A good-humored conversation between Michael Shermer and Richard Dawkins

Michael Shermer is an American science writer, historian of science, and executive director of The Skeptics Society. He and I spoke about God, reason, morality, science and the future, in a good-humored discussion in Berlin, 2018, under the auspices of the German branch of the Richard Dawkins Foundation.
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[@itsafractal.7770]

A Richard Dawkins video is never late... It arrives precisely when it means to...

[@ayotundeayoko5861]

100%!

[@jerrycallender-qm7zr]

As did Her Majesty, Elizabeth, the Great.

[@etienne_laforet]

What is a “religion” but a metaphysical worldview based on dogma and shared with others? And doesn't Dawkins share with his community a worldview based on a dogmatic claim to empirical "evidence" rather than simply reason (which is the real basis of science - by not ignoring the fact that there is a lot of "non-empirical" reality, such as dealt with in mathematics, e.g.)? This is obviously a very dogmatic stance, because where the hell is the “evidence“ that all existence is empirically evident ? It is Dawkins' faith, he believes in it without evidence. On the contrary, It is astonishingly illogical, especially for an evolutionary biologist. For obviously there is a reality beyond the horizon of Homo sapiens, just as there is beyond the horizon of Pan troglodytes. That's what is called “transcendence” - something Dawkins is blind to, even though it lies in the very logic of evolution. I can easily deal with atheism. But as a mathematician, I can't ignore Dawkins' lack of logic ... The French philosopher and Nobel Prize winner Henri Bergson understood evolution much more deeply than Dawkins. In his main work "Creative Evolution" he brilliantly analyzes intelligence as a 'product' of evolution and shows its blind spots. He understood that reality transcends human intelligence: "Philosophers are mistaken when they apply to philosophical speculation a method of thinking designed for action." Dawkins' attempt to ridicule other channels of human experience - spiritual, mystical, religious - is therefore not only stupid and arrogant, it is similar to the laughter of a deaf-mute who is amused by the sight of a group of people dancing because he himself cannot hear the music.

[@rekunta]

You draw far too much attention to yourself, Mr. Underhill!

[@conneryshand.]

​@@rekunta"It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not."

[@lilo4784]

Best quote “you’ve got to pay to dissociate yourself from the church there’s got to be something wrong there”

[@carlodefalco7930]

That’s only in Germany ???🤔🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️, never heard of that anywhere else in the world 🌎

[@odt4492]

@@carlodefalco7930 it´s the same here in sweden.

[@olahellsten818]

⁠@@odt4492No, it’s not. It does not cost anything to leave the Church of Sweden.

[@divine-rational]

As a person of faith, I agree that there is something wrong with that.

[@ReligionAndMaterialismDebunked]

:D The great, fellow Jewish brother, Carl Sagan.

[@reddevil211287]

First! :) Thank you Mr Dawkins, I'm an apostate that owes a lot to your logic and reasoning.

[@briansmith3791]

Dawkins has led his followers over a cliff into immorality. The number of atheists on KZbin who support Israel, even as it mass-murders children, is both shocking and sickening.

[@MrMancreatedgod]

👍

[@bestmusic9619]

Modern Christianity has no time for 'apostate' language. Silly. Different in Islam, however.

[@loretam1]

The Invention of Lying is one of the best movies I have ever seen

[@TheAncientBiker]

Thank you for making your videos generally available.

[@Kinetic-Energy117]

I have 'God delusion' in my hands right now reading, for the 3rd time! Thank you for yours decades of hard work

[@briansmith3791]

I read the God Delusion years ago. Where has Dawkins led his followers? Away from the nonsense of Religion, but to where? He 'stands with Israel' even as they mass-murder thousands of children. What kind of morality is that? Is that the end point for atheism; to be morally bankrupt?

[@CHLuke37]

My personal hero in this dark world. Where could I ever go to be comfortable around people like Dawkins?

[@briansmith3791]

I'd be careful around Dawkins, he supports Israel even as they slaughter thousands of children. Leading atheists, with their support of Israel, clearly show their immorality.

[@326Alan]

Hope you don't mind my asking (I am almost definitely on your side!), but how do you mean that question?

[@ReligionAndMaterialismDebunked]

:3 The great, fellow Jewish brother, Carl Sagan.

[@sloopjb5359]

Greetings from Bavaria Mr. Dawkins!!

[@karelvandervelden8819]

Greetings to your tribe.

[@davidkariu2330]

Greetings from Nairobi (where Richard was born), Kenya!

[@MrMakingwavesmedia]

Thank you for the work you do Richard.

