The god delusion... Religious debate

Stepping gingerly around the usual rabbit-hole to semantics, with my metaphorical skirt bunched in my actual hands, I'll address the OP's original question.

I've read The God Delusion.

I've also heard the audiobook version. It's read by both Uncle Dawkins and Auntie Lala Ward, in a husband-and-wife tag team effort. It's quite effective.

The only downside is that both of them can sound really rather condescending at times, and obscure any seriousness implied in the words. Thankfully these journeys to smugland aren't that common. It is also rather focused on Judeo-Christian, monotheistic religions, and it is clear that the Anglican church loomed large in Dawkins' life at some stage.

The audiobook is also newer than the printed book, and so contains updates and revisions.
 
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rghjones said:
Atheism (for me at least) isn't being arrogant in thinking that I know the answer to life and the universe, it's accepting that there is no answer: there is no meaning to life, no reason for the universe to exist and there is nothing at the 'end'.
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You say that there is no answer, but then you give one right away. You're saying that there is no meaning to life; how do you know this? There is no reason for the Universe; how do know this? There is nothing at the end; how can you possibly say that? That's pure conjecture, you are making assumptions on a grand scale when you have neither the experience, nor the proof to make such assumptions.

I'm not saying that I do have the answers, or experience, or indeed that you are wrong - I'm just question why you would make such a bold statement grounded on nothing but supposition.
 
Hades said:
Actually even that may be unsure. There was an argument I recall being put forward a few years ago, that sex is simply a tool used by genes to replicate. Now that may sound obvious but what I mean is that rather than saying genes replicate because we have sex, instead the proposition is that genes have created a way to replicate successfully by using sexual reproduction.

But either way it's still hooooge fun :D
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That was my point :p

gurusan said:
Wow what a ridiculous statement.
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Er... why?

Note the words "total belief". No element of doubt is alarming. We can NEVER know anything 100%.
 
meghatronic said:
Self-propagating. The entire rationale for your existence is that you procreate.
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Who says, and to what end? You're also restricting 'life' to living organisms.

Hatter The Mad said:
Yes it is - every single organic being on this planet has one purpose; to survive, reproduce, and ensure the survival of their species.
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Why is it our purpose?
 
I'm actually surprised this thread hasn't been locked by now, although to be fair no one side has really laid into the other side yet, but give it a few more hours.
 
gurusan said:
Please do this. You'd be very famous if you could do it effectively.
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Christ man it would take me years, and it has taken people years. (but it has been done) If you did your research, you would see that archeologist discoveries of the last few hundred years have shown that we evolved into a civilised groups, and throu........ oh christ (irony) I cant even be bothered to get into it.
 
digipeep said:
I'm actually surprised this thread hasn't been locked by now, although to be fair no one side has really laid into the other side yet, but give it a few more hours.
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I think people have attempted to keep it decent so I don't see why it would be locked.

When it reduces to total blanket statements and then personal insults I reckon it will be locked.
 
digipeep said:
I'm actually surprised this thread hasn't been locked by now, although to be fair no one side has really laid into the other side yet, but give it a few more hours.
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It's actually diverged away from religion towards the meaning of life and the universe now, which, by my watch, makes it far too late to correctly type my thoughts on such a subject :p.
 
digipeep said:
I'm actually surprised this thread hasn't been locked by now, although to be fair no one side has really laid into the other side yet, but give it a few more hours.
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Why locked? It's a calm debate.

rghjones said:
Who says, and to what end? You're also restricting 'life' to living organisms.

Why is it our purpose?
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Please look up life in the dictionary:

the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally.
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It is our purpose in as much as if you die without propagating, you leave nothing behind. Granted, this is changing (socially) in modern times, i.e. you can leave a mark without children. But you do not lead any genetic heritable traits. Therefore, by converse, you purpose is to leave a mark. Disagree with me as much as you like, it's the reason you have genitals and enjoy using them! If the point was pure pleasure, no procreation, you wouldn't fire live rounds.
 
rghjones said:
Who says, and to what end? You're also restricting 'life' to living organisms.



Why is it our purpose?
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It isn't our purpose. But it is (possibly) the purpose of our genes to replicate. Humans are simply an efficient and effective way of replicating.
 
ChroniC said:
Christ man it would take me years, and it has taken people years. (but it has been done) If you did your research, you would see that archeologist discoveries of the last few hundred years have shown that we evolved into a civilised groups, and throu........ oh christ (irony) I cant even be bothered to get into it.
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Anyone who believes a literal translation/ actual account of history of the bible is a numpty. This is one of the few reasons why I believe catholicism is above all other branches of christianity.
 
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