Richard Dawkins: God Delusion

Richard Dawkins talked about his book The God Delusion, published by Houghton Mifflin. In the book he argues that there is no rational or moral reason to believe in God or any other supernatural higher power. He says that because atheists are discriminated against in the United States they tend not to be vocal about their views, even though collectively they could be an influential political and social force. Topics included his own atheism, religion as supernatural belief, famous scientists who were atheists, the cruelties of the Old Testament God, and evolution. He read some selections from his work, and after his presentation he responded to audience members' questions. Professor Dawkins delivered the Philip Thayer Memorial Lecture in Smith Hall Theatre at Randolph-Macon Woman's College.  A portion of this program contains language that some may find offensive.

[@lauraedgeworth6719]

It's embarrassing that some people thought they had original questions that a man of his stature couldn't answer.

[@sydneymorey6059]

Thank goodness for Richard Dawkins. This presentation gives me great joy and happiness. A wide open pathway to common sense. Thank you so much, R D. Cheers SBM.

[@dorwood73]

How does someone hold onto their Biblical alliance in the face of such sense and reason? It really is hard to explain without using the word delusion, isn't it?

[@kantraxoikol6914]

what i find more sad is the only way you can have a political career here is to profess being a dumb sheep believer... i applaud dawkins for even bringing something like that up, that atheists should band together and demand a voice.

[@soslothful]

The Bible may be viewed as the attempts of a group of people trying to make sense of the world they found themselves in and how that world and they came to be. One may be able to appreciate these attempts, perhaps find parts instructive, without believing the stories are factually true.

[@matthewkopp2391]

I know many Christians who would side with Dawkins and who even see atheism as a very important aspect of Christianity. So the division you believe is there is not. The division is more like literalists vs allegorical reading. And this argument in Christianity happened in the 2nd century and the literalists won. I would contend that institutions in general can become corrupted and become dogmatic. I will use USSR bureaucrats as an example not because I want to pick on them as a cold warrior, but because they were atheist and scientifically minded it reveals a corruption happened of their own non-religious principles. The point being, institutions can be corrupted. It’s human nature.

[@jamescam4720]

If anyone is here to find the source of that question: "what if you're wrong?" meme, it's 1:27:16 .

[@vadim666er]

Dawkins is great at eloquently shutting down apologists questions I’m impressed

[@theycallmemrshaggs]

Wow, he really stepped into a nest of vipers. The professor from Liberty pretty much told him he packed the room with ringers.

[@rambosmith5035]

Best comment ever. "I suggest that you leave Liberty U and attend a real university". I love Dawkins

[@felixndayisdebologne9725]

The take down of Liberty University was prophetic.

[@SleepyPenguin-8og]

Lol.

[@SleepyPenguin-8og]

Flag on the play!

[@SleepyPenguin-8og]

Everybody's gotta do down sometime or another. They only raised jesus up to crucify him.

[@leslie19471]

Everyone should listen to Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris the world would be a better place.

[@winthrop1177]

I think everybody came for the best part 9:30 you are welcome.

[@thegroove2000]

GO GET EM RICHARD. VOICE OF REASON.

[@ionebarczak9383]

Why is it so hard to be good for goodness sakes? We need to grow up and let go of the pacifier. Be ethical because it is best for everyone, including ourselves. No gods needed. But, as Richard Dawkins states so beautifully, we can still get together and sing and be moved by each other and the universe!

