In a radio debate, Richard Dawkins said research carried out by the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason claimed that many Christians never read the Bible and that two out of three couldn't name the first book of the New Testament.Alas, Dawkins was then challenged by Rev Giles Fraser to give the full 21 word title of his hero Charles Darwin's seminal work. After several ums, Dawkins gave up with a feeble, "Oh God ..."
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear ...
Thanks to Inspector Google, here is the full name of Charles Darwin's book: On the Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.
Dawkins is an arrogant and militant atheist who prides himself on his knowledge and reason. He loves to demean and disparage others but this time the mighty man came unstuck. Canon Giles Fraser, a former canon chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, certainly deflated Dawkins.
I even wonder has he read it in the first place never mind knowing the full title, or has he read Gertrude Himmelfarb's biography of Darwin?
ReplyDeleteWhat was even better was that Giles Fraser hadn't even been trying to trip Dawkins up, and, graciously did not gloat or rub salt into his self-inflicted wound, but actually went on to point out areas where he and Dawkins actually agreed. It was an example of how Christians should behave in public discourse. Full of grace and truth.
ReplyDeleteRichard Dawkins has made huge scientific contributions to a fundamental process within evolutionary genetics, namely the concept of the selfish gene. He has some reason to be arrogant in that respect.
ReplyDeleteAre you serious that because a man of nearly 70 years of age has a moment of forgetfulness; his entire argument(s) are underminded? Thats ridiculous.
Also just for the record - could you please define what a 'militant atheist' is? Is this supposed to mean like a terrorist or something? Physically attacking churches or something?
Nevertheless it is a fair point that most christians would have never read the bible.
I find the use of the word 'militant' to describe someone who speaks their opinion in an intelligent and cilvilised way, in a free society, completely ridiculous. When has atheism ever hurt anyone? Ask that same question about religion?
ReplyDeleteIt shows how threatened you must feel by any opinion that challenges yours and I also, by the way, find your words as usual, extremely smug.