The God Delusion (2 Viewers)

[flashback]

Ha ha ha ha ha. Funny funny.

We're nerds.

Here, Smurf dude... where did you get all those refs? I was looking at pubmed for ages, and didnt see any of them. I thought it was wierd that he had so little publications. But then I thought that maybe it was right, that he actually had published sweet FA, like I work in an evolution/genomics type lab, and I have never ever heard anyone, in any way, in any lab or university or research center mention Dawkins at all. Even in passing. At all.
The blind watchmaker is class though. I read that when I was 19. I was like .|..|....

Argh. It still gets to me though. Its like evolution porn. Very easy on the eye... requires no thinking, la la la, read read read, now, TADAAA, everything you already knew is still true. End.
I dunno. Alright... so your point is, he is bringing people into the fold. He is leading them from the path of god to a better place. You are saying that he is getting converts.

I am just not so sure. I still (despite your reasonable arguments) think that he changes very few minds. I would love to be wrong. I would love to think that he is bringing them in droves away from the churches etc. But, I dont. I think he is preaching to the converted.
Meh.
Hopfully I am wrong.

I also think he is a bit up his own hole. Ever so slightly. I feel, as he gets older, he gets more absolutist, more aggressive and less clever with his arguments. This Darwin's Rottweiler tag... I mean... yeah.
I think... arg... I still think his fame as a "scientist" is not really down to his science. It's down to his gift of writing and explanation. 99% of the world think he is the Selfish / gene centric evo guy. And, he just isnt. He is the cool teacher that explained it to you. But, he is not the guy.


I see.. I didnt know that he was in Berkley. He was there as an assistent lecturer, for two years was he. You could be rude, and say that sort of sounds like missed tenure. Ha ha ha. I am a prick. Fair enough. He got a full time job back in the UK. His post now, Chair in the Public Understanding of Science, definately a cushy number.

I would take that so I would.

 

[Doctor Muscles]

I'm praying for you both.

 

[magicbastarder]

the thing about scientists and popular science writing is that some of the world's best scientists should be physically restrained from trying to delve into popular science.
yes, it's a clear benefit reading a book by someone at the cutting edge of their field, but it does not bother me unduly if the book is written by a populariser, rather than a scientist. i've read popsci by people who are not experts in the field, and thoroughly enjoyed them, and then there are books by the likes of murray gell mann, which i found painfully dull.

 

[magicbastarder]

and yes, dawkins is preaching to the choir. i can only think of three very religious people i know who would read science books; two of those have PhDs in physics, and one of those two is a priest.

 

[1000smurfs]

thanks lurlow but we're going to hell, gate 0100010110

it's a special section reserved for atheist nerds

full of these guys:

where did you get all those refs?

biblio

I would love to think that he is bringing them in droves away from the churches etc. But, I dont. I think he is preaching to the converted.

Partly he is, HE WANTS YOU to promote reason and the joys of life as a godless heathen

I still think his fame as a "scientist" is not really down to his science

He's famous for the selfish gene, no doubts about that.
i've often heard him say ' ..but these aren't my ideas ..' in
different contexts, It's more the public's fault as in the case of steven hawking, where they think he is the greatest physicist ever, an oracle. Even though he wouldn't make the living top ten of most physicists he's still one of the bigshots. Who plays their fame down/up more, Hawkings or Hawkins? Maybe if we put hawkins in a weelchair...

He is the cool teacher that explained it to you. But, he is not the guy.

i'd go along with that, his royal institution xmas lectures for kids inspired me when i was a footlose , child of the 80's hellraiser . He saved me from a life of rock music, hot chicks and wild parties.

I've just realised two of my heores are Dicks:
Richard feynman and Richard Dawkins

 

[1000smurfs]

the thing about scientists and popular science writing is that some of the world's best scientists should be physically restrained from trying to delve into popular science.
yes, it's a clear benefit reading a book by someone at the cutting edge of their field, but it does not bother me unduly if the book is written by a populariser, rather than a scientist. i've read popsci by people who are not experts in the field, and thoroughly enjoyed them, and then there are books by the likes of murray gell mann, which i found painfully dull.

very true

i can't resist going deeper into the brown place by saying that that's what
great about dawkins, he gives good popsci.

 

[1000smurfs]

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[1000smurfs]

paxman on the case:

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i'll stop now

 

[flashback]

I'm praying for you both.

ha ha ha. See.. thats the thing. I was sort of hoping that since the veiw count of the thread seemed lowish, that, like, no one noticed.

Em. Yeah. dEUS's new album eh? Much prefered The Ideal Crash.


Ahem.