1. Comment #13483 by flashbaby on December 18, 2006 at 1:27 am

Gosh weren't all the god botherers sensible and believable: NOT. What a bunch of twits. Same old same old.

The prove god doesn't exist man was especially impressive.

And yogic flying truly believable.

Gave up after that it was all too silly.

Other Comments by flashbaby

2. Comment #13495 by Yorker on December 18, 2006 at 2:36 am

This was absolutely riveting! The intellectual depth made me feel inadequate; the scintillating wit of the callers left me breathless and speechless. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that such giants of profound thought existed in my country.

I find myself unable to find words I could apply in the analysis of such a gem. The best I can manage is:

Some people are just fucking thick!

Other Comments by Yorker

3. Comment #13496 by Aussie on December 18, 2006 at 2:40 am

This guy Mike Dickin is a legend. I wish we had him here in Oz. For a talk back presenter he is not insufferable like most of the others. A great sense of humour and right on the ball.

Unfortunately he seems constantly very short of breath. I hope he looks after himself. We can ill afford to lose people like him.

Other Comments by Aussie

4. Comment #13500 by Aussie on December 18, 2006 at 2:57 am

I sincerely hope that the callers we heard do not constitute a representative sample of British intellect.

If it is then it is not only the good old US of A that has an affliction that is potentially lethal to civilisation.

Other Comments by Aussie

5. Comment #13509 by Aussie on December 18, 2006 at 3:43 am

I haven't laughed so much for a long time.

Highly recommended - the entire three hours - hugely entertaining - but a bit sad in some ways.

Other Comments by Aussie

6. Comment #13525 by He-man Daunted World on December 18, 2006 at 5:08 am

It was worth the pain just to hear about the "hopping stage" of being able to fly.

Other Comments by He-man Daunted World

7. Comment #13526 by Seti on December 18, 2006 at 5:17 am

That was brilliant. Richard as always was impeccably polite - except now-and-then when a comment was particularly stupid. But Mike Dickin really doesn't take any prisoners, does he?

Other Comments by Seti

8. Comment #13530 by Logicel on December 18, 2006 at 5:38 am

Only listened to the part with Dawkins, and it was excellent--particularly enjoyed at the end hearing him say that a community is flourishing at Dawkins.net. That's us, baby!

Other Comments by Logicel

9. Comment #13531 by NoLongerHaveBelief on December 18, 2006 at 5:43 am

I am a SERIOUS listener to TalkSport - my favourite presenters being James Whale, John Gaunt, Mike Mendoza and of course - Mike Dickin.

If you've never listened to 'The Angriest Man in Britain', then where have you been?! His shows are always great and he speaks many-a-truth.

I'm going to enjoy listening to this... and I'll doubt, yet again, that believers will convince me.

Other Comments by NoLongerHaveBelief

10. Comment #13533 by Logicel on December 18, 2006 at 5:47 am

He-man Daunted World, I am looking forward to seeing the TV show that Dawkins has recently finished concerning his addressing the inane New Age religions. Some here find the biblical nonsense unbearable, for me, it is the new age approach that says that a pure, better than the human, flawed consciouness version exists crapola that makes me see red.

So Dawkins is my Santa supreme, two Christmas presents--TGD and this program yet to be aired debunking new age religion.

Other Comments by Logicel

11. Comment #13534 by Kevin Ronayne on December 18, 2006 at 6:04 am

So far, I've only got through 35 minutes and about 5/6 religious callers, and I am torn between laughing and crying.

Mike Dickin is excellent. A completely different style to Kim Hill, but thoroughly suited to the format.

I have just listened to a nutter speaking about the end-of-days prophesies in the bible. RD wondered loud if the program's filter for keeping out nutcases is working properly!

Other Comments by Kevin Ronayne

12. Comment #13537 by Ole on December 18, 2006 at 6:25 am

Richard suggested to one guy that he should read a book about evolution (or was it a primer on biology?) - anyway.

What would be a good book for understanding the basics of evolution?

I have recommended Daniel C. Dennett: Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanings of Life

(but this was to a person who have no problem reading such a large book - maybe not the right one for a person like the guy on the phone?)

O.J.

Other Comments by Ole

13. Comment #13543 by NoLongerHaveBelief on December 18, 2006 at 7:51 am

As Expected...

