1. Richard Dawkins on Talkback Radio

Comment #237153 by Cokane on August 26, 2008 at 4:29 am

Im not surprised at all at some of the assertions that are being made. One must remember that, on average, I would guess that approximately 40% of people educated in Northern Ireland are educated in what are known as 'Catholic-maintained schools'. These are essentially 'faith' schools where the kids pray in the morning and evening, and are taught the Roman Catholic worldview alongside the 'normal' subjects. I was educated in one of these schools and I can assuredly say, that in my home town of Derry, if one wanted to get a decent education at all, then you didn't really have a choice about whether you went to one of these schools - there were no serious alternatives! You had to attend one of the many schools that are named after Saints (St Columb's, St Peter's, St Joseph's etc to name those that immediately spring to mind) and funded by the Catholic church. There are now some alternatives but essentially, due to the political history of Northern Ireland (which Im sure many of you are partially familiar with), the education system in many parts of Northern Ireland is dominated by the Catholic church.

Is anyone really that surprised when people make assertions about the type of things mentioned above when these are the only things they have been told and taught throughout much of their school life?

It is only after you sort of, step away from religion, that you look back on it and realise how weird it all is. For much of my life, growing up in Northern Ireland, it was absolutely the norm to pray every single day and go to mass on sundays. Absolutely everyone did it. And for many people in Northern Ireland currently, such as some of those who speak on this radio phone in, it is all they know and have known for their entire lives.

That is why it is vitally important that people like Richard help drag some of these 'enquiring minds' kicking and screaming into the 21st century through speaking on shows such as this. And he should be greatly applauded for his work in this regard.

*Edit: I should add that in many cases these Catholic maintained schools are doing a wonderful job of educating Irish kids. I dont want what I have typed above to give the impression that they are simply institutions of religious indoctrination. As I mentioned in another thread, the absolute lack of religiousity amongst my own peer group is striking.

2. Richard Dawkins on Talkback Radio

Comment #236693 by Cokane on August 25, 2008 at 5:10 am

I am not at all surprised by the high level of general ignorance shown by the callers. Having been educated at a quite famous Northern Irish Catholic school, I can say that I was taught almost nothing about evolution in the 5 years that I studied science, and particularly biology. Having learned a little bit about biology since my time at school I am quite amazed when I think back to what I was taught, and more importantly what I was not taught. My memory isn't perfect but my only real recollection of evolution being mentioned at all, was with an almost disapproving passing comment in my religious education class.

I fully accept that I may just have simply forgotten that it was taught, but I doubt it as it was only 10 years ago. I can't imagine the significance of the idea and its over-arching relevance to much of the how the world developed and continues to develop would have passed me by, even at that age.

It would be interesting to discover, from those who have access to the relevant information, just to what extent evolution is supposed to be taught in the high school curriculum in Northern Ireland. And to what extent Catholic funded schools are bound by this curriculum in what they teach, and do not teach.

3. On TV: The Genius of Charles Darwin: Presented by Richard Dawkins

Comment #233164 by Cokane on August 19, 2008 at 8:01 am

I was also a little disappointed with Part 3.

I found it uncomfortable to watch Richard read out the ridiculous hate mail he sometimes receives. I just thought this was ill-advised and pointless, and it also went on for too long. I didn't think it added anything to the programme or the message behind it. What did it have to do with the genius of Charles Darwin?

The interviews with Williams and a few others were also, in my opinion, slightly poorly done. I found it a little annoying that, on several occasions, while interviewing these people, Richard cut to a voice-over to say what he wanted to say rather than say it as part of the face to face dialogue. My girlfriend also really objected to this. She has a soft-spot for Williams anyway, but she was extremely irritated that he was cut off mid-sentence by a voice-over so that Richard could continue speaking.

Im well aware that sometimes these things need to be done in programmes of this nature due to time-constraints but I thought it could perhaps have been done without seeming as though Williams was being cut out mid-sentence?

Aside from these relatviely minor issues, the series was enjoyable. The second part however stood head and shoulders above the other two as it really focused well on the point it was making, and maybe also perhaps because Richard was on his own very comfortable territory of discussing 'selfish genes' and their consequences.

4. On TV: The Genius of Charles Darwin: Presented by Richard Dawkins

Comment #228101 by Cokane on August 11, 2008 at 1:21 pm

I agree with what was posted above.

The second part was absolutely outstanding. Just... wonderful!

5. Call to teach biblical creation as science

Comment #225559 by Cokane on August 7, 2008 at 2:18 am

Also from Northern Ireland here, and also embarrassed.

