Dawkins Tells Atheists To "Mock Religion With Contempt," And Ravi Zacharias Response

[Circle Christ]

I wanted to share what I believe is a message that is appropriate for the conflict in these times. I hope you find a gift in these few minutes showing.

 

[amariselle]

Thank you for sharing this. It's interesting that many still blame religion (as in belief in God) for the majority of the hate in the world today. I wonder where Dawkins and others like him think they get their hatefulness from? (Because, if they stop for one moment and actually LISTEN to themselves, how could they ever think their words are anything BUT hateful)

Most people with even a little decency recognize that calling for the public mockery, shaming and ridicule of an entire group of people for their beliefs is absolutely unacceptable. The very same people who would laugh and agree with Dawkins, would (hopefully) be rightly horrified were they to see or hear their child engaging in such behaviour toward another child.

And yet, we live in a world where ALL hate and ALL evil is blamed on those who have faith in God, particularly Christians. (Evidenced by the recent blaming of Christians for the actions of a man who professed allegiance to ISIS).

I agree with Ravi Zacharias, Dawkins' words speak volumes about the kind of world he wants. And yet, I'm sure Dawkins would have us believe that we are becoming more intelligent, more kind and more considerate as our species becomes more enlightened, (which of course is why many Atheists reject belief in God in the first place).

How then does he account for his completely backward and barbaric words and the atrocious behaviour his words call for? He is hardly behaving in an "enlightened" fashion. He is actually speaking like an angry toddler, advocating for other Atheists to behave like bullies to get their point across.

I see far too much of this from those who despise Christians. What do they really think they're proving? And this is the behaviour of one of the most well-known and respected Atheistic scholars and teachers. He has authored books on the subject and been a noted speaker at many events. He clearly has a lot of influence and he is reflecting a very popular way of thinking and acting within Atheism.

If we really are against hate in this world, then I agree with Ravi Zacharias, Atheists need to distance themselves from Dawkins and others who think and act as he does. He's simply angry and hateful and it will get him and others like him absolutely nowhere.

 

[Circle Christ]

Well said. Welcome to the discussion.

I don't think either Dawkins nor Christopher Hitchens, now dead, ever purported themselves to be enlightened did they? Rather, it seems to me they make or made in the case of Hitchens, a career out of ridiculing and mocking people. When they argue first that their intellectual capacity allows them to feel confident there is no evidence of a higher power than that, they're then attacking people who believe differently.

I think this was one of the most informative and enlightening video's I've taken time to watch. It is but eleven minutes long but it is so much more than that.

Dawkins sounds scared when he directs intolerance be shown toward Christians. How does someone who is a well known author writing numerous books on his belief command a crowd to mock those who don't believe as he does? And in the course of his writings claiming there is no evidence of God condemn religion because it is intolerant.

The last part of his talk, at about 10:39 I believe, Mr. Zacharias speaks to Richard Dawkin's education.
It is something to know that Dawkins studied at Oxford. And he taught there. And their motto as Mr. Zacharias says is, the opening text of the 27th Psalm. "Dominus illuminatio mea" . Lord is my light.
As Mr. Zacharias also observed, if that institution had been intolerant of the atheism of Mr.Dawkins where would he be now?
Full of hate and not as well educated?

I excerpted parts of Mr.Zacharias remarks. I find them appropriate in these times where Christians are being targeted for their faith in many different ways. Overtly violent to subtly offensive. For understanding the marks in the pasted text, | | , are to note skips in his full dialog. Or to interject reference, as in |Christianity| for context.



The words of Ravi Zacharias in that video:
"What does mocking do? If |Christianity| is an insane idea what does mocking do? Mocking something insane then the insanity actually lies on the side of the mocker. Everything Dawkins calls for violates reason. He is driven by hate. That is why many respected atheists want to separate themselves from him. | | In a world of civility you do not mock a counter perspective. You dialog with a counter perspective.

You mock a counter perspective you provoke the baser instincts in a human being.| |
In the Christian faith there is an egalitarianism of people and an elitism of ideas. People are equal ideas are are not. Let ideas be pit against each other but don't take away the egalitarianism of the person . Don't rob the person of his dignity or her dignity. Take the idea take it to its logical outworking. That's not mocking it that's reasonably interacting with it. But if you're mocking an idea you don't really mock the idea because the idea doesn't care if it's being ridiculed. The person does care.
Dawkins studied and taught in an institution where their motto is, Lord is my light.

