Richard Dawkins on The Big Questions, BBC (6/6)

[chimaeraproductions]

"I don't think I've been brainwashed" - the brainwashed never know they have been....

[kevincostnermyhero]

That woman pisses me off so much...I completely agree with J. Barrowman. I am a fan of his already, but that has no sway in my beliefs, and I've agreed with everything he has said. 

[zakizack]

thumps up if you think Christopher hitchens would have made this kid cry.

[TriathDreamer]

@zakizack lol

[flossbucket]

Children should be given a chance to believe what they want, but that also means they should be educated in religion, ethics, and morality. I was raised as an athiest, but I went to a Christian school, and although I don't believe in God, a lot of my belief system has been taken from what I learnt from school. The most important thing is to provide children with a sense of right and wrong, and an education on religion so when they are old enough to choose they can make an informed decision.

[jmlew]

faith = belief

science = evidence

No wonder they clash. If any religious apologist says otherwise, they're welcome to to live in a cave devoid of technological advancements.

[MamaMario13]

gay people get too much shit

[pokethechutney]

Anne Widdecombe is a biting, rude little toad.

[up2trix]

gaawwwwd anne widdicome is such an insufferable dumb shit

[LabRat6619]

The Big Questions is really Christianity by the back door! Christianity is always represented and spoken about?

[ExtremeBogom]

I like this program; there's always good points to be heard, people actually have respect for each others opinions, and everyone seems to add something to the mix.

Also it's nice to have a talk/debate/faith show without an obsession with war and politics.

Cheers for the upload.

[eyadayesh]

If they believe in freedom of speech and freedom of thought and in the value of human life, then that should be extended to people who are seen to be undeserving, who might as well be misunderstood. Just because a person does something bad, does not necessarily mean they are bad or evil. Believing someone is misguided or wrong does not mean that there is hate involved or lack of religious discussion between people or advocacy of violence.

[RPFS2008]

Just as the Atheists only "belief" is that there is no God (or atleast no reason to believe that there is one), the Secularists only belief is that they do not think that religion should rule a society. Any other views are simply the individual's. You seem confused.

[VarialProductions]

I love how the Christians accuse secularists of imposing their views. England is not secular. There are no secular schools. In contrast, their are plenty of Religious schools that indoctrinate. If you don't like secularism move to another damn country. We seen how well theocracies work.

[bazzymushpea123]

I don't think all religous schools indoctrinate- I think its over exaggerated. I went to two Christian primary schools so there was always collective prayer and hymns and Christian teachings, however I don't think I or anybody else understood it- I sure as hell didn't pay any attention to prayer or what I was taught about the bible, it was just a routine thing to me.

[eyadayesh]

For a seculars to hate a person for being religious(no matter how harsh the religion), is hypocricy on the seculars' part, since they teach that all people no matter how weird, crazy or even hateful should be tolerated, unless they commit some type physical harm to someone. It shows a lack of openess to understand that some people believe in ideas, religions, etc, for different reasons, not necessarily because they are evil or selfish.

[eshnajizzle]

@eyadayesh

I think you falsely generalize secularism. It doesn't teach that all people should be tolerated as they are. It simply says that religion should be kept outside of governance.

Liberalism does claim, what you accredited to secularism, and so , I'm sure,do several others. It is not however a "secular" belief.

Just to play with semantics. The point is still valid.

[summersonset]

The documentary JesusCamp, am gonna watch it tomorrow, and I read from people who have watched it, many had to stop after a while, finding it utterly disturbing to watch what's happening to these children. After having seen only that short clip in previous video, it became instantly clear its indoctrination and child abuse 100%. wow!

[AisforAtheism]

The Jewish atheist lady is spot on. Richard Dawkins is consistently brilliant.

[VimisiDigitalMedia]

I think the main idea here is "What constitutes abuse of a childs mind?" A base of a particular religion is fine, as it provides a base for a belief system should they so desire it in later years. But it's one sided. An education of all religions/beliefs is better. And one that includes NO RELIGION as an option, is even better because it grants a child the 100% natural right to self made decisions and responsibilities. Can I hear an AMEN? LOL (kidding). Before I die, I want to meet Dawkins. :)

[TiedLaces]

If we assume children are capable of understanding these kind of decisions, why don't we remove the age of consent?

