http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?f...geId=81459

Quote:A New York man is linking the suicide of his 22-year-old son, a military veteran who had bright prospects in college, to the anti-Christian book "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins after a college professor challenged the son to read it.

"Three people told us he had taken a biology class and was doing well in it, but other students and the professor were really challenging my son, his faith. They didn't like him as a Republican, as a Christian, and as a conservative who believed in intelligent design," the grief-stricken father, Keith Kilgore, told WND about his son, Jesse.

"This professor either assigned him to read or challenged him to read a book, 'The God Delusion,' by Richard Dawkins," he said.

Jesse Kilgore committed suicide in October by walking into the woods near his New York home and shooting himself. Keith Kilgore said he was shocked because he believed his son was grounded in Christianity, had blogged against abortion and for family values, and boasted he'd been debating for years.

This is of course a tragedy, anyone will agree. But it shows again how theists completely miss the point on atheism.

I suppose it's possible that Dawkins book tipped him over the edge but I'd put money on that being what his Father wants to believe and the kid having other issues as well ... just saying xxx is the cause by no means proves it is.

Kyu

(December 2, 2008 at 10:20 am)leo-rcc Wrote: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?f...geId=81459

Quote:A New York man is linking the suicide of his 22-year-old son, a military veteran who had bright prospects in college, to the anti-Christian book "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins after a college professor challenged the son to read it.

"Three people told us he had taken a biology class and was doing well in it, but other students and the professor were really challenging my son, his faith. They didn't like him as a Republican, as a Christian, and as a conservative who believed in intelligent design," the grief-stricken father, Keith Kilgore, told WND about his son, Jesse.

"This professor either assigned him to read or challenged him to read a book, 'The God Delusion,' by Richard Dawkins," he said.

Jesse Kilgore committed suicide in October by walking into the woods near his New York home and shooting himself. Keith Kilgore said he was shocked because he believed his son was grounded in Christianity, had blogged against abortion and for family values, and boasted he'd been debating for years.

This is of course a tragedy, anyone will agree. But it shows again how theists completely miss the point on atheism.

Yes, that is a tragedy. I feel sorry for the family.

Richard Dawkins' book "The God Delusion" was tackled by Bill O'Reilly on the O'Reilly Factor.

Bill O'Reilly, "You can't prove Jesus Christ wasn't God."
Richard Dawkins, "That's correct, but you cannot prove to me Thor and Zeus were not gods."

Richard Dawkins doesn't realize that he was "set-up" by Bill O'Reilly on that question. Dawkins shot himself in the foot when he replied to O'Reilly. Because that means Dawkins cannot disprove any God in any manner. So, why write a book on something that cannot be disproved? Opinions are not fact.

Dawkins claims, "Lack of evidence leans towards there being no god."
However, once again, Dawkins is not using his tiny brain. The only way the final result can be "Lack of evidence" is when every option has been thoroughly examined. Has anyone in human history been capable of exploring the entire Universe?


Secondly, Richard Dawkins is a Biologist not a Psychiatrist. He was asked to prove God is a delusion, and he couldn't. What's up with that? It sounds like Mr. Dawkins suckered a million people into buying his book. It's sound a bit crazy to write a book called 'The God Delusion' if he cannot prove God is a delusion. That is a delusion in itself.

I've seen the interview with O'Reilly and as usual O'Reilly is more interested in hearing himself than actually stay on topic. And how do you explain the "Well if it is true for you than why isn't it true for everyone?" rebuttal Dr. Dawkins made to O'Reilly?

(December 2, 2008 at 11:57 am)leo-rcc Wrote: I've seen the interview with O'Reilly and as usual O'Reilly is more interested in hearing himself than actually stay on topic. And how do you explain the "Well if it is true for you than why isn't it true for everyone?" rebuttal Dr. Dawkins made to O'Reilly?

Yes, And O'Reilly said, "If it's true to me, and makes me feel good, then there is no harm in that." And Dawkins agreed. So, really, what is Dawkins trying to prove? The conclusion I come up with is, Dawkins makes a claim, but he cannot disprove this claim.

So, in reality, Dawkins says there is no evidence to believe in God, but there is no reason to believe his book if there is no evidence behind it? Remember, opinions are not fact.

I think Dawkins is a crazy man himself claiming religious people are delusional. I think he is trying to escape his own demons.

"If it's true to me, and makes me feel good, then there is no harm in that."

That is not true then is it? I'm wrong, but it makes me feel good, so I will go on like it is right.

