Richard Dawkins sums up religion

jmc007 said:
When in his life did he say this?

....back to you baby.
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It is apparently actually:

Einstein sent Gutkind a letter in response and wrote, "The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this. These subtilised interpretations are highly manifold according to their nature and have almost nothing to do with the original text."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_views_of_Albert_Einstein

Also:


IN B4 LOCK!
 
spoffle said:
because of the lengths they will go to to try and demonstrate that *they* know what they're talking about because "science teaches us" (which again is taken on faith).
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How do we KNOW we can't breath in space? Maybe it's all a ploy to stop us escaping.
 
Cheers, yes been reading that letter now. Not turning out the best example of a "believer" for me this Einstein fellow. :D


Still an intelligent human with a mind for the supernatural.


"Only a life lived for others is a life worth while."
Albert Einstein.
 
Stelly said:
Why is it that some atheists have such a big issue with people believing in a higher power? I believe and you don't see me having an issue with people that do. Its like people that believe are personally insulting them... seems to me its the other way around

Stelly
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I have no issue with people believing in a higher power or leading spiritual lives (my posts in previous threads will corroborate this). I do, however, take umbrage with false logic used to lend credence where it is not due.
 
It's worth spending at least a few days talking to Christians. Preferably the properly crazy ones - the "God killed the firstborn son of every nasty family in the town and we rejoice at his mercy" crowd. It's fascinating.

One of the more surprising discoveries was that the group I found thought they had really compelling evidence for everything they believed. It wasn't blind faith, they had proof. One guy writing it down a long time ago is proof, as why would he lie?

It's not a standard of evidence that would persuade someone who can think worth a damn, but it was good enough for them. No "blind faith" involved, just blind people.
 
boxman2000 said:
I just think of things like:
- The distance of our planet from the sun (sustain life)
- The angle of our planet
- The speed our planet rotates (mavity)
- The weather (plants and crops to grow etc)
- The way nature produces oxygen and other gases required for life

All are too finely balanced to be by chance. Far easier for me to believe God created it but ultimately we choose whether to believe in God or not. Freewill.
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Doesn't the Earth's distance from the Sun vary by about 5 million km's depending on where it is in its orbit? That doesn't seem too finely balanced, and why would an all powerful creator bother with such variations?
 
boxman2000 said:
It is historical fact that a Jesus of Nazareth lived during the time the bible states - a little research into various Jewish (secular) historians who certainly wouldn’t have an ulterior motive to prove Jesus was the Messiah proves this.
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Can you provide the evidence, please?

boxman2000 said:
I just think of things like:
- The distance of our planet from the sun (sustain life)
- The angle of our planet
- The speed our planet rotates (mavity)
- The weather (plants and crops to grow etc)
- The way nature produces oxygen and other gases required for life

All are too finely balanced to be by chance. Far easier for me to believe God created it but ultimately we choose whether to believe in God or not. Freewill.
Click to expand...

This is why people like Richard Dawkins do what they do. So you can't explain something, you turn to God. This is just utterly ridiculous.

You know what; the universe is infinitely large as far as we are concerned, therefore there are an infinite number of possibilities for an infinite number of things to occur.

You basically suggest that the Earth is the only planet in the entire universe capable of sustaining any form of life, which is nuts.
 
JonJ678 said:
It's worth spending at least a few days talking to Christians. Preferably the properly crazy ones - the "God killed the firstborn son of every nasty family in the town and we rejoice at his mercy" crowd. It's fascinating.

One of the more surprising discoveries was that the group I found thought they had really compelling evidence for everything they believed. It wasn't blind faith, they had proof. One guy writing it down a long time ago is proof, as why would he lie?

It's not a standard of evidence that would persuade someone who can think worth a damn, but it was good enough for them. No "blind faith" involved, just blind people.
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Surely not all of the Christians you spoke to came about their faith, simply by reading or hearing the writings in that book.
 
