Views about Chris Hitchens, please!

[Steven Russell]

I wish I did have a hotline to Truth. But the fact that religion is bollocks is so obvious it's ridiculous.

[DVV]

Steven Russell has a hotline to Truth.

[Steven Russell]

Dawkins is a biologist and an expert on Darwin. His profound understanding of evolution makes him the ideal critic of religion. Not only does he prove it's a fallacy, he argues convincingly that it's extremely dangerous.

[Robert]

Yes CD, there are too many people who think they have a hotline to God. The trouble is, even if their god exists they'll find that the hotline has been scrambled.

Nothing is easy.

[c.d.]

I am not myself a religious believer, but I do object to a certain sneering attitude to be found among some rationalists and scientists. This attitude takes the form of damning religious believers as simpletons, wishful thinkers, naive idiots etc. Well, Kurt Godel proposed a variation of the ontological argument, and his intellect needs fear no comparison with anyone's.

That's true, Robert but you also see the same attitude among some religious people who believe that anyone who does not share their views is evil and those people will be punished by God for not believing as they do. It works both ways.

c.d.

[Robert]

I am not myself a religious believer, but I do object to a certain sneering attitude to be found among some rationalists and scientists. This attitude takes the form of damning religious believers as simpletons, wishful thinkers, naive idiots etc. Well, Kurt Godel proposed a variation of the ontological argument, and his intellect needs fear no comparison with anyone's.

[c.d.]

That's not the point, CD.
There are no experts on God, that's what Robert (unless he corrects me) means - just like Chesterton versus Edison.
In other terms, the fact that you're a great scientist or anything else (including a theologian) doesn't add more authority to whatever you say about the soul, immortality, God, etc.
It's the same mystery for all.
Of course, a theologian or a philosopher would know more about a religion or philosophy, but these are something else.

Agreed. But by the same token, their opinion in no less valid than anyone else's due to their area of expertise. That's the point that I was trying to make.

c.d.

[DVV]

That's not the point, CD.
There are no experts on God, that's what Robert (unless he corrects me) means - just like Chesterton versus Edison.
In other terms, the fact that you're a great scientist or anything else (including a theologian) doesn't add more authority to whatever you say about the soul, immortality, God, etc.
It's the same mystery for all.
Of course, a theologian or a philosopher would know more about a religion or philosophy, but these are something else.

[c.d.]

I should add that I'm not against people going outside their areas of expertise - far from it. I don't want to see everyone locked in their little boxes. It's just that once they do discourse on other topics, we should remember that they're no longer experts.

How exactly does one become an expert on God? Even if you study Theology, you are basically just learning other peoples' opinions and beliefs.

c.d.

[Cogidubnus]

I should add that I'm not against people going outside their areas of expertise - far from it. I don't want to see everyone locked in their little boxes. It's just that once they do discourse on other topics, we should remember that they're no longer experts.

Hi Robert

Although this ought to be a self-evident truth, it seems of late that's very rarely respected, and every second-rate celebrity seems to feel their suntan and smile qualify them to comment on anything at all...and we're supposed to bow down and worship their wisdom...

A shrewd observation mate, and I'm glad you made it...

All the best

Dave

[Robert]

I should add that I'm not against people going outside their areas of expertise - far from it. I don't want to see everyone locked in their little boxes. It's just that once they do discourse on other topics, we should remember that they're no longer experts.

[DVV]

Prof Dawkins is a biologist/zoologist and so his opinions on those subjects should be given due weight. His opinions on politics, morality or religion may be interesting but, in the end, they are of no more importance than anyone else's.

You remind me of Chesterton talking of Thomas Edison. And you're right too.

[Robert]

Prof Dawkins is a biologist/zoologist and so his opinions on those subjects should be given due weight. His opinions on politics, morality or religion may be interesting but, in the end, they are of no more importance than anyone else's.

[Rubyretro]

I haven't read this book -I thought that the Bill Maher film 'Religulous' pretty well nailed the subject, though.

[DVV]

Televangelists
Jukka

Hi Jukka,

now I understand your problem.... If christianity was 'televangelism' I'd never called myself a christian.