Q and A - Adventures in Democracy (Panel Includes Richard Dawkins) (Part 4/6)

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14 жыл бұрын

Aired Monday 8 March, 2010
The Q&A panel includes: Richard Dawkins, Patrick McGorry, Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio, Tony Burke and Julie Bishop.
Here are the questions our panel faced this week. Tell us what your answer would be or what you think our panellists need to say.
Evolution/God
Arthur Lith asked: Can one be a believer in God as well as a believer in the theory of evolution?
What do you think?
Religion and Psychology
Dan Anderson asked: Do you think that a belief in the transcendent (whatever that might be, but including 'God') is important within a healthy human psychology, or do you regard it as a symptom of mental illness?
What do you think?
Areligion/Atheism/Santa Claus
Cassandra Devine asked: Why do you feel the need to express your views so stridently when they're not always welcome? Isn't it rather like going around to playgrounds and telling children that Santa Claus isn't real?
What do you think?
Religion-Schools
Renee Brasier asked: You are clearly against the teaching of creationism in the context of Science, but do you think there is any value in teaching religion in schools?
What do you think?
Morality
Hamzah Qureshi asked: Considering atheism cannot possibly have any sort of absolute morality, is it not then an irrational "leap of faith" (which atheists themselves so harshly condemn) for an atheist to decide between right and wrong, considering they have no absolute moral standard?
What do you think?
Intelligent Design
David from Victoria asked: Do you believe intelligent design should be part of the science curriculum, taught alongside evolution? Or do you believe it is non-scientific and should be relegated to the rubbish bin?
What do you think?
Religion and Gays
Andrew Kollington asked: Senator Fielding - you are courageously open about your religious and moral beliefs. As a believer in God, do you accept the Bible as the word of God and those who participate in homosexual behavior ought to be shunned or be put to death as the Bible demands? Or do so called moderate Christians' simply choose to ignore the word of God in this case, picking what passages they feel best suit our social trends?"
What do you think?
Asylum Seekers
Dennis Colombo asked: Both Labor and the Coalition have been severely criticised for their handling of the boat people asylum seekers. I would like to hear the views of the non-politicians on the panel about how they would go about it. Perhaps they can lead our politicians to a fresh approach!
What do you think?
Afterlife
Web question from Patrick OShea of Queensland: Do you wish for or indeed hope for an Afterlife?

Пікірлер: 91

@alishadonna 10 жыл бұрын

Richard Dawkins is my hero

@distantj 14 жыл бұрын

Here we go, lol, the "Uh oh, he's winning, play the OFFENSE CARD!!!" stage.

@JTlovesDexter 14 жыл бұрын

My favorite part so far ; )

@Xaeldaren 14 жыл бұрын

Dawkins delivers another wonderful curbstomp. Bravo!

@Scerttle 9 жыл бұрын

6:50 "You made a valid point that attacks my narrow views. You should stop making valid points."

@Katalyzt 14 жыл бұрын

Indeed There is no reason why any religion deserves respect. With that being said; a general respect for people and/or life can, and should be given, but a respect for a persons belief(religious, or otherwise) should never be automatically given. Like you have stated: respect is earned. Katalyzt

@faafafineartist 13 жыл бұрын

@sewpr512 agreed! whats also fascinating is how most religious people are nervous, terrified, etc to express the basis of their belief mainly because they have no REAL clarity hence why they are great at deflecting by lashing out in fear of what others think...and amazed at how Richard in his calm, stands on his own two feet in the lions den, speaking of his beliefs...huge difference in terms of self-confidence

@VitriolicDiatribe 11 жыл бұрын

High five. Respectfully, of course.

@shunt19 14 жыл бұрын

"We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart." - H. L. Mencken

@Ricki145 13 жыл бұрын

I did rewind, and listen, and it sounded the same.

@ClumsyRoot 14 жыл бұрын

Dawkins is clearly stunned at the idiocy of the panel and audience.

@colliric 13 жыл бұрын

@sydbernice Welcome to Australian Politics.... They knew they were on TV and the old "make him look like a grumpy old man" trick worked a treat! They do it all the time during "Question Time"(also on ABC), works well against the likes of Senator Penny Wong.

@comanchio1976 14 жыл бұрын

@ClumsyRoot He's not the only one!

@TheDethBringer666 12 жыл бұрын

@F1NGER It is.

@hourofdarknessUK 13 жыл бұрын

I wish Hitchens had been on this!

@iLike2Holdem 13 жыл бұрын

@4.49 - "I'm not fearful of gays" - lol

@mkarnerfors 12 жыл бұрын

"Respect other people's views"? What does that mean? How do I act in a manner that "respects your view"? - If I let you form and hold your view I have not respected your view but your right to think. The only way I could not let you form your view is to brainwash you. - If I let you speak your view I have not respected your view but your right to speak it. That's freedom of speech/expression. So what does "respect your view" mean? (continued)

@MithranArkanere 13 жыл бұрын

Look at Dwakins, kicking their intellectual asses.

