Comments on: The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/ Atheism with Positivity Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:36:26 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Nate http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/comment-page-1/#comment-38201 Nate Wed, 06 Jun 2007 07:53:52 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/#comment-38201 Hemant It's shocking to me that you've never encountered Christian grappling with intellectual issues cos there is a rich vein of material out there. Are you interested in academic or more popular writers. There are many Christians who have no interest in 'blind faith'. I have a degree in philosophy from the University of Edinburgh and studied Phil of Religion in Oxford for a year. I could point you toward a few resources that might point you to a few more: Richard Swinburne -- he has written a ton of material. Alvin Plantinga J.P. Moreland William Lane Craig N.T. Wright (He's an expert in historical Jesus stuff) Alister McGrath has written about Dawkins though i haven't been as impressed by him in person. I haven't read his books. Polkinghorne -- his expertise is science and religion. anyway, not all Christians are dyed in the wool 6 Day Creationists. One can hold a strong faith in God and in the Bible without jacking in your mind at the door. If it's not true, why would I want to believe it? didn't someone famous say "you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free"? Hemant

It’s shocking to me that you’ve never encountered Christian grappling with intellectual issues cos there is a rich vein of material out there. Are you interested in academic or more popular writers.
There are many Christians who have no interest in ‘blind faith’. I have a degree in philosophy from the University of Edinburgh and studied Phil of Religion in Oxford for a year.

I could point you toward a few resources that might point you to a few more:
Richard Swinburne — he has written a ton of material.
Alvin Plantinga
J.P. Moreland
William Lane Craig
N.T. Wright (He’s an expert in historical Jesus stuff)
Alister McGrath has written about Dawkins though i haven’t been as impressed by him in person. I haven’t read his books.
Polkinghorne — his expertise is science and religion.

anyway, not all Christians are dyed in the wool 6 Day Creationists. One can hold a strong faith in God and in the Bible without jacking in your mind at the door. If it’s not true, why would I want to believe it? didn’t someone famous say “you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free”?

]]> By: Tara http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/comment-page-1/#comment-30716 Tara Mon, 21 May 2007 18:36:15 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/#comment-30716 Just two things darlin'-- 1) Christianity in the fewest words possible: Jesus said, "Believe on me." 2) It's all about love...(transcendent/transforming) As God's rep on planet earth, J.C. was all about love & the truth: "The truth will set you free"....what a transformative,restorative statement that is, add: " Love your neighbor as yourself"...& that should do it. P.S. Apostle James said that "True religion and undefiled is that you care for the widows and fatherless." Blesssings on you, Tara Just two things darlin’–

1) Christianity in the fewest words possible: Jesus said, “Believe on me.”
2) It’s all about love…(transcendent/transforming)

As God’s rep on planet earth, J.C. was all about love & the truth: “The truth will set you free”….what a transformative,restorative statement that is, add: ” Love your neighbor as yourself”…& that should do it.

P.S. Apostle James said that “True religion and undefiled is that you care for the widows and fatherless.”

Blesssings on you,
Tara

]]> By: Mark http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/comment-page-1/#comment-5172 Mark Tue, 06 Feb 2007 22:25:34 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/#comment-5172 <blockquote>But if there is a response to Dawkins’ points, refuting them, I would love to read it.</blockquote> I found this site responding to Dawkins's book, in case you haven't seen it yet: http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/the_god_delusion1.html My two cents: The idea that rationality (or reason) is a trait belonging exclusively to the atheist is as absurd as saying morality belongs exclusively to the Christian. Many great thinkers through history lacked neither faith nor intelligence: the two are not mutually exclusive.

But if there is a response to Dawkins’ points, refuting them, I would love to read it.

I found this site responding to Dawkins’s book, in case you haven’t seen it yet:

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/the_god_delusion1.html

My two cents: The idea that rationality (or reason) is a trait belonging exclusively to the atheist is as absurd as saying morality belongs exclusively to the Christian. Many great thinkers through history lacked neither faith nor intelligence: the two are not mutually exclusive.

]]> By: Manning http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/comment-page-1/#comment-2207 Manning Sun, 24 Dec 2006 19:03:28 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/#comment-2207 You said, "In the past fews years, I’ve read a number of books and articles that criticize Christian arguments for God. Some focus on the “proofs” of God and others rip on the accuracy of the Bible. But I rarely see any Christian books that dispose of arguments against religion in a way that doesn’t resort to saying “The Bible Is Always Right.” I would like to point out the fact that there are a lot of Christian authors challening Dawkins and his beliefs with more than "the Bible is always right." Ravi Zacharias (rzim.org), Gary Habermas, Lee Strobel, J.P. Moreland...are a few among the many who are who are showing truth of the Bible through reason, science, history... I encourge you to look at the arguements these men and others like them present for the existence and belief in God. I have enjoyed reading your website. Keep thinking! You said,

“In the past fews years, I’ve read a number of books and articles that criticize Christian arguments for God. Some focus on the “proofs” of God and others rip on the accuracy of the Bible. But I rarely see any Christian books that dispose of arguments against religion in a way that doesn’t resort to saying “The Bible Is Always Right.”