...the God Believers DIDN'T convince me that God exists. Same old tired excuses. I loved it when that LOON went on about Moses! Oh Yeah! Now if somebody like FRED WEST had 'heard from God', I doubt any of us would have believed him! Yet Moses the MURDERER is believed! Wow! Like Yorker stated earlier, the intellectual arguments put forth by the believers were truly ASTOUNDING! God did it! God did it! I don't know how! But God did it!

Particularly interesting was that LOON who always rings up TalkSport (usually on James Whale's show) and starts his singing and Christian Chorus. He's a REAL DELUDED LOON. He's always calling TalkSport harping on about Jesus this and Jesus that and the 'Human eye couldn't have evolved' (which is incorrect).

And that Agnostic was TRULY confused! Agnostics are in a worse place than theists or us Atheists!

Believers: You have the right to believe in Jesus and I admire (though I don't respect) your belief. It is no longer good enough for myself; I can't concede to a God any longer. Everything we witness, hear, taste, smell or touch - all of it is NATURAL. The universe itself, is NATURAL. There is NO evidence of a Supernatural alternative universe or existence. You really are clutching at straws. There's no after-life or reward/ punishment. Unless you can provide proof to the contrary?

It would be lovely to believe that the murdered innocents are in 'Heaven' next to God, whilst the likes of Hitler or Stalin are paying for their crimes. Do believers REALLY think this is possible? Based upon what?

Some of the callers on the show, harping on that the Bible is true: I'd love to know how they know this to be the case? That individual who was on drugs and 'felt the love of God' - hmmmm. I have great worry and concern when somebody who, after readily-admitting he was on drugs, is suddenly 'touched' by God. Drugs are powerful things. My Father recently had a triple-bypass: He told me about the strangeness and hallucinations he experienced after the surgery. He said it was truly frightening. Now. Is it beyond the imagination, if somebody of belief, after taking hell-knows what type of drugs, 'sees' or 'hears' or is 'touched' by Jesus? Not at all. The Human mind can play strange games. Sadly, none of these experiences are evidence of God.

Wrong. Worrying. DELUDED. I doubt any of the callers will bother to pick up Professor Dawkins books and read them. And if they did, they'd only do it in order to attack Atheists.

I can't believe that I USED to believe. I was deluded. I was deluded too. Not no more. I urge ANY believers, with ANY sense of doubt to investigate for yourselves. You won't find God. He is not there.

Other Comments by NoLongerHaveBelief

14. Comment #13545 by scooternyc on December 18, 2006 at 8:06 am

I LOVED this show and laughed my ass off! I'm from the good ol U.S. of A. and am concerned about the indoctrination that happens here.

I see that people are either indoctrinated without choice at an early age or have some life altering event by which they have no explanation and then attribute it to god. Rubish...all of it. The idea that I refuse to accept the responsibility and accountability that is my life and turn it over to some ghost in the sky and thereby absolve myself of all wrong doings(devil made me do it)and never take credit for the hard work I do (god made it happen)or make excuses for other's poor choices(god must have wanted that to happen)is so unbelievably stupid and immature. To try and address it is futile.

NATURE is awesome, but the need to personalize it by calling it god is abhorent, arrogant and egotistical. I equate the idea of watching a movie, play, et.al. You find emotion in the viewing because you find something that you can relate to your own life thus making it personal.

The moralizing that goes on in the United States, and dare I say, the world in general, under the auspicies of religion is sick. Making the decision about what is socially acceptable behavior and living by that seems much less judgmental or moralizing and certainly allows one to make the life they wish to make.

This site is amazing, glad I found it, it seems I've landed on a spot where like minded people DO exist! Yeah!

Happy Christmas!

Other Comments by scooternyc

15. Comment #13548 by Laurence Boyce on December 18, 2006 at 8:53 am

To Josh Timonen,

Do you suppose you could do a better job at alerting us in advance to stuff like this? I tuned in to talkSport at 11pm and was dismayed to learn that I had missed Richard. I would have loved to have spoken with him. Anyway, I rang up and spoke to Mike instead. I appear at roughly 01:29 on the audio as "Tom from Cambridge."

By the way, Diane the yogic flying lady (00:45) frequently speaks on the show. The irony is that she is generally one of the more intelligent sounding callers!

Other Comments by Laurence Boyce

16. Comment #13549 by celestial_T on December 18, 2006 at 9:05 am

interesting when Dawkins on, but I've given up on it now, due to the high stupidity-level of callers.

