vascop asked me about a reference in Dawkin's book. On page 443 of the Black Swan edition, 2007, he quotes one woman's views on reincarnation. A 'terribly deformed boy' 'must have done something terrible in a past life to be born this way'. [It was in Thailand].
I think my point was that it is a bit unscientific to assume that one [presumably Theravadin] person's views are representative of Buddhism.
Muntin
Thanks for the reference. However I think you are being unfair to Dawkins. He is not claiming what you say he is claiming i.e. that this person's views are representative of Buddhism, but citing this experience of Julia Sweeney's as just one example of the many examples discussed in Chapter 7 of his book.
If anyone is being 'unscientific' here then that person is you. You are deliberately misrepresenting what Dawkins is doing here.
I also think your description of the book as "a rant" in your first post is also a misrepresentation of a clearly very well-researched piece of work complete with references.
OG, if you think ‘The God Delusion’ is insulting you should read the refutation by Alister McGrath & Joanna Collicutt McGrath. It’s called ‘The Dawkins Delusion’.
i think religion is so ingrained in yourself, that you find it dificult to contain yourself, and you have to share enthusiasm for it, we agree to disagree.. in your religious delight, i find irrational, but that all the by and by... as for dawkins he prefers his logic and science, right wrong
opinions mmm, it's good to air views though, people do not want a saviour..do not want to be led, rather think for themselves.
I think that deep down Dawkins knows the game is up on Evolution. The theory wont last another 30 years. He cant bring himself to accept the reality of God and so just continues to rant against Him
//He cant bring himself to accept the reality of God//
I can sympathise. In school I was never taught about the reality of God either. Instead I was taught science, facts and critical thinking.
What a *** education I must have had that didn't teach me anything about a Being that I can't see, prove or have any experience off.
I was always led to believe that factual information was paramount.
They were obviously wrong. I just needed to 'believe', to have 'faith'...
Bloody comprehensive high school education has now damned me to an eternity of torture at the hands of a loving God for daring to question and accepting facts instead of having faith
Im thankful that I didn't make it to uni or even worse, becoming a professor and spending my life exploring facts.
"......wasting your life ....." Was directed to Nailit, as he spends so much time studying something he has already concluded is a waste of time.
Something wrong there.
//he spends so much time studying something he has already concluded is a waste of time//
That's an opinion, not a fact.
Tell me Theland, just when did you become a psychic and able to read my mind?
//Not psychic. Logical.//
No, not logical at all. Never mind!
//1) Youu (sic) study the subject. //
Yes. And?
//2) You don't believe the subject./
That's right. (Because I *STUDY* the subject).
//Ergo, life wasted//
And just why would that be?
I don't think that I have wasted any part of my life by questioning belief systems. Why would you think that I have? Don't you like questions? Don't you like your beliefs questioned?