[@gardengirl6636]

Thank you for this wonderful discussion!

[@-Thauma-]

Oh my, I remember watchin😊back then 😮

[@juangbetancurs6996]

Thanks for your work.

[@hester234]

Delightful conversation! Thank you :)

[@flamechick6]

Thank you, there's nothing more valuable than your time.

[@isevo]

Thank you

[@robb6059]

"The task of properly relating science to transcendental knowledge is a great and holy task"

[@sakthiakash4689]

Love you richard

[@ayotundeayoko5861]

I really enjoyed this. Thank you Mr Dawkins and Mr Shermer

[@briansmith3791]

Both Dawkins and Shermer publicly support Israel even as it commits genocide. Moral degenerates.

[@Claudi333]

I enjoyed this conversation! 🍎

[@cancionesdelasplantas-moka8039]

Thankful for both of you and your conversation! Just a side note. Mr. Shermer, Penrose and Hameroff say nothing about what you suggested. That’s quite a misinterpretation of Orch. O.R.

[@peterdfisher940]

I think you are right about this. As I understand it, they do not say that entangled particles can pass from one brain to another, producing any kind of telepathy. Penrose is on record suggesting that the answer to understanding consciousness is going to lie fully within the constraints of science, although he suggests that some new science might be necessary to explain it.

[@cancionesdelasplantas-moka8039]

@@peterdfisher940 Precisely. I was rather disappointed at their interpretation of what Penrose and Hameroff actually propose.

[@blackeningmusicpromotion3978]

Agreed. I wish they would re-address this and correct what they said. A lot of people hearing this would automatically dismiss Penrose and Hameroff's Orch OR due to this complete and utter misinterpretation of their theory. ORCH O.R is likely the only theory out there that has multiple points of falsifiability which still holds. The two points that have been falsified in the 90's were corrected due to the nature of their wording but their theory is by far the strongest to suggest a mechanism for consciousness.

[@JasonCooper-ru8bf]

Agreed. That was a false and misleading statement by Mr. Shermer.

[@daemon9737]

Such a great conversation between two of my favorite people. As a recent ex-Mormon, I enjoy the comment about its absurdity!!

[@ossiedunstan4419]

If some believes in god any god then they are an enemy not friend. I am to jews and christians Anti Theist, to muslims i am KAFIR. have been since i was concepted, 58 years ago.

[@lauraj8429]

Please- when will we get another Q&A?

[@eddiequinn1335]

Great easy listening video

[@buninparadise9476]

I am a paying member I PAY attention

[@user-uz5mv3ql8d]

Bless you.Amen!

[@raulcolon3845]

Smart and entertaining exchange.

[@Jay-ft3xh]

Dawkins grace is tireless. Kudos for tolerating this child.

[@geoffh2560]

well I have no idea who Jordan Peterson is. Weird to have so many questions about this. Overall a great conversation though - thanks for publishing this!

[@Ichthyodactyl]

If you don't know who he is then you probably do not spend too much time online these days and that's probably a good thing. He's a clinical psychologist and professor from Canada who has been a fairly controversial figure (mostly online) in the last few years, primarily because of his stance on transgenderism and it's politicization and his opinions regarding why men seem to be struggling in the current social climate. He has garnered a lot of sycophants and a lot of undue vitriol recently.

[@Durzo1259]

@@Ichthyodactyl Very much agree with your last sentence. Everybody you ask either thinks he's an infallible guru or a total blithering idiot who gets everything wrong.

[@Durzo1259]

I'd suggest you watch his Kathy Newman interview that shot him to fame. Just YT search "Jordan Peterson Kathy Newman." On that occasion he was quite brilliant, but watch him discuss religion and it's a bunch of pedantic blather.

[@Psris123]

See Cass Eriss who critiques him.

[@daodejing81]

I left Christianity in 1980, at 20. I would definitely check the box "no religion." However, I would certainly not describe myself as atheist. I think atheists have thrown out the precious baby with the filthy bathwater. There is much wisdom in the words of Jesus, of the Buddha, of Laozi, to name a few. Eckhart Tolle is also one of great insight, as was Krishnamurti. Wisdom is simply the knowing within you that guides you through life, safely and happily. Socrates and many of the Greek philosophers understood this. The spiritual path is about looking within yourself, knowing yourself. It is a journey from a paradigm of dualism to a paradigm of oneness, out of which arises compassion, love, forgiveness, empathy, connection. Observe, meditate. Experience, reflect.