@km6xz 14 жыл бұрын

I must remember that one, "others need to respect my beliefs" when a cop pulls me over when he dismisses my belief that 180km/hr is a proper speed, or when 5 years old and the teacher marking me down for my belief that 2+2=5. And I thought the US had a corner on the incredibly stupid politicians and anti-reason culture. Two countries that will surely implode from terminal ignorance

@bulbinking 14 жыл бұрын

@hf2kr ive actually thought about moving to one of the nordic countries

@VeritasLiber 14 жыл бұрын

And 'no' I don't think matters of faith should be given respect out of some form of default. Respect is earned or it means nothing.

@leeroynaggins 13 жыл бұрын

Wwwwaaahh... we're Christians and we can't take anyone criticizing our religion.

@nilesrock024 10 жыл бұрын

"I find that really offensive for that to even be thought of!" says the guy who follows the faith that espouses the ideals of the book from which that concept was taken. Comedy gold!

@OpqHMg 14 жыл бұрын

@Mad1093 cant blame him either...

@shunt19 14 жыл бұрын

I agree, the way Dawkins put it was similar to saying is a human who sacrifices his life for another admirable? Had he explained further and in more details like you have put it, I can't see anything admirable about it.

@Mr9ofdiamonds 12 жыл бұрын

@typhoidX It would be even more epic if Dawkins was on a panel in America. They would be totally baffled by his rhetoric and resort to 'your mum' jokes.

@ClumsyRoot 14 жыл бұрын

"People should respect other people's views." Wrong. People should respect the RIGHT of other people to come to their own conclusions. Those conclusions themselves might be nonsense, and should be treated as such.

@colliric 13 жыл бұрын

Julie Bishop earned her paycheck that night...

@slickwick45 14 жыл бұрын

Richard Dawkins: " The New Testament, if you believe in the New Testament...." I thought "oh here we go, time to destroy"

@minestrone3 14 жыл бұрын

i've no respect for the current Australian minister of agriculture now. Yes! I've made up my mind!

@xtcrider12345 10 жыл бұрын

6:03 mr Dawkins is like oh fuck here we go again

@bulbinking 14 жыл бұрын

You don't need to respect other peoples beliefs as they chose those beliefs. Respecting somebodies race, gender, or culture is entirely different because they were born into it. Respect the things which somebody has no control over or has no effect on their actions or their worth as a human, but be quick to mock and ridicule learned beliefs and habits which threaten your way of life, giving respect gives power.

@zalahmet 14 жыл бұрын

Dawkins is just stating the facts of what the religious community beleive.

@roaminn 14 жыл бұрын

@Voy2378 And whatsup with You Tube's charcater count? Is it not working for everyone else? I type up a comment, try to post, don't realize I am over the word limit, and get an error.... then I got decide what to pluck out. Or post twice...Frustrating.

@gallus1 14 жыл бұрын

The intolerance of the theists in this debate is only hidden from them. The arrogance and fatuousness required to accuse someone of stating a FACT that the theist himself believes, as intolerance on the speaker's part, is precisely why the religious way of thinking (or lack) is detremental to the future of the human race. The fool also gave clues as to his ideology of saying what he thinks is popular at the cost of what is true and moral. God B. Less and lets have more of Dawkins!

@bg588 8 жыл бұрын

Shows how dumb we all are if some of these charlatans are actually elected by us,

@MegaBigMerv 12 жыл бұрын

Dawkins Vs A panel of six..............Dawkins wins hands down. When are they ever going to see you can beat him.

@fatkat444 13 жыл бұрын

Apologies from Australia. This was fucking ridiculous.

@bg588 8 жыл бұрын

Tony Burke says 'press rewind' so Dawkins can hear himself, I heard that stupid argument last time in primary school. Hope Burke gets chucked out of parliament, he is a lightweight

@robertmcelwaine7024 5 жыл бұрын

Just as irritating if not more was that self righteous glare he gives Dawkins as would a father looking down on his child for being naughty. The man is so misguidedly full of his own righteous indignation and ignorance that it's toxic.

@GoogleVideoMan 13 жыл бұрын

6:39 "What kind of a horrible deprived notion is that?" I think that comment is what the Christians viewed as disrespectful and ridicule. Which is ridiculous, I think they over reacted.

@mkarnerfors 12 жыл бұрын

If you - by "respect my view" - on the other hand mean "Do not criticise my view"... well then you're in for a sore dsiappointment because *my* right to think form and express them views just as sacred as yours. And if my view is that the logic and the reasoning behind your view are worthy of criticism, then I will express it. To do the converse of Voltaire: I will fight for your right to from, hold and express your views... but don't expect me to like them. That you have to earn for them.

