Dawkins and 'The New Atheism' | 97 comments (97 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Dawkins and 'The New Atheism' (none / 0)

This is hardly a major plank of his general argument (critics hunt around for excuses for attack), but, for the record, his point about labelling children applies to all religions.

Not all critics are alike :-)

As for the 'purity' part I note that Dawkins seems at pains to also make arguments against moderate believers who support secularism, and seems to feel that grave injustices are being done when a six year old visits a generic Catholic nun once a week.

But that is how it appears to me. It may just be a set of happy little accidents.

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Thu Jan 24th, 2008 at 03:28:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dawkins and 'The New Atheism' (none / 0)

But YOU as critic picked on this minor point - as elsewhere - longer reply coming :-)

His criticism of moderate Christians isn't "puritanism"; it's a quite logical and important argument - which you didn't seem to quite get (he wasn't saying the moderates teach the extremists), that they make relying on faith seem respectable, but it isn't, and in extreme cases it leads to extreme violence - also justified by faith.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Sat Jan 26th, 2008 at 06:06:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dawkins and 'The New Atheism' (none / 0)

I share his concern/outrage that young children are subjected to indoctrination which typically includes ideas about eternal punishment in hell for quite normal human behaviour - which can easily lead to the kind of nightmares from similar indocrination which MillMan suffered as a child. I'm surprised it doesn't concern you too.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Sat Jan 26th, 2008 at 06:10:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dawkins and 'The New Atheism' (none / 0)

Did domeone say eternal punishment?

"If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles." Sun Tzu

by Turambar (sersguenda at hotmail com) on Sat Jan 26th, 2008 at 11:52:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dawkins and 'The New Atheism' (none / 0)

What bothers me is that neither you nor MillMan nor Dawkins have done a review of how religion is generally brought across to children. Your statement of what is 'typical' is rather empty in that respect.

I stated to MillMan that I think giving a young child daily or even weekly brim and firestone lectures is unhealthy.

Exposing a child to the mere concept of eternal damnation is not a whole lot more damaging than exposing a child to the concept of absolute death. Or the boogeyman. What matters is how the idea is brought across, not the idea itself.

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Sun Jan 27th, 2008 at 12:54:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dawkins and 'The New Atheism' (none / 0)

It's funny how you find so many minor things to criticise about Dawkins - still not having read the book apparently - but any excuse to pardon Christians. Isn't the idea of Hell a key part of christianity - and isn't it eternal punishment there? How many kids terrified by this absurd idea (organised by a loving god) would be too many for you? See also turambar's link.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Sun Jan 27th, 2008 at 07:50:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dawkins and 'The New Atheism' (none / 0)

Dawkins is just one person. You can't make sweeping generalisations about one person, as easily :-)

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Sun Jan 27th, 2008 at 08:45:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Dawkins and 'The New Atheism' | 97 comments (97 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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