Richard Dawkins: God among atheists
Richard Dawkins: God among atheists
Oct. 16, 2009 | It’s been a rather big year for Charles Darwin. 2009 is the bicentennial of the man’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of “The Origin of Species,” and the explorer and naturalist has been the subject of books (including a graphic novel adaptation of “The Origin of Species”), a movie starring Jennifer Connelly (with its own ensuing controversy), and even a viral video hit starring “Growing Pains” actor Kirk Cameron. Given that evolutionary biology is Richard Dawkins’ area of expertise, it’s unsurprising that the British scientist, atheist and controversial author of “The God Delusion” has also gotten on the bandwagon — in rather ambitious fashion.
In “The Greatest Show on Earth,” Dawkins has written what is essentially a layperson’s primer for the theory of evolution. Dawkins aims to explain to the everyday reader why evolution isn’t a “theory” but a fact and that we need only look around us to find evidence of its existence — from continental drift to the reproductive habits of wasps. Dawkins uses simple language, elaborate metaphors and color photographs to make his point, and the result is a convincing, if occasionally dry, overview of evolutionary biology. It’s also clear, from the book’s first pages, that Dawkins isn’t very tolerant of his creationist opponents (the book includes a memorably confrontational encounter with Wendy Wright, the creationist president of Concerned Women for America).
Salon spoke with Dawkins via Skype about creationism’s popularity in America, its connection with religion, and how he feels about his own notoriety. A video excerpt of the conversation is posted below.
First of all we have to believe the Gallup polls, and I suppose we do. I mean we believe Gallup polls about other things. You’re asking me a question about sociology and comparative religion in different countries. I’m not an expert in that, it’s not really up to me to say why the United States and Turkey should be way out ahead or behind in this particular case. It does seem to be the case that of all advanced Western nations the United States is more religious than any other.
Let me just drop the F-bombs in this post for my rant. FUCK THIS GUY. Seriously.
Even when I was Atheist, he never got my fucking respect one bit.
I think that Richard Dawkins rather does a disservice for Atheism. Sam Harris even wants that people don’t call you guys who do not believe in any god(s) THAT word (Atheist). To be be called something else, you fucking smug twats who kiss his ass would rather consider yourselves just “brights” or “skeptics,” instead of admitting that you ARE an Atheist once and for all.
There is no criteria to becoming a nonbeliever, other than just saying that you do not believe in any god or gods. You don’t need to know biology or other forms of science or even study world cultures to meet that “criteria” to become an Atheist. Hell, you don’t even need to accept the theories of Evolution and the “accidentally the universe” theory just to be Atheist.
When the Creationist assholes say that you Atheists (just the ones who THINK that to be considered a nonbeliever is to accept both of these particular theories) are following a religion, they are damn right on that. So, a bunch of Atheists reading this will get mad, saying, “We’re not following any religion,” yet you’re accepting theories that haven’t been fully proven (even if yet), so shut the fuck up and stay in your corner instead of coming off like a smug bastard. Neither are the Christians any different than you types of Atheists, the ones who claim they do “not” follow a religion, because “religion is evil, but not Christ,” bullshit claim. Kindly shut the fuck up, please.
Yes, you types of Atheists ARE following an organized religion (because like I said, your pretentious “criteria” for becoming a nonbeliever is to accept theories, just like Christians accept their “Word of God”).
I’ll admit as a Deist, I too am following a religion (Deism) aswell. My religion is based on natural observations of life and believing that there is a “source of all existence” that we cannot comprehend ourselves.
I have a strong Atheist friend who doesn’t care about either of these theories. Big Bang can also be applied to Theism philosophy too, so the only thing they (the Creationists) are mainly against is the Evolution theory, even though there ARE also Theists who actually believe in Evolution, while applying their beliefs in Christianity at the same time. Weird shit, huh?
PS: And just because there was “unedited” video footage of Richard Dawkins being “stumped” by a creationist, that doesn’t mean that Evolution was disproven, that Christian Creationism is “truth,” or any of that garbage.
PS 2: I apologize if the words I said were too strong, but that’s just how I feel about the many asshole types of Atheists out there who make such retarded claims and claim to have the “ultimate knowledge” while bashing Theists. Fix your own damn problems.
What do you call someone who has no home? Homeless. What do you call someone who has no arm(s) or leg(s)? Amputee. What do you call someone who has sex with someone outside of marriage? Adulterer. What do you call someone who steals? Thief.
Now what do you call someone who doesn’t believe in God?
Atheist.
Please stop being so ignorant with “I don’t want labels” bullshit, because you have to admit something you are, not something you clearly aren’t. You’re an Atheist, live with it.