1. CBC News: Sunday - Richard Dawkins

Comment #100153 by Arcados on December 18, 2007 at 10:07 am

That was a bit more combative than I would've hoped, but Prof. Dawkins handled it very well. My worry is that much of the answers to his ill-posed questions would take a chapter or two to explain fully, and interviews like this automatically disadvantage the explainer.

2. This Is Not a Test

Comment #99944 by Arcados on December 17, 2007 at 11:36 pm

Ah, Hitchens... I hope this won't be misconstrued, but I hope he quits smoking already. It's nice having someone like him around for a change.

3. Beyond Belief 07: Enlightenment 2.0

Comment #94742 by Arcados on December 6, 2007 at 11:56 am

Atran's talk is great so far - I'm glad they gave him a chance to speak.

Does anyone know if Dennett got a chance to address Kroto's comment that philosophy is useless? From the woman in the front who asked him a few questions, it seems he doesn't know what the hell he's talking about.

4. Beyond Belief 07: Enlightenment 2.0

Comment #93652 by Arcados on December 3, 2007 at 8:17 pm

Awesome... I've been waiting to watch this for so long.

Damn you for releasing this when my exams start!

5. Interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Comment #56929 by Arcados on July 17, 2007 at 9:37 pm

I'm ambivalent about Avi, but his show is one of the few that will actually have serious guests on about similar topics, so I'm less inclined to disapprove. I don't think it's fair to categorize him as "anti-American", though. There are many things wrong with many countries, and pointing out those that occur in the U.S., a great country in all but administration, gets you branded as anti-American. The only anti-Americans are those that would see our neighbours to the South bombed, or worse. Most critics just want a regime change.

6. An Atheist Responds

Comment #56447 by Arcados on July 15, 2007 at 8:11 pm

I think Hitchens' highbrow style is a great alternative to the more direct styles of Harris and Dawkins, and it's a pleasure to read.

7. Inferior Design: Richard Dawkins reviews Behe's lastest book

Comment #53327 by Arcados on June 30, 2007 at 8:32 pm

"...as I incredulously close this book I seem to hear mocking barks and deep, baying howls of derision from 500 breeds of dogs..."

This is one of the funniest lines I've read in print in a while.

8. In Defense of Witchcraft

Comment #52359 by Arcados on June 26, 2007 at 9:02 pm

I found it entertaining, but I doubt it will arise more than a lot of hurfing and durfing from theists.

Also Michael Novak's criticisms of atheism are telling of how little people actually know about the subject.

("[Skeptics] want all the comforts of the rationality that emanates from rational [sorcery], but without personal indebtedness to [the supernatural]")

I don't think he understands that what atheists 'want' has zero bearing on why we don't believe. This is yet another example of how people assume beliefs are 'chosen' (much like homosexuality, right? *rolling eyes*). Maybe we can fault the use of the word 'choose' with respect to beliefs and values in the English language, and perhaps this is where some consciousness raising needs to happen as well. I hope someone understands what I'm nattering on about...

9. Christopher Hitchens on The Hour

Comment #49404 by Arcados on June 11, 2007 at 8:14 pm

I love the CBC - a lot of people bash it, but the programming is actually very good, if not comparable with the BBC. I'm really liking The Hour, George is a very impartial host.

10. Defenders of Marriage

Comment #40200 by Arcados on May 13, 2007 at 7:13 pm

This guy is like Weird-Al, except cooler.

11. Unintelligent Design

Comment #40195 by Arcados on May 13, 2007 at 6:50 pm

Everyone seems to like to disagree with everything Atran says because of what he said at Beyond Belief. The fact is, both he and those who were arguing with him were making claims about whether specific religious beliefs make suicide bombers, or whether suicide bombing is more owing to group dynamics. This is an extremely interesting issue that should be researched and tested, and dealt with in academic discourse - not by banning Atran from Beyond Belief because he posited a rival theory. (I personally think there's more to suggest that particular belief does do this, but it's still worth looking into).

As far as the article goes, it seemed like he was trying to appease religious moderates (or at least be gentle) in order to get his point across. I don't necessarily disagree with his tact; it's going to take all kinds of discourse strategies to win over politicians and the general public with respect to secular issues like intelligent design.

I think Atran's angle will appeal to the people that a more uncompromising angle does not. He's doing his part to combat ideology mascarading as science, and I commend him for addressing it publicly.

12. The Debate: Can We Live by Reason Alone?

Comment #39768 by Arcados on May 11, 2007 at 10:12 pm

On behalf of rational Ontarians I'd like to apologize for the host's interviewing technique. As a general rule, I think an interviewer may play the Devil's Advocate, but never show his/her bias, and this guy certainly failed at that.

This is the first time (that I remember) Prof. Dawkins explaining the concept of the moral Zeitgeist as a source of morality, and was very well put.

I still think Breakfast Television would have done a better job than Canada AM. Hopefully next time you're in the neighbourhood Prof. Dawkins we'll have a better show for you to appear on!
In honesty, it wasn't so horrible.

13. The Coulter Hoax: How Ann Coulter Exposed the Intelligent Design Movement

Comment #31053 by Arcados on April 10, 2007 at 7:56 pm

This article is fantastic. My greatest fear as an anthropology undergraduate is that if/when I find a job outside of academia, my interviewer will dismiss me as an "evolutionist."

Satire in the press such as this reveals just how silly people like Coulter are.