[summersonset]

TiedLaces, such an excellent point!

[xtrashed]

The blindness of the atheist community on this point is a continual source of astonishment to me. Evolution, as a biological process, does not contradict religious/Christian faith. And it does not contradict the Bible . But evolution can not answer questions such as the Origin of life, Origin of consciousness, Origin of morality etc.

[okristian1]

Neither does it try to do so. Theory of evolution explains the diversity of life. Perhaps you are a little blind yourself?

[sy1234]

> The blindness of the atheist community on this point is a continual source of astonishment to me. Evolution, as a biological process, does not contradict religious/Christian faith. And it does not contradict the Bible

Doesn't contradict the bible?

The bible, where bats are birds and whales are fish.

Right.

[eydos]

Consciusness actually can be explained in a natural framework, meaning not ONLY by evolution, but by structural biology, psychology and philosophical rationality too. For me as an atheist is inevitably true, that consciousness also must have a natural and rational explanation which is coherent with my basic epistemologic assumptions. A complex phenomena must not be understood as being the product of a single source, nevertheless the explanation must be realistic.

[eydos]

Also, I would point out that the origin of life may no YET be fully understood scientifically, but this means not that it wont be in the future. Science evolves. Wait until science as we know it will be as old as your religion, then we might talk about whether science can or can not explain the "Origins" - with a big O, obviously - you mentioned.

[automaticSOM]

Evolution directly contradicts the bible, as evolution could not take place over 6000 years. Face it!

[VOD713]

@xtrashed MORON

[xtrashed]

The Church has written a great deal about evolution as expressed in textbooks. The key points made by Pope Benedict and Pope John Paul II is that current theories of evolution tell you that man arose due to random genetic mutations and natural selection, and that, from the Catholic perspective, that answer is incomplete. The Church views scientific knowledge and knowledge given by God, what it calls 'the deposit of faith,' as complementary, like two halves that when combined, make up a whole.

[lonerook860]

Using religion to fill the gaps of our understanding does not qualify as creating a wholesome body of knowledge. Your God of the gaps argument is completely unscientific.

[xtrashed]

"the universe erupted 15 billion years ago in an explosion called the 'Big Bang' and has been expanding and cooling ever since and about 10 billion years later the formation of planets. In our own solar system and on earth (formed about 4.5 billion years ago), the conditions have been favorable to the emergence of life....the first organism dwelt on this planet about 3.5 - 4 billion years ago." (International Theological Commission headed by Ratzinger / Benedict, Communion and Stewardship, 2004)

[xtrashed]

Evolution is perfectly compatible with the book of Genesis when properly interpreted.

[TiedLaces]

No, it isn't. Stop lying to yourself.

[lonerook860]

"Evolution is perfectly compatible with the book of Genesis when properly interpreted. "

How convenient.

[Baldurpet]

@ lonerook860

Your comment absolutely summed the whole issue up.

Congratulation.

[hedgehoghoodlum]

It's bullshit mate don't be fooled by religiolites!

[nickyact1]

Yeah, I can tell you find him attractive, you right little mincer you!!

[DeusExNihilum]

that 14 year old sounded so high

[hercules71185]

come out of the closet bro. You will be happier. I see you looking at a straight man such as Dawkins and hoping he is on your side of the fence. Either stay in the closet or come out.

[LouisPlume]

Typical stupid response from moderate religious people to extremism, they decide that an act committed with supporting religious text is or is sanctioned by god.

These people are using a very human approach to decide what is a morale act. They are not using religion to decide what is moral, they are using morality to decide what is religion.

[mathmexican4234]

I find him attractive ;) lol

[TheArcaneAvenger]

Wow, so this is what God teaches...

[davidatheist]

It seems that your are a bit obsessed with homosexuality globetrekker2 its ok if you are gay there is nothing wrong with it.