When one is away from Northern Ireland for a little while (six years in my case), its easy to just become totally detached and forgetful of the sort of nonsense that goes on there from time to time, and when you stumble across an article such as this, its sort of like stepping on dog poo. It certainly makes one feel a little queasy.

However I am encouraged by my general interaction with NIrish people of my own generation as they will be the ones who are the politicians over the next 10 to 20 years. Almost universally, people tend to regard this sort of stuff as acutely embarrassing and I think this is a really good thing. Although these politicians are quite terrifying when they display their amazing stupidity like this, hopefully the next generation will see fundamentalist religion increasingly marginalised. I have noticed a massive decline in religiousity in the Catholic side even just within the last 10-15 years. I barely know a single person of my own generation who goes to mass anymore and this compares with my parent's generation where mass attendance was basically universal. Only a handful of people from my peer group would still regard themselves as Catholic now in any way other than a sort of vague, nostalgiac reference to the community in which they grew up, and I am also reliably informed that the Church is really struggling to recruit any priests within the Irish community. So this is encouraging.

I think the hardcore religion and the hardcore sectarianism can only really gradually dissipate over generations in Northern Ireland. As Lamentz stated, there are too many entrenched religious and sectarian views on both sides at the moment and we can only simply wait until these people die off to be brutally honest. They aren't going to change their way of thinking. Not a chance.

It will be inevitable that as the generations that have lived through and been tainted by 'the troubles' pass out of the limelight, that more progressive voices will take their places. And, hopefully, the old bigotry that was essentially rooted in religion and nationalist/loyalist politics, and hardened through the last half of the twentieth century, will just fade away. Well this is my hope anyhow. Its still a great place to live and I expect things will only get better.

6. An Irishman's Diary

Comment #209138 by Cokane on July 11, 2008 at 4:07 pm

I nearly choked laughing at the comparison between the American version of riding in a car, and the Irish version! Funny article.

7. Conversation between Richard Dawkins and John Lennox

Comment #206317 by Cokane on July 8, 2008 at 9:12 am

I actually thought Richard handled this discussion excellently, particularly in remaining absolutely calm throughout. When someone so blatantly expresses a world view that is taken straight from the bible in a purely literalist sense I think the most effective tactic is not to argue with it, but to do as Christopher Hitchens recommends, and simply underline it.

The most interesting part of this exchange, for me, was the fact that Lennox and the chair both agreed that the views Lennox expressed were an orthodox christian view, rather than the ramblings and ravings of fundamentalist religion, which is what many of the more sophisticated christians (and religious apologists) will tell you it is. So which is it?

8. Christopher Hitchens Debates Timothy Jackson

Comment #122838 by Cokane on February 6, 2008 at 7:50 am

I agree that Jackson is by far the most interesting debater to go up against Hitchens. As others have said, he comes across as a genuinely nice guy and I found his argumentation much more palatable because of that. His understanding of the issues at hand, and the english language for that matter, were also on a level that is significantly superior to almost all the other people I've seen Hitchen debate with.

I enjoyed this one and will doubtlessly listen to it again at some point, and perhaps comment further when I have not been falling asleep through it due to fatigue after a long day.

9. Richard Dawkins on The Big Debate

Comment #118042 by Cokane on January 30, 2008 at 9:11 am

I really enjoyed this video and I agree with many above that Dimbleby was excellent here. Im not usually impressed by his style, but in this case he was superb and asked the right questions to the right people. Bravo to him.

I'm a big fan of Richard Dawkins but in this video I realised, to an extent, why people sometimes regard him as shrill in his criticism of religion, and I was frustrated by the fact he didn't follow through on his point about apostasy. Simply enticing the Muslim headmaster to say what he did was NOT enough. In my opinion, he should have followed up and made the forceful and extremely powerful point that by indoctrinating children in faith schools into a faith where they cannot escape except on pain of death in certain countries, is a fundamental abuse of children - I cant see how anyone can argue against this given the prior admission of the use of the death penalty. This needed to be emphasised and hammered home, and I felt this was an opportunity missed.

10. Interview with Neil Shubin, author of 'Your Inner Fish'

Comment #112667 by Cokane on January 17, 2008 at 5:50 pm

Hohoho. That was a real slapping down if ever I saw one. I agree I almost felt sorry for the guy. Very sharp stuff from this Colbert guy.

11. Beyond Belief 07: Enlightenment 2.0

Comment #93645 by Cokane on December 3, 2007 at 7:41 pm

Yes, downloads please!!

ipod fodder this most certainly is!