I hope a few popular culture references don't lower the intellectual tone of this strand, but is it me or are these believers starting to sound more and more like Vicky Pollard? Dawkins recommends a choice of reading on evolutionary biology, and most believers come back with some sort of "yeah but no but" retort.

to which I suppose the appropriate atheist response might be "am I bovvered?"

Other Comments by celestial_T

17. Comment #13555 by aoratos philos on December 18, 2006 at 10:50 am

A big LOL.. that's pretty much it accept to say that; self delusion, the ability to strawman other peoples positions to death, the inability to be internally consistent with ones own position and wilful ignorance are all alive and well in the minds of many British people.
I never thought the voice of reason would come from a Talk-Sport presenter!

Other Comments by aoratos philos

18. Comment #13556 by Richard Dawkins on December 18, 2006 at 10:51 am

Laurence Boyce wrote (Comment #13548):

"To Josh Timonen,

Do you suppose you could do a better job at alerting us in advance to stuff like this? I tuned in to talkSport at 11pm and was dismayed to learn that I had missed Richard."

Josh does a truly fantastic job of not only running this wonderful website but also of posting things with breathtaking speed, as soon as he hears of them, apparently at any hour of the day or night (when does he sleep?). When things go up with inadequate prior notice, the fault is ALWAYS mine. In the particular case of the Mike Dickin show, I had been refusing to do the interview, and was finally persuaded to do it only a short time before it happened, so it wasn't possible to give enough advance warning. In the past, I am sorry to say, I have sometimes simply forgotten to pass the message on. These delays are literally NEVER Josh's fault.

Other Comments by Richard Dawkins

19. Comment #13559 by Andrew Roberts on December 18, 2006 at 11:13 am

Ole (comment 13537) asks for a good book on evolution. I can thoroughly recommend Carl Zimmer's "Evolution: The triumph of an idea". It's a big book sure, but superbly written and a reference for many years to come. I am on my 3rd reread which is by far the most I have done for any book. For a sample of Zimmer's writing see the November issue of National Geographic and the article: From Fins to Wings on page 110.

Other Comments by Andrew Roberts

20. Comment #13560 by david hartley on December 18, 2006 at 11:26 am

mike dickin has gone up in my estimation (still uncertain about some of his other views)
some of the callers are scary but also vulnerable and lost.
does anyone else feel well......pity?

hope that doesnt come across as arrogant...

Other Comments by david hartley

21. Comment #13561 by aoratos philos on December 18, 2006 at 11:33 am

I have to agree with Comment #13556 by Richard Dawkins.

This website is turning into one of the best repositories of atheistic media on the web.
I'm always on the look out for articles and podcasts that discuss reason/faith issues and this site is often the first to publish and republish them.

Big thx to Josh for all his work, and all of you who alert and supply RDF with these wonderful resources.

Other Comments by aoratos philos

22. Comment #13565 by mdowe on December 18, 2006 at 12:16 pm

From time to time, I've noticed other articles and podcast segments that I thought might be of interest to those frequenting this forum. However, I haven't wished to contribute what could become an overwhelming flood of well-meaning but annoying suggestions finding their way into Josh's email. I'm wondering, Josh, do you have some preferred way to deal with story suggestions? (I'm thinking something scalable and non-intrusive -- perhaps a dedicated phpBB forum?)

Other Comments by mdowe

23. Comment #13568 by jefferson on December 18, 2006 at 12:34 pm

To the people who claim that their life was turned around because of divine intervention (miracles): Have you ever heard of placeboes? God is a very popular one!

Other Comments by jefferson

24. Comment #13570 by Ole on December 18, 2006 at 1:06 pm

Thanks, Andrew for the suggestion!

I did a search and found an excerpt of it here:

http://www.carlzimmer.com/evolution_2.html

...and a review said this:
This brilliant book is a virtual Voyage of the Beagle. Carl Zimmer's shows, with the benefit of a hundred and fifty years of hindsight, how right Darwin was; and how his great idea has had a triumph more complete than even he could have imagined. Darwin would have loved it: and anyone who wants to know why life is the way it is need look no further.

I've already ordered the book - a nice present to myself for this Xmas ;-)

O.J.

