| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Religious meetings at the Natural Cafe | |
| Posted by: | Alan Duffy | |
| Date/Time: | 31/05/07 09:36:00 |
| To be fair to Richard Dawkins, in a US context he is defending a minority position in the face of a generally hostile population. A confrontational and aggressive approach is probably the only way to ensure his point his heard and causing a stir on US talk shows is great for book sales. His scholarship may be inferior to many working in the same field but his Oxford association gives him gravitas and credibility in the States. I first read his work hoping for confirmation of my own lack of faith but found he was answering questions I never asked. The flaw in his approach is that he is using scientific methods to deal with metaphysical problems. You can't disprove the tenets of the faithful this way any more than he came near to proving his own athiest beliefs. To follow his view is just as much an act of faith as adhering to any other religion. Whilst his waspish arrogance might be appropriate to American where the scientific community and athiests are on the defensive it is inappropriate to this country. The defender of the persecuted becomes the persecutor. It is interesting to see Julie quoting his work almost like scripture. It would appear that Prof. Dawkins is like many prophets in that his half understood teachings will be used as an excuse by some of his disciples to sow division. |