Now that Richard Dawkins is Attacking Muslims Too, Progressive Atheists Suddenly Discover He’s A Bigot

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eugenedw's picture

I have long thought that Dawkins' fierce criticism of religion is a bit over the top, and not really productive either. But he is one of the few critics of religion that has the guts to publicly take on Islam - the rest are mostly too scared to become the targets of a death sentence. As such he is at least an equal-opportunity bigot with the courage of his convictions, unlike his lily-livered leftwing critics, who are quick to slap those who turn the other cheek, but are reduced to jellyfish at the first sign of real trouble.

And as the article points out, his science writing is brilliant. Plus, if you ask me, his tweets about rape and pedophilia were perfectly rational and reasonable.

Lawrence M. Ludlow's picture

eugenedw: I, too, have found Dawkins' arguments to be on the level of a barroom drunk. I am an agnostic, but at least I have studied some real  theology and philosophy --  things Dawkins has never done. Otherwise, he would not repeat straw-man mischaracterizations of theological questions that are easy to tear down. Since most atheists are fueled more by anger than by knowledge, I find them similarly disappointing. That's why Dawkins always has an "amen corner" working with him -- a mob of undereducated haters. While I, too, am disgusted by some  hate-filled Christians and other haters, I don't pretend that they represent Christianity at its best, which is where his attacks should be placed. But that would put Dawkins in the position of having to learn something and understand his opponent before attacking their positions.
 
Regarding Islam, it should be pretty clear by now that Robert Pape, in his book, "Dying to Win," has proven that the link between terrorism and Islam is a spruious one. His exhaustive study shows that 94% of terrorism is caused by democratic governments occupying Islamic countries. The attempt to connect terrorism and Islam is a Sean-Hannity-level crudity that is devoid of truth. Yes, there are extremist followers of Islam -- just as there are extremist murdering Christians and Jews. And gee, big surprise, like so many war-mongering Christians, many of these followers of Islam and Judaism try to justify their beliefs by referring to god as the source of their inspiration. There's a lot of nationalistic kill-them-all stuff in the Bible and in the Koran. And THAT is a big problem.
 

eugenedw's picture

The problem, I would think, is fundamentalism and fanaticism rather than religion as such.

Lawrence M. Ludlow's picture

I am fundamentalist about freedom, so am I a problem?

eugenedw's picture

I was thinking more of religious fundamentalism. I may change my mind if you start flying jet liners into buildings. :-)

Lawrence M. Ludlow's picture

History did not begin on 9/11. Ever hear about blowback? The US govt. is even deadlier by exponential amounts.

eugenedw's picture

True, and Dawkins was happy all those many years to use Middle East products to drive his car to work, probably never thinking of all the U.S. troops stationed, well, everywhere, to ensure continuous supplies.

Still, religious fundamentalism is just silly, and deserves all the satire leveled at it. But Dawkins perhaps throws out the baby with the bathwater when he gets his panties tied in a knot over any and all religion.

KenK's picture

What Dawkin's et al don't seem to grasp is that their atheism is as much a declaration of religious faith as any of the theisms they deny. To wit: They believe that there is no God.  This assertion of their's is just as much a matter of faith on their part as any other religious belief in that the atheists cannot prove empirically or logically that there isn't a god or gods any more than the theists can prove there is. Sure, they can shred the Talmud, Upanishads, Bible, Koran, or other holy texts at will, but that isn't the same thing.  When this discussion comes up in my life, I tell people I am an agnostic, because I dont have enuff faith to be an atheist.

Lawrence M. Ludlow's picture

KenO, exactly

eugenedw's picture

KenK: that is pretty much how I feel too - it's not that I am particularly religious, but I do not share that sense of absolute certainty that I perceive in some atheists.