Just Curious

[fr0d0]

Dawkins is an embarrassment theologically. He's the Ray Comfort of the religious world.

[Cyberman]

No examples then, just the assertions?

Why am I even surprised at this point in the game?

[fr0d0]

A Google search will bring you lots of examples stimbo if that's what you want. Personally I'm surprised that you're on the side of dumb here.

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When Dawkins steps outside of his field—into
theology or philosophy—he’s a lightweight, and even fellow atheists acknowledge this. The atheist philosopher of science Michael Ruse at FIU has said, “Richard Dawkins makes me embarrassed to be an atheist.” [1] Terry Eagleton, an English literature and cultural theory professor (not a theist, so far as I know), severely criticizes “Ditchkins”—his composite name for Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. He considers them to be both out of their depth and misrepresenters of the Christian faith: “they invariably come up with vulgar caricatures of religious faith that would make a first-year theology student wince. The more they detest religion, the more ill-informed their criticisms of it tend to be.” [2] Sociologist Rodney Stark (at that time writing as an agnostic-moving-toward- Christianity) put it this way: “To expect to learn anything about important theological problems from Richard Dawkins or Daniel Dennett is like expecting to learn about medieval history from someone who had only read Robin Hood .” [3]

[1] Michael Ruse’s comment is found on the cover of Alister and Joanna McGrath’s book The Dawkins Delusion ? (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2007).
[2] Terry Eagleton, “Lunging, Flailing, Mispunching,” London Review of Books (October 19, 2006). Available at URL: http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n20/print/eagl01_.html (accessed November 25 2007). Eagleton gives a fuller critique in Reason, Faith, and Revolution: Reflections on the God Debate (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2009).
[3] Rodney Stark, What Americans Really Believe (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2008), 120.

[Cyberman]

That's the last time you get to call me or anyone else "dumb" because of your own laziness.

[Silver]

Oh, Fr0d0 has been getting brave lately. He must be mad that we are on the side of reason while he relies upon nonsense.

[Crossless2.0]

Dawkins is an embarrassment theologically. He's the Ray Comfort of the religious world.

I see your point. After all, Dawkins is an expert in an actual discipline of knowledge and can't be expected to have mastered the subtle art of building imaginary sand castles.

Just because someone's good in bed doesn't mean he will be the star performer at the neighborhood circle jerk.

[NoraBrimstone]

Dawkins is married to a fucking Time Lady. Who isn't jealous of that?

[Silver]

Dawkins is married to a fucking Time Lady. Who isn't jealous of that?

No way. He's married to her?

[NoraBrimstone]

If by "her" you mean Romana II, then yes, he is.

[pineapplebunnybounce]

The whole idea of theological knowledge or expertise is rather amusing. It's a book. People interpret it however they want, what's the point of studying that.