed.

    Nowadays, opinion more clash than converge, I guess it's just a matter of a person, really. Human beings are as rational as much as they are irrational.

    I guess it all depends on one thing or another.

    Still, I'd like to think people can gather around facts ultimately.

    That's what keeps us sane and reasonable in the end.

    Fiction doesn't do anybody any good.

  • I disagree, they aren't being forced to believe in Jesus and they aren't being forced to go to that particular religious school. Legally and technically speaking, your parents have the right to send you to whatever school they want. If they want to be brought up with a religious education then let it be so. It's a thing called 'ownership'. No-one is forcing the child.

  • @TruthfulChristian2

    You can disagree all you want, and go pray and repent some more.

    Facts are facts, and you're just a religious freak that only cares about fiction.

    Also, you can actively work on bringing the end of the world about by polluting environment, talking shit about science, etc.

    The sooner you meet your maker, the better, right? Ignorant creationist fool.

  • @TruthfulChristian2

    My good Sir let me get this straight

    If i own a person, lets call this slavery, and I order him/her to do what ever I want Im not forcing this person because its "ownership" ....oh.....I see Very Logical.

  • @TruthfulChristian2 "your parents have the right to send the child to an school they want" "No-one is forcing the child."  Do you even bother to think about what you write?

  • @TruthfulChristian2 Parents don't 'own' their children - they can be taken away if they don't look after them properly by Social Services! And of course they are being forced to believe in Jesus - they sing prayers about jesus & learn religious studies at school. Religion should have no part in education save to learn about religious studies & hopefully that will become part of history lessons anyway...

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  • @bluetwofour very well said.

  • @bluetwofour i agree...this discussion is beautiful. diversity being open to each others diversity and communicating.

  • @bluetwofour

    It shouldn't be like that. People, even in this great age of scientific, technocratic process people can't tolerate anything different to their own way of thinking. This is how it should be!

  • POOPPEPPER, LOL, according to statistics in the USA (Federal Bureau of Prisons) a non-believer is rarely ending in prison compared to a Christian. One reason might be that non-believers in the USA are often found in the very intelectual and educated part of the US population while the less educated with lower income are more religious.

    Same trend between countries where the USA scores low in crime rates and is the most Christian country in the western world.

  • This is a great conversation, finally!

  • No it isn't. They are both treading carefully around each other and trying not to say anything that might give offence. Hitchens would have made this a far more effective and provocative interview. He certainly would not have let the bishop get away with all his revisionist nonsense.

  • Hitchens is idiotic and would just interrupt rudely. This is an important topic. I am glad to see Dawkins in a less aggressive mode. Revisionist nonsense? I thought the Bishop provided great reasons for his faith.

  • Nonsense, he denied most of his own bible. He is what Hitchens describes accurately as an A La Carte Christian. Pick out the nice fluffy bits from the bible and pretend that all the shit isn't there. I have nothing but contempt for such people.

  • I think the goal was to get away from the Bible, which can be interpreted in many different ways, and examine why someone would believe in a Loving Creator in the first place. They had a nice conversation.

  • "They had a nice conversation".

    That's all very well. But I personally, (and I shouldn't imagine I'm alone) are not looking for a "nice polite cosy chat", I would much prefer a more robust, searching encounter.

    Dawkins is being far too polite, easy going and kind, and letting him get away with far too much. it's all too convenient, and wishy washy.

    He's a Pick 'n Mix christian.

    I think there is some kind of history between these two. He seems to be far too reticent and uninclined to offend him.

  • thank you for pointing that out, I too felt that dawkins was tip toeing his way about him. Though I think one must consider that they although they aren't colleagues and therefor not professionally involved with each other, they are still both very well acquainted and I get a feeling of mutual respect. I see this as no more then a pleasant discussion between the two, rather then a serious debate. But still, I agree, Hitchens wouldn't have been so lenient

  • Yeah it's actually interesting to see Dawkins not being sharp and harsh as he is when interviewing people who already black labelled evolution.

    It might be because Dawkins see him as a tool to open many Christians eyes seeing a bishop open minded to science.

