Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

[Stark Evade]

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

What does science or the pursuit of knowledge have to do with theism or atheism?

This argument did start with Dawkins and O'Reilly, right? Dawkins position is characterized by what constitutes knowledge and the pursuit thereof through logic, reason and the scientific method. And as I said it is no more ideological than you opening a cupboard to see what's inside.

[HyeClown]

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

This argument did start with Dawkins and O'Reilly, right? Dawkins position is characterized by what constitutes knowledge and the pursuit thereof through logic, reason and the scientific method. And as I said it is no more ideological than you opening a cupboard to see what's inside.

Dawkins is what I would call a popular scientist, that is his greatest achievements have been in writing science publications. He hasn't invented or discovered anything more than opening a cupboard to see what's inside.

He can't possibly be compared to the likes of Newton, Tesla, Galileo, Pasteur... etc...

[Stark Evade]

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

Dawkins is what I would call a popular scientist, that is his greatest achievements have been in writing science publications. He hasn't invented or discovered anything more than opening a cupboard to see what's inside.

He can't possibly be compared to the likes of Newton, Tesla, Galileo, Pasteur... etc...

It seems like an ad hominem and a red herring and a baby. But I congratulate you on your apparent list of popular scientists based on your criteria.

[HyeClown]

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

It seems like an ad hominem and a red herring and a baby. But I congratulate you on your apparent list of popular scientists based on your criteria.

Called it what you will, it's the truth. Those aren't popular scientists, those are scientists that made significant changes to our quality of life through discoveries and inventions.

[Stark Evade]

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

Called it what you will, it's the truth. Those aren't popular scientists, those are scientists that made significant changes to our quality of life through discoveries and inventions.

It seems like the ad hominem and the red herring are raising this baby to be strong and healthy.

[HyeClown]

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

It seems like the ad hominem and the red herring are raising this baby to be strong and healthy.

Let me put it this way.... Richard Dawkins is much a scientist as George Bush is a Christian. Does that make any more sense?

[Stark Evade]

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

Let me put it this way.... Richard Dawkins is much a scientist as George Bush is a Christian. Does that make any more sense?

This is hilarious. You have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about and you keep repeating yourself. Go on, say it again. It's incredibly significant. Or, more likely you'll do some research and finally get what I'm talking about then either claim you knew all along or just change the subject.

[HyeClown]

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

This is hilarious. You have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about and you keep repeating yourself. Go on, say it again. It's incredibly significant. Or, more likely you'll do some research and finally get what I'm talking about then either claim you knew all along or just change the subject.

I know very well I'm insulting your sham of a hero... it's only my opinion, don't take it too personally.

[axel]

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

Atheism is a strange passion that desperately attempts to dissimulate itself under the guise of rational thinking.
Most people who hold themselves to be "atheist" are not.
A consequent atheist is a nihilist.
What people believe to be atheism is often anti-clericalism, a-dogmatism or lack of faith.

The "atheism" of most self-assessed "atheists" is fundamentally an intellectual/conceptual attitude. As such, it cannot serve as an existential foundation for life, as life (and love, first and foremost) is not driven by intellect or ideology.

Such an attitude either reveals a lack of conscious understanding of what life really is and at the same time the existence of an implicit creed that has not been brought to the conscience, or, the existence of a creed that is conscious but kept hidden.

Ideologists are driven by the irrational love of their ideology, rationalists, by the love of reason they deify.

Rationalism is only a modern form of idolatry.

PS about atheism, it is very sad to see this passion flourishing among armenians.

[Haykakan]

Re: Richard Dawkins interview with Bill O'Reilly

Atheism is a strange passion that desperately attempts to dissimulate itself under the guise of rational thinking.
Most people who hold themselves to be "atheist" are not.
A consequent atheist is a nihilist.
What people believe to be atheism is often anti-clericalism, a-dogmatism or lack of faith.

The "atheism" of most self-assessed "atheists" is fundamentally an intellectual/conceptual attitude. As such, it cannot serve as an existential foundation for life, as life (and love, first and foremost) is not driven by intellect or ideology.

Such an attitude either reveals a lack of conscious understanding of what life really is and at the same time the existence of an implicit creed that has not been brought to the conscience, or, the existence of a creed that is conscious but kept hidden.

Ideologists are driven by the irrational love of their ideology, rationalists, by the love of reason they deify.

Rationalism is only a modern form of idolatry.

PS about atheism, it is very sad to see this passion flourishing among armenians.

I strongly disagree with most of what you said here. The foundation for life and love can be different things to different people. A atheist is not necesseraly a nihilist, he/she may think that life indeed has a purpose just not a devine one. The persuit of rational is one that i strongly encourage far more so then the misguided misdirection religion has to offer. The only thing preventing me from calling myself a atheist is the fact that we cannot prove the non-existence of diety (although there is far more proof for that argument then for the existence of a diety). There is no dought we do not have a good comprehention of our universe and that many things are far beyond our understanding but rationality gives us more answers every day and will continue to do so-expanding our understanding of all things. Rationality should be encouraged not villified by people like you and the spread of rational thinking among our people is only a good thing which i hope continues. Obviously some people are scared of rational thought and its consequences mostly because it sometimes goes against some long time tradition or train of thinking. Fear is what keeps people from being rational and conquering ones fears is a very liberating thing. Pretty much all religions try to use fear and they all lose their grip on people once people conquer their own fears and think for themselves. Once a fear is conquered, one can appreciate how silly it was in the first place and how much it was holding you back. Don't let fear drive your life, it will limit you to a nerrow mind and you will missout on most of what life has to offer.