[@CosmicTeapot]

Which atheists do you speak of? There are idiots in every group. The atheists I listen to and look up to definitely do not throw the baby out with the bathwater. They are able to appreciate the wisdoms related to the names you mentioned, they simply advocate for the proper and rightful distinction between appreciating their wisdom and considering them as historically/scientifically factual claims. Harry Potter is also filled to the brim with valuable lessons about life, yet no one considers seriously that Hogwarts is real... we can and should do the same with all literary works which do not hold up to scrutiny. I do not hesitate to define myself as an atheist even though there are plenty of stupid atheists I don't associate myself with because I refuse to let them appropriate the definition of what atheism is. Atheism is not a dogmatic totalitarian belief. It is the result of healthy skepticism and the application of the scientific method. I do not buy into the notion that letting go of superstition must also mean letting go of appreciating the byproducts of human cognition (arts, music, literature/poetry, architecture, etc).

[@daodejing81]

@CG-yw5iu Wisdom is the fruit of meditation. It serves to guide you consciously through life. Jesus spoke of this, "The Holy Spirit will teach you everything, and will guide you into all truth." The Holy Spirit is the Inner Guide. You hear, perceive, discern the Holy Spirit through meditation.

[@krishnantampi5665]

Great discussion by a great scientist that's all, it can save the world and destroy the world Doctors most of them helps the people though there is medical care and altruism that's all praise the Lord🎉

[@leightapex]

Dawkins and Shermer. Click! Amazing. Great talk guys!

[@irfanmehmud63]

24:58 Can someone tell what's the exact name that Micheal mentioned as his late friend, Vic Stayer?

[@irfanmehmud63]

@@stu1037 Yes thats him. Thanks very much.

[@marketads1]

I understand why people reach for religion. It’s so anxiety-provoking to try to unwind mind blowing and ever expanding concepts. Just looking around at nature and people and asking “why are we here?” is the very beginning. It doesn’t get easier for some as we know more scientifically, some use logic and reason and others get more entrenched in easier answers like all knowledge comes from a religious text.

[@PartlySunny74]

Then some of us go for a hike, enjoy the changing weather and the animals and geology, etc. and just let it be.

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

It stems from laziness.

[@alastairmackay4589]

When does the interview start?

[@divine-rational]

"It may be an illusion, but it's a wonderful illusion." To me, that shows me that Dawkins, although without faith, still bases his reality in THAT grand ol' illusion. If there was ever a phrase from Dawkins that made me doubt a purely rationalistic-empirical existence, that is it.

[@danielpaulson8838]

You plugged in so much detail for him we gave to classify that comment as logical fallacy.

[@shamanicrevolution2204]

Dawkins saved my life... kind of

[@inessaarmand7971]

Love Richard!

[@yoshtg]

i threw away the document that i got when i left the church in germany because simply i couldnt be bothered. i never decided to be part of the church and yet i had to pay a small fee to leave it, it was ridiculous! the staff told me that this "fee to leave the church" is just "processing fees for the document and wont go to the church" but thinking about it now, maybe i should have kept the document and have it signed by Richard Dawkins. that would have been funny

[@crashoppe]

the form of gov in Deutschland sucks. oddly enough Ami's want the same system in the US. especially the left, progressives, liberals and atheists.

[@pierren___]

As atheists, dont forget the fight is more against islam than toward the church

[@crashoppe]

@@pierren___ thanks for being honest and admitting atheists are on a "crusade"

[@pierren___]

@@crashoppe yes

[@ossiedunstan4419]

@@pierren___ Anti theist's remember Atheists are just pascals wager. They are as bad as believers. I have 65,000 years of god less blood flowing through my veins, yet religion cannot go back further than 4,000 years .

[@jkkjeldsen8249]

"Why People Believe Weird Things" is a great book, and more relevant now than ever. I'm an atheist, but disagree with them that this is necessarily a good thing for all.

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

Which? Atheism, Shermer's book, or Religion?

[@jurassicthunder]

​@@MichaelKingsfordGrayAnything, including those you mentioned, can be used for tribalism.

[@briansmith3791]

Among the 'weird things' that Shermer believes are support for Israel even as it mass-murders thousands of children.

[@miguelbarahona6636]

@@jurassicthunder Tribalism is a part of human nature, it helped us to survive. We feel better when we are a part of a tribe. Today, for many people, religion or atheism or even worse, gender politics are tribes.

[@Psris123]

Rather Patronising attitude

[@RoyalTurd]

You two are truly my intellectual heroes, you also show how moral us “evil, satanic” atheists can be!

[@briansmith3791]

Both Dawkins and Shermer have come out publicly in support of Israel, even as it murders thousands of children. Shermer reposted 'beheaded Israeli babies'. A foul lie. "evil, satanic" is not far from the truth.

