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RussBLib

(9,666 posts)
Sat Oct 17, 2015, 03:24 PM Oct 2015

Richard Dawkins interviewed by Alan Colmes Wednesday

Not by any means an in-depth interview, and yeah, Alan Colmes works for Fox News Talk Radio, among others, but it's always a pleasure to hear Dawkins speak. Something about that British accent.

The interview is 14:05 in length. The audio is at either link below.

PR'ish snip from Liberaland link:

Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins appeared on my radio show Wednesday night to discuss his memoir, A Brief Candle in the Dark.

Dawkins told me he thinks it is disgraceful that most of the candidates running for the GOP nomination for President are creationists, even though molecular genetics can prove that evolution is scientific fact. We also discussed whether Dawkins would ever change his views on the existence of God, some of the great minds Dawkins has worked with, and why he gets a positive reaction in the Bible Belt despite his views on religion.


The Blaze had a story, linked here, and it was a bit more ... inflammatory. The Blaze, you know?

Dawkins repeatedly waded into controversial territory throughout the exchange, with Colmes at one point asking if the biologist believes that religious people are “mentally ill.”

“It’s hard to use the word ‘mentally ill’ when there are so many of them,” Dawkins responded. “If they believed what they did and they were the only one they would undoubtedly be called mentally ill.”

As for whether the atheist leader would ever change his mind about God, he said that he’s open to the idea. “Just show me some evidence and I’ll change,” Dawkins said.

Colmes also asked if there’s a religious culture that’s “sicker than another” — and Dawkins held little back. “I don’t think it’s unfair to say that, if we’re looking for the maximum toxicity in religions in the world, it’s got to be Islam,” he said. “It’s partly that they are taught to believe that the Koran is literally true.”

Dawkins continued, ”The Bible itself is as toxic as the Koran, but most Christians are not taught to believe it literally.”


That last point is what saves our bacon in the west, eh? 500 years ago and we are toast.

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Richard Dawkins interviewed by Alan Colmes Wednesday (Original Post) RussBLib Oct 2015 OP
Saw him in Seattle last week Ron Obvious Oct 2015 #1
I see Dawkins was on the Daily Show this week too RussBLib Oct 2015 #2
except for Dawkins' calling Ben Carson ignorant. AlbertCat Oct 2015 #3
He was as gentle, non-strident and witty.... AlbertCat Oct 2015 #4
 

Ron Obvious

(6,261 posts)
1. Saw him in Seattle last week
Sat Oct 17, 2015, 04:31 PM
Oct 2015

And he signed my copy of that memoir. He was as gentle, non-strident and witty as always. Naturally that was among friends and like-minded individuals, but I still can't understand why he provokes the reactions that he does, even among many liberal atheists.

RussBLib

(9,666 posts)
2. I see Dawkins was on the Daily Show this week too
Sat Oct 17, 2015, 08:52 PM
Oct 2015

ah, yes, the book tour. The second half of his memoir, A Brief Candle in the Dark, is now out.

The "extended" interview is here, but it's really no more than the un-edited portions of the interview. It's pretty tame, except for Dawkins' calling Ben Carson ignorant.

 

AlbertCat

(17,505 posts)
3. except for Dawkins' calling Ben Carson ignorant.
Mon Oct 19, 2015, 03:17 PM
Oct 2015

Which of course, he is. I suppose "ignorant" is not PC. Maybe he should have said "factually challenged".


I don't think Carson is as ignorant as he pretends. "Pandering" comes to mind. Also "stupid" for being convinced to run for President. How embarrassing!

Oh well....the RW talk show circuit awaits....

 

AlbertCat

(17,505 posts)
4. He was as gentle, non-strident and witty....
Mon Oct 19, 2015, 03:22 PM
Oct 2015

....as all foaming at the mouth rabid dangerous New Atheists on Twitter are. Right?

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