[@matthewkopp2391]

The fact that it’s hard to be good is precisely why Christianity became a religion. Because Jesus provided practices and insights as to how to be good. But he went from a psychologically insightful moral philosopher, to a messiah, to a principle, to the son of God, to a God. Luckily we didn’t do that to Sigmund Freud. But I would argue that „being good“ actually takes a lot of work, and this was the conclusion of Hannah Arendt when she wrote about the Eichmann trials. In Eichmann‘s case when asked of his ethics, he said he was a Kantian, a secular ethnics. This declaration was absurdity, he’s actions contradicted Kant‘s philosophy. Most human beings can’t understand Kant, and wouldn’t bother reading a book with big-words in it. Religion was and is a popular ethics. The dogma and superstition ends up distorting the ethics. But if we created an ethical philosophy today that was very effective, and people got very excited about would people call it the way? Within a hundred years Jesus went from a street preacher to being called the Way, the Truth, and the Light. Wouldn’t any ethical practice run the risk of corruption and mindlessness. Buddhism is to some an atheistic religion because it does not make a direct God claim. But I have met people who have reported the Buddha having magical powers who can grant them things. So that would be an example of a atheist philosophy with no god claim turning into a religion. So we already have historical models of secular ethics and atheist ethics being corrupted. So I don’t think the real issue is atheist vs theist. A quality morality would include reason but can not be reduced to mere reason. It would include moral sentiment „the heart“ but can’t be reduced to that either. It has to account for the totality of Man. But when you start talking in those terms it becomes quasi-religious.

[@sombongi]

Dawkins was born in Nairobi Kenya. Sweet!

[@edwardcopeland5069]

Dawkins has done the world a great service, but he's not the only one , so have many before him who have caused us to look at our God Construct and see how simple, and dumb and untrue, unproveable it is.

[@Arandyfatdude]

Lol Richard Dawkins is hardcore man and I would never be that harsh to people who are clearly below my level of intelligence but at the same time he has to deal with this shit everyday. Must be infuriating.

[@Happymali10]

Well, he isn't really all that harsh. If you watch him "face to face" with religious people, he's always calm and polite, not insulting or anything like that.

[@starboy1100]

Well said.

[@jays1de]

the first questioner seemed to offer support for atheism rather than against it. and stop with the long-winded dissertation before finally asking the question you came up to ask. mr. dawkins certainly displayed a lot of grace in this regard.

[@davidharrison441]

A great man .

[@Happymali10]

"Arms Dealers, Bomb Technicians and Bowel Disorders" What a de-escalation.

[@tommyl.dayandtherunaways820]

Arson, murder, and jaywalking.

[@user-xk1sy9pl6z]

An accurate description of our current govt.

[@thegroove2000]

These kids are studid. How did they even pass their exams?.

[@thegroove2000]

Richard is wayyyyy brighter and intelligent than the average person.

[@edwardcopeland5069]

@@thegroove2000 any man that would consider that God ain't, is way brighter then the average person.

[@TomiTapio]

44:00 for a very long question.

[@ubcphysicsyangbo]

Also crazy how this is almost 20 years ago at this point lol

[@SleepyPenguin-8og]

To those scorned by the religious this is a god sent.

[@SleepyPenguin-8og]

Imagine if dawkins talked the flying spaghetti monster into actual existence.

[@Syzygy-21cm]

Love it when theists insist that everything must have a cause - then immediately break that rule by claiming that their god does not need a cause. Que?

[@bsgrep]

4:40

[@Inatci6]

They want so bad that dinosaurs are just a couple thousand of years old so it could fit there childish fairytale. Because there is nothing in these religious books as awesome as Dinosaurs.

[@tommyl.dayandtherunaways820]

If dinosaurs are a couple thousand years old then forget the whole “cavemen and dinosaurs living together”, we would have Romans and ancient Greeks riding on them. It’s ridiculous that anyone could believe such nonsense.

[@matthewkopp2391]

For the record the most well known and prolific Christian writer of the 2nd century, Origen of Alexandria thought it childish to believe that Genesis was literal. So even then proto-Orthodox did not make that claim. Furthermore the major schism with proto-Orthodox was with the Marcionists who wanted to abandon the Old Testament all together. Therefore one can safely say that the majority view of early Christianity was Genesis was either allegory or untrue all together. The literalist view of Genesis is in fact a 19th century reactionary Protestant view. And can be debunked by religious scholars. But such churches don’t even consider their own tradition. Catholics don’t hold the view because Origen is respected in their tradition as well as Erasmus who wrote about him.