[@briansmith3791]

Both Dawkins and Shermer publicly support Israel even as it commits genocide. "Evil, satanic" fits the bill nicely.

[@danielpaulson8838]

You mean theists, right? That would make sense in your comment.

[@johnjameson6751]

My mother says that falling to sleep and not waking up is her perfect idea of life after death. And I agree - it is definitely better than a celestial North Korea !

[@markshepperson3603]

Illogical.

[@andyb619]

Ironically, North Korea is atheist.

[@VindensSaga]

@@markshepperson3603 Explain why you think so.

[@observatory87]

But, 100 years ago we were asleep and then we woke up here! 100 years from now we may possibly be 'sleeping' again, but nobody can be certain as to what may happen then. Thoughts?

[@johnjameson6751]

@@observatory87 Nobody can be certain, but pre-life provides a good idea. It is certainly not like dreaming (REM) sleep, where there is some self-awareness. It is not even like deep sleep where we have no awareness to the point of danger (a threat will not awaken us). If something (a "soul") about us lingers on beyond death, and is akin to pre-life, then it is not much. A pre-life soul has no language, no personality, no experiences, as these are all learned in childhood. The best description of pre-life is oblivion. And that is the most likely state in post-life. It is like deep sleep, with no awareness, but even more profoundly, there is no mind left to become aware of anything. It is absolute peace.

[@renesoucy3444]

Reality Mr.Dawkins is that survival is pointless, everything will disappear and hope is stupid… Awesome!

[@KermRiv]

The universe doesn't care, but people do.

[@skepticusmaximus184]

21:30 Nevermind the Fermi paradox. "Where is everybody?" Thats decisively counteracted by the Yogi Berra principal. "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded". 😂

[@robinpage2730]

This is my thought: life is everywhere, but we shouldn't wait for a more advanced species to land here and reveal themselves to us, because that's the thing: it's us. We're the most advanced. When we discover FTL travel, and reveal ourselves to other worlds, we will be the ones connecting everyone else.

[@Durzo1259]

I've never liked the term "Fermi paradox". There's nothing paradoxical about it. It's like if John put a message in a bottle in and threw it in the ocean in America and everybody in China is asking about the "paradox": if John threw a message in a bottle in the ocean, why haven't any of us found it?

[@koushikkumarghosh5887]

😍 wow Hashim All Ghaili was there. He is really an outstanding guy.

[@K_B_1]

can someone explain the voting age analogy Richard made in regards to species and evolution? that one went over my head…

[@AdrienJar]

Sure, Dawkins made a mess explaining that, The argument would go something like that : - If there is a development from childhood to adulthood, there must be a moment where you were a child before and you were an adult after - However, At no point in time you go from a child to an adult. This is because it's a continuum - Therefore development didn't occur And yet, you do reach voting age, you do become an adult Her says it's kind of analogous with the following counter evolution reasoning. Given the theory of evolution : - All organisms are related through "common ancestry." That is, before one point in history, there was no species B, only A, and after that point in history there was B, a new species evolved from A Let's call A "Homo Sapiens" and B "Homo Sapiens Sapiens" theory of evolution says : - "Homo Sapiens Sapiens" is evolved from "Homo Sapiens" However - With sexual reproduction, 2 members of different species can't reproduce - And 2 members of the same species can reproduce and produce an offspring of the same species too. - A member of a species A, has two parents of the same species A - 2 parents of "Homo Sapiens" give birth to a "Homo Sapiens" - therefore there's no way for 2 "Homo Sapiens" to give birth to a "Homo Sapiens Sapiens" - In other words, there's no point in time where the child of "Homo Sapiens" is now a member of a new entirely sexually incompatible new species "Homo Sapiens Sapiens" - Therefore "Homo Sapiens Sapiens" can't be an evolved species from "Homo Sapiens", and the theory of evolution is wrong. It's wrong since "Homo Sapiens Sapiens" does exist, it's us, and it cannot have evolved from a different species given what we just said about reproduction, so it must have appeared another way.

[@K_B_1]

@@AdrienJar wow, thanks for taking the time to give such a good explanation! I assumed it was probably a good analogy, just not worded great in the moment. Makes perfect sense now, much appreciated 👍

[@AsFewFalseThingsAsPossible]

I think the evolution of language is analagous. At one point, noone spoke English, but there was never a time when a non English speaking mother gave birth to an English speaking child.

[@K_B_1]

@@AsFewFalseThingsAsPossible not quite… no one is born speaking a language, your parents’ or otherwise. You are born as your species though.