In a world of hate mockery will engender more hate. And if that's the world that he |Dawkins| wants that then tells what his brand of atheism really is. " |End Excerpt|

 

[amariselle]

Well said. Welcome to the discussion.

Thank you

I don't think either Dawkins nor Christopher Hitchens, now dead, ever purported themselves to be enlightened did they? Rather, it seems to me they make or made in the case of Hitchens, a career out of ridiculing and mocking people. When they argue first that their intellectual capacity allows them to feel confident there is no evidence of a higher power than that, they're then attacking people who believe differently.

I'm not sure if Dawkins has ever directly used the word "enlightened" to describe himself, but I have heard it said many times that religion is outdated and the product of backwards and unenlightened people. Many who reject religion (the belief in God) reject it because they do in fact believe that we should be more intelligent as people now, and that faith and belief in God is an antiquated way of approaching life.

Hence the name of that rally Dawkins was speaking at, "The Reason Rally." The mindset among many Atheists is that those of us who believe in God are not willing to use our minds and appreciate how far we've come as a species. They believe that we instead continue to hold on to outdated superstition and that if we'd only think clearly we would see how foolish we're being. This is what I meant by Darwin likely holding to such a belief of "enlightenment."

I think this was one of the most informative and enlightening video's I've taken time to watch. It is but eleven minutes long but it is so much more than that.

Dawkins sounds scared when he directs intolerance be shown toward Christians. How does someone who is a well known author writing numerous books on his belief command a crowd to mock those who don't believe as he does? And in the course of his writings claiming there is no evidence of God condemn religion because it is intolerant.

The last part of his talk, at about 10:39 I believe, Mr. Zacharias speaks to Richard Dawkin's education.
It is something to know that Dawkins studied at Oxford. And he taught there. And their motto as Mr. Zacharias says is, the opening text of the 27th Psalm. "Dominus illuminatio mea" . Lord is my light.
As Mr. Zacharias also observed, if that institution had been intolerant of the atheism of Mr.Dawkins where would he be now?
Full of hate and not as well educated?

I excerpted parts of Mr.Zacharias remarks. I find them appropriate in these times where Christians are being targeted for their faith in many different ways. Overtly violent to subtly offensive. For understanding the marks in the pasted text, | | , are to note skips in his full dialog. Or to interject reference, as in |Christianity| for context.

The words of Ravi Zacharias in that video:
"What does mocking do? If |Christianity| is an insane idea what does mocking do? Mocking something insane then the insanity actually lies on the side of the mocker. Everything Dawkins calls for violates reason. He is driven by hate. That is why many respected atheists want to separate themselves from him. | | In a world of civility you do not mock a counter perspective. You dialog with a counter perspective.

You mock a counter perspective you provoke the baser instincts in a human being.| |
In the Christian faith there is an egalitarianism of people and an elitism of ideas. People are equal ideas are are not. Let ideas be pit against each other but don't take away the egalitarianism of the person . Don't rob the person of his dignity or her dignity. Take the idea take it to its logical outworking. That's not mocking it that's reasonably interacting with it. But if you're mocking an idea you don't really mock the idea because the idea doesn't care if it's being ridiculed. The person does care.
Dawkins studied and taught in an institution where their motto is, Lord is my light.

In a world of hate mockery will engender more hate. And if that's the world that he |Dawkins| wants that then tells what his brand of atheism really is. " |End Excerpt|

I too found the video to be very insightful. Dawkins and others seem to have completely closed their minds to anything other than their own beliefs, but not just that, they have real hatred and anger toward those who don't see things as they do.

I wonder if he's ever asked himself why that is?

 

[Circle Christ]

I would doubt Richard Dawkins would believe himself to be full of hate or to be communicating hate in these type rallies.
And while I agree with what you said here in fairness there are plenty of religious who demonstrate the same propensity. "Dawkins and others seem to have completely closed their minds to anything other than their own beliefs, but not just that, they have real hatred and anger toward those who don't see things as they do."

And yet isn't that the way of the human ego? This message is so great, be it religious or otherwise, that everyone has to hear it. If they just heard it they'd know it was true and the only way to really be *insert state of mind choice here* .
Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Pagan, Democrat, Republican, Atheist.

