Richard Dawkins - Secular Europe Campaign

http://www.secular-europe-campaign.org
JOIN THE MARCH FOR A SECULAR EUROPE

Professor Richard Dawkins on secularism and the Secular Europe Campaign's 2011 march & rally on 17th September 2011 in London.

This video was produced by Sanduron.
http://www.sanduron.com

And sponsored by
http://www.humanism.org.uk
http://www.secularism.org.uk

Featuring the song 'The Galaxy's Elegant Cinema' composed by Bryan Steeksma.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• secular europe campaign
• richard dawkins
• march
• rally
• london
• secularism
• british humanist association
• national secular society
• protest
• sanduron
• europe
• human rights

[RedlineMMA]

The current pope also is involved in a massive cover up of child sexual abuse. His own documents show that he was much less concerned with the raping of children than the image of the church. In fact this evil man moved known pedophiles to other churches in the hope of keeping things quite.

Are you kidding me. Why weren't these men instantly fired & condemned. Instead they were protected & moved to areas were they continued to rape children,

Many Catholics would agree, this man is sickening

[Mattyb88ful]

@AndrewMann552

"Isn't Europe in general pretty secular already?"

No, it's not. In the UK, for example, the Anglican Church is the official state church. So much for the separation of religion and politics. What is more, there are almost 30 bishops in the House of Lords. They weren't voted in there. They were given that position just because they are Church of England bishops. Religions are exempt from taxes. etc etc.

[RedlineMMA]

@ClamCrunchy

Fair enough, I would argue we do have "free will" within the confines of your genetics & environment

Changing genetic traits may be near impossible however It is possible to break free of environmental factors through intelligence & force of will.

[ClamCrunchy]

@RedlineMMA Yes, but rational thought and empathy are not in themselves sufficent for responsibility. Even if it turns out that people aren't ultimately responsible for what they do, it is still necessary to punish them, so that their behaviors can be changed. The suicide bomber is so strongly influenced by his environment that it really calls into question in what sense he is responsible for his actions. Regardless, he would have be removed from society, as he has dangerous behaviors.

[ClamCrunchy]

@RedlineMMA You're exactly right. We are not able to make choices beyond what our environment and genetics dictate. Decision-making neurons in the brain are wired-up and fire totally in accordance with environmental and genetic influences. There is no third variable called "free will" that influences human behavior, rather what we think is free will is merely a complex interaction of genetics and environment. The most we can do is to punish to change behavior, or to deter others.

[RedlineMMA]

@ClamCrunchy You make it sound as if we are programmed robots incapable of doing anything other than our environment & genetics influences us to do.

This shows you don't know the first thing about psychology or the human brain.

Would you not hold a sociopath responsible for murder because his genetics caused his brain to literally be shaped differently than normal? causing him to experience NO empathy for other living things. As a society we must hold him accountable.

[RedlineMMA]

@ClamCrunchy .

While its true we are a product of genetics & envirment we are also capable of rational thought & empathy.

Though I may feel sorry (in a way)....for a young man who is arrested before he can detonate his suicide vest having been raised his entire life to believe every word of the koran & that he was doing gods will. (brainwashed) Its completely necessary to hold him responsible for his actions. This is the entire basis of society.

[ClamCrunchy]

@RedlineMMA Because in your answer you assume that people are responsible for their actions, and this may be an unwarrented assumption. If we are just products of genetics and environment, then where do we place the blame?

[RedlineMMA]

@ClamCrunchy

Why wouldn't it be, people should be held responsible for their actions.

Your comments are vague & meaningless,, why are you even commenting toward me?

[ClamCrunchy]

@RedlineMMA Why is your answer "of course"?

[RedlineMMA]

@ClamCrunchy

"Are people responsible for their actions?"

Of course, this is why the pope & other Vatican officials should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

[RedlineMMA]

@sunonthewindow

You need to educate yourself if you think communism & secularism are even remotely similar.

The USA is a secular nation in theory if not fully in practice. People are free it believe what they wish but religion & religious policies should remain out of government.