Religion

Fortinbras Armstrong

(4,477 posts)

8. He is not an "intelligent critic of religion"

Sun Mar 3, 2013, 02:19 PM

Mar 2013

He says that he does not need to know anything about religion to criticize it, with statements such as"Do you have to read up on leprechology before disbelieving in them?" However, he also slams creationists for their ignorance of evolutionary theory, saying -- quite correctly -- that they are not attacking evolution as it actually is, but rather a caricature. Do you see the disconnect here? Basically, he is saying that creationist ignorance is bad, his ignorance of theology is good. (The formal rhetorical term is "special pleading".) Also, to equate God with leprechauns shows his tendency to attack a caricature of religion.

He has said "It has become almost a cliche to remark that nobody boasts of ignorance of literature, but it is socially acceptable to boast ignorance of science and proudly claim incompetence in mathematics." But he proudly proclaims his ignorance of religion.

It has been pointed out that, for a man who damns dogma, he is incredibly dogmatic.

No, the man is ignorant (and proud of it) and a bigot.

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For the real cowards, the best of Dawkins. [View all] cleanhippie Mar 2013 OP

AMEN! He's gone front and center on the world stage! backscatter712 Mar 2013 #1

When I see so-called "rational" people here on DU calling him a coward... cleanhippie Mar 2013 #2

Oh, he is not a coward Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #3

Says the anonymous poster skepticscott Mar 2013 #4

I notice that you have not published your real name Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #7

I noticed that the atheists did not take up my challenge to post their real names Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #35

Maybe it's because skepticscott Mar 2013 #41

In other words, you challenged me to post my real name Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #44

What a stupid fucking post. Zoeisright Mar 2013 #84

Translation: Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #96

Your accusations of bigotry are based on lies skepticscott Mar 2013 #100

Post removed Post removed Mar 2013 #101

Here's the fallacy skepticscott Mar 2013 #102

Post removed Post removed Mar 2013 #104

Project much? cleanhippie Mar 2013 #5

I do not see him as a bigot but as intelligent advocate of atheism. hrmjustin Mar 2013 #6

He is not an "intelligent critic of religion" Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #8

You make fair points. hrmjustin Mar 2013 #9

He does not make fair points at all. cleanhippie Mar 2013 #12

Debate him and tell him where he is wrong. hrmjustin Mar 2013 #13

Debating him is like debating Ken Ham or Ray Comfort. cleanhippie Mar 2013 #14

Have you debated him before. hrmjustin Mar 2013 #15

I've tried. As have others. cleanhippie Mar 2013 #16

I do debate with others. Have I never not been polite to you. hrmjustin Mar 2013 #17

Perhaps I am just being defensive... cleanhippie Mar 2013 #18

Cleanhippie I never wanted to make you an enemy. hrmjustin Mar 2013 #19

I'm not your enemy. cleanhippie Mar 2013 #20

Glad to hear it. hrmjustin Mar 2013 #21

He won't debate me, because he knows that he is supporting ignorant bigotry Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #45

Citation needed... backscatter712 Mar 2013 #49

Please note, he didn't explain why he thinks Dawkins is a bigot. trotsky Mar 2013 #26

I thought that repeatedly quoting Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #50

Except that wasn't a quote from Dawkins...you made it up skepticscott Mar 2013 #57

Link to where Dawkins says those exact words. Go ahead. Do it. trotsky Mar 2013 #58

While your "quote" is not exactly the words of Richard Dawkins it is the essential point he makes Leontius Mar 2013 #61

In other words, you're acknowledging that skepticscott Mar 2013 #64

Odious as the physical abuse of children by priests undoubtedly is, I suspect that it may Leontius Mar 2013 #67

In other words, you're acknowledging that skepticscott Mar 2013 #68

Post removed Post removed Mar 2013 #10

+1 cleanhippie Mar 2013 #11

You're creating a strawman. backscatter712 Mar 2013 #22

Such hatred and intolerance is rooted in ignorance. Were he to actually READ Dawkins... cleanhippie Mar 2013 #23

Reading might not be a problem... rexcat Mar 2013 #31

I have read them Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #46

Then you should be able to cite passages you find "bigoted" or "ignorant." n/t backscatter712 Mar 2013 #47

I'm hearing chirping crickets... n/t backscatter712 Mar 2013 #62

I suppose I get to do my debating opponents' work for them. backscatter712 Mar 2013 #69

