Richard Dawkins: 'Somebody as intelligent as Jesus would have been an atheist' - video interview

[Ian David]

Richard Dawkins: 'Somebody as intelligent as Jesus would have been an atheist' - video interview
In John Harris's latest interview in his National Conversations series, he challenges Richard Dawkins on his view that religious belief is comparable to a pernicious virus


Richard Dawkins, best-selling author of The Selfish Gene and The God Delusion, has been preaching genetics for more than three decades now, challenging those who harbour religious dogma and waving the flag for atheism.

But, John Harris asks, what about the comfort, community, and moral teachings that religion offers? Can Dawkins really despise that with all the passion he professes to hate religious dogma?

Dawkins insists that even Jesus would have plumped for atheism had he known what we now know. Harris and Dawkins place themselves on the latter's seven-point "scale of belief". Turns out Harris is less sure of his atheism than Dawkins, for whom God is as likely to exist as "fairies, pixies, and werewolves".

Harris and Dawkins leave no stone unturned in this interview: the politics of religion; the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the UK; why our government won't debate faith schools; and how beleaguered US Bible belt atheists embrace Dawkins like a long-lost friend.

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/audio/2011/oct/24/john-harris-national-conversations-podcast-richard-dawkins

[trotsky]

1. LOL!

:popcorn:

[Kurmudgeon]

2. Except, Christ, knew better.

[Goblinmonger]

3. Fictional characters can know a lot

depending on what the author wants them to know.

[cleanhippie]

6. Prove it.

Oh wait, you can't. It's just your opinion.

[bananas]

4. I wonder if Richard Dawkins has age-related dementia?

It seems to be progressing.
We saw this when Reagan was president - a public figure moving further and further away from reality in his public statements.
It probably started several years ago.

[cleanhippie]

7. Further away from reality? Can you explain that statement?

Give an example or something of what you are talking about?

[rug]

5. The Tea Party has claimed Jesus. Dawkins might as well join in.

Projection is not a sign of intelligence.

[okasha]

9. Word.

Funny how the man claims disbelief, but just can't quite let go of the idea that Jesus was/would be on his side.

[Goblinmonger]

10. I think both of you missed the point he was making.

Dawkins probably doesn't even think there was a historical Jesus. He certainly doesn't think he is the son of god.

He's making an ironic point that the "son of god" would have been an atheist given what science has shown us, i.e. it is silly for people today to believe what others believed 2000 years ago when they knew very little in comparison.

But don't let that stop you from your Dawkins hate fest.

[cleanhippie]

11. It funny that I was in the middle of posting a reply saying the same thing.

Then decided that considering who I was replying to, it was an exercise in futility.

[Goblinmonger]

18. Looks like you were right. n/t

[okasha]

12. I think we both got the point just fine, thanks.

n/t

[Goblinmonger]

15. This doesn't sound like the reply of an "it" getter

"Funny how the man claims disbelief, but just can't quite let go of the idea that Jesus was/would be on his side."

[rug]

14. Ok, so he's claiming a nonexistent being would agree with him.

The irony is palpable.

BYW, you confuse bemusement with hate.

[Goblinmonger]

17. OK, literary example.

If I was talking about donating money to the poor and said "Even Tom Walker would see this as a reasonable charity." That wouldn't mean that I think Tom Walker is real or that I base my thoughts of whether my point is good on Tom agreeing with me, but that the use of a notably greedy character would emphasis my point.

That you think it is irony is a pretty good indicator that you either 1. don't get it or 2. don't know what irony is.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Sal316]

8. There's a name for Dawkins' view of Jesus....

...it's called Socinianism.

[Deep13]

16. "...plumped for atheism had he known what we now know."

Okay, that is a huge qualification. He's only saying JC would have considered it if he was aware of modern cosmology and evolution.

"...what about the comfort, community, and moral teachings that religion offers?"

What about them? I never found religion comforting and its moral teachings--when they are not plainly immoral in their own terms--are still based on the fallacy of authority. People have communities without religion. Anyway, all these things to the extent they were ever justifications are so only in hindsight. Now that we know the myths are nonsense and the practical effects of them, these justifications are no longer available.