[shubidubar]

ad hominem logical fallacy.. typical :)

[ViperRob42]

I wish American TV would have any kind of conversation even remotely similar to this. I'm glad we have Religulous and I hope its a step in the direction for a debate on the important topic of Faith and the BS of religion

[theburningfretboard]

Richard Dawkins is amazing.

[peaceiscontagious]

why is "respecting" authority a virtue ? Hitler was the authority in Germany

[eastjame]

the presenter on this show is an idiot

[itbgcthanteg1]

What has been done in the name of religion is one thing(and remember satan does use relgion as part of plan on this earth) and the truth of Jesus is another. People can't seperate the two there for can't except the second one mentioned. For the wages of sinis death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christour Lord.

[synkronyk]

how can satan exist??? what could stand up to your god's will???????

[violentsilence4u]

you moron...

[itbgcthanteg1]

This teacher has somereallysmart kids in her audience who don't believe anything the education system teachesthem. I thinkshe is the one who fallen for the evolution lie. CheckoutKent Hovind. This lady thinks evolution is a fact,iudon't blame your its drummed into your brain from childhood.

[synkronyk]

that you believe kent horvid makes you a fucktard

[fergawdsache]

You can try to allow your child to make up their own mind, but you can be sure the r.e. teachers and peer pressure to believe will force them in one direction.

When most adults at school pass on their religious views as policy the child would need extrordinary levels of will power to remain undecided.

I know ive tried it, my daughter who is eight believes her teachers and agrees to differ with me,and i can see why.

So how bad is it for those, whose parents reinforce this message too.

[erjoalgo]

it is simply a matter of which influence is strongest

[zeroxpectations]

Mycotheham, if you cannot tell by now the majority of those that respond to this video have no respect for Christianity. They look to science to justify their hatred for Christians. Read the posts. The only religion called out is Christianity. It is ok to be an "Environmentalist" and preach about Global Warming in every school book or TV commercial, but dare not utter the Ten Commandments unless you desire a verbal crucifiction. God holds individuals accountable and so many refuse him.

[Reseda1994]

Well i respect christianity, but how many people have died in te name of christianity? or any other religion out there. I believe in a creator but not governing over me or you. We have a power with us and it's up to you to activate. If animals can detect earthquakes before they hit. Then there more intuned with the universe than we are

[echoez71]

What value do the ten commandments hold, really? A lot of them are pretty much common sense which clearly outdate the bible, and others are pretty much meaningless. 'Keep the Sabbath Holy' for example. What is the sabbath? Saturday or Sunday? How does one 'keep it holy' in any case? By refusing to work? How about surgeons, policemen and so on? If anyone needs the obvious to be written down for them then they need help, and not just christians.

[CoxXximus]

RELIGION.... GET RID OF IT !!!

[funknotik1]

Though i ravage worlds to live, i bear malice to no living thing. I simply do what i must to survive- Galactus

Galactus will eat earth and every fucking thing on it so it makes no difference in the end!! Galactus will fuck up god and jesus!

[jcadwell1172]

"thier reasoning methods break down"

fantastic!

[TheConciseStatement]

It's the crucial point isn't it.

The bottom line is the average religious parent's desire seems to be, 'By the time your 18, you're pretty much going to agree with everything I say' not really giving a damn to the means at which the child gets there. If it has to be through the child just nodding its head and repeating the same routine over and over, so be it.

The fundamental problem of parenting : how do you raise someone to be their own person when we're biased toward our own moral code?

[emphaticapathy]

What is the point in debate if there are no standards on which the 'truth' can be defined?

[JanisChambers]

"And Sam did say, 'I shall not like green eggs and ham', and surely he did not."

And so, my bible proves that Sam does not like green eggs and ham. In other words, stop using Bible verses, using religion to prove religion is much akin to the answer to what's holding up a flat earth "Turtles, all the way down"

[St37One]

If the mind has a proclivity for "supernatural" explanations of events, this just means that they are liable to make mistakes. To arive at false beliefs about the natural world. Knowledge is hard won, So what?

[MrFacet]

And why did you choose Christianity and not for instance Islam, Buddhism (very popular here), Paganism, Wodan&Thor, ... ?