Other Comments by Ole

25. Comment #13571 by Laurence Boyce on December 18, 2006 at 1:14 pm

Professor Dawkins,

Please forgive me, and Josh too. I suppose I was addressing Josh as your lieutenant in chief, thinking that you would not be reading this, and in any case to criticise you directly would be tantamount to blasphemy or something!

Only this isn't the first time I've missed you. Shortly after you returned from the States, I was all set to phone you on Simon Mayo's show, but that never materialised for some reason. I'd typed up notes and everything!

What I wanted to speak to you about was my theory that a sort of prevalent incoherent libertarian philosophy is really obscuring the true nature of our troubles with respect to religion, and is liable to simply betray the current generations suffering religious indoctrination. As a man of great wisdom, I feel sure you would have agreed with me!

Take care, and hope to speak to you next time.

Merry Christmas to one and all!

Other Comments by Laurence Boyce

26. Comment #13572 by StephenH on December 18, 2006 at 1:31 pm

The man that normally calls James Whale and goes on and on about Jesus often sings the song that goes:

"Jesus loves me that i know
because the bible tells me so"

It's a rhyme that young children are usually indoctrinated with by religious parents

May i add one line to it?

"until i learn how to critically think"

The Yogic Flying "hopping" caller was very funny
When you see Tv footage of those people doing this "flying", i laugh even more

It's people crossed legged on some padded mats, and they bounce across the room on their backsides... Hmmm must try it sometime :)

Here is some YouTube Footage of Yogic Flying :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsBwpi856Sc

Other Comments by StephenH

27. Comment #13575 by Yorker on December 18, 2006 at 1:44 pm

This Yogic flying looks fun, I suspect one might need to wear a box though.

Other Comments by Yorker

28. Comment #13576 by John Phillips on December 18, 2006 at 1:53 pm

Laurence Boyce post 13571: I think you just described Ron Liddle's program tonight on C4 perfectly. I.e. We question the believers rationale so we must be fundamentalist.

Other Comments by John Phillips

29. Comment #13581 by Aussie on December 18, 2006 at 3:02 pm

While we are on the subject of this website I do not know whether or not this is the place to express appreciation to Josh Timonen for the unbelievable job he is doing. Many people do not realise what is involved in building, maintaining and moderating a website like this.

I have had some experience myself having built one website many years ago and have recently commissioned a company to build our latest website. Apart from all the technical issues involved, which are formidable in themselves, there are requirements for graphic design, layout, aethetics, balance, navigability and search engine optimisation to name just a few. To get all this right to produce such a product as Josh has given us here is nothing short of "miraculous". I often wonder, whenever I enter here, if Josh actually has any time to pursue other aspects to his life. What impresses me is that amongst all of this he still has time to be responsive to our suggestions.

This website looks good, feels good and is a pleasure and delight to use. In fact it is so good that it has become quite addictive to me to the extent that I try to ration myself to a limited number of visits - as I am supposed to be running a business at the same time.

But I must admit I have sinned many times as I quickly sneak in again for a quick look during the day, when I am really supposed to be working, to check up on the new topics and postings that have appeared. I keep promising myself that I will stop using this website but the Devil keeps tempting me back with his irresistable offerings. Maybe what is required is a contrite confession followed by penance with sackcloth and ashes. Anyone know where you can buy indulgences these days?

Other Comments by Aussie

30. Comment #13589 by macronencer on December 18, 2006 at 3:29 pm

@Aussie: LOL! I, too, am officially an "addict" :) This really is a very good site, and improving all the time. Well done, Josh!

Other Comments by macronencer

31. Comment #13601 by admin on December 18, 2006 at 4:49 pm

It was great to hear about the 'flourishing community.' Cheers! We're really growing! Thanks everyone, it's crazy to think that this is just the beginning. We're only 3 months old, and already we're attracting quite a crowd.

I've just setup a new 'Website Suggestions' forum here:
http://www.richarddawkins.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=22

You can also email me any time at design@richarddawkins.net.

Keep spreading the word!
Josh

Other Comments by admin

32. Comment #13607 by stgben on December 18, 2006 at 6:01 pm

I fear I am alone here, but I cannot seem to download from the main link (http://richarddawkins.net.nyud.net:8080/audio/061216-RDawkins.mp3). Is there a mirror available?