  • Have you seen this one?

    watch?v=po0ZMfkSNxc

  • Is Dawkins an Atheists? He sounds like he's going to reconvert to Anglicism.

  • The Root of All Evil? MONEY!!!!

    Truthknowledge. com

  • The bishop needs to cease the "mmmm."

  • i was born a catholic and went to catholic schools and went to church on sunday. i hate it looking back as i was forced to do all their practises like prayer etc. kids need philosophy on a basic level not confusion

  • You weren't born a Catholic. Nobody is born anything. You were indoctrinated as one in your early childhood by your parents. Congratulations on your escape, though.

  • sorry i meant born into catholic way of life and thanks.

  • @donepearce "You weren't born a Catholic. Nobody is born anything. "

    Regardless of whether God actually exists, it seems that belief in God is pretty hardwired into us, though. Studies show that even when children are not taught about God, they will often invent the idea.

  • @Jugglable That's true, but then the idea of astrology is also hardwired into us. As is the idea of the efficacy of prayer, the idea of witchcraft, the idea of fairies and dragons appear in most cultures. Now I can't disprove any of these beliefs conclusively but without positive evidence I can only remain skeptical. I certainly wouldn't base my entire life's philosophy on them.

  • @donepearce Yeah, Catholism is a cult.

    Although Jesus saves :)

  • This conversation is beautiful I wish I could get some insight from theists like this bishop.

    however i feel extremely sorry for the camerman.

  • I don't. They get paid well and he gets to listen to this fascinating conversation while doing it

  • richard dawkins is one of my heros, and im a staunch athiest, i feel like he misses the "societal/political influence" "half" of the the religious equation

  • Dawkins complains about children being labelled as xtian Muslim ect but is quite happy to refer to a child as an it

  • Was there meant to be a point to that comment?

  • erm duh.....

  • If that's a yes, there what the hell was your point?

  • If u want an argument then you are wasting your time because my comment was addressed to anyone who has the intelligence to see the obvious. I don't have time for stupid questions, sorry

  • How ironic. Wouldn't someone who is intelligent be able to tell the difference between someone saying "She is a Muslim child" and "It's a child"?

    He's simply referring to the child as an "it" because it's easier than saying "He or she" all the time. That's completely different from referring to somebody by their religious or political beliefs.

  • How ironic. You actually believe what you are saying.

  • I though this was an excellent dialogue. My personal view as far as spiritually derived miracles is that there are indeed relationships and forces within what we see in the physical like gravity which we cannot fully yet understand or explain. And so I think there is rational reason for believing that miracles could happen- though like the Bishop said in a likely to be small number.

  • AW! Too many miracles is why in the history of mankind, an amputee has never been granted a documented miracle from God? Does God not hear the prayers of amputees? Think about it...Healing an amputee...would be really impressive! Curing lepers...childs play, Raising from the dead...means nothing, no one signed the death certificated, but...but...replacing a severed limp back...Now that is BIG TIME STUFF! Too bad it never happened!

  • While I respect this bishop's modern liberalized view on things, it's just deteriorating the religion; therefore why not just toss the entire religion to the curb? People need to stop cherry picking and admit the bible was a violent, hateful, malevolent fairytale

  • He says that he takes the bible as a metaphor. He even mentioned Genesis. Wonder what he thinks this part means: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." 16 To the woman he said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." Sounds like I can kick my wife in the head and rule.

  • "therefore why not just toss the entire religion to the curb?" Listen to the interview ffs! DAWKINS asks him just that question...

  • It's funny. It almost sounds like you think I'm a Christian. Here's a hint: Just because I'm correcting your faulty interpretation of the bishop's words doesn't mean I agree with the bishop's words. You might try a little less "HULK SMASH" and a little more listening. You're not going to get anywhere by responding with anger toward everything you don't understand. And if you haven't caught on by now, I'm calling you a dullard.

  • A limited amount of miracles?? They'll say anything to sound correct this buffoon actually said god has a severely limited amount of miracles.. I guess 'Turning water to wine" for a wedding must be soooooo very important then to use one of those severely limited miracles....WTF????