[@AsFewFalseThingsAsPossible]

@@K_B_1 The thing evolving here is the language itself, it never went from one language to another in one generation

[@josephno1347]

Shermer is a great communicator

[@ferko6]

You can't have your cake and eat it too. The same thing that makes a fetus special also makes you special, you can't take it away from one and not the other.

[@andyb619]

Exactly

[@maboleth]

This video is from 2018, but talked about AI and Oppenheimer, as if it was made just right about NOW - in 2023/24! Another stellar speech from Mr. Dawkins and Michael. Thank you.

[@MrBlompod]

You rock Rick 🤘😎

[@funcool79]

I do believe in God, and his name is Professor Richard Dawkins!

[@Ploskkky]

I have a question about Jordan P..................

[@MikePerry-bt9yv]

Let me put on my J. P. hat: What is a question and what is realistically, strictly you?

[@pantherstealth1645]

👏👏

[@bobbart4198]

... Being dead forever shouldn't be a frightening idea ... You wont know about it, so what is the difference ? - IF, on the other hand, you go to Hell or sit in a dull cloudy Heaven, - now THAT shit IS scary !

[@87stevan]

Morality came before it was ever written down and codified into books like the Bible. I'm also interested in doing what is "right" not what is "good".

[@stephenconnolly3018]

In a sample of 2307 adults in the US., IQ was found to negatively correlate with self reports of religious identification, private practice or religion, mindfulness, religious support, and fundamentalism, but not spirituality.

[@andyb619]

Sounds like a completely useless study in the ad hominem fallacy

[@ALavin-en1kr]

Religion is defined as that to which we are bound. Good luck in trying to undo that, it is not going to happen. In fact, in spite of wishful thinking religion is growling. People innately need to worship whatever they wish to worship, a tree or a stone or anything else they want to. Why not be tolerant if you in turn expect tolerance for your view. Atheism when forced on people has not been flawless in how it played out, it has been a disaster.

[@user-pf6sf3bd9l]

ليس الامر ما تريده انت فقط بل ما يريده الخالق منك وما يصلحك في حياتك.وبعد مماتك...

[@randyruggles342]

If I were an atheist, I would stop using moral language like "right" and "wrong" in favour of terms like "beneficial for survival" and "detrimental to survival." It's more honest and would avoid the debate between atheists and the faithful about objective morality.

[@suneethamay3615]

Seems like everyone has work for me !

[@nasirfazal5440]

Are ten commandments religious axioms.Prof.Dr.Nasir Fazal Cambridge

[@JayshreeKalbhor-qx5jy]

At 41:00 speaking of using words or stopping to use words I would like to mention what happened to the word Swastika or drawing of a Swastika. India Swastika image is sacred and used daily and in special ceremonies. In western world it is known as evil, hence it cannot be used and that is not fair.

[@dreodurana687]

A fresh perspective for someone looking for a decent Holy Week movie.

[@hizaleus]

Where is everybody? Incomprehensible 36:18 distances in time and place away from us. A civilization millions of light years from us would be millions of years old, and a civilization that exists now will not be detectable for millions of years.

[@bobbart4198]

... Do we want to Live forever ? ... Tough question, 'cause NOBODY really wants to die, unless they're in great physical or emotional pain, and then I guess that's their call ... But if we ALL live forever, what are we going to eat, where are we ALL gonna live ... and how much TV can ANYBODY stomach ? ...

[@johnjameson6751]

Utilitarians were on the right lines, but were focussing on the wrong metrics. It sounds right to minimise suffering or maximise happiness, but this does not work. The founding fathers of the US actually identified the solution: the metric you need to maximise is liberty. I am amazed that philosophers do not develop this.

[@willgraham13.]

please add Azerbaijani or Turkish subtitles 🪐

[@timwalling3101]

morality is the golden rule it needs no attachment to man made religion its main tenant is to never indoctrinate youth with a lie ....from its start it is already counter to all god delusions.

[@briansmith3791]

What is the morality of Dawkins and Shermer who both support Israel even as it slaughters thousands of civilians?

[@samirhammami5902]

fear gratitude brain explanation soul explanation

[@dawnjjones2855]

Dawkins name is on the list.

[@defenderofwisdom]

Before you can liberate morality from religion you must be moral.

[@fieryfirevivin]

These people think they are smarter than they actually are. But their ignore in science clearly shows.

[@shamanicrevolution2204]

These guys always have to take shots at Deepak since he defeated them in debate.

