Dawkins on religion - Extra: 'They are desperate to go to a martyr's heaven'

Mehdi Hasan interviews evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins at the Oxford Union and asks: Is religion a force for good or evil? Can it co-exist with science? Is science the new religion? And why if god does not exist, is religion so persistent? Click here for more : http://aje.me/R1Ruy7

Dawkins on religion can be seen from Saturday, December 22, at the following times GMT: Saturday: 2000; Sunday: 1200; Monday: 0100; Tuesday: 0600.

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  News & Politics

[forgottenmemories63]

True, Islamic Suicide Bombers are involved and justify it in the name of Political conflicts around the world.

However, The truth is also that Islam itself is a Political Ideology by itself.. It has a built in Political system of "What to do", "How to live", "How to dress", "How to speak", "What crime deserves what punishment" built into it.

[selwyncambridge]

Recommendable watching. Look for the full interview. Dawkins is ace! And all the better for shining through rigorous questioning from a religious interviewer. Respect for aljezeira!!

[RafaelFernandeSantos]

You're an idiot. All religions are concerned with ethics - with "What to do" or "How to live". Does that make each one of them a political system?

[coola426]

Agreed, some people use Islam as a Political ideology when in fact it shouldn't be.

[saraa ras]

I asked for an elaboration as well as evidence, you gave me an elaboration no doubt but instead of evidence, i got more statements and claims?! The only time you used evidence, you didn't cite your source. May I ask where you got the quoted statements from?

[Andrew Sheldon]

'Faith' cannot motivate anything. Anyone who lived by faith would be dead. Faith is the excuse; the avoidance of moral/intellectual responsibility. Faith is acceptance without evidence. Dawkins did a poor job.

[Tyberius Red]

There is no such thing as Islamophobia. This term was most likely conjured up by those that expect the rest of the world to sit by and watch a religion attempt to destroy everything our civilization has gained over the last 2000 years.

Islam at its core is a religion that encourages violence while violating human rights, free thought, and free expression. "The penalty for apostasy is death", “behead those that insult Islam”

Islam is divisive, dangerous, and should be treated with contempt.

[Tyberius Red]

4 billion people subscribe to the Abrahamic religions, the core of which is based on suppressing human nature while enforcing divisive sectarian crimes, and the violation of basic human rights. They all make competing claims about what is true and real, and most believe that men, women, and children will be tormented for eternity for not accepting their ancient dogma. This way of thinking is immoral. It divides one nation from another, one family member from another; even within their own sects.

[sara aras]

Can you elaborate? With evidence if possible. Am genuinely interested in how you came to this understanding?

[sara aras]

Exactly, it is out of ignorance that generalisations are made.I am Iraqi by the way so it was interesting/amusing that you cited Iraq in your comment.