The God Delusion

[YummyHoney]

In thinking that Richard Dawkin's The God Delusion should be compulsory reading for all secondary school children?

Not only would it put paid to all the religious nonsense some parents spout, it would also put an end to a lot of wars and violence in the world.

I'd be happier if his Selfish Gene and Extended Phenotype were compulsory. Very well argued case for evolution, would nip religiosity in the bud.

Having said that, DCs school seems to cover all major religions - best I can work out they are turning into Buddhists.

at Whatmeworry As notexactlyadude has touched on, some peoples' religious beliefs are offensive to me. And some peoples' Gods would like to see gay people eradicated and amoral women killed, so if I want to view these people as stupid, that's my right.

Also, there is no evidence that atheists carry out more crimes than religious people - that's another myth. (I suspect it's the other way around).

And why can't you just leave people who believe something different to you alone? We're not hurting anyone.

Without going off on a rant. I'd say exactly the same to Christians because all through my life I've had Christians pecking away at me trying to spread 'the good news', telling me uninvited, that I'm going to burn in hell for all eternity.

Futures that have people like creationist Sarah Palin with her finger on the button are truly terrifying.

Christianity, like a few others, has an agenda outside of simply spreading the message, there is a desire for power and influence.

So in my mind at least, hearing Christians say ' why can't you just leave people alone who are different to you' is hypocritical to say the least considering the history of proselytism.

Isnt part of Jehova witness's belief to 'spread the word' ie knock on peoples doors or pester? They are instructed to do this by their belief.

All Christians are obliged to 'spread the word' , it's one of Jesus' instructions. So yes, but I'd think their 'elders' amplify the instruction.

Being commanded by the Bible to spread the word, isnt so different from the OP saying the book should be compulsory really!

I had a kid of about 7 knock on my door last week, with his parents with "some life saving information' to give me. The 7 year old was pushed to the front and intially did the talking. The lengths they will go to, not to have the door shut on them is amazing.

One requires the other perhaps.

Given the Bible is in every school and is part of school life, I think the God Delusion should be sellotaped to every copy.

I dont know, my mum was Catholic, my dad wasnt but later in life became a Jehova. Ive read the Bible, i havent read the God Delusion and i was still able to make up my own mind that i do not believe in God.

I'm loving the thought of The God Delusion being sellotaped to every bible. What a great idea. Or, even better, print all bibles and korans with The God Delusion as one book.

To the religious people who say leave us be, I say there are some VERY scarey writings in the koran towards people like myself, who do not believe. And if I was left alone to be an atheist, in peace, without being blamed for immorality, nor threatened with death, then I would not feel the need to rant.

Claw3 I, too, made up my own mind. It was just nice to have my thoughts articulated, and to know that there are other like-minded people out there.

But wouldnt sellotaping the God Delusion (albeit a joke) or making this book compulsory reading, make atheists just as bad as religious people and our claims that we detest their beliefs being forced upon us. Or perhaps atheists should go knocking on doors. If you detest something being done to you, why would you want to do it to someone else? Two wrongs, dont make a right?

But, Claw3, I'm not saying that if one is not an atheist one's gonna burn in hell and suffer dreadful consequenses - I'm just saying one is stupid. And I don't think I am trying to convert anyone either - I'm simply saying read it and see what you think.

I love the way people think atheism is some brand new, trendy invention and if only we could educate the poor, poor children all would be nipped in the bud upon reading such an enlightening book.... awww!

Good post Claw.

I did RE O level and read none of the bible, just learnt about a few stories and the structure of one gossples. I hardly think in your average school the bible is rammed down anybody's throat anyway. I don't understand why you would want to ram one man's ranty views down other people's throats by making them read Dawkins I don't see people having religion shoved in their face either. Nobody has ever told me I would burn in hell if I don't believe Christian's in this country more often than not don't even believe in hell in the sense of being a place you go to burn. Hell is simply nothingness for a lot of people. You don't get to go to heaven since that is what an atheisit believes anyway I don't see this as a bit threat. Where do you people live that you face evanglising on a daily basis?

As for atheists committing less crimes than Christian's - that has to be a 'joke' from somebody with an enormous chip on their shoulder right? Unless you are talking historically it might be more evenly balanced but it certainly isn't the case in the society we live in now.

Yummy, i dont think many religious people, apart from the extremist believe that. Some people take from their beliefs, a means to justify their actions, whether that be killing people in the name of God or calling people stupid because they believe there is not a God.

From what i can make of it all, over the centuries most conflicts are motivated either by religion or a desire to destroy religion. One is not better than the other.

There have been plenty of regimes around the world who have killed because their victims do have a faith too. Calling people stupid, although an infantile way of trying to persuade people that you don't agree with them and you think they are wrong, is not the worst thing that atheists do.

I only ask a question. If evolution is correct would not God appear at the end rather than the beginning? I suppose god ideas took off when we thought planet earth was the king of creation.

We know the univetrse seems infinite now. A big job for one god, dont you think?

I freely admit to not understanding why anyone would be religious, i find it totally illogical, but to blame religious people for my ability to understand, would be well stupid

Niecie, I'm guessing you're a bit younger than my 43 years.

When I was in school, every single morning we had to pray and sing hymns to God. Sometimes in the afternoon also. My RE classes were only concerned with the Christian religion. There is a church in every village, town and city in the country.

It baffles me as to why people get so antsy about Dawkins sticking his head above the parapet and pointing out the errors in the bible and his oppersition to religeon. Seeing as we've had 2000 years of Christians getting it wrong telling us their version of the universe, suddenly one man writing an opposing view is put in the proverbial stocks.

MrGin and despite this you still managed to not believe in God and so did i and at a guess a few millions others too!

My eldest son (18) attended a Catholic school, he doesnt believe in God (he used to until he reached a certain age). My youngest son (7) attends a non Catholic school and he does believe in God. To be honest it is a comfort for a 7 year old to believe that there is a Heaven and this where his Grandfater is, his pet hamster etc rather than you die and rot which is what i believe to be the truth. Death is scary when your 7 why shouldnt he get some comfort in believing in God, even if he doesnt when he is older?

Debating why you believe there is or is not a God is fine, reading a book is fine. Stating that something should be compulsory based on your beliefs, is not. I dont get this tit for tat thinking, if its ok for religious views to be forced onto non religious people, then non religious people should do the same.

Claw- your posts are excellent and I think reflect what a majority of us are thinking.

I do not understand this idolisation of Dawkins. There are other atheist writers out there and too and have been for centuries.

Very clever though I have to admit- making millions and gaining fame over something that, apparently, doesn't even exists.

Quite the genius business plan really.

I totally agree that RS should be abolished in state schools, MrGin et al. It seems to me a bastion of ignorance - absolutely laden with bad science, for example. Would there not be a case for the total separation of church and state? No state-funded faith schools - bastions of sectarianism anyway - no C of E links to government, detachment of the monarchy from the church - ridiculous idea that the monarch should be a religious head anyway. This might help people actually be more tolerant and feel that less is being imposed on them. Moreover, most of the 'bad bad religion'; stuff in history stems from theocracy - the conflation of church and state, religion intervening in law etc.

However, I still think Dawkins does himself no favours by having no volume control - if you SHOUT ALL THE TIME, people will put their hands over their ears. Urbanity is much more persuasive than red-faced screaming. And he hasn't been put in ANY stocks. He's made a packet of money and has had endless media time.

But a lot of people who have a religious faith are demonstrably not stupid. And saying that they are does not make it so.

Thanks Cocoflower, if you write a book about how both extreme views are pointless, im guessing you wouldnt sell a lot of books