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RE: What are your thoughts on Richard Dawkins?
March 27, 2017 at 3:39 am
I have The Selfish Gene, The Extended Phenotype, and The Ancestors Tale in my library.
His work on genetics is pretty good.
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RE: What are your thoughts on Richard Dawkins?
March 27, 2017 at 5:37 am
I don't know enough about science to give a review of his work myself, but he seems well respected in the field of science, especially biology.
I used to love his talks on religion but that was back when I was one of those really enthusiastic atheists who loved that stuff. I haven't actively searched out anything to do with Richard Dawkins for a long long time.
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RE: What are your thoughts on Richard Dawkins?
March 27, 2017 at 6:27 am
I have enjoyed his books ,lectures, and debates. I have heard the criticisms but I do not see what the critics are seeing. I hope he is recovering from the stroke.
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RE: What are your thoughts on Richard Dawkins?
March 27, 2017 at 7:18 am
(This post was last modified: March 27, 2017 at 7:21 am by Alex K.)
(March 27, 2017 at 6:27 am)chimp3 Wrote: I have enjoyed his books ,lectures, and debates. I have heard the criticisms but I do not see what the critics are seeing. I hope he is recovering from the stroke.
From what I've seen he is doing rather well!
https://youtu.be/MNCzd6_ce0I
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RE: What are your thoughts on Richard Dawkins?
March 27, 2017 at 7:26 am
He should have gone by Dick, rolls of the tongue easier. Double D's in the house!
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RE: What are your thoughts on Richard Dawkins?
March 27, 2017 at 7:29 am
His name is Clinton. Dick Clinton is an awkward first name combination
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
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RE: What are your thoughts on Richard Dawkins?
March 27, 2017 at 7:37 am
(March 27, 2017 at 7:29 am)Alex K Wrote: His name is Clinton. Dick Clinton is an awkward first name combination
I've seen CRD.
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RE: What are your thoughts on Richard Dawkins?
March 27, 2017 at 7:59 am
Yes, in order it would be Clinton Dick
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
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RE: What are your thoughts on Richard Dawkins?
March 27, 2017 at 8:10 am
(March 26, 2017 at 10:26 pm)It_Was_me Wrote: I for one think that he is quite an intelligent guy. I think he has written some great books. I have only read one of them and that was called The God Delusional. But to be quite honest, whenever I hear him speak I have found that he comes off as quite smug and seems to talk down to those with other opinions. I'm an agnostic not I am not atheist nor Christian, so maybe I am a little biased.
Actually it is "The God Delusion" not "The God Delusional". But don't feel bad, I also do stuff like that. I suck at spelling, I have ADD and I also think I am slightly dyslexic. I do however try to catch my mistakes as much as possible. Some websites tick me off like twitter because once you post you cant go back and correct your mistakes.
Anywho. I think Dawkins is extremely important as far as his contributions, especially with that book. But on a personal level, having heard from others about his personal tastes on interacting with others, he is a bit of a stuffed shirt. I met him at the 07 convention in D.C. and was warned before hand not to ask him to sign baseball style hats, he thinks that is low class. I did just that with my "atheist" baseball cap and he looked at me like I committed a crime. All I could think was, "Why should you give a fuck, you don't have to wear it?" I didn't say that but his look was annoying to me.
I don't look at celebrities the way I used to when I was a kid. I don't think Dawkins is an asshole, nor "smug" but simply has a different personality and different tastes. None of our personality differences change his contributions. No, I would not want to hang out at a bar or party with him, but his science is solid and a benefit to humanity regardless.
I would hang out with Hitchens if he were still alive. I like Sam Harris but don't think he would be fun to hang out with. I am not comfortable in formal settings. I hate having to worry about my looks or language or what fork to use, not my thing. I'd rather hang out at a bar and talk unfiltered.
As an aside. One author if you have not read, I recommend to everyone. The late Victor Stenger and his two books, "God The Failed Hypothesis" and "The New Atheism".
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RE: What are your thoughts on Richard Dawkins?
March 27, 2017 at 10:13 am
(March 26, 2017 at 10:53 pm)Aroura Wrote: So, it isn't one question; Do you believe in God?), it's two questions. The second question being; Do you know there is a God?
The problem is, you don't know. Nobody does. It's not a logical possibility. Knowledge requires some basis in fact and there simply isn't any. "Knowledge" in this case just means "I really really really really believe it." That's stupid.
There is nothing demonstrably true that religion can provide mankind that cannot be achieved as well or better through secular means.
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