51. Review of Richard Dawkins' new book 'The Fascism Delusion'

Comment #69249 by Bertybob on September 10, 2007 at 6:58 am

Pauliej.

Thanks.

Ooops!!! / Doh!!!

Regards,

Rob.

52. Review of Richard Dawkins' new book 'The Fascism Delusion'

Comment #69233 by Bertybob on September 10, 2007 at 5:41 am

Very funny!

I went into Waterstones Bookshop today and went to the Religion Section. Both TGD and "God is not Great" were in there with the Religion books which was an interesting position for them.

I picked up McGrath's "Dawkin's God" and read about 6 pages.

I think I could fairly summarise the arguments in these pages as:-

a "you're wrong RD"
b "you're wrong RD"
c "you're wrong RD"
d "you're wrong RD"

I know it's not fair to judge on 6 pages, but it was enough to stop me buying the book to see if there were any excellent retorts to TGD.

I did not find one rebuttal argument from McGrath in those 6 pages, in which he attempted to explain the Theist faith and why there is a God.

I might have a go at writing my own "flea" to TGD so as to make a few bucks (not really). Although I know how to do it now!!

Regards,

Rob.

53. Polling Data on Science and Religion

Comment #67127 by Bertybob on September 2, 2007 at 3:50 am

Devolved #67103

What you describe (or quote) is not surprising. It is largely the "Scientific Method".

Scientists do develop hunches and gut instincts, they make an hypothesis and then set off and use experiments to support their view / understanding with evidence. This evidence is then peer reviewed and accepted or rejected.

No matter how devout to the hypothesis the scientist is, he or she will get nowhere with other Scientists until they can set out their evidence. It is peer review and setting out evidence which makes Science as strong as it is.

The laws of gravity and motion did not just pop into Newton's head when he was hit on the head by an apple. He saw the apple fall which gave him the idea (if you believe the story), then the hard work starts to show by evidence (some only found after his death) that what he supposed to be true actually was.

If you make the hypothesis "God Exists", then set out on the journey and find some evidence to support this. I would not laugh at you or any scientist who wishes to do so, if you came back with some then you would be world famous.

Personally I doubt you would find any evidence of God's existence, but I would be happy to look at anything produced.

54. Richard Dawkins at the Edinburgh Book Festival

Comment #65771 by Bertybob on August 26, 2007 at 12:53 pm

Well I can class myself as one convert to atheism as a result of TGD.

I'm not from a Religious background I confess, I was baptised in the Church of England so that hardly counts!!

For a long time I was a "teapot agnostic", TGD allowed me to see the probability of existence for what is is.

My brother and sister in law are very committed "born agains", but at least they will debate with me even though I shake my head at the "earth is 6,000 years old bit" and "the dinosaur fossils are all a forgery" (I really could not get over that one). One hell (forgive the citation) of an expensive forgery, who paid for it!!

I do feel liberated as a result of my "coming out" and for the first time have been able to say to friends "I am an Atheist". I still get some reactions even from non-faith heads of my friends, It is easy to see how far the indoctrination runs.

Anyway - Keep up the good work RD.

Any chance of some "out" merchandise other than T shirts. Car stickers, lapel badges etc???

55. I'm gonna be a MOVIE STAR

Comment #65454 by Bertybob on August 24, 2007 at 9:03 am

I managed to get a comment accepted asking why PZ Myers had been interviewed under false pretences along with a link to the above article.

I think we should push for a film version of "The God Delusion". RD could go round and interview various religious people under false pretenses.

A bit like "Root of All Evil", but with more sex, violence and a jazzy theme tune.

Two can play at sexy websites for students so maybe someone with some artistic flare can do one for the secular atheist vote.

56. They let anybody onto the faculty at Oxford nowadays

Comment #60956 by Bertybob on August 3, 2007 at 7:09 am

I notice the National Catholic Register does not have "comments" after it's articles.

"Accept what we say, it's the truth"

Debate is futile it would seem.