[mikezephyr]

Reasons for gods:

emotional attachment, neurological dependency, social and environmental pressures, prevalency of christian-myths in the culture, loyalty to class position, bourgeois consciousness that respects jesus the do-gooder, underlying fear of death-ego-separation, unresolved psychological tensions and commitments to childhood libidic traumas etc.

btw fuck wotan it's all about zeus ftw! i reconverted to the bearded one after a short lapse into Appolianism. I let zeus into my heart!

[MrFacet]

Myco, I think we have established that bible quotes only convince those who are already accepting the bible as truth. And even then I am sure I can find contradicting quotes. Please...

[MrFacet]

"He said nothing about bringing up children within religious guidelines."

In fact he agreed that is ok to educate them on your religion, as long as you tell them it is a choice the parent made and keep the option open that later in life the kid follows another path.

[MrFacet]

Mycothelam, your quotes show you believe the Bible is the book of the one and only God. Why did you choose the Bible? Why not some other religion? I believe that was because since you were young you were told that Christianity is the Only Right Thing. If your history would be erased and you had to choose afresh from all available religions, on what base would you choose your religion?

[saintee1000]

And sitting on the fence is not a safe choice if you believe in religious dogma.

[BobHaulk]

does no one believe in Zeus any more? How about Thor ? Personally, all religions are bullshit and any debate about it is a waste of time. They use debate to continue their beliefs. I'm still waiting for one single piece of evidence of a god.

Why get Dawkins on the show then let all these idiots speak all the time

[johntheclark]

Religion means conflict.

Choosing ONE religion is accepting to lose friends of others, if you respect the exclusivity of each religion.

[bigalisme]

Exactly. Saying Jesus is the son of god is evil in the eyes of Islam and Judaism. Saying Jesus wasn't the son of god is evil in the eyes of Christianity. Saying Jesus was a false prophet is evil in the eyes of Islam and christianity.

You can't win here, kids, so grow up!

[rikkiboy123]

The success of any religion is down to one simple fact. How much the person or persons involved install fear into the one being converted. This is their secret. Throughout history mankind has lived in ignorance. Nowadays I believe the origin of mankind is wide open and I only believe in what I can see, hear sense or taste. Sir Isaac Newton, the greatest scientist of all time, believed in God and for me thats good enough. The evidence is out there. You just have to search and find it.

[saxmanchiro]

rikkibiy123

Find it an post it so that we can all lavish in the 'evidence' that you speak. We atheists all wait. Problem is, we wait and wait and wait and wait. NOTHING! Newton lived a long time ago when science was very young. We have grown up since then and you need to allow yourself to be informed.

[rikkiboy123]

Read richard Miltons book Shattering the myths of Darwinism. Basically it presents all the relevant facts regarding the origins of life and the reader makes up their own mind. Its a captivating book. And changes your perspective or way of thinking. Its up to you fella to find out the information for yourself and make up your own mind. Not for me to shove it down your throat. Read the book and you will see what I mean

[saxmanchiro]

rikkiboy

What is your take on Dr. Spencer Well's Genographic Project, using DNA markers to trace back in time, man's migration around the globe over 60,000 yrs? How do you refute this evidence for some of our history? How about fossil evidence (A. Afarensis) of a bipedal, 3.5 million yr old hominid? How about Peking Man,? H. habilis, H.erectus, etc. How about the closeness of DNA for us and chimps? Need more? There exists thousands of pieces of evidence for evolution of man! Your evidence?

[bigalisme]

rikkiboy should read some of the reviews from the scientific community of that book by Milton.

They recommend it as a read if you want a laugh. It was simply intellectually raped... lol.

[saintee1000]

rikkiboy123 sir Isaac Newton died in 1727 he did not posess the knowledge we have at our disposal today. This is a man who was fantastically bright but was living in an age of comparitive ignorance. He did not know the extent of our globe nevermind the universe and its functions and had he held modern day knowledge it is only possible to speculate as to what his views may have been.