I would like to point out the fact that there are a lot of Christian authors challening Dawkins and his beliefs with more than “the Bible is always right.” Ravi Zacharias (rzim.org), Gary Habermas, Lee Strobel, J.P. Moreland…are a few among the many who are who are showing truth of the Bible through reason, science, history…

I encourge you to look at the arguements these men and others like them present for the existence and belief in God. I have enjoyed reading your website. Keep thinking!

]]> By: Daniel http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/comment-page-1/#comment-603 Daniel Sun, 08 Oct 2006 23:07:52 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/#comment-603 And now today somebody placed two Christian books in front of it, blocking all view of it. Not very friendly. And now today somebody placed two Christian books in front of it, blocking all view of it. Not very friendly.

]]> By: Daniel http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/comment-page-1/#comment-602 Daniel Sun, 08 Oct 2006 02:06:49 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/#comment-602 I noticed it's not on the "new hardcovers" or the "new non-fiction" tables in my local Borders. You have to look in the religion section to find it. That's disappointing, because it deserves as wide an audience as possible. I noticed it’s not on the “new hardcovers” or the “new non-fiction” tables in my local Borders. You have to look in the religion section to find it. That’s disappointing, because it deserves as wide an audience as possible.

]]> By: Andrew http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/comment-page-1/#comment-597 Andrew Fri, 06 Oct 2006 23:18:37 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/#comment-597 Bruce, I would bet Dawkins is very well much aware of the diversity of religion. He cuts to the root of what he (and I) see as the problem: a paradigm that allows for atrocity by its very nature, regardless of how Christians or whomever growing up in a post-Enlightenment Western secular democracy (therefore growing up with concepts like personal dignity and rights, as opposed to most of the Old Testament or all analogues thereof) interpret it.. Bruce, I would bet Dawkins is very well much aware of the diversity of religion. He cuts to the root of what he (and I) see as the problem: a paradigm that allows for atrocity by its very nature, regardless of how Christians or whomever growing up in a post-Enlightenment Western secular democracy (therefore growing up with concepts like personal dignity and rights, as opposed to most of the Old Testament or all analogues thereof) interpret it..

]]> By: Rob http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/comment-page-1/#comment-589 Rob Wed, 04 Oct 2006 17:14:55 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/#comment-589 I've finished the book, and found it a bit of an academic primer. Fantastic if you've never considered the ideas, and completely thorough. But not breaking much new ground. Also (and I can't really complain about this, can I?) he comes across as very technical, scientific, geeky... :-) I can't really expect non-scientific (aka thinking, reasoning) people to get his points anyway, so why should I ask that he write in a less scientific manner? Chapter 4: Why there is almost certainly no God is new to me. Dawkins cleverly and powerfully guts the "irreducible complexity" argument, leaving nothing much more to say. Nonetheless, he writes on to chapter 10. :-) He's intermittently funny, unrelentingly precise and logical, and a great man for putting his money where his mouth is in establishing his new foundation. All in all... good book. (horrible cover design. :-) I’ve finished the book, and found it a bit of an academic primer. Fantastic if you’ve never considered the ideas, and completely thorough. But not breaking much new ground.

Also (and I can’t really complain about this, can I?) he comes across as very technical, scientific, geeky… :-) I can’t really expect non-scientific (aka thinking, reasoning) people to get his points anyway, so why should I ask that he write in a less scientific manner?

Chapter 4: Why there is almost certainly no God is new to me. Dawkins cleverly and powerfully guts the “irreducible complexity” argument, leaving nothing much more to say. Nonetheless, he writes on to chapter 10. :-)

He’s intermittently funny, unrelentingly precise and logical, and a great man for putting his money where his mouth is in establishing his new foundation.
All in all… good book. (horrible cover design. :-)

]]> By: Siamang http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/comment-page-1/#comment-559 Siamang Wed, 27 Sep 2006 23:21:26 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/#comment-559 The more I've been reading this book, the less strident I think it is. Perhaps it's me, but I found the tv show "Root of All Evil?" to take some cheap shots with its editing and music choices that made it more heavy-handed than it should have been. Without those tricks, Dawkins comes across as more likeable. He's put his rotweiller fangs away and he's a mere doberman in this one. FWIW. The more I’ve been reading this book, the less strident I think it is. Perhaps it’s me, but I found the tv show “Root of All Evil?” to take some cheap shots with its editing and music choices that made it more heavy-handed than it should have been.

Without those tricks, Dawkins comes across as more likeable.

He’s put his rotweiller fangs away and he’s a mere doberman in this one. FWIW.

]]> By: BruceA http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/comment-page-1/#comment-557 BruceA Wed, 27 Sep 2006 22:03:44 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/the-god-delusion-by-richard-dawkins/#comment-557 I'll take a look at the book as soon as a copy is available. As I said above, the only books I've read from Dawkins are science books, not atheist books per se, so it's very likely that he covers a lot more ground relating to faith vs. atheism in his new book. I’ll take a look at the book as soon as a copy is available. As I said above, the only books I’ve read from Dawkins are science books, not atheist books per se, so it’s very likely that he covers a lot more ground relating to faith vs. atheism in his new book.

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