Diesel said:
Doesn't the Earth's distance from the Sun vary by about 5 million km's depending on where it is in its orbit? That doesn't seem too finely balanced, and why would an all powerful creator bother with such variations?
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I have no facts to refute this claim, but it seems ludicrous to suggest to me.

Simply because: The equator - Closer to the sun? Damn hot.
The poles - Further from it? Damn cold.

If we get that temperature variance from a few hundred/thousand kilometres, surely getting 5,000,000km closer would roast us like a marshmellow?

Again, not refuting, if this is true i'd genuinely like to know + Understand why we get such temperature differences over relatively small distances if its true, but not over the larger change in orbit.
 
jmc007 said:
Surely not all of the Christians you spoke to came about their faith, simply by reading or hearing the writings in that book.
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I think most of them inherited it. A few had experienced miracles that they couldn't explain without attributing them to God. The scariest were the ones who thought they spoke to Jesus on a daily basis. Not in a vague pleading with thunderstorms sort of way, in a direct he speaks back sort of way.

I think it was more a case of "I believe, therefore the Bible is true" than "The bible is true, therefore I believe". Hard to be sure though.
 
boxman2000 said:
I just think of things like:
- The distance of our planet from the sun (sustain life)
- The angle of our planet
- The speed our planet rotates (mavity)
- The weather (plants and crops to grow etc)
- The way nature produces oxygen and other gases required for life

All are too finely balanced to be by chance. Far easier for me to believe God created it but ultimately we choose whether to believe in God or not. Freewill.
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How so, you do realise how big the universe is?

Odds are there are multiple planets like the planet earth with tiny differences, one grain of sand difference.

And to be honest, this is a christian country, the only reason most people are christian is because they are raised around christians. I've read the bible 3 times and I'm an atheist, can you say the same? How many other religious texts did you read before you made up your mind?

And by what logic would you dispute other peoples religions.

I mean I find it absolutely insane anyone can believe what is written in the bible.
 
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dirtychinchilla said:
Can you provide the evidence, please?



This is why people like Richard Dawkins do what they do. So you can't explain something, you turn to God. This is just utterly ridiculous.

You know what; the universe is infinitely large as far as we are concerned, therefore there are an infinite number of possibilities for an infinite number of things to occur.

You basically suggest that the Earth is the only planet in the entire universe capable of sustaining any form of life, which is nuts.
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This... I can't remember as its been a long time since I've read his books, but based on probability he suggests there are something like a million (maybe billion) planets out there which have the same features as earth.
 
Joshct said:
I have no facts to refute this claim, but it seems ludicrous to suggest to me.

Simply because: The equator - Closer to the sun? Damn hot.
The poles - Further from it? Damn cold.

If we get that temperature variance from a few hundred/thousand kilometres, surely getting 5,000,000km closer would roast us like a marshmellow?

Again, not refuting, if this is true i'd genuinely like to know + Understand why we get such temperature differences over relatively small distances if its true, but not over the larger change in orbit.
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eatcustard said:
The Earth varies between 147.1 and 152.1 million km (91.4 to 94.6 million miles) over the course of a year.
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Yes, 5 million km isn't a great deal in terms of planets, and amount of thermal energy exuded by the sun diminishes rapidly over distance, particularly considering the vacuum of space, which is a poor conductor due to its lack of particles (which would otherwise conduct the heat).
 
Dawkins making controversial statements? He must have a book out.

His research is correct - he does not seem to have altruistic motives for his education of the masses, it seems a large motivating factor is increased sales. Pretty selfish ;)
 
I find it difficult to deny that there is a great force at work in the universe - I'm always amazed by the patterns that seem to occur at every measurable scale.. However, I don't think it's the work of a magic sky-pixie who wants me to chop off my foreskin or some other nonsense.
 
eatcustard said:
The Earth varies between 147.1 and 152.1 million km (91.4 to 94.6 million miles) over the course of a year.
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Wow, that's pretty insane.

So what causes the temperature differences on the earth if it's not sheer proximity to the sun?

Surely it's something to do with duration in sunlight, although that makes less sense to me because the equator would spin more quickly than the poles, and be out of light quicker?
 
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