EDIT: This link does work (http://richarddawkins.net/audio/061216-RDawkins.mp3)

Other Comments by stgben

33. Comment #13608 by LucyFir on December 18, 2006 at 6:04 pm

The talk host and even Dawkins allowed the callers way too much airtime letting them ramble on while saying nothing and refusing to answer direct questions. Most of them seemed quite ignorant and rather pathetic as they defended religion against Darwin and Dawkins. That dynamic duo scares people silly and hooray for that.

Even Tony Benn on another talk show (http://richarddawkins.net/article,433,Richard-Dawkins-on-The-Sunday-Edition,ITV-1 ) defiantly refuses to answer when asked if he believes in god. Benn should have been pressed to lie, say yes and make a fool of himself on national TV or be truthful and say no.

People don't want to admit out loud that what they believe is untrue so they react with irrational responses. Citing the bible, torah or qu'ran is not evidence of gods but is of conditioning. Stop pussy footing around and tell them that. They should be made to answer questions too. Ask the Moslems if they believe that Mohammed flew on a magic pony or Christians if the tale that Jesus resurrected after death is a true story. No sane person can truthfully say out loud that those events actually happened. No matter how many syllables are in the word transubstantiation it's still a circus trick performed by a guy in fancy dress waving a magic wand over a cookie and getting the audience to believe it's a god. That is another manifestation of Jack in the Beanstalk enchantment.

Dawkins must persist when participating in these forums and not let evangelists who have been taught to take command of the stage bully him. He is too courteous when put against aggressive defenders of faith and Creationism.

Other Comments by LucyFir

34. Comment #13633 by Niels Thorsen on December 18, 2006 at 11:51 pm

Judging from the intellectual thickness of those who called in, this is going to be a long, hard slog.

Hats off to Richard Dawkins for taking this on, we need many more of him.

Niels

Other Comments by Niels Thorsen

35. Comment #13646 by Tanin on December 19, 2006 at 1:48 am

Re: Comment #13607.

No, you're not the only one with that issue. The URI to the mp3 in the post is based on a provider provided path including hosted server and access port(8080). If you're using a proxy server to access the net that only allows communication on port 80 (http), this may cause a problem.
Removing the provider server suffix and port (.nyud.net:8080) from the path fixes this.

Other Comments by Tanin

36. Comment #13723 by Jonti on December 19, 2006 at 7:55 am

IT is with great sadness that I must report the untimely death of Mike Dickin, a radio presenter for Talk Sport.

All our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time and hope they take comfort in the difference this talented presenter made to so many peoples lives.
For anyone who listened to Mike's show and wish to leave a message of condolence you can do so here:

http://www1.talksport.net/forum/forum_detail.asp?type=feature&id=101084

Having listened to his last show and been the last caller for Richards phone-in I feel it is fitting that Mike's final guest should have been Richard, a man he not only respected but greatly admired too, I'm sure he wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Jonti

Other Comments by Jonti

37. Comment #13732 by NoLongerHaveBelief on December 19, 2006 at 8:26 am

Thanks for letting us know Jonti.

I CAN'T believe it. I am so shocked and saddened to hear that Mike has passed away.

I've left a message of condolence for him on the TalkSport forum. James Whale is airing a special show on Thursday at 10Pm for Mike. I shall be listening.

>>Comment #13545 by scooternyc<<

Hi Scooternyc! (I assume New York City?). It's great to have an American in here, with an open-mind! Keep up the good work and I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments!

Other Comments by NoLongerHaveBelief

38. Comment #13741 by Jared on December 19, 2006 at 9:03 am

What, NoLongerHaveBelief, I don't count as an American any more? :-P Just kidding.

And Jonti, thanks for the news. That really hasn't been publicized as much as one would think for such a big personality! Well, my sympathies to his family and fans. I was unfamiliar with him prior to this show, and am saddened that this will be both my first and last experience.

Other Comments by Jared

39. Comment #13745 by perfectelise on December 19, 2006 at 9:15 am

Sad news from the BBC news website:

Talksport radio presenter Mike Dickin dies following a car accident. More soon.

Other Comments by perfectelise

40. Comment #13754 by Laurence Boyce on December 19, 2006 at 9:37 am

This is desperately sad news. Mike was the greatest of the talkSport presenters by far in my estimation. I enjoyed a number of conversations with him recently, mostly bashing religion it has to be said. He rarely went on the offensive with a caller; there was no need; his tone of scathing incredulity said it all. He died an honest man.