You're assurance that you "know" that convinces everyone, I'm sure skepticscott Mar 2013 #70

What makes him a bigot? hrmjustin Mar 2013 #27

Tell me how "raising a child to be Catholic is worse than child abuse" is not a bigoted statement Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #33

You were challenged before skepticscott Mar 2013 #39

Do you have your copy of The God Delusion? Common Sense Party Mar 2013 #53

Nothing on Page 356 shows Dawkins saying skepticscott Mar 2013 #55

I don't need to try again. Common Sense Party Mar 2013 #60

Then they cite the wrong page, and still not the quote that was claimed skepticscott Mar 2013 #65

That was clearly the quote that was claimed. Common Sense Party Mar 2013 #73

Lame...A quote is..duh...a QUOTE skepticscott Mar 2013 #74

Good grief. Common Sense Party Mar 2013 #75

Nice dodge...but more horseshit skepticscott Mar 2013 #76

hah! EvilAL Mar 2013 #40

Still waiting for you to prove skepticscott Mar 2013 #42

Do you not have Google on your computer? Common Sense Party Mar 2013 #54

I didn't make the claim that Dawkins said skepticscott Mar 2013 #56

I see. You have no interest in the truth. Common Sense Party Mar 2013 #59

You have the book...cite me the page..you lied about it once skepticscott Mar 2013 #63

Still waiting skepticscott Mar 2013 #48

Still waiting for you to link to that quote skepticscott Mar 2013 #66

We have to do their work for them. backscatter712 Mar 2013 #71

He certainly made no unequivocal statements of the type skepticscott Mar 2013 #72

True - he was talking about a specific case, not making a broad-brush statement. n/t backscatter712 Mar 2013 #77

I guess when you're preaching to the choir truth doesn't matter regardless of what church you're in Leontius Mar 2013 #90

Wow...you thought all that time skepticscott Mar 2013 #91

If you threaten your child with hell Gore1FL Mar 2013 #80

Explain how emotionally traumatizing a child with threats of hell isn't abusive. backscatter712 Mar 2013 #87

Still waiting for you to prove skepticscott Mar 2013 #88

Still waiting for you to link to that quote skepticscott Mar 2013 #97

He said "is a form of," not "is worse than." And I do support Richard Dawkins. 2ndAmForComputers Mar 2013 #98

You won't get an answer skepticscott Mar 2013 #99

Evolutionary scientists can show unequivocally skepticscott Mar 2013 #28

Look up the definition of the word "faith" Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #32

If you could point out where I "lied" skepticscott Mar 2013 #38

Post removed Post removed Mar 2013 #103

Why have faith in a randomly chosen story? Gore1FL Mar 2013 #81

I don't krhines Mar 2013 #78

If by "ignorant bigot" Gore1FL Mar 2013 #79

Seems like all the god-believers can do is.. nonoyes Mar 2013 #24

Your observation seems spot-on. In fact, we can all observe that right in this thread. cleanhippie Mar 2013 #25

There are some, rexcat Mar 2013 #29

There are a lot of atheists who truly hate believers Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #34

That is only an opinion based on no facts... rexcat Mar 2013 #36

Of course, you have no evidence or facts, just like your nonoyes Mar 2013 #37

man oh man is the dude a crashing boor. i tried to watch this, but frankly chewing gum struggle4progress Mar 2013 #30

Well, few can match your unfathomable spiritual depth... Silent3 Mar 2013 #85

Reading Comprehension Strategies struggle4progress Mar 2013 #86

Perhaps the brave Dawkins will offer an explanation as to why when Leontius Mar 2013 #43

Here is the video in full context. Feel foolish yet? Gore1FL Mar 2013 #82

Why should I ? Leontius Mar 2013 #89

You misrepresented his statement in context. I demonstrated you were wrong with the actual video. Gore1FL Mar 2013 #92

There was no change to his statement by any supposed "context" you claim shown by the video Leontius Mar 2013 #93

Did you even look at the video? Gore1FL Mar 2013 #94

nah just parroting a talking point. Phillip McCleod Mar 2013 #95

Hitchens was far more entertaining and humorous. Manifestor_of_Light Mar 2013 #51

I miss his Hitchslaps! n/t backscatter712 Mar 2013 #83

Dawkins has made some smart points and I think debate of religion is really important. napoleon_in_rags Mar 2013 #52