[@mcmg-museudacriacao.melind405]

Se a religião é o ópio do povo e o ópio dos cientistas é ser a religião do povo . Desiste porque , o seu discurso jamais convencera

[@laylaali5977]

There many atheist who don’t have morality just like many theist being a ethical person is based on personal values and how open minded individuals are

[@PartlySunny74]

Not in a vacuum. Your cultural surroundings and the zeitgeist of your era play a significant part, as they pointed out.

[@crashoppe]

@@PartlySunny74 they may have pointed it out but that doesnt make it true. most people are easily manipulated and can be fool by anyone or anything. dawkins is a good example of this fact. truly intelligent people choose their own path.

[@danielpaulson8838]

By definition, a theist cannot have an open mind. They believe in something they can’t even find on their own and deny any natural reality which interferes with their supernatural claims. Does that sound open minded to you?

[@mdesm2005]

13:00 "what would it take for you to believe ...". What does the word 'god' refer to? The only definition you can give that word is "unfalsifiable figment of the imagination". So yes, I believe that some people take seriously an unfalsifiable figment of their imagination. We need to stop given any respect to that word when it's used in a question.

[@22julip]

David Hume said morality is not the conclusion of our reason . ! So where did our morals come from ? FA Hayek said to him the answer was cultural evolution . However Hayek was born Roman Catholic, but not a believer in a God , but did say that the belief in God was essential to ground morals and had the ability to do things that went against our desires to do what feels good rather it was necessary to grow the population, to its present size . So whether you believe in a moral law giver or not the results come out the same , that from Hayeks opinion those moral laws made us what we are and allowed us to prosper. ✝️☮️ God bless you

[@danielpaulson8838]

We’re not all born the same. The masses are barely above evolving animals and need a big brother to watch them. Morals come from understanding others feel like you do. Empathy. Something the many called lack.

[@22julip]

@@danielpaulson8838 we are not born the same , I agree but that’s true to a point , but there’s more we have in common then we’re different. There’s two main ideologies, as Tom Sowell says the anointed and the benighted . Or to keep it simple conservative and progressive, to quotes say it all . Edmund Burke said he who doesn’t know history is doomed to repeat it ( progressive) and lord Acton power corrupts. You know the rest . So in the important ways we’re the same , inflation , wage and prices Rent control. And socialism, have been tried many times with the same results . To me if you follow the Bible God and remember those two important common sense ideas we would be fine .but we think we’re smarter and wiser than our savior, enlightenment I seriously doubt it !!!! I went a little off topic but I’m passionate about people. Since we are still killing each other, WHY. ?? Be well ✝️☮️

[@danielpaulson8838]

@@22julip History goes all the way back to evolution and we act out as creatures based on our current level of comfort. I seek and knock for myself. I don't let others do it for me. I recommend that. Jesus did too. Yes, you went off topic. But that's what you have to work with, isn't it? AKA, the fruits from ones garden. You cannot demonstrate anything supernatural and never will be able to. That high horse is but a broomstick pony. A Pharisee. I am very well, thanks. I spend my time gleefully fighting ignorance.

[@22julip]

@@danielpaulson8838 that my friend is a full time job !!!! John Adam’s said about our experiment in a representative republic, as long as we have a informed and enlightened electorate, it can work ,some words to that effect , another quote from someone I forget the name Against ignorance even the gods are helpless , remember the to children under the robe of ghost of Christmas present. The boy is ignorance the girl is want beware them both , but especially the boy . Seems like the world runs on greed and ignorance . Sorry to be so negative, I hope I’m wrong.

[@samirhammami5902]

Physics. Electrons. Power.

[@user-pf6sf3bd9l]

في الاسلام...أنَّ الجَنينَ تُنفَخُ فيه الرُّوحُ إذا تمَّ له أربعةُ أشهُرٍ، وعلى هذا فمتى تمَّ له أربعةُ أشهُرٍ فإنَّه لا يجوزُ إنزالُه إنزالًا يموتُ به على أيِّ حالٍ كان لأنَّه صار إنسانًا فلا يجوزُ قَتلُه

[@user-fk8rb8ue5h]

A confirmation bias, seekers paradise.

[@LittleVboh]

Wann waren die in Deutschland??

[@drdawkins8549]

You are the prophet of science

[@crush3095]

31:50 I got mild hallucinations in float tanks, more like um mental free association, like a dream nothing religious, but I have been atheist since 13 so.. if I was operating within a religious perspective, I may have had a religious experience

[@kazkk2321]

Poor Alfred Russel Wallace. He will always be in Darwin’s shadow. Poor guy. Poor poor guy. 😢

[@Durzo1259]

When they discuss "what would it take for you to believe in God?" most atheists I've heard say "nothing, because no matter what it is I'd think it's some advanced alien entity or some such." For me all it would take is for God to act like a president and make regular public addresses. Nobody debates if the US president is real because he addresses his people regularly. If God would make a little more effort than privately revealing himself to one person every thousand years, I'd be happy. Is a full-scale public address really asking so much?