Dawkins regards religion as delusional exactly because of statements like the above. Religion portraits itself as the absolute truth without a shred of evidence, and hides behind the "If it's true to me, and makes me feel good, then there is no harm in that." which IS a delusion. A self delusion no doubt because in the answer already lies the implication that he himself is on very shaky ground with a stupid answer like that and he knows it.

(December 2, 2008 at 11:46 am)Psalm 23 Wrote: Dawkins claims, "Lack of evidence leans towards there being no god."
However, once again, Dawkins is not using his tiny brain. The only way the final result can be "Lack of evidence" is when every option has been thoroughly examined. Has anyone in human history been capable of exploring the entire Universe?

In other words your god is just a god of the gaps, such gaps in our knowledge get smaller by the day, week, month & year so I suppose we'd better tread carefully lest we step on your god.

Kyu

(December 2, 2008 at 12:21 pm)leo-rcc Wrote: That is not true then is it? I'm wrong, but it makes me feel good, so I will go on like it is right.

Dawkins regards religion as delusional exactly because of statements like the above. Religion portraits itself as the absolute truth without a shred of evidence, and hides behind the "If it's true to me, and makes me feel good, then there is no harm in that." which IS a delusion. A self delusion no doubt because in the answer already lies the implication that he himself is on very shaky ground with a stupid answer like that and he knows it.

Exactly, leo.

Psalm, Dawkins has said many times already that you cannot totally disprove God, but that is just common sense. You cannot disprove something untestable, can you? But on the flip side of the coin, your point applies to your own argument, that you cannot prove God. Why write a book on something that cannot be disproved? Well, it sure worked for the bible, there's a best-seller for you... Don't most of your arguments come straight out of there, too?

(December 2, 2008 at 10:20 am)leo-rcc Wrote: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?f...geId=81459

Quote:A New York man is linking the suicide of his 22-year-old son, a military veteran who had bright prospects in college, to the anti-Christian book "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins after a college professor challenged the son to read it.

"Three people told us he had taken a biology class and was doing well in it, but other students and the professor were really challenging my son, his faith. They didn't like him as a Republican, as a Christian, and as a conservative who believed in intelligent design," the grief-stricken father, Keith Kilgore, told WND about his son, Jesse.

"This professor either assigned him to read or challenged him to read a book, 'The God Delusion,' by Richard Dawkins," he said.

Jesse Kilgore committed suicide in October by walking into the woods near his New York home and shooting himself. Keith Kilgore said he was shocked because he believed his son was grounded in Christianity, had blogged against abortion and for family values, and boasted he'd been debating for years.

This is of course a tragedy, anyone will agree. But it shows again how theists completely miss the point on atheism.

A shame that a young life has been wasted. Having said that, I would have nothing in common with an American evangelical, particularly one who apparently or maybe couldn't have his faith challenged ( successfully? ). This make me a " hard " atheist i wonder?

(December 2, 2008 at 12:06 pm)Psalm 23 Wrote:

(December 2, 2008 at 11:57 am)leo-rcc Wrote: I've seen the interview with O'Reilly and as usual O'Reilly is more interested in hearing himself than actually stay on topic. And how do you explain the "Well if it is true for you than why isn't it true for everyone?" rebuttal Dr. Dawkins made to O'Reilly?

Yes, And O'Reilly said, "If it's true to me, and makes me feel good, then there is no harm in that." And Dawkins agreed. So, really, what is Dawkins trying to prove? The conclusion I come up with is, Dawkins makes a claim, but he cannot disprove this claim.

So, in reality, Dawkins says there is no evidence to believe in God, but there is no reason to believe his book if there is no evidence behind it? Remember, opinions are not fact.

I think Dawkins is a crazy man himself claiming religious people are delusional. I think he is trying to escape his own demons.

It is a delusion on your part for thinking such things. Yahweh or Allah or whatever God you believe in is not really any more likely than Zeus or Apollo or any other supernatural God.
How many times have I told you that: the burden of proof is on the believer. The default position is NON existence. There has to be evidence OF something before you can give evidence against that something.
Everything we know points to this. Its pure logic. You cannot go about to disprove that which there not any proof of in the first place.
All you need with such things is to realize there is no evidence of such a thing to disprove in the first place.
God cannot be disproved because there is no evidence that there is any God TO be disproved.
You cannot disprove a theory before it exists. God is not a theory. It is a hypothesis without any proof supporting it whatsoever.
It is of course tragic that that guy killed himself over a misinterpretation. Because TGD never says anything about doing such a thing or supports such behavior.
The bible and the Koran on the other hand explicitly say some very sinister things in them. There are huge amounts of people who have died because of religious "beliefs".