51. Debate between Michael Shermer and Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #80477 by Zakie Chan on October 22, 2007 at 12:07 am

Shermer seems like an odd choice for this debate. I would have expected someone more like Sam Harris.

Shermer even has said in his book, How We Believe, something to the extent of "for every terrible act done in the name of God, a thousand good acts done in the name of God go un-noticed." Maybe he changed his mind?

Oh well, at least D'Souza will be debating Hitchens-- who is a far better choice for this topic.

52. Atheists aren't a bad lot

Comment #80469 by Zakie Chan on October 21, 2007 at 11:21 pm

"So it's no surprise to learn that atheists can be perfectly decent people."

No way! Really!?

53. Does fundamentalist religion cause the rejection of evolution? or is it the other way around?

Comment #80221 by Zakie Chan on October 20, 2007 at 8:10 pm

Ok sure evolution is sort of counter intuitive... but fundamentalists also deny things like the age of the earth and universe. They will deny anything they have to in order to hold onto their beliefs.

I really dont think they reject it for any reason other than they see it as a threat to their mythology.

54. John Templeton's Universe

Comment #79028 by Zakie Chan on October 15, 2007 at 11:33 pm

Yeah I agree with Vendetta about the Beyond Belief stuff. I remember during Ramachandran's presentation, on of the Templeton guys asked "does anything in your research show that God doesnt exist?"

Thank goodness, Sam Harris then asked if anything in the research showed that Thor didnt exist.

55. In honour of Dan Dennett

Comment #76792 by Zakie Chan on October 7, 2007 at 9:29 am

Hey Clappers, do you know of any links to audio/video or transripts of Dennett's debates?

56. A Nation of Christians Is Not a Christian Nation

Comment #76786 by Zakie Chan on October 7, 2007 at 8:59 am

There is an excellent video with Alan Dershowitz about this topic his site www.alandershowitz.com

Do you guys think McCain is ignorant, or just says these things to try and get votes?

57. In honour of Dan Dennett

Comment #76782 by Zakie Chan on October 7, 2007 at 8:37 am

Excellent!

Its so true about Dennetts clarity in writing. I recently read "Kinds of Minds", and although its a small book, I was really intimidated to read it. I thought it would be completely over my head, and that I wouldnt understand anything. But no, it was incredibly well written, and absolutly fascinating. He truly is a superb explainer of complex topics.

58. Debate between Richard Dawkins and John Lennox

Comment #76049 by Zakie Chan on October 4, 2007 at 2:11 pm

When listening to Lennox (or any apologist) repeat the same nonsense over and over again, I am reminded of a quote by Upton Sinclair, "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it."

Its seriously like these people are not even listening, or thinking about what is being said to them or what they are saying.

59. The Problem with Atheism

Comment #75831 by Zakie Chan on October 3, 2007 at 7:34 pm

The best line in the whole thing is "Mormonism, it seems to me, is—objectively—just a little more idiotic than Christianity is. It has to be: because it is Christianity plus some very stupid ideas."

HAHAHA! Brilliant!

60. A Face-Off Over Faith

Comment #75827 by Zakie Chan on October 3, 2007 at 7:18 pm

My favorite part was when Lennox said he was impressed that the Bible got the "in the beginning" part right (though he didnt mention that it got everything else wrong). And then Dawkins responded with something to the extent of "well there are only two option, either the universe always existed, or it had a beginning. I dont see getting something with a 50/50 chance right as too impressive."

Though I wish Dawkins would have called out Lennox every time he begged the question... which was quite often.

61. Our Lives, Controlled From Some Guy's Couch

Comment #63497 by Zakie Chan on August 14, 2007 at 2:28 pm

Thanks Dr. Benway!

Hey USA Limey, here ya go... http://youtube.com/watch?v=fdVucvo-kDU

62. Our Lives, Controlled From Some Guy's Couch

Comment #63468 by Zakie Chan on August 14, 2007 at 12:36 pm

To quote Bertrand Russell, in regards to people who feel that this world is somehow an illusion, "I wish they would get into a car and drive straight into a wall at a speed proportional to their belief that the wall is not real."

63. Intelligent Design and Creationism/Evolution Controversy

Comment #53523 by Zakie Chan on July 1, 2007 at 11:13 pm

Eugenie Scott rules. Check out her book "Evolution vs Creationism", its a great overview of the whole issue.