Dawkins, oh Dawkins.
You know how sometimes you completely disagree with people, but you still enjoy reading what they write? Well, case and point.. I was bored to-day, and I paid a visit to Richard Dawkins’ official website. Well, despite having a different ideology from the guy, I find him clever and not difficult to read/listen to/watch. After browsing the site (Check my Tumblog for a sort of funny picture I found), I found myself really interested in his blog.
The payoff for bin Laden has been mayhem and chaos, costly delays and maddening inconvenience to millions of travellers, in every hour of every day, in every airport of every country (except some third world ones with the good sense to ignore the whole charade). Those useless plastic knives and forks were nothing but a signal to the home electorate: We’re gonna kick some ass, and these plastic knives show it, you better believe it. And did some bearded loon once pack explosives into his shoes? Right then, we’ll show those folks we mean business. We’ll smoke ‘em out and teach those terrists who rules this town, yessirree. From now on nobody – and ah mean nobody – boards a plane without first removing their shoes, whenever they board a plane anywhere – and ah mean anywhere – in God’s own country.
Firstly, I’m dying to hear a Dawkins Southern accent. It’d just be humourous to see that little grey-haired man dressed in his sweater break out into some good ‘ol country speak. That aside, I was a bit troubled. I expect my grandparents to complain about taking their shoes off at the airport (should they ever visit the United States), but that’s mostly because old people, understandably, smell badly in general and removing one’s shoes can be a bit embarrassing because of it. I’m straying from this point though. I mean to say that complaining about a country’s “security” measures is something that we all do..young and old. The only difference is that Dawkins is sort of putting the cherry on top by suggesting that this is a result of god– not incompetence in America’s foreign policy.
Sure, you may say that religion does play a role in this and I wholeheartedly agree. But, to what point? To the point where we can use god as an excuse for every bad thing that humans do? We humans, as complex and wonderfully sophisticated as we are, aren’t perfect. We hurt people in the name of power, greed, anger..the list goes on. So how much of this is related to believing in something supernatural?
I can’t really answer that and neither can anyone else. All I can put forth is that religion is used as an excuse on both sides. It’s used by Islamic extremists to coerce young men into radical behaviour. It’s used by evangelical Christians to secularise and radicalise parts of the country. It’s even used by authors, Dawkins included, who want to push an agenda as far as they can. The thing that all of these people have in common is that they’re trying to breed a revolution. Dawkins wants people to believe that a world without god would be peaceful and happy. Terrorists want to believe that a world without Western powers would be peaceful and happy. Christians, same thing. It’s the “salvation” belief.
I’m in no way saying that Dawkins is deserving of being compared to terrorists, but I’m saying that the same method exists in what he says. “Well, maybe, but he’s not telling people to go out and hurt others!” Of course, but that’s what the Atheist movement is lacking.. a plan of action. The current plan of action is to just hope that people on YouTube watch some videos and subscribe to this ideology? That people in bookstores read his book and their “eyes become opened”?
Well, here’s the sad fact: it almost doesn’t even matter if you read books or not. People will be sheep– even in the name of almighty science. It all depends on social needs, self-esteem needs, etc. Does this lead down the road to Maslow’s self-actualisation hierarchy? You know, not always. Religious people and Atheists alike..there are people who are just content with feeling superior. Lots of them.
Tags: Miscellaneous |
June 17th, 2007 at 10:23 am
“The current plan of action is to just hope that people on YouTube watch some videos and subscribe to this ideology? That people in bookstores read his book and their “eyes become opened”?”
I think that may be true of a few. Atheism seems to be a rising trend and of course there will always be the few that want to jump on ‘for the ride’. But I think the majority of atheists believe what they believe because it is what they believe, they feel. I doubted the idea of a god long before I even knew who Dawkins was. Was it because I wanted to be ‘cool’? No. Was it because I wanted to rebel? No. Hell, at points in my life I’ve evern hoped there is a god, I’ve prayed out of desperation, I’ve tried to seek comfort in religion and in the bible, I’ve tried to expand my mind through faith. Did any of it work for me? Well if it had, I’d be a christian and not ashamed of it. But of course it didn’t. Not that I’m saying it won’t for other people. I have tried faith, for the majority of my life, even though for the most part I had doubts. I wouldn’t reject something I had never tried or experienced. That is why I am not a ‘believer’
Dawkins is a great scientist. I’m not sure exactly how much of his work you’ve read, but you cant’ deny that the man is intelligent and has done a great deal in the field of communicating science and pushing it into the mainstream. Like anybody he can be opinionated and boastful. Although compared to hardcore Christian pastors like Ted Haggard. I’d say he’s as modest as they come.
“You know, not always. Religious people and Atheists alike..there are people who are just content with feeling superior. Lots of them.”
True, however from my experiences both online and real life. Theists are much more likely to attempt to act superior. And the more religious posts I see on RSBANDB, the more that becomes clear to me. Not that I am saying all atheists are perfect and models of modesty. Far from it.
You can try to say atheists and theists are a like. To certain degrees we are, we both believe strongly in things that can’t be proved. But in terms of rationalism and willing to adapt beliefs? Please.
You can mock atheism all you want. It just gets tired.
June 17th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Even if you welcome all the name-calling Brad, I don’t like being called an idiot all the time. Especially by sheep.
I wonder how Dawkins will feel “if” he meets a God?
“Good Morning, Richard.”
“What? YOU DON’T EXIST.”
“That’s not a very nice thing to say…”
“Haven’t you heard of evolution and the big bang?”
“Umm.. yeah.. funny story. I went to an indian one night and had this beast of a curry…”
June 17th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Oh yes Anubis. Everyone who disagrees with you is a sheep. Your stereotyping of atheists as Dawkins loving egomaniacs got tired some time ago. I wouldn’t be surprised if you did get called an idiot, do you actually read what you post on those religious threads? Seriously.
If you can’t handle the heat, don’t stick your hand in to the oven.
I’ll refrain from spamming MQ’s blog comments anymore. If you feel the need to boost your ego some more, feel free.
June 17th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
You’ve got me completely wrong, Brad. I had no intention to mock Atheism, nor did I. I just said that scientists, as crazy pastors (ie Ted Haggard), have egos. And they do push agendas. I wasn’t at all implying that either side was right or wrong. I said that both sides need to rely on themselves to find their own version of what they believe is true, rather than subscribing nearly entirely to what one person says.
June 17th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Not at all Brad.
Belief in only science or only religion, to me, makes you a sheep. Science changes too much for it to be 100% fact, where-as religion never changes at all - but scientific facts contradict it’s writings.
Stereotyping atheists will coexist with stereotyping of the religious, Brad. That, is rational thinking.
June 17th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Well, Anubis, I think religion will change. I don’t foresee the vast majority of the world being Christian/Jewish/Muslim in 100-150 years. People are starting to have access to information and are able to choose what they want to believe. So in terms of change, yes, religions do change. At the same rate as science? No, but they change nonetheless.
As for sheep.. to me, sheep are people who cannot argue intelligently, so they copy and paste quotes from other people to seem smart. Sheep are people who are comfortable in narrow-minded thinking. Personally, I don’t think either of you are sheep.
June 19th, 2007 at 2:24 am
Woof Woof! I’m a doggie