Dennett on how religion offers an excuse to stop thinking

Dan Dennett talks about how religions in many cases offers an "goldenplated excuse to stop thinking" and that people have got to stop playing the "faith card" in debates. I think he puts it brilliantly.

The full video is available at google video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?doc...

• Category

  Education

[Gumikrukon]

I love the Lucile argument soooo much !! :D

[Retto Mada]

if you are implying that a higher power saved you, what would you say to the families of the 7 people who died beside you? Why didnt this higher power save them??

[ghettofreeze]

Boy, talk about projecting one's own behavior on someone else.

When it comes to the question of god's existence, atheists have absolutely no "blind faith." They simply deny that sufficient evidence exists to support claims that God exists. Same reason that you presumably don't believe in Zeus or Neptune.

Apologists do not seek the truth. They're basically like lawyers whose job is to advocate for their client in court no matter what the truth actually is.

[tony anthony]

With few words, Dennett courteously and concurrently hits all the nails on all heads for its very true that compared with other thought processes, religions have and continue to have a very easy (and lazy) ride!

[UberTheRandom]

Why would you say that? Are you saying that it is ok to kill disbelievers? How is he showing intolerance or bigotry? Is he dangerous because he is actually advocating people use their brains instead of blind faith? What exactly is your objection? Remember, "The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers." - Denis Diderot.

[Eddie Hahn]

Interesting-Dennett defends atheism with philosophy, Dawkins with evolution ad harris with Neuro science. And combined or individually they make more logical sense to me than any religious apologist I have ever heard...this is coming from an ex-christian pretty indoctrinated in the faith over the years--

[DoneWithDogma]

You're a moron.

[Bill Sanders]

Dan Dennett is an intolerant bigot and a hypocrite. He cannot be convinced because of HIS blind faith in atheism. He is a dangerous man.

The entire field of apologetics deals with defending the faith. Josh McDowell has written Evidence That Demands a Verdict in 2 volumes. If he really wants to understand, start there.

[loudenblogger]

You don't have to belong to a group: atheists , Christians, Jews, etc. We were designed to think, reason, question. I believe "God" understands this.

[Joseph Stern]

Dennett is too nice to say what Sam Harris does: that we have to apply psychic and moral pressure on those who profess unreasoned beliefs through a certain controlled conversational hostility (what Sam calls "conversational intolerance"). We have to create a powerful social stigma against unsupported belief. Rational dialogue is simply not going to cut it, in my humble opinion.

[zabelicious]

Religion is one of the biggest placebo known to man (delusion is a mental condition isn't it?)... It works at some level for many people who believe in it. I honestly cannot buy into it, therefore I get absolutely nothing from it. My own conscience is what I rely on, that is the only thing that can provide me with peace of mind in a world where violence and fear prevail. Fables just don't cut it and history is a matter of what you want to place the emphasis on. Just be yourself!