[rikkiboy123]

Well you should look him up on the net. hes wrote many books and thesis. what you have to admit is this. There have been many scientists, thinkers, philosophers far ahead of their time. Newton was one of them. And he was a fervent believer in God. Personally Im on the fence. I think its the safest bet.

[saintee1000]

There is no doubt Newton had a fervent belief in Christianity and was a brilliant mind. I would argue that given the knowledge at his disposal this was a rational decision but in a modern context given the many theories debunking religion that have emerged such a position now requires more faith and needs to ignore increasing amounts of reason. I cannot argue with Deists for there is no evidence debunking their position but Religious dogma has been destroyed.

[rikkiboy123]

What about Louis Pasteur??

[saintee1000]

What about him? He was another fantastic scholar and was a Catholic. Newton would have said his belief that God communicates directly with the Pope and the Pope alone was complete hogwash - who is correct on your basis must be defined purely on who was the better scientist. Many of the best scientists in the 1930s and 40s were German fascists what does that prove if not that even great minds can be overcome by indoctrination.

[rikkiboy123]

Newton to the best of my knowledge would never have said that. For a start he rejected the Trinity and believed that Jesus was the Son of God and not part of a triune entity. What about michael Behe?? Who was a friend of Dawkins until he published a book refuting Dawkins.?? I dont know what to believe because the issue is as hotly disputed now as it was 150 years ago.

[saintee1000]

If Newton had believed in Papal infalability he could not have remained outwith the Catholic church unless he wanted to bring on Gods wrath. God as an entity can never be disproven but given that the word of the Bible is largely discredited elsewhere (Flat Earth lying in a dome between 2 seas, Support for slavery and subjugation of women etc nevermind 300 year old prophets buliding mammoth arks to hold thousands of species of animals) I can say with certainty that Christianity was man made.

[rikkiboy123]

You ever seen the Scriptures that said that the Earth was round or a sphere?? i always thought that the babylonian view was that it was held up by four elephants etc etc. ha ha The Bible never said the earth was flat. It said the Earth was round or a circle or a sphere depending on what translation you have to hand.

[saintee1000]

Job 38:13 "That it might take hold of the ends of the Earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it" is good on 2 counts for it implies the Earth has edges and ignores gravity theory - quite understandable when it was written but inexcusable today. Of course this was possibly not meant literaly but the fact that it was taken as literal truth until it was proven wrong definitively by Science suggests that it was meant to be taken as such.

[rikkiboy123]

Exactly correct. Things can be figurative, literal, veiled or even suggestive in the Scriptures. But its all about control. the religious leaders, the Pope being at the forefront, used this to stifle and eradicate all opposition. We see this today now. All religions are corrupt and in my view unholy (As God would view them) and led by men (not women)Its a criminal mind.

[saintee1000]

You are on your way to being a deist but then you still claim to know the thoughts of this supernatural being, which I cannot understand - from where? And if you take his views from scripture then surely you would have to say the Church has been quite tolerant when compared to the being that will let you burn in hell for eternity for a "thought crime". If however you believe that scripture is inaccurate then how can you know whether or not God would have been happy with the status quo?

[rikkiboy123]

According to the Scriptures it says that when you die you return back to the ground that you were made from. Nothing more nothing elkse. The idea that you would burn in Hell for all eternity is abhorrent. Again invented by religious leaders wanting people like you and me to conform to their beliefs. So that they had control of us. Its sickening and im glad that people like Gallileo challenged them because without people like him we would still be in the dark ages.

[saintee1000]

Your interpretation comes admittedly from the Old Testament but I agree with your point: This is reinforced by the detialed description of the horrors of hell but the rather bland, vague descriptions created of Heaven (which also deny that it will last forever - unlike Hell which is for eternity).

[rikkiboy123]

I really like you because youre not over the top willing to debate and quite interesting to listen to. According to the Scriptures Hell or Gehenna as its called in the OT is symbolic of everlasting destruction. it was a place just outside the walls of jerusalem where rubbish and dead bodies (namely criminals)were thrown and burnt. this is where the original idea of Hell surfaced. You can now see why the Church and yes the Catholic Church used this to supress the People.