[@in_paradiso_58]

That would be a 'God 101 error'...Richard seems like a smart guy, maybe ask him about such, or maybe you're mother might know, who knows???

[@completeworkofswamivivekananda]

This is great discussion however I must say some of the assumptions are wrong and reflects that Richard only has American view of looking at the world. For example to assume that people now are smarter and moral than ancient civilization is erroneous.

[@TheWeirdSide1]

Merging cultures into one = error error! Does not compute! Can't divide by zero! It's either one shared culture(impossible, and or unappealing) or different cultures trying to get along in the same space, which will always be flawed. The 3rd and only other option is to not have different cultures occupying the same space. All those in favor of meat section at the grocery store will never agree to have it removed so the vegans don't have to smell it. It will never work. Which is why we see so much failure occurring, along with resentment and other negative feelings. As someone who lives in a city with a very high Asian population in a mostly white country, the cultural clash is so blatantly obvious you can feel it in the air, despite everyone's effort to deny it in fake nausea inducing political correctness. Why deny it? Just because my values do not align with someone else does not mean there are racist feelings. I don't like golfing. Does that mean I hate people who golf? I like bears and I like honey bees. I would never hold such cognitive dissonant feelings as to hope for the best that they can live together in a confined space. Are you kidding me? Just because I see good reason to separate bees from bears(for their own good) does not in any way even hint at anything racist. I personally don't possess very strong ties to tradition/my culture and prefer to dabble in all that is on the table. But I would also prefer a variety of cultures over a bunch of clones. Would it be so terrible to have Japan remain mostly Japanese? Or should we make everyone into clones who all share the exact same values? I believe the answer is beyond easy to reach. Just stop lying to yourself and others. Lack of integrity is not a positive character trait.

[@adogcalledchester]

Science forbid you should sound Mystical Mr Dawkins 😇

[@briansmith3791]

The moral degenerates, Dawkins and Shermer. Both publicly support Israel even as it slaughters children. The horror in Gaza has divided the world into the moral and immoral. I'm shocked by the number of atheists who attempt to explain away the mass-murder of children.

[@donaldwhittaker7987]

Fear of death is cause of religion. Not much controversy there

[@danstoica2824]

And the denial of fear is the cause of weakness. Who is not afraid? The prepared one. So there is no controversy in this either? How much, how little... remains to be seen. It is not caused by religion, the fear of death, but it is caused by the emptiness of the soul.

[@danstoica2824]

Don't listen to those who make mistakes in an "attractive" way and don't follow the wrong example. I have demands from you, and when you will have them as well, I hope you will not regret making choices that make you suffer through your own mistakes. It can become a great suffering when you have to face your own mistakes that you have been addicted to through denial. But there is only one way, the one in which the crazy man no longer uses himself or those around him.

[@robb6059]

The Lord is death for the demons but for the devotees he is eternal life.

[@andyb619]

The wilfully irreligious are just annihilationists, seeking comfort it nothingness.

[@robertmcclintock8701]

( -д-) The sun is dire. It makes some people feel dread. They are the fallen ones.

[@robb6059]

A Godless concept of life is Maya.

[@maxdoubt5219]

"What would it take for you to believe in God?" There's one way: produce God for inspection! But the operative question is: "What would it take for you to concede that the belief of a theist is rational and not delusional?" For that there are infinite _possible_ answers.

[@briansmith3791]

Anyone who would say ' produce God for inspection' is ignorant of present day science. We have observable evidence for one universe fine-tuned for Life. That fine-tuning precludes any physical interference in the universe, so God cannot 'appear'. This also precludes any of the Religious Gods. For me the fine-tuning points to an Intelligence which created the universe.

[@in_paradiso_58]

With respect, the answer to your first question is, that would be a 'God 101 error' (See Above)...

[@Skavar4000]

Richard... you are my hero.... but the lighting on your face in the beginning of this video is atrocious. There are simple solutions.

[@bobbart4198]

... The " Sunday Service without the God " is not necessarily superior to the variety WITH the God ... To me, at least, that scenario might as well just be another religion ...