Other Comments by Laurence Boyce

41. Comment #13785 by Riley on December 19, 2006 at 12:36 pm

Hearing now about the guy's death, I'm going to feel guilty about pointing this out and saying what I'm about to say, but:





listen to 2:03:40 - 2:04:20 of the radio program
-----------------------------------------------------------
Mike Dickin explaining evlolution:
Because of our intelligence, "over time, if we continue to try to reach that ceiling we will grow a little taller until we do . . . "
-----------------------------------------------------------

Spreading this non-sense as a professional broadcaster purporting to be on the side of science and reason, makes him far worse than the worst of his religous-minded callers.

I can't forgive the hypocracy of a person who is himself so mecilessly unforgiving and demeaning to others.

But I feel sympathy for those hurt by his sudden death,

--Riley

Other Comments by Riley

42. Comment #13805 by Laurence Boyce on December 19, 2006 at 1:45 pm

Riley,

There are three degrees of ignorance when it comes to evolution (or any other subject). Firstly there are those who basically understand evolution though of course they may still have much to learn. Then there are those who do not understand evolution; perhaps they may be helped by a little education. But there is a third category of ignorance which is not so easily remedied, and it was sadly in abundant display on Saturday night. It is the ignorance of those who, knowing nothing of the subject, would nevertheless challenge Richard over the most elementary problems of evolution, as if they imagined that Richard has never seriously thought about them, and that they might stump him with their pathetic points.

I have listened to the segment you describe, and I fear you may have simply misinterpreted what Mike was trying to say. The truly dismal combination of arrogance and ignorance I have described was in fact being manifested by the caller (John from Swansea) to whom Mike was speaking at this point of the show. I daresay Mike didn't answer the point being made as well as Richard might have done, but I think Mike would have been well aware of his limitations in that respect.

If I understand what Mike was saying correctly, he was basically drawing a distinction between human intelligence on the one hand and evolutionary "intelligence" on the other, both of which are capable of solving fundamental engineering problems, only that evolution takes a good deal longer to achieve its "purpose." On its own this is not an unreasonable point, though I'm not sure it entirely addressed what the caller was saying.

But as I say, I don't think anything was going to help that particular caller.

Other Comments by Laurence Boyce

43. Comment #13833 by Aussie on December 19, 2006 at 3:36 pm

Comment #13496 by Aussie

"This guy Mike Dickin is a legend. I wish we had him here in Oz. For a talk back presenter he is not insufferable like most of the others. A great sense of humour and right on the ball.

Unfortunately he seems constantly very short of breath. I hope he looks after himself. We can ill afford to lose people like him."

--------------

Premonition?

Strangely this happens to me not infrequently and sometimes quite spectacularly. I need a good dose of Richard's next Channel 4 production.

Other Comments by Aussie

44. Comment #13860 by Zaphod on December 19, 2006 at 8:12 pm

Ok I am just listening to this now and I am going to comment on every caller.

1st Caller: Was a drug addict and said he overcame it by going on a Christian retreat where he felt amazing love that could not be described.

MY ANSWER: This was his own mind that made him do this, the christian people who helped him may be praised for their good deed but it was him that did it. Perhaps they provided the setting but it was all him. The fact he said he felt a warm glowy feeling perhaps this was a delusion or a combination of the drugs he was on. Hard to argue with someone who says he has a warm loving feeling of god. How did he know jesus was the truth and not Allah or Thor? Could it be that he was on a christian retreat?

Caller 2: Thinks that perhaps god is so far above human understanding that we could not possibly perceive it. How arrogant are we to assume we can?

My Answer: He thinks of god of a highly evolved being so far above himans. This isn't god how most people think of it, Like some Alien race that is so much more advanced. This man isn't really a religious he just thinks that perhaps gods exist and are so much more advanced that we can't even fathom them.

Caller 3: Believes in god. Believes god is a spiritual being throughout the universe. Speaking from christian perspective. Think god has given us evidence in creation.

MY ANSWER. No evidence for spirits or spiritual beings if he means it in a supernatural sense. Speaking from Christian perspective is just not a god stance lol. Universe was created by the big bang and life by evolution. We don't know everything but lack of knowing doesn't mean it was god. That would stop intelluctual progress and understanding. Good people are religious and atheist and bad are both also. This has nothing to do with god.

Caller 4: Atheist.

My Answer: Didn't really hear his views. I may agree with him since hes an atheist like me. New Sceintist - are they doing a religion special?