[saintee1000]

For me debating theology is fascinating and I love to see all sides of the argument, particularly when delivered with thought and reason like you yourself have done. I am only frustrated when people refuse to debate and offer weak responses such as context, translation etc whilst refusing to accept those very same weaknesses when they themselves wish to use scripture to make a firm point.

[MrFacet]

Most bible verses I know about the earth rather confirm the worldview of a stone-age people than of a God who remembers how he made the universe and the world in it.

[saxmanchiro]

Children brought up by any religious doctrine is, in my opinion, and I hope the world's opinion before I pass, a form of child abuse. If reason should creep into society, I think this eventuality will come about. We better hurry up. People need to listen to science. We trust it for most things in our lives, why can't we trust it on this issue of sky gods? Richard Dawkins is growing impatient with the world. So am I. Reason will prevail, eventually.

[weakperception]

Head count! Abuse? YES!

[kenny756]

what a bunch of fucking idiots(except richard dawkins). To think im growing up in a world full of adults like this...

[viathore]

More contemporary discussion topics:

4. Should people influence the evolution on other planets if we ever find it?

5. Space shuttle gets retired in 2010. What then?

6. Should we give human rights to other primates?

7. What are possible good and bad sides of genetically engineer human begins?

8. What does quantum mechanics tell us anything about consciousness?

9. Would it be good to have one paneuropean language?

10. Why can't we imagine 4D space? Could we teach children to do so?

[viathore]

On more case where in XXI century people actually debate ideas from bronze age and middle ages.

Why don't we have similar discussions about more contemporary ideas? Some suggestions:

1. Is allowing a one-way suicide mission to Mars right or wrong?

2. Should we give voting right to Artificial Intelligence if we ever build it?

3. Einstein's theory says we can travel forward in time. Should gov pay for sending somebody into the 23rd century to provide future historians with a discussion partner.

[HyperbolaGuy]

Ann Widdecombe is absolutely thick.

[lyraface]

Agreed.

[roxysimone]

We're never gona get away from labeling, it's a typical human trait.

Instead of victimizin parents who believe they are acting in the childs best interests we should be targetting those who discriminate on religious grounds!

[amazingjames311]

your a very terrible debater, you should work on your rhetoric or you will continue to sound like an uneducated fool.

qouting scripture will never convert an athiest since scripture is biased to a belief in god as assumed. As an athiest, when you qoute the bible it is evident to me instantly that you cannot back your claims with logic and i only responde to reason and logic.

[zeroxpectations]

Hrmmm. The human body is the most amazing thing on this earth. You look at it every day and yet people would have us think we evolved from a monkey. Is that logical? Yet if a resonable person were to believe in evolution one would have to arrive at the conclusion that there had to be a starting point. There had to be a creator.

[amazingjames311]

not a modern monkey but a common human-ape relative.

this idea that "there had to be a creator" is another example of metaphyisical mumbo-jumbo.

every thiest/athiest has heard this, and any intelligent thiest wouldn't use it in an arguement on a video in which the arguement is refuted in better words then i could form or you could fight.

[zeroxpectations]

Well, I have no urge to fight a non-believers' mindset. We are each our own person and as such are perfectly able to believe in anything we choose. I just think it hysterical that the more educated we as a society get the more arrogant we become. Everything has a starting point. Science, for example, cannot even explain what starts a babies heart beat when developing in the womb. They say, "It just starts on its own without any clear explanation as to why or how."

[deadpisser88]

"Science, for example, cannot even explain what starts a babies heart beat when developing in the womb. They say, "It just starts on its own without any clear explanation as to why or how."

Richard Dawkins: "We're working on it."

[kenny756]

your not entitiled to why or how questions..lol

[grndhog2000]

How does a babies heart start beating?....electrochemical impulses that twitched the tail of the sperm, propelled it through the fallopian tube, are the same electrochemical impulses that eventually begin to pulse the newly formed heart cells within the developing fetus. both the sperm and the egg were biochemicaly alive when they joined, so the electrochemical process, is a continuation from the mother and the father, and combines their unique individual traits through thier DNA to the fetus.

