Dennett vs McGrath - Part 4 of 9

This is a debate at the Royal Institution in London between philosopher Daniel C Dennett and professor of theology Alister McGrath. The debate is on the ideas presented in Dennett's book Breaking the Spell, such as the concept of the meme and the evolution of religion.
The debate is moderated by Madeleine Bunting.

Daniel Clement Dennett (born March 28, 1942 in Boston, Massachusetts) is a prominent American philosopher whose research centers on philosophy of mind, philosophy of science and philosophy of biology, particularly as those fields relate to evolutionary biology and cognitive science. He is currently the co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies, the Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Philosophy, and a University Professor at Tufts University. Dennett is also a noted atheist and advocate of the Brights movement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Dennett

Alister Edgar McGrath (born 23 January 1953) is a Christian theologian, who holds both a DPhil (in molecular biophysics) and an earned Doctor of Divinity degree from Oxford. He is noted for his work in historical, systematic and scientific theology.

In his writing and public speaking, he promotes "scientific theology" and opposes antireligionism. McGrath was until recently Professor of Historical Theology at the University of Oxford, but has now taken up the chair of Theology, Religion and Culture at King's College London since September 2008. Until 2005, he was principal of Wycliffe Hall.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alister_McGrath

Category:

Education

Tags:

• debate
• God
• religion
• atheism
• atheist
• meme
• Christian
• Breaking
• the
• Spell
• Daniel
• Dennett
• Alister
• McGrath

[jacobromu]

"The fool says in their heart there is a god" - youtube comment, Jacob Romu,

See? I can quote shit too.

I'm so sure that that atheist who had faith in richard dawkins never existed. If he did, "we" don't really want him. "We" want sceptics who would be just as critical of Dawkins as they would be of Bible, Hovind, or What the BLEEP do we know.

[MATZAMAN76]

@Chiangmai007

Really?...How so with the implementation of old testament law? Even Jesus advocated old testament law (matt 5-17-20). How is having a death penalty for working on Saturdays, being gay, eating shrimp, pre-martial sex, etc going to shift the world toward healing?

[huwrj]

McGrath makes liberal use of the ad-hominem, the argument from authority and the false dichotomy i.e. "if you can't prove that religion is a meme then the Bible must be true.". Very tedious debating tactics.

[SubconsciousGatherer]

@jacobromu "The fool hath said in his heart: 'There is no shame in believing in that which I have zero evidence for.' " -Logic:101

[SubconsciousGatherer]

The nerve of a theologian demanding evidence. That kills me.

[MrWildbill20056]

@MATZAMAN76 How does making such a ridiculous response make you feel? :)

[MATZAMAN76]

Where is your argument?...lol

[MATZAMAN76]

@MrWildbill20056

What Evidence are you talking about?

[MrWildbill20056]

@MATZAMAN76 Now you are presupposing based on your own opinions. Further contending that there is ZERO supporting evidence is just a silly statement. Evidence exists on both sides of most criminal cases for example, and yet one side will be either correct or closer to the truth than the other. This does not mean there is no evidence on the opposing side. The rest of what you say is not an argument.