[@albertleibold1415]

It takes 162 x 72 specific atoms to make a DNA sequence consisting of 162 base pairs. On planet Earth, there are only 10^50 atoms available to make DNA. It takes 72 atoms to make a single base pair of DNA. If all the atoms on planet EARTH were used for DNA, there could not be more than 1.39 x 10^48 base pairs of DNA. In the best case scenario for evolution, even if every single atom on planet earth were a unique sequence of DNA consisting of 162 base pairs, there could only exist 1 x 10^50 different sequences of this type. However, 162 base pairs of DNA allow for 3.42 x 10^97 unique combinations.

[@user-pf6sf3bd9l]

ما اوقحكم...لتتكلموا عمن خلقكم ولم تكونوا شيئا بهذه الطريقه!!!!ا الجنه التي لا تريدها بجانبها نار ستُجبر عليها ..وهل خلقتم انفسكم...هل خلقتم السماوات والارض...هل خلقتم الموت ...هل خلقتم الحياة!!!! هل اصبح الموت والفناء افضل من الخلود في الجنه!!!! وماذا هل الله ظالم لكي يأخذ الراسب في امتحان الايمان كالناجح!!! والمجرم كالمصلح !!!!

[@louisehaley5105]

55:34 - its easy to say that if you’ve lived a comfortable life. For many people around the World and throughout history, Life is “nasty, brutish and short”. Therefore it’s understandable why the belief in an Afterlife is so alluring. Eulogizing over the wonders of the Universe offers little consolation when faced with the loss of a loved one, compared to the hope of being reunited with them in another life. And why be afraid of eternal life or eternal death when perhaps neither are permanent states, but rather cyclical like the Big Bang and what came before this Universe and what will come after it. Nothing is permanent in this life, so why should death or any hypothetical afterlife be so either ?

[@louisehaley5105]

Who knows, we may achieve immortality someday, thanks to science.

[@louisehaley5105]

1:04 - or experiment on them either !

[@Cheximus]

It's fine to think that. It's when you start throwing gays off of buildings, mutilating genitals and covering up women from head to toe that it starts to infringe on people's fundamental human rights. Think whatever the fuck you want, just don't bring it into politics/society.

[@WillfulThinker]

I used to admire Dawkins in his championing of truth, but apparently he has abandoned that stand, if his flippant answer at 1:52:05 is any indication. The consequence of which is to have reduced his viewpoints vs. others (incl. religious ones) to a matter of competing, subjective illusions. Stick to science, Dawkins, and leave philosophy to those who can defend consciousness and free will and thus give meaning, truth and real value to that science and to your work.

[@robb6059]

Religion consists of the laws of God. People who do not know this think that religion means faith. Teachings of QUEEN KUNTī

[@licky8]

That vicar probably experienced something that contradicted his religion. Perhaps he experienced Satan or Shiva or the Force... And then, of course he had to deny it as it conflicted with his Christian faith or his position in the Church...

[@jeffg4570]

It’s interesting how the assumption is that the vicar must be lying. Maybe it’s Dawkins who is lying. Maybe neither are lying. This is a little bit like me saying “Dawkins says he’s happy, but I can tell he’s not, and therefore he’s lying and therefore atheism is bad.”

[@TheDailyGroov]

The ignorance of the crowd for that applause after Dawkins comment about nation states literally 1 rebuttal from Schermer, stating 1 of the obvious ones, Dawkins......... mmm yea its a problem. Remember people, intelligence, does not correlate with virtue!

[@BlackEyedGhost0]

58:04 I like to say that philosophy is one of three things: science, math, or useless. The topic of morality is no different. You can define morality in several different ways, based on things like minimizing suffering, maximizing happiness, cooperative behavior, or simply what the best evolutionary strategy is for an individual. Each one of these is a scientific question where defining the terms in a meaningful way references reality and can therefore be studied and understood simply by finding the right model, as is becoming more common with things such as evolutionary game theory. The model is math, the study and application is science, and failing to settle on a usable and concrete definition of "morality" and playing word games as a result is useless.

[@dncbot]

Your argument here is a philosophical argument, but neither science or math.

[@BlackEyedGhost0]

@@dncbot It's based on observation. That's science.

[@dncbot]

@@BlackEyedGhost0 Observation is not science in itself. Science is a process of gaining knowledge over time through testing falsifiable hypotheses. This includes observation in the process. Philosophy is about quality of thinking and arguments. Science teaches us about reality. Philosophy tells us why that is.

[@BlackEyedGhost0]

@@dncbot Math is about quality of thinking and arguments.

[@dncbot]

@@BlackEyedGhost0 You can neither do math nor science without a foundation of philosophy of why doing it and how to apply the results.