[zeroxpectations]

Yeah, that sounds great, but how does the sperm know what it's job is? There HAS to be a greater force at work. I recently had another child and talked with various Dr's and there are differing opinions of what causes the heart to start beating. None of which is scientifically proven yet. Some people believe in a God and others will spend their meaningless existence trying to justify their constant refusal of it. People can follow evolution as far as they like, but there still HAS to be creation

[Reseda1994]

Sperm has coded information about you, your mother, and father's genetic code. The only force that is happening is your DNA being past on to the next generation. We, meaning humanity, go away from the big/important questions. Brain usage, DNA strands, UFO's, Nanotechnology, etc..... Let's deal with real issue's on life than just belief systems.

[zeroxpectations]

This statement does not make sense to me. A computer's logic is code based yet someone inputs the code into the computer. A computer does amazing things, but it is still dependent upon the programmer to tell it what to do. The same applies to DNA. Sure, you can try to sum up our existence by saying, "The only force that is happening is your DNA being past on..", but you conveniently bypass the brilliance that is DNA. Science often looks for answers to disprove a "higher power", but fails.

[echoez71]

And how about if computer programmmes reproduced with mutations in a competitive environment? The mutations that benefited the programme with respect to the conditions imposing the competition would be passed on and thus prevail. Surely you don't believe that some magical being intervened in your conception to designate what makes you unique. So where exactly does this programmer step in? Sure, there are unknowns in science, but don't put your god where it'll be squeezed out.

[echoez71]

Engineers even use the principle of natural selection to improve on solutions in mechanics. I mean, come on, evolution is an undeniable fact. It is observable, and the result of billions of years of evolution through natural selection are the complex forms that we are able to marvel at today. DNA is brilliant, but no less explainable than the human eye, or for that matter a hawk's eye.

[000snow000]

so, you're saying you're stupid? I didn't need you to tell me that...

[grndhog2000]

To claim there is a god, with out any proof or evidence there of, means the bible is unsubstantiated , so it follows, that reading scripture from such a book to prove the existance of a god is irrelevant to the argument that god exists. For instance, if I claim that the moon is made of cheese, then write a book on it, does that prove that the moon is really made from cheese?

Critical thinking and reason should guide us, not myth and legend.

[amazingjames311]

and he argues your point with, a example of your point.

[zeroxpectations]

Right, but you leave out the one thing called faith. Where is reason in thinking that you have no creator? You should take heed in your comments for if religion did not exist I shiver at what total chaos the world would find itself in. For religion is the light at the end of a very dark tunnel and without it what would keep people from participating in complete anarchy? You think things are bad now?

[lyraface]

The law is there to stop people participating in complete anarchy. I am an atheist and I am not intending to knowingly participate in anything which inflicts suffering on anybody. I don't need a religion in my life to show me the difference between right and wrong.

[Superlvlan]

Well u break laws and u suffer for ur decision.

[zeroxpectations]

Well, critical thinking tells us that everyone dies. So, where is the harm in believing in something greater than yourself? A lot of religions teach conservation, respect, decency, morality. A resonable person would recognize those qualities as a necessity for a successful society. I think the problem is when religions try to force their way of thinking on others. I care not if someone thinks I am wrong for believing in God. It is the approval of God that I seek, not of man.

[deadpisser88]

For the ones that 'truly' believe they are gonna get 'another chance' (in a paradise sense, not talking about damnnation), they will be missing out on this life; the one that as far was we know is the only one we have.

No harm in wondering about another life (or god), but the way I see it, it's nothing but wishful thinking to think you are gonna get another life.

[MrFacet]

Wishful thinking and being scared for death.

[deadpisser88]

Oh yeah. Forgot the bit. Thanks. =P

[MrFacet]

"A lot of religions teach conservation, respect, decency, morality."

And I am so glad most people don't bother to actually read the full story, and let the priest select the nice stories for them. For the Bible, Torah, Quran are full of revengeful acts in the name of God.