  • He wasn't saying that God's power is limited or that he'll run out of "Miracle Fuel." He's saying that human rationality is seated in our ability to systematically interpret the world around us and the order of its natural laws. Should he use too many miracles, it would be almost like spoiling children, or at the very least it would be rather confusing. God would essentially be invalidating his creation's interpretation of the world; contradicting natural laws by way of his miracles.

  • Oh shut up, you sound just as stupid as the bishop. "god would essentially be invalidating his creation's interpretation of the world" As if you even have any idea what your magical super powered boyfriend thinks.

  • The first religous argument that any person of faith has put across that seems fairly logical.

    He fully realises his religion limits, fascinating.

  • Hehehe, I don't claim to know something I have no way of proving is true. I'm saying that particular quote is a terrible way of describing religion that borders insulting. And before this goes on, i've not attacked you personally nor did I intend to. I'm disagreeing with what you have quoted.

  • Mmm, i feel hesitant to for two reasons, one because it implies that followers of religion are lesser beings to the "nonbelievers" which is not nice to say considering there are many brilliant religious people. and two, because Freud was a psychologist who associated many subconscious symbols with sex and most of his theories have been proven completely false.  plus this quote seems to be a jumble of semi coherent words.

  • brilliant discussion!

  • At 08:41 the Bishop affirmingt his belief in miracles and the capacity to heal says that some "human beingS have from the spirit of god within THEM developped this extraodinary capacity through a closeness to God but also through very extensive spiritual discipline" I thought only Jesus had such powers as a living human being!!! Who are those LIVING human beingS, apart from Jesus Christ therefore, who have or had the capacity to make miracles???? Said Baba?

  • Dunno, anyway want me to call the ambulance?

  • Preach it!

  • what a delightful colloquy

  • These "gentlemen" try to sound so very mature, so understanding of one another and the world. What one NEVER hears in these sophisticated discussions is the fact that the participants (for the most part) belong to an extreme minority population. Their personal take on things social CANNOT BE as accurate as they would like for us to believe.

    "They" find it so very easy to wax on about how wonderful life is... While the rest of duck and cover for another tomorrow.

  • Their take on social issues can very well be accurate. The problem is it isn't persuasive on the vast majority.

  • Yes, science "can" understand, I agree. However, not so much when it comes to social sciences. Most social science is very, very weak precisely because of the insulation and exclusion afforded by the ones doing the science. They get it wrong because they almost NEVER truly understand the complexity, nor the confounding nature, of what they call "stations in life."

    "Unless you've been there" DOES apply very strongly in the practice of social science. This is "why" they aren't persuasive.

  • I don't understand. Is your argument that they don't understand what they're talking about because they haven't lived it? And, therefor, their opinions on the workings of organized religion are invalid?

  • Dawkins says "I believe in the healing power of placebos" but what he should really be saying is "I believe in the power of doctors".

  • ... Please don't tell me you think Doctors shouldn't be trusted. I hope for the safety of your kids you don't actually think that.

  • Human beings are just human beings. You can't say that science "can't understand anything in this field" because the people who do it aren't capable of doing it. That's just their human minds being too limited to be able to fully explore it. Which is why someone has to start researching it, and depending on how complex the issue is, you'd have to do it again and again and again... Basically revise until you get it right.

    Science is all about trial and error, not just saying "WRONG" and stopping

  • ILL BECOME ANGLICAN Xd

  • It's very refreshing to see an extremely prolific atheist and bishop harmonizing, and having an intelligent discussion without snide jabs at each other underpinned by their antithetic views.

    The bishop seems to be much more grounded than the majority of theists.

  • it is very refreshing!

    a true christian (or any religious person should always be a very reasonable and open minded person) they can be advocates of science, reason and logic without compromising faith.

    i think the most refreshing thing he said was his views on gay rights. showing his true colors as a man of reason.

  • Glad to see that you are acquainted with the majority of theists. You are obviously a widely-travelled and well-read person, with an incredible range of historical references available to you.

    And with reference to a few comments below, notably that of "mattyrm" I think it's to be regretted that so many comments on YouTube are from people whose sad lack of education prevents them from putting their views over clearly. I love the idea of DAWKINS THE DIVINE!