Because I always like to know what the other guy has to say, Lindsay and I had planned to head over to Kansas University last week to hear Oxford's Richard Dawkins speak on "The God Delusion." Dawkins' take is essentially a variation on Nietzsche's "God is dead" theme, backed up by the supposedly unassailable logic of Darwinian evolution.
Unfortunately, Aidan did not share our interest in Atheistic philosophy, and mounted a serious attack on our evening plans that proved to be ultimately successful. We didn't get to hear Dawkins present his arguments live, and I sincerely regret it. However, I did come across this fascinating YouTube video...
I can see the weak points I would attack in Dawkins' line of reasoning. Do you? Maybe we can discuss in the comments...
Hat tip: The Resurgence Blog
A very entertaining video but a very sad way to live life. I'm sure he'll sell plenty of books.
ReplyDeleteAriel, I wish I could watch the video, but I have seen so much Dawkins lately that its driving me batty.
ReplyDeleteHe speaks with a certitude that would make the modernist blush, I think. I simply cannot stomach the man...let alone his ideas.
Fortunately, loving your enemies does not mean listening to every word they say in the public area or else I would be in trouble.
I happened to see the interview on the Colbert Report, and found that Dawkins couldn't handle the dry humor of Colbert. It seemed as if he was getting a bit agitated, which may be due to the fact that Colbert is a practicing Roman Catholic. It would have been interesting to hear their "real" conversation, while the microphones were off.
ReplyDeleteHere's a round-up of recent critiques/review of Dawkins' God Delusion, including this from Terry Eagleton:
ReplyDelete"Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology."