Thoughts and questions from God Delusion

[pocaracas]

Pocaracas is Portuguese so he didn't know what "cheers" meant in England. But "cheerio" is an old-fashioned way of saying goodbye. We still use it but most people say "cheers" for "bye" in England now. I have a theory we are desperately looking for the European "Ciao" and "Cheers" might just fit the bill. Everyone in Europe says "Ciao" and it's used not just as "goodbye" but also as "Hi". Sorry, by "everyone" I mean the non-Germanic people. I was in the Czech Republic and everyone used "Ciao" too as both a greeting and goodbye. I mean Czech is so different from Italian but it's widely used all over the Czech Republic. The time will come when we in England will use "cheers" for that same function. See if I'm right.

Hmm, interesting notion regarding cheers and ciao; may even prove to be correct. It's true that cheerio is a bit Mary Poppins, as you say still in use but rather old hat. That said, I've not come across the use of the word "cheers" in place of "bye" myself.

In any case there's only room for one resident prophet and the vacancy is already filled.

Last time I was in the UK, just for holding a door open for someone, they'd say "cheers". Yes, also for bye and I know of the beer ritual; I still remember a certain bar called Cheers on TV.
I used it in the sense of "let's drink to that"
In Portugal, tchau (our version of ciao, the sound is almost the same) is only used as 'bye', only in very informal environments.

Back on topic... Dawkins is, to me, a bit too aggressive. I understand his point, but he exaggerates.
Live and let live. Parents are the caregivers, feeders and principle-givers for most children. It's natural that they will pass on their impression on the divine and whatever other topic they are passionate about.... my kids will know much more about nuclear fusion by the time they reach 10yo than I knew when I was 20!!
They'll also know they can think by themselves and choose not to believe in the country's major religion (catholic).... That's all they need. The nature of the teenage brain will handle the rest.