[big-bang-theory]

(Original post by chickenonsteroids)
I took a massive neg for my babies post. It hit me right in the feels.

I +ed back, don't worry, I get the urges to feast upon the flesh of the newbornes as well. It's a disease we just can't say no. Fortunate we don't know it's immoral really.

[FrigidSymphony]

We have a confirmation on Perseveranze!
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show...&postcount=131

[Hype en Ecosse]

(Original post by FrigidSymphony)
We have a confirmation on Perseveranze!
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show...&postcount=131

Good morning, sir.

Chillax. Deep breaths, Frigid. Deep breaths.

Love and tolerance and all that jazz.

[BambieWambie]

Has anyone read The God Delusion? thoughts?

[Plato's Trousers]

(Original post by BambieWambie)
Has anyone read The God Delusion? thoughts?

Yes, I read it when it came out and was v impressed. Obviously I am biased, but I think the book does a pretty thorough job of dispelling any logical arguments for the existence of God. I remember thinking when I had finished it that it would be hard to imagine that anyone could read it and remain a theist afterwards. But I dare say books like that don't really work on theists, because their arguments for God are more personal/emotional/intuitive than logical. I think that if you are a theist it probably seems that people like Dawkins are just totally missing the point/barking up the wrong tree.

[BambieWambie]

(Original post by Plato's Trousers)
Yes, I read it when it came out and was v impressed. Obviously I am biased, but I think the book does a pretty thorough job of dispelling any logical arguments for the existence of God. I remember thinking when I had finished it that it would be hard to imagine that anyone could read it and remain a theist afterwards. But I dare say books like that don't really work on theists, because their arguments for God are more personal/emotional/intuitive than logical. I think that if you are a theist it probably seems that people like Dawkins are just totally missing the point/barking up the wrong tree.

Yeah deffo. I'm actually looking at psychology and God (i've come accross Freud) and seeing what the theories and arguments are for people believing in God/s.

Thanks for replying. I can't wait to read it, comes through my door on Tuesday.

[G8D]

Ignoring bad connotations, cathedrals are pretty swish.

[Dinnes]

What does everyone think of Dawkins generally?

[jam277]

(Original post by Dinnes)
What does everyone think of Dawkins generally?

I think he's a bit of a cock, may have good reasoning, but he's still a cock in the way he talks about religion. This is coming from an atheist who doesn't like religion at all either but was brought up in a religious background.

[TimmonaPortella]

(Original post by jam277)
I think he's a bit of a cock, may have good reasoning, but he's still a cock in the way he talks about religion. This is coming from an atheist who doesn't like religion at all either but was brought up in a religious background.

Really? I think some of his reasoning is a little shaky, particularly his scale of belief/ his discussion of agnosticism in the god delusion, but I love his public discussion of and argument against belief.

[BambieWambie]

(Original post by jam277)
I think he's a bit of a cock, may have good reasoning, but he's still a cock in the way he talks about religion. This is coming from an atheist who doesn't like religion at all either but was brought up in a religious background.

I think Hitchens was a bit more of a cock than Dawkins. I come from a very relgious background too. I'm too scared to tell my dad im atheist

[Dinnes]

(Original post by BambieWambie)
I think Hitchens was a bit more of a cock than Dawkins. I come from a very relgious background too. I'm too scared to tell my dad im atheist

I agree with a lot of the things Dawkins says but I disrespect him for the manner which he presents it to people. We watched a video years ago at school which was essentially him going round, bashing creationists. I agreed with a lot of what he said but he failed to be sympathetic to the fact that these people have built their lives around this (admittedly flawed) metaphorical castle and he's just ripping it up in front of them. I think his reckless attitude towards it contributes to the (I would like to think unfair) view that Atheists are ignorant or arrogant or what have you.

I'd certainly like to think that I'm an alright person as well as being an Atheist. I just wish more people could understand that there are lots of people like this :P

[Dinnes]

(Original post by BambieWambie)
I think Hitchens was a bit more of a cock than Dawkins. I come from a very relgious background too. I'm too scared to tell my dad im atheist

Also, be brave with your dad - if he refuses to accommodate your beliefs (or in this case lack of) then he's doing something wrong as a father, but that's his issue and you shouldn't be afraid of what you believe because of it

[BambieWambie]

(Original post by Dinnes)
Also, be brave with your dad - if he refuses to accommodate your beliefs (or in this case lack of) then he's doing something wrong as a father, but that's his issue and you shouldn't be afraid of what you believe because of it

Agreed, Dawkins can go a bit too far. My dad is very intimidating and in a way if i tell him that im atheist, i feel like he'll force the bible down my throat and treat me completely different. Some of my friends don't even know that im atheist too. I don't want to be treated differently

[Dinnes]

(Original post by BambieWambie)
Agreed, Dawkins can go a bit too far. My dad is very intimidating and in a way if i tell him that im atheist, i feel like he'll force the bible down my throat and treat me completely different. Some of my friends don't even know that im atheist too. I don't want to be treated differently

You should be treated for who you are, not who people think you should be. I used to be Christian and the period when I was realising that I wasn't anymore was probably the toughest period I've ever had in my life. He has to respect your beliefs. Of course, if you're actually afraid he might do something dangerous, like, violence, then perhaps not. I guess I'm not a great person to talk to cause I don't know your dad.

