Biologist Richard Dawkins recently came down to Dumbutt for a speech to a sold out crowd at the Houston Progressive Forum. This is a local interview after the fact. Such kind of rational thinking regarding religion and science can only be attempted by these God damned Europeans.
Speaking of which, the kicker in this interview is at the end where Dawkins explains that unlike United States, the oh so enlightened Great Britain has no separation of church and state which forces the government to fund religios schools.
Not much of a problem in the past as there are not that many Catholics in England, well who still have their heads attached anyway, and the Anglican Church is the Cheez Wiz of religions. But their is a growing problem in that over the past several years a massive funding of Islamic schools and the subsequent expansion of Islamic intolerance is entering into the English culture. Something for God Fearing Americans to think on. Tax funded vouchers for the Iman Ibombu box cutter flight school.
Also see the recent Richard Dawkins recent interview on Real Time with Bill Maher
Biologist: Evolution theory no place for amateurs By ERIC BERGER of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Last week, British biologist Richard Dawkins spoke to a sold-out crowd at the Houston Progressive Forum. Dawkins, probably the world’s foremost atheist, wrote The God Delusion in 2006, which makes the case that religion is a delusion and that belief in God, while not certainly false, is probably false. Before his lecture Dawkins spoke with Chronicle science writer Eric Berger about evolution and his thoughts on a deeply religious United States.
Q. In recent years the State Board of Education has come within a vote or two of incorporating intelligent design into its textbooks. What kind of message does that send to the world?
A. I think the message it sends to the world is rather serious, especially as it’s Texas, because I believe Texas has a rather controlling say over what textbook publishers do. I’m very glad that it didn’t happen, but if it had it would have sent the message that Texas is educationally backward.
Q. Are you surprised that, in the 21st century, we’re still debating evolution in the public square?
A. Yes, I’m very surprised. I’m not quite sure why of all the sciences, it is evolution that should be singled out for this remarkable treatment. Amateurs who know nothing of science don’t attempt to dictate what goes into chemistry or physics textbooks, as far as I am aware. But in the case of my own subject, biology, it’s a free-for-all where anyone can say what they think as a personal opinion. These are not matters of personal opinion, these are matters of fact. And matters of fact are determined by the evidence. And it is the evidence that should define what goes into textbooks.
Q. From your perspective is there any credible evidence for the existence of a God?
A. No, not to my mind. But I think it’s a respectable thing to have an argument about. It’s something we can have an intelligent argument in which intelligent people can make points on both sides.
Q. Is there any observation that would cause you to change your mind about the non-existence of a God?
A. Any scientist would change his mind if new evidence came in. I would be delighted to be supplied with evidence for the existence of a supernatural creator. No evidence has so far been forthcoming, and we’re still waiting. But it would be fascinating to come across such evidence. I look forward to it, but not with much expectation.
Q. One thing I hear from people who question evolution is the idea of macro- versus microevolution. They’ll buy the idea of small changes in species, but not the formation of new species. Is there any merit to these arguments?
A. There’s no difference between microevolution and macroevolution. It’s just a difference of time scale. It’s rather like saying the difference between people growing a millimeter overnight and people growing five feet from when they were babies. It’s just that when you have enough microevolution going on for a long enough time, then it becomes macroevolution. Macroevolution is just lots and lots of microevolution laid end to end over a very large number of millions of years.
Q. Do you fear the United States is on its way to becoming a theocracy?
A. I think that when George W. Bush was president it was starting to look that way. I was of course hugely encouraged by the election of Barack Obama, so I don’t think the United States is on its way to becoming a theocracy. But it’s something we need to watch. I think there are countries in the world that are theocracies, and they’re terrible, terrible examples. Looking at Saudi Arabia, we really, really don’t want my part of the world or your part of the world to go anywhere near that.
Q. Your part of the world is one of the most irreligious. Why?
A. What you say is probably true of the Christian part of Britain. Unfortunately, however, there is a burgeoning Muslim population in Britain which I find troubling. I’m gratified and pleased with Britain having once been a Christian country, and now the Christian spirit is declining. Unfortunately the religious spirit of the country, as a whole, is not flourishing because Islam in Britain is regrettably flourishing.
Q. How would you go about counteracting that? Better education, perhaps?
A. I do think education is a very good step. It’s immensely important. I don’t think many Americans realize that, unlike here, where you have separation of church and state, in Britain state schools supported by the government actively promote various faiths. So we have Catholic schools, Anglican schools, Jewish schools and Muslim schools. And these are supported by the government in their aim to actively indoctrinate children. It’s horrible.