@StealthDonkey007 14 жыл бұрын

I think Dawkins is great so far, but I think he wasn't really clear here. Unless you've really thought about it, God sending himself to be tortured to save humanity does seem moral. Until, of course, you take into account the fact that he is being tortured to appease himself, and allow a portion of humanity to slip through a loop-hole in the system he created, without which everyone would be tortured for eternity after their death (and even with which most will still get the eternal torture).

@VeritasLiber 14 жыл бұрын

I have to I find the sacrifice theme disturbing as well. If god wanted to forgive man there are more moral ways of doing it then making them feel guilty about killing his son...which is a path god would have created for it's not like anyone had any choice in seeing the outcome come out any differently.

@nicknormousreports3378 11 жыл бұрын

i'm certainly not fearful of "THE GAYS" hahaha

@Geneobeats 14 жыл бұрын

I don't see why the Minister of Agriculture have to be on this panel talking about religion and morals lol

@minestrone3 14 жыл бұрын

i've no respect forthe current Australian minister of agriculture now. Yes! I've made up my mind!

@sydbernice 13 жыл бұрын

@Hikk0 yah, they can't handle Dawkins so they resort to attacking his style. Hardly a substantive argument is it? Dawkins was a bit unrelenting though, but that's why I enjoy him so much, lol.

@SuperBigTackle 12 жыл бұрын

Hitchens would have destroyed this panel

@JayWhipp1e 14 жыл бұрын

When you get backed up into a corner, all of a sudden it's a tolerance problem. Good lord. Cry more.

@nilesrock024 10 жыл бұрын

I love how religious folks, when confronted by the horrible things done in the name of their religion, always fall back to "Well, ya know, atheists have done bad stuff too!"; totally failing to grasp the difference between someone doing something bad and having a belief, and someone doing something bad because of a belief. The difference in the ratio of those who've done bad deeds in the name of religion vs those who've done bad deeds in the name of atheism is so massive, its hilarious.

@gotrootdude 14 жыл бұрын

@anthonzi And protecting those that procreate like mindless rabbit is.

@TheRationalizer 14 жыл бұрын

hehe, respect other people's views. People deserve respect, beliefs require proof. If I believed there were smurfs at the bottom of my garden who were telling me they created the universe, would my views require respect or proof?

@PhillCosby 12 жыл бұрын

Dawkins gettin all the claps.

@realjuancho 14 жыл бұрын

Dawkins is God

@jeZza710 12 жыл бұрын

@ScaringMySibling lol my thoughts exactly, its almost like he's asking god "why do these idiots believe in god"

@dragontoothdw 14 жыл бұрын

6:02 - most humorous...its as if Dawkins is trying to prevent is brain from becoming stupider.

@roaminn 14 жыл бұрын

@Voy2378 Is that sarcasm or do you really beleive that? You don't kill or steal, not because of fear of hell, but because (1) you are taught as a child that it is wrong. (2) It is instinctive for our speices to not hurt each other because it benefits our survival. (3) we have laws that would imprison you for killing and stealing. Those are the reasons.

@MrNemitri 12 жыл бұрын

ooooooh "respect" the last card the religious can pull-off when they are losing ground, I believe people have the right to believe whatever they want, but when they make some ludricous statements and expect people to respect them it's silly! Imagine if I demanded respect in my belief in an invisible pink unicorn!

@bullwhipjesus 14 жыл бұрын

Love your enemy lol, then why don't Americans have a bumper sticker on there car saying I love Osama Bin Ladin!

@numbersabcdefg 14 жыл бұрын

Love your enemy - I would love to see a bunch of Christians try and become best friends of Muslims and find out what happens

@GoddyofWar 13 жыл бұрын

@newloser Oh no they do read, only one book, and even then, they only read what they want to read. If the read the whole Bible from start to finish, they would wonder what the fuck they just read.

@roaminn 14 жыл бұрын

@Voy2378 Maybe you should have ended that post with LOL to let us know you were only being sarcastic. :-) Because there are sadly a LOT of people who have that perception of atheists. Because we don't beleive, we have no morals, which is such s straw man. We get our morals from our parents, and those who influenced us. I hope we DON'T get out morals from the Bible! I certainly don't condone slavery, mass murder, stoning my neighbors...I can go on but You Tube has a word limit!

@ann998 14 жыл бұрын

" you can keep it"? Really? That was an uncharacteristically weak comeback from Dawkins. I guess he can't win them all.

@sydbernice 13 жыл бұрын

I have to say, i was quite impressed by the lady in white, her elocution and delivery was quite sophisticated even though I disagree with her. I was impressed with her up till she made that lame comment about Dawkins' style, after that I couldn't care less what she said. Don't like the way the debate is going? Then STFU