Also if your friends will treat you differently for what you believe then they aren't true friends. Mine either didn't care or respected me more for being honest with myself. I'd just tell your friends, and, if it seems right, tell your dad too.

[BambieWambie]

(Original post by Dinnes)
You should be treated for who you are, not who people think you should be. I used to be Christian and the period when I was realising that I wasn't anymore was probably the toughest period I've ever had in my life. He has to respect your beliefs. Of course, if you're actually afraid he might do something dangerous, like, violence, then perhaps not. I guess I'm not a great person to talk to cause I don't know your dad.

Also if your friends will treat you differently for what you believe then they aren't true friends. Mine either didn't care or respected me more for being honest with myself. I'd just tell your friends, and, if it seems right, tell your dad too.

No he's not violent, i just feel like i'll be disapointing him i've always tried to impress my dad. I have told a couple and they've accepted that, there's just one of my other friends that there might be a problem with. She always talks about christianity and god and i just nod along with her feeling like a phoney.

[Dinnes]

(Original post by BambieWambie)
No he's not violent, i just feel like i'll be disapointing him i've always tried to impress my dad. I have told a couple and they've accepted that, there's just one of my other friends that there might be a problem with. She always talks about christianity and god and i just nod along with her feeling like a phoney.

You have no choice in what you believe. And even though your dad may find it a nasty pill to swallow he'll have to - I just don't think it's fair that you're being forced to live a life you don't wholly believe in and one which you are not wholly happy with.

And your friend, well, if you think there will be problems you don't have to tell her, but even if she's a bit (you know), then she should still respect your views.

I totally know how you feel though. At the time I worried that I would be a completely different person and people would judge me for it. But they didn't at all, at least not in a negative way. I was still the same Dan as I was before, because if you've already changed and it's been like that for a while (like it was with me) then there hasnt' been a change in you because otherwise they'd have noticed.

It shouldn't make a difference what you believe in. Be brave!

[Inverse]

(Original post by BambieWambie)
I think Hitchens was a bit more of a cock than Dawkins. I come from a very relgious background too. I'm too scared to tell my dad im atheist

Really? Hitchens was and still is one of my favourite people. Why are they "cocks"?

[Hype en Ecosse]

(Original post by Inverse)
Really? Hitchens was and still is one of my favourite people. Why are they "cocks"?

Hitchens and Dawkins are of the position that "religion should not be on a pedestal", thus they freely attack it like they would any other issue, and treat it tantamount to a child believing a fairy tail to be literally true, tearing it up in front of them without respite. A lot of people disagree with this stance and put religion on the pedestal, therefore viewing the attacks as too militant. I think that's where people end up thinking Hitchens and Dawkins are cocks; their unimpaired truth telling.

(Original post by BambieWambie)
I think Hitchens was a bit more of a cock than Dawkins. I come from a very relgious background too. I'm too scared to tell my dad im atheist

How religious are we talking about with your dad?

As for your other points: I've never read the God Delusion, only Dawkins' books about science and biology. Though I have read God is Not Great by Hitchens, and was in the shop the other week staring at a £20 copy of Arguably, having to fight with all my might to not buy it because I knew I needed the money for something else that day.

Hitchens is more confrontational than Dawkins, far more confrontational and uncensored: it's this that I respect about him. He tells the truth that no one else is brave enough to say, I think.

[Inverse]

(Original post by Hype en Ecosse)
Hitchens and Dawkins are of the position that "religion should not be on a pedestal", thus they freely attack it like they would any other issue, and treat it tantamount to a child believing a fairy tail to be literally true, tearing it up in front of them without respite. A lot of people disagree with this stance and put religion on the pedestal, therefore viewing the attacks as too militant. I think that's where people end up thinking Hitchens and Dawkins are cocks; their unimpaired truth telling.

Well, there's a huge double standard involved because I've never heard (or can't remember) of someone calling religious preachers, or people that believe that another human will eternally burn in some mythical hell being called "cocks" in my entire life.