Indeed, the problem arises when people start to ACT on their belief as if it were true, for instance the Rapture folk in the US, or the scary indoctrination going on in Jesus camps.

[000snow000]

yet again quoting scripture... don't you see that it doesnt prove anything to me? especially that you know that I know them already. So good job on being totally unconvincing and demonstrating your lack of knowlege in the subject.

[roxysimone]

Dawkins makes some good points which he then nulifies with obsurd conclusions.

Yes it is pointless baptising a baby as they don't know whats goin on but it is FAR from child abuse to bring up a child with the moral guidelines offered in religion.

[000snow000]

you assume that I don't already know scriptures. Seeing as I've read the Old and New testaments, I've even taken university courses on analysing them in their historical and cultural milieu, and STILL I don't believe in god.. do you really think I need someone rehashing them for me? BTW, I pity YOU for wasting the only life you're ever gonna get.

[seeksake06]

The fanatism of religion is so develped that a 14 year old boy permmit himself to argue or questions the authority of a fully qualified biologist.

[roxysimone]

So what if he's a qualified biologist, it does not mean he has ALL the answers. Besides we are talking about personal beliefs and faith, this cannot be neatly boxed by scientists.

[seeksake06]

Nobody is saying science (or Dr.Dawkins) has all the answers. Blind faith not only has not all the answers but has not any answers at all. Faith is only helps avioding the "trouble" of looking for answers; not mentioning that religion is a big business.

[MrFacet]

That's independent thinking. That's very good.

[000snow000]

another one quoting scripture? Try using your own words and opinions instead, then maybe they'll be worth my time

[niginit]

a place where christians can be free? how about the planet earth?? faith allows you to be investigative, how so?

[niginit]

"i was raised in a church and i believe in god,my daughter had a"choice"of going to a religious school and did".So you are listening to these people talk about how religion brainwashes kids into believing in god and the bible and you think that because you were raised in a church qualifies you to be able to make good judgement on the matter? not to mention the generation that you have spawned is following the same steps. yet your sister wasnt raised in church and doesnt believe in god?virus?

[sciencedoggy]

Religious morality is morality based upon fear.

And that's NO morality at all.

[JanisChambers]

I don't think Dawkins had enough air time, and what is this thing about faith anyway? I keep hearing them say again and again that it's a good thing, but why?

[jazzx251]

I agree - one hour and only 4 or 5 sentences.

The "faithful" got loads more time than the token atheist in the room. They should have saved our cash and not paid for him to be on there.

[MrFacet]

"for learning how to be a good person", they deeply believe you need religion for that.

[PhillyDickinson]

Dawkins was excellent on this show; however I would have liked to have seen Christopher Hitchens here either instead or with him, because Hitchens is brilliant at criticising the morality of Religion.

[eamonncake]

Religion should not be just for grown ups. It shouldn't be for anyone. I 'm almost 20 and still forced to pray with my family everyday in exchange for being allowed to stay at home. I wish they'd treat me like normal Catholics and molest me, it would be less shameful.

[niginit]

HUGE LOL

[karlobarlo]

This was a bloody aweful show. Nicky Campbell is a terrible moderator. Ive just watched this whole things and taken virtually nothing new or insightful from it. Crap!!!!!!! Formats like that, with that many special guests and only an hour to fill are a joke!

[ContraWagner]

I sympathize with your frustration, but keep in mind that this show was dedicated to general public who may not even have begun questioning any of these topics.

[Oronare]

A priest saying that Religion is brainwashing? :D I never thought id see the day.

Richard Dawkins is great.

[DCUPtoejuice]

priest nails it at 8:30

[DCUPtoejuice]

oops, 8:00

[gibletparade]

His definition of faith as also being a way of life is interesting, in that it's not what I ever mean when I use the word. To me, it's belief without evidence. Does he explain why that is a better basis for a way of life than something based on observable reality? Maybe that's another of the things he has faith in.

[gibletparade]

Also, he implies that someone who has been brainwashed would be able to assess their faith fairly. Surely by definition this is something brainwashing would prevent?

[ashboxtoo]

Thanks for up'ing the show.