Richard Dawkins and Rowan Williams debate religion this week

[anonymous-user]

Bit of a heads up for those of you that enjoy watching a good debate... This will probably be fairly epic!

Professor Richard Dawkins and the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams will 'go at it' this Thursday (the 31st) at Cambridge University to discuss whether "Religion has no place in the 21st Century".

The Cambridge Debating Society are saying it will be a highlight of their 200 year history.

For those of us who are not going to be in the 1000+ audience, it will be filmed in full and will be made available for public viewing very shortly after the event on the Cambridge Unions website.

Popcorn time for sure

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshir...

[g3org3y]

Dawkins is my god.

[Bill Carr]

g3org3y said:

Dawkins is my god.

[mattnunn]

Finally another thread where people can bang on about religion and/or God and their like/dislike of it...

[anonymous-user]

mattnunn said:

Finally another thread where people can bang on about religion and/or God and their like/dislike of it...

Not at all.

If people want to go down that route then they can head over to the 'fairy story' thread and fill their boots.

This is simply to inform fellow PHers about what will possibly one of the greatest debates of our time.

[anonymous-user]

doogz said:

Just my take on it.

Fair enough.
Feel free not to take the time to watch it.

I generally enjoy watching authorities on various topics argue for and against, as do many other people, who may find it interesting/stimulating.

[TinyCappo]

I read that as Rowan Atkinson....I'm disappointed now.

[anonymous-user]

doogz said:

NinjaPower said:

Fair enough.
Feel free not to take the time to watch it.

I generally enjoy watching authorities on various topics argue for and against, as do many other people, who may find it interesting/stimulating.

Generally, I agree. I enjoyed Stephen Fry on the same topic. I just really dislike those 2.

I agree with you in that respect, I'm not really a massive fan of either really, but I'm hoping there will be some fascinating arguments put forward never the less.

[Einion Yrth]

mattnunn said:

Finally another thread where people can bang on about religion and/or God and their like/dislike of it...

Do feel free to absent yourself from any and all such that offend.

[ILoveMondeo]

NinjaPower said:

Not at all.

If people want to go down that route then they can head over to the 'fairy story' thread and fill their boots.

This is simply to inform fellow PHers about what will possibly one of the greatest debates of our time.

The thing is I dont see it being that great.

Dawkins: God is all made up, religion causes lots of wars, etc etc etc.
Williams: It's all about faith not proof, religion enriches many peoples lives.

Rowan Williams is hardly some creationist fundamentalist (or is he?) which would of course end up in some pure comedy logic fail moments (dinosaur bones planted by god to test your faith, etc).

I fail to see what more they can possibly add to a debate that's been going on forever anyway.

[Hudson]

Dawkins is living proof you can agree with someones views and still think they're a massive cock and should be fired into the sun.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

NinjaPower said:

Professor Richard Dawkins and the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams will 'go at it' this Thursday (the 31st) at Cambridge University to discuss whether "Religion has no place in the 21st Century".

That's a bit unfair, having no religious people involved in the debate.

[AJS-]

The trouble with these debates is that they tend to be pretty circular. Dawkins insisting that there's no man in the clouds, which everyone over the age of 10 knows anyway, and Rowan Williams blethering on impotently about Christians being nice to people.

[Eric Mc]

And they will all be eminetly civil to each other and the PH ranters and ravers will be extremely disappointed.

[silverthorn2151]

Sadly I have to say that Rowan Williams has the dullest voice I have ever heard. However interesting he may be, I doubt many will stay awake.

[julian64]

NinjaPower said:

This is simply to inform fellow PHers about what will possibly one of the greatest debates of our time.

Really. This is what you believe?

You think two massive interlects are going to lock horns, and use reasoned argument to sway each other?

[rohrl]

Could be interesting if only because Rowan is clever enough not to trot out the tired old canards religionists usually rely on.

[omgus]

TinyCappo said:

I read that as Rowan Atkinson....I'm disappointed now.

Me too,

My issues with Dawkins are nearly as big as my issues with Religon.

I don't care what you believe, provided it doesn't hurt anyone and you can manage not to be a bellend about it.

If Dawkins was religious he has the kind of "i'm right and you are all wrong" evangelical conviction that would make him an extremist.

Although he is very good with words so it might be entertaining.



ETA, or as put slightly better by Hudson

Hudson said:

Dawkins is living proof you can agree with someones views and still think they're a massive cock and should be fired into the sun.

[mattnunn]

rohrl said:

Could be interesting if only because Rowan is clever enough not to trot out the tired old canards religionists usually rely on.

But

But Dawkins isn't. (clever enough to trot out the tired old canards atheists usually rely on that is)

[anonymous-user]

julian64 said:

NinjaPower said:

This is simply to inform fellow PHers about what will possibly one of the greatest debates of our time.

Really. This is what you believe?

Hey, don't shoot the messenger...

It was Cambridge themselves that said this may well be the 'highlight' of the 200 year history of their Debating Society.