It's like if the zealous perspective could achieve its desire overnight and awaken to a world where everyone would have the same manner of thought as they did where would they go next? To living perfect peace and harmony with no discord whatever? Or would they start policing their own, because it is the only thought, to make sure that what is the new schism that divides is lived ideally according to *insert ideal example of ideology of choice here* . Christian , Buddhist, Jewish, Pagan, Democrat, Republican, Atheist.

"The Reason Rally". Isn't it interesting to think a movement preaches it is reasonable to believe something theoretical created all that we know to be manifest reality. Because something we can't see but call spirit when claimed to actually be the true source is illogical.

 

[Landon Caeli]

Dawkins seems angry with religion for some reason, otherwise he wouldn't continuously be condemning it. He also seems to not feel remorse for offending people's faith, which is the main focus of why so many, in my opinion, reject faith -because they reject remorse altogether.

There are those who feel remorse more readily, and others who vary rarely feel it. There are also others in between, but religion is for the remorseful.

 

[amariselle]

I would doubt Richard Dawkins would believe himself to be full of hate or to be communicating hate in these type rallies.
And while I agree with what you said here in fairness there are plenty of religious who demonstrate the same propensity. "Dawkins and others seem to have completely closed their minds to anything other than their own beliefs, but not just that, they have real hatred and anger toward those who don't see things as they do."

And yet isn't that the way of the human ego? This message is so great, be it religious or otherwise, that everyone has to hear it. If they just heard it they'd know it was true and the only way to really be *insert state of mind choice here* .
Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Pagan, Democrat, Republican, Atheist.

It's like if the zealous perspective could achieve its desire overnight and awaken to a world where everyone would have the same manner of thought as they did where would they go next? To living perfect peace and harmony with no discord whatever? Or would they start policing their own, because it is the only thought, to make sure that what is the new schism that divides is lived ideally according to *insert ideal example of ideology of choice here* . Christian , Buddhist, Jewish, Pagan, Democrat, Republican, Atheist.

"The Reason Rally". Isn't it interesting to think a movement preaches it is reasonable to believe something theoretical created all that we know to be manifest reality. Because something we can't see but call spirit when claimed to actually be the true source is illogical.

Yes, Atheists don't think they have just as much, if not more faith than those who believe the world and the universe was created by God. They place their confidence in Darwinian evolution and our "common ancestor", and they don't seem to have any problem believing the theory of evolution, even though there is no complete fossil record to support such a theory and even though it has never been demonstrated that one species can or has ever evolved into a completely different species.

 

[Circle Christ]

Dawkins seems angry with religion for some reason, otherwise he wouldn't continuously be condemning it. He also seems to not feel remorse for offending people's faith, which is the main focus of why so many, in my opinion, reject faith -because they reject remorse altogether.

There are those who feel remorse more readily, and others who vary rarely feel it. There are also others in between, but religion is for the remorseful.

I would agree. Though I think he was second to Christopher Hitchens. He absolutely hated Christianity. He also hated other religions but he had a very intense scorn for the faith of Christ. And his brother is a believer. That makes me wonder at what caused the hatred to bubble up.

While the tragedy in these cases is that these unbelievers who are so hateful make a career out of publishing their hate. And in that respect hope to engender support. As did Dawkins in that lecture of reason. When in truth reason doesn't mock or call for mockery of others when one is secure in their disbelief. How do you ask people to hate God along with you and therefore the believers in God and then claim you are a proponent of reason? You first avow there is no such thing as God. Then you ask your followers to hate people who believe in what you affirm cannot exist because it is unreasonable? I'd wonder if Richard is wealthy for his efforts.

Yes, Atheists don't think they have just as much, if not more faith than those who believe the world and the universe was created by God. They place their confidence in Darwinian evolution and our "common ancestor", and they don't seem to have any problem believing the theory of evolution, even though there is no complete fossil record to support such a theory and even though it has never been demonstrated that one species can or has ever evolved into a completely different species.

This is glorious.

Watch Dawkins catch himself before but not soon enough as he's about to say, God, in this challenge piece.

The Lord works on Dawkins heart even in this venue. I think this is happening because he is surrounded by believers.