God is a myth, scientist says

[mmarlo 1]

A preeminent scientist – and the world's most prominent atheist – asserts the irrationality of belief in God and the grievous harm religion has inflicted on society, from the Crusades to 9/11.

With rigor and wit, Richard Dawkins examines God in all his forms, from the sex-obsessed tyrant of the Old Testament to the more benign (but still illogical) Celestial Watchmaker favored by some Enlightenment thinkers. He eviscerates the major arguments for religion and demonstrates the supreme improbability of a supreme being. He shows how religion fuels war, forments bigotry, and abuses children, buttressing his points with historical and contemporary evidence. The God Delusion makes a compelling case that belief in God is not just wrong, but potentially deadly. It also offers exhilarating insight into the advantages of atheism to the individual and society, not the least of which is a clearer, truer appreciation of the universe's wonders than any faith could ever muster.

[fozzie 41]

Although I do not beleive in a higher being myself I do not think religion is a bad thing. It has many positives and can be very good for the world. Unfortunately, religios texts, written by the men in power at the time, are taken too litterally by some and that is when problems occur between different religions.

If you take these texts, like the bible, as a set of short stories that teach us moral values then you have a wonderful harmonious world. Unfortunately this is not what happens ans people take it as a set of rules and judgements and fight over who is right and who is wrong.

This is a topic that could run and run as I am sure we are all going to disagree. What I am not going to do is get into a slanging match about religion and I apologise if i have offended anyones sensibilities.

[mmarlo 1]

The Bible is probably the most genocidal book in the entire literary canon. Sure, maybe if everybody played by the Golden Rule, it would be a good thing, but you don't need the Bible to be altruistic.

[bTW, I wrote the original post out of annoyance at all of LucyC's posts attacking global warming. I don't think religion has to be dangerous, but it certainly has a long history of creating more problems that it supposedly solves.]

[GaryC 7]

The Bible is probably the most genocidal book in the entire literary canon. Sure, maybe if everybody played by the Golden Rule, it would be a good thing, but you don't need the Bible to be altruistic.

[bTW, I wrote the original post out of annoyance at all of LucyC's posts attacking global warming. I don't think religion has to be dangerous, but it certainly has a long history of creating more problems that it supposedly solves.]

Whoa! Back up the truck here! LuzyC hasn't written one word about GW. Thats me! Leave my wife out of this. And religion was never brought into this. Only you are doing that. If you want to believe or not believe in God thats your business. But keep things separated and LEAVE LUZ OUT OF IT!

[mmarlo 1]

Yeah, it was unfair. Apologies. I just couldn't remember your Tagalog name so I said Lucy instead. But in any case, you're right: religion and GW should have nothing to do with one another.

Edited March 12, 2007 by mmarlo

[fozzie 41]

The Bible is probably the most genocidal book in the entire literary canon. Sure, maybe if everybody played by the Golden Rule, it would be a good thing, but you don't need the Bible to be altruistic.

[bTW, I wrote the original post out of annoyance at all of LucyC's posts attacking global warming. I don't think religion has to be dangerous, but it certainly has a long history of creating more problems that it supposedly solves.]

Funny you should say that but i was going to bring the theory of evolution into it as an example in the GW threads but i decided against it. I thought i might offend someone, and it's not really anything to do with GW but it is an example of people denying something so clearly true based other issues.

[GaryC 7]

Yeah, it was unfair. Apologies. I just couldn't remember your Tagalog name so I said Lucy instead. But in any case, you're right: religion and GW should have nothing to do with one another.

Apology accepted. For future reference my name is Gary. The Tagalog name just means "I love my Luz forever".

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I think god is real but man has screwed everything up with his interpretations.

[GaryC 7]

I think god is real but man has screwed everything up with his interpretations.

You got that right. Regardless of the religion man has screwed it up not God.

[~Chad~ 0]

mahal ko si lira magpakailanman!!!!!!!!!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

God and Global Warming have so much in common.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

That guy came into my office for a signing last year.

I'm not sure I agree with his arguments about religion - he focuses on the primitive historical aspects and seems to ignore the fact that religion is a source of positive inspiration for a lot of people.

He's one of these reactionary types who just ends up becoming part of an already polarised debate. Where he's coming from, I suspect, is the intrusion (by certain wacky types) of religion into science - specifically the attempt to introduce intelligent design and creationism into high school classrooms. That and the weird idea (propagated by these people) that there must always be a second, equally valid interpretation of the facts. Unfortunately sometimes 2+2 really does equal four.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'm also wondering if we really did have all those 'religious wars' back when people practiced polytheism...

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I'm also wondering if we really did have all those 'religious wars' back when people practiced polytheism...

I think more for population control than religion back then.

This book is worth checking out....

Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches: The Riddles of Culture

[FutureAmerican 2]

For a bit of levity:

"Does Richard Dawkins exist? Many people would say yes. Terry Tommyrot thinks otherwise. In a revealing interview on "The Big Questions", Dr. Tommyrot explains how belief in Richard Dawkins is, in fact, a harmful delusion, and how it can be explained scientifically."

Enjoy