Dawkins!

[Smoke]

Again I ask, why so much vitriol against Dawkins, and no so much for Sam Harris, who really hates religion with a fierce passion, or Christopher Hitchens, who enjoys insulting religious people? All 3 good writers, too.

Hey, if they attacked Hitchens, I could agree with them.

 

[Smoke]

I have read a little bit of Harris, some was posted here, and I believe the reaction was greater against him, the difference being that very few, theist or atheist, found it acceptable, whereas a larger margin are arguing on behalf of Dawkins's tone.

In many ways, Harris' ideas are closer to my own than Dawkins' are, but Harris sometimes expresses his ideas in ways that I think are kind of offensive, and I haven't found that to be true of Dawkins.

 

[Sunstone]

In many ways, Harris' ideas are closer to my own than Dawkins' are, but Harris sometimes expresses his ideas in ways that I think are kind of offensive, and I haven't found that to be true of Dawkins.

I think Harris is witty. More witty than offensive. But that's just me.

 

[logician]

If Dawkins wasn't getting attacked, I would be worried his message wasn't getting thru.

 

[Smoke]

I think Harris is witty. More witty than offensive. But that's just me.

I said "kind of" offensive.

There have been a few times when Harris said something and I thought, he really should have thought that out better before he said it, or that was uncalled for. But I've never heard him say anything I thought was deeply offensive or mean-spirited.

 

[Scuba Pete]

If Dawkins wasn't getting attacked, I would be worried his message wasn't getting thru.

Much the same could be said about the KKK, the Religious Right and any other bigoted and intolerant group. In reality, these are attributes that you SHOULDN'T be so proud about?

 

[lilithu]

Again I ask, why so much vitriol against Dawkins, and no so much for Sam Harris, who really hates religion with a fierce passion, or Christopher Hitchens, who enjoys insulting religious people? All 3 good writers, too.

There is more criticism of Dawkins because there are more people who bring him up, who cite him. People forget that it takes (at least) two to have an argument.

I certainly don't find Dawkins to be worse than Hitchens.

 

[Autodidact]

There is more criticism of Dawkins because there are more people who bring him up, who cite him. People forget that it takes (at least) two to have an argument.

I certainly don't find Dawkins to be worse than Hitchens.

And I love all 3 of them. Also, to go back a ways, H.L. Mencken and Mark Twain, all wonderful writers opposed to religion.

 

[lilithu]

And I love all 3 of them. Also, to go back a ways, H.L. Mencken and Mark Twain, all wonderful writers opposed to religion.

Well, if it is your desire to have more attention given to Harris and Hitchens, just post their writings.

Actually, I find Harris to be more misguided about faith as opposed to obnoxiously hostile. He certainly ain't the first person to predict the end of faith. People have been predicting that for centuries, and guess what, it's still here. But his comments on Islam are intolerably ignorant.

 

[Smoke]

And I love all 3 of them. Also, to go back a ways, H.L. Mencken and Mark Twain, all wonderful writers opposed to religion.

I've disliked Hitchens for years. As an atheist, I'd like it so much better if he were a believer.

Mencken and Twain, now, those were the guys.

 

[kerrythekiwi]

Is anybody else reminded of that badger badger badger thing?

snaaaaake!

Alister McGrath is pretty good (I only have his book 'Dawkin's God' though, and that's only half-read thus far - I bought it, well, technically yesterday).