Dawkin's God Delusion

[BohsPartisan]

I don't believe in Peter Kay

[Jerry The Saint]

He's a taste sensation!

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/theatre/...er_kay_is.html

Is it common for authors to engage in negative campaigning for silly book awards, as if it was an election or something

Dawkins' reaction to his portrayal on South Park (mentioned further upthread) does not reflect particularly well on him either

Finally, I have repeatedly been asked what I think of South Park and of Ted Haggard’s downfall. I won’t say much about either. Schadenfreude is not an appealing emotion so, on Haggard, I’ll say only that if it wasn’t for people of his religious persuasion, people of his sexual persuasion would be free to do what they like without shame and without fear of exposure. I share neither his religious nor his sexual persuasion (that’s an understatement), and I’m buggered if I like being portrayed as a cartoon character buggering a bald transvestite . I wouldn’t have minded so much if only it had been in the service of some serious point, but if there was a serious point in there I couldn’t discern it.

http://richarddawkins.net/tourJournal#11

Very defensive about the gay thing - you'd think he wouldn't be particularly bothered...

[Lionel Ritchie]

Dawkins' reaction to his portrayal on South Park (mentioned further upthread) does not reflect particularly well on him either

Very defensive about the gay thing - you'd think he wouldn't be particularly bothered...

Haven't seen that South Park. Sounds good

[Raheny Red]

Apologies to bring posts from a weeks back but I was just reading back through the thread and a couple caught my eye!

Exactly. If I ever have kids I don't want religion anywhere near them, which is another reason this subject is so important to me.

So, I take it you wouldn't get them baptised If you decided not to get them baptised and they came home one day, they said they wanted to get baptised (considering they have come to the age to be able to reason) what would your reaction be?

I read that Dawkins goes as far as saying that giving your child a religion is a form of child abuse. I feel that is a bit extreme but I'd agree with him if a parent was 'forcing' a religion on their child! Afterall, parents tell their kids about Santa Claus, the toothfairy and the Easter Bunny as it brings them happiness just as God bring joy and hope to certain people. Dawkins states that if you believe in something then you should be able to back up that belief with scientific evidence, but in saying that, he gave his daughter the joy of Santa Claus, so why not teach her about God or who/whatever if it makes her happy?!

I doubt there's consensus, but I've read a number of people suggest that he did exist, was a reformist jewish religious figure and was later misrepresented by people who'd never even met him (like St Paul and the gospel writers).

Josephus, a historian from the first century, also wrote about him.

[BohsPartisan]

So, I take it you wouldn't get them baptised If you decided not to get them baptised and they came home one day, they said they wanted to get baptised (considering they have come to the age to be able to reason) what would your reaction be?

When they are old enough they'll be free to make their own decision.

[Raheny Red]

When they are old enough they'll be free to make their own decision.

Would you tell them about Santa Claus, and the others I mentioned above?

[dahamsta]

At some point people will stop asking the same questions over and over again. Google "dawkins claus -kindergarten" for Dawkins' opinions on the critical Santa Claus question.

[BohsPartisan]

Would you tell them about Santa Claus, and the others I mentioned above?

Yeah but I'll also tell them Santa doesn't exist some day. Anyway, theres a big difference in Santa Claus and God.

[osarusan]

When they are old enough they'll be free to make their own decision.

But will you have given them enough information, or taught them that other opinions exist, to the point where they will be able to decide for themselves, or simply choose the option you've given them?

[jebus]

Yeah but I'll also tell them Santa doesn't exist some day. Anyway, theres a big difference in Santa Claus and God.

What if they found out he's also called St.Nicholas? And they want to know about the Saints at an early age, and hence they want to know about Christianity at an early age? Will you teach them open mindedly and allow them to come to their own conclusions, or teach them what you want them to believe

[Lionel Ritchie]

So, I take it you wouldn't get them baptised If you decided not to get them baptised and they came home one day, they said they wanted to get baptised (considering they have come to the age to be able to reason) what would your reaction be?
.

I didn't have my kid baptised. It's been hard on his grandprents who are fairly devout. That and that alone I feel bad about.

If he ever comes to me, having reached reasonable maturity (NOT 6 or 7 years old), and says "Dad I want to be a Catholic (or Methodist/Unitarian/Pre-Tribulation Rapturist/Muslim/Hindu/Eskimo/Nunchaku)" then I will ask of him in sombre Homer-like tone "do I have to do anything?".

If he answers this riddle correctly he can do whatever he likes.

[dahamsta]

Guys, you're talking about Santa Claus. Seriously, think about it for a second.

[jebus]

Guys, you're talking about Santa Claus. Seriously, think about it for a second.

Not really talking about Santa, more about what Partisan would do in given situations

[jebus]

I didn't have my kid baptised. It's been hard on his grandprents who are fairly devout. That and that alone I feel bad about.

If he ever comes to me, having reached reasonable maturity (NOT 6 or 7 years old), and says "Dad I want to be a Catholic (or Methodist/Unitarian/Pre-Tribulation Rapturist/Muslim/Hindu/Eskimo/Nunchaku)" then I will ask of him in sombre Homer-like tone "do I have to do anything?".

If he answers this riddle correctly he can do whatever he likes.

So do you think its okay for Catholic parents to tell their 7 year old son that he has to be a Catholic if he says he doesn't want to be?

[dahamsta]

Not really talking about Santa, more about what Partisan would do in given situations

I understand what you're trying to do, but you're using santa claus to do it. What next, the tooth fairy? Pinnochio?

[BohsPartisan]

But will you have given them enough information, or taught them that other opinions exist, to the point where they will be able to decide for themselves, or simply choose the option you've given them?

I would like to send them to an educate together school. They'd learn about world religions there.

Will you teach them open mindedly and allow them to come to their own conclusions, or teach them what you want them to believe

I don't know, a factual description of the history of Christianity might upset a young child, what with all the rape and pillage.

[jebus]

I don't know, a factual description of the history of Christianity might upset a young child, what with all the rape and pillage.

So if they wanted to know about world history you wouldn't tell them either than I presume? Or more logically would you give them a children's version of events, in much the same I would if my child came to me and asked me about Christianity?

[BohsPartisan]

I was joking. Maybe should have added a smiley.

[finlma]

So if they wanted to know about world history you wouldn't tell them either than I presume?

History is based on fact. The Old Testement is a book which tells people who want to be Christian that they should go out and kill people who are not. The book also tells people to rape, stone gays and adulterers to death and the list of good christian morals goes on.....

[dahamsta]

You could have just said "the old testament is fiction, unless you're a complete moron".