Caller 5: Think thats the bible is code and intelligent people should interpret it.

My Answer: Calm the feck down Nostradamus. Absolute nutter.

Caller 6: Actually Schizophrenic. Thinks this could be why hes religious.

My Answer: Agree what Richard Says. Probably nothing to do with his schizophrenia.

Caller 7: Thinks atheists are foolish. Prove that god doesn't exist. PROVE IT TO ME.

My Answer: HOw about you prove that he does. The burden of proof doesn't lay with me. I don't have to disprove or prove your crazy ideas.

You can make up anything that can't disproven.

Caller 8: Jesus loves you. Another substance abuser that had a supernatural experience.

My Answer: wtf am I supposed to say to that. See caller 1. Explain DNA. Explain the big bang.

Caller 9:DNA can be totally explained. The big bang is still a mystery. We don't think it calm from nothing like the caller. Energy can turn into matter. So a big explosion of energy can create matter. The big bang is still a mystery though. Science loves the mysterious. We love discovering it.

Caller 10: Suffering why does god let it happen. THe person tried to explain this because god is on a higher plain and see things in a much higher perspective.

My Answer: What about cancer. This can be years of suffering. God sees a perspective that means people wants or needs someone to be suffering for years for his great plan. Gimme a break. Please.

Caller 11: If god exists and he created the world and all things in it and he shows mercy. Why does killer bugs etc exist.

My Answer; Quite agree with Dawkins and the caller that if these things exists wtf is god up to. I don't believe in god. I explain this by evolution like Dawkins.

Caller 12: Physics has found god? The have found a unified theory. She thinks people can fly.

My Answer: This woman thinks we can fly. Nutcase.

Ok they haven't actually found god or a unified theory. They haven't found a grand unified theory or god. She isn't up to date of modern physics. Some theories exist that haven't been proven yet that may actually be a final theory but they haven't found a final theory.

Caller 13: Listening to lecturers on Richards website. Is a Christian. Whats the point in life? Live in the moment, care for each other, love each other etc. Do you want take away peoples treasured beliefs.

My Answer: Richard answered this perfectly. Life is not a rehersal. Make the most of it. It is indeed a wonderful life.


Mike finally says why don't people go to an afterlife who are religious, why don't they go now.

How convenientthat suicide is a sin eh.

Other Comments by Zaphod

45. Comment #13892 by tentotheminus9 on December 20, 2006 at 1:42 am

Sorry everyone, but life can be an arse sometimes :-( ........

"Radio host Dickin dies in crash"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6194773.stm

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46. Comment #13909 by Laurence Boyce on December 20, 2006 at 3:18 am

Zaphod,

Caller 5: Thinks that the Bible is code and intelligent people should interpret it.

My answer: Ahhhhhhhhh!

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47. Comment #13920 by Logicel on December 20, 2006 at 5:34 am

Aussie, I remembered your concern about Dickin's health and made it a point to find out the reason for his death, and it was not because of a lung-related disease but because of a car pile-up. But of course, he could have had a lung disease, and could have died from that if he had not died in a car pile-up first.

I also have 'premonitions' that come true spectacularily, and I attribute it to my very strong pattern recognition skills. And of course--and I think Dawkins mentioned this in the TGD--we only remember the premonitions that work. I am betting that both of us have made some that did not work, but we do not remember them. It is similar to being exposed to a random selection of numbers, and lo and behold, our phone number surfaces, and we attribute meaning to it just because that particular series of numbers have meaning for us.

It has been a refreshing experience to hear posters comment on Dickin's life and death without resorting to "He is with God now," or any combination of the common statements following death that has the word god in it. See, we can function communally in times of stress without leaning on the imaginary sky buddy. The more we do, the more we will continue to do it.

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48. Comment #13947 by TearTheRoofOffTheSucker on December 20, 2006 at 8:23 am

comment 13530 by logicel

hell yeah :P

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49. Comment #13976 by Seti on December 20, 2006 at 11:49 am

Very sorry to hear about Mike's death. The world needs all the intelligent people it can get.

And if perchance he has found himself at the Pearly Gates, I bet he's telling "god" right now to stop being so bluddddy stupid!

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50. Comment #14172 by Rick Stromoski on December 21, 2006 at 10:47 am

How long before the God Botherers declare that God struck down Mr. Dickin because of this interview?

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