Those who deny evolution, of course!
I was just thinking of such people over at Eternity Matters where I was concerned enough to craft a comment about a truly awful analogy that suggested an Oreo cookie slipped into a beaker of water represents equivalent evidence for the intentional design of everything by the Big Oogity Boogity Himself. Understand that, as is usual on blogs where the admin is promoting a religiously inspired anti-evolutionary faith-based fairytale, my commentary is almost always moderated, usually left in moderation, published but edited, and quite often deleted if the argument is too well written … presumably because its just unwanted noise to the love-in of the harmoniously deluded reality deniers.
In this interview between Jeremy Paxman and children’s author Richard Dawkins (The Magic of Reality), Paxman asks if he really cares that there are stupid people around (after referencing 40% of Americans who believe the bible to be a literal and historical account). Dawkins says he does care, that he is concerned that children are being misled by stupid and ignorant people, because he thinks children deserve to learn what’s true and wonderful about the world into which they have been borne. No guff, eh? Furthermore, he says it’s a “crying shame” if children are denied that opportunity by stupid and ignorant adults as Paxman describes them. So why am I still thinking of Neil, the blog host, over at Eternity Matters? Hmmm…
Have a listen:
(h/t WEIT)
tildeb
Questionable Motives 
OMG! You worship this guy like he is your God – WOW. He is ONE person – CRAZY – you must be drinking the kool-aid – tell me, are the space ships coming – you must prepare
Comment by 4amzgkids — September 16, 2011 @ 5:41 pm |
OMG! You worship this guy like he is your God
The keyword being of course, “like”. Dawkins in just very good at what he does, debunking the harmful mythology so many people have embraced. He is the fine edge of the wedge and gets a lot of press for what he does, but he is standing on the shoulders of many when he makes his arguments.
He is ONE person
For a person that often cites only a single source for their arguments, one should not be too hasty in making this particular accusation.
Comment by The Arbourist — September 19, 2011 @ 1:44 pm |
At least he exists.
Comment by misunderstoodranter — September 19, 2011 @ 2:45 pm |
!
Comment by tildeb — September 20, 2011 @ 4:09 pm
Richard was asked if he cared there were a lot of stupid people around and went to condemn the people peddling these myths to mislead children as ignorant and stupid adults . Richards clear love of education comes across strongly the kindly teacher concerned to give children the power of knowing the wonderful truth..I do wonder though if there isnt an aspect to knowing the truth that isnt emphasized as much as it might be which is that for many although certainly not all the truths of science can provide comfort.
Comment by Sugel — September 18, 2011 @ 4:22 am |
The delusion of a god doesn’t provide comfort either.
Comment by misunderstoodranter — September 22, 2011 @ 3:50 pm |
Understand that, as is usual on blogs where the admin is promoting a religiously inspired anti-evolutionary faith-based fairytale, my commentary is almost always moderated, usually left in moderation, published but edited, and quite often deleted if the argument is too well written …
Full marks for taking the argument to the nutters front door, but therein lies the rub, debating on their home turf the playing field magically slopes away from reality and into the crazy religious wack-a-loonery that we came to dismember in the first place. I had my first run in with Neil back in 2009 when he was busy polluting a thread on abortion with his dishonest rhetoric. Did I moderate him, even back then as a fledgling blogger I let him spew his bile into the debate, I reasoned that if people could see how slimy the BS that was coming from the anti-choice side it was still an overall win.
You cannot play that game when you’re defending bronze age mythology and thus the moderation and editing games begin.
I suggest you copy the articles in question, then dissect them here properly in the light of day so they can be properly discussed and debated. I did that with an anti-choice zealot and it worked extremely well.
Comment by The Arbourist — September 19, 2011 @ 1:39 pm |
Great idea. I’ll do that.
Comment by tildeb — September 19, 2011 @ 2:19 pm |