[@acari27]

I support the book...god help the college

[@stevepierce6467]

But without a god, the place is beyond help!

[@acari27]

@@stevepierce6467 that dismisses both the abilities and responsibilities of the humans. I do not agree at all

[@stevepierce6467]

@@acari27 As I reread your original post and my response, I realized I tried too hard to be cute and derisive; it failed miserably. If you were saying that the college needed god's help, then lacking a god, it was beyond help....... Oh well. Sorry!

[@acari27]

@@stevepierce6467 im an agnostic atheist. If god is to help anyone - you need a person acting on the deity's behalf in my opinion. No worries mate. Lost in translation is my MO

[@acari27]

@@stevepierce6467 and i spend a significant portion of my you tube time drunk. so totally my issue not explaining myself very well if at all... :)

[@ubcphysicsyangbo]

The guy who’s talking about God being outside of the laws of nature, my answer would be, everything in existence in this universe seem to obey the laws of nature, therefore, why would you expect to see something that behaves outside of it? lol

[@thegroove2000]

THANK GOD FOR RICHARD DAWKINS.

[@SleepyPenguin-8og]

Preach Rich.

[@jtrevino5268]

I think the deceased person he mentioned is Hitchens

[@jasonlee5285]

Hitches pass away in year 2011, this video was taken year 2006.

[@SleepyPenguin-8og]

I'd rather die young and truthful than old and lying.

[@EGC316]

Incredibly immature audience. Embarrassing.

[@thegroove2000]

How did they pass the exams?.

[@bellarosalarsen1638]

I want to meet you Prof Dawkins. I have the most unbelievable story to tell you about a religious stalker. To say thank you. Truly inspiring. ❤

[@XxInfinateDenialxX]

no

[@bellarosalarsen1638]

Richard Dawkins I want to meet you. I am 52 years old, we were born on the same month. I have 3 brain aneurysm, and I am totally using it. I don't want to die without ever looking into your cat eyes. We meet before, in London, you summoned your troops to march against the Pope's visit. I walked 3, 4 hours until I heard your voice. Bella was dead tired by now, and very intrigued by her mother's very exciting behaviour. I heard your voice. Can I meet you? You, along my children live in my heart. You mean freedom, love, integrity, dedication, determination and beautiful genius 👏.

[@jtrevino5268]

No

[@raminahmadi3000]

which one? XD

[@montgomerypowers7205]

Is it really so hard to see how altruism, community and truthfulness/trustworthiness are self-promoting social adaptions? It's basic game theory mechanics.

[@mikebuchanan3018]

It’s beyond my comprehension how someone so educated can be an absolute fool. Romans 1:22.

[@Dr.Ian-Plect]

tripe

[@peterbarker8249]

.it's called religion..

[@quartytypo]

until Dawkins can prove there is no God I will believe in Him.

[@Dr.Ian-Plect]

A pathetically flawed piece of ignorance.

[@bmccorm1]

t if your wring?

[@SleepyPenguin-8og]

Just waiting for christian Filipino ✝️ to send me my long lost soul mate. They promised a wife in the ad.

[@SleepyPenguin-8og]

Perhaps after becoming acquainted and settling down we could move to the Bahamas on some nice resort possibly purchase a condo with my eleven dollars an hour income.

[@SleepyPenguin-8og]

Covid19 is still alive. Lol. 2024.

[@mikebuchanan3018]

Atheism is but a temporary condition.

[@Dr.Ian-Plect]

tripe

[@SleepyPenguin-8og]

Go to church. Watch nothing happen. Especially anything good. 🙄

[@matthewkopp2391]

Dawkins has unfortunately a mediocre understanding of psychology. He would understand the issues better if he did.

[@riaandoyle8196]

All the Christian people asking him questions, in all his stage performances, they wil be the witnesses when Richard stands before God one-day . If he would tell God that God never spoke too him, or made any attempt too save him , God would call them all too stand before Him, and He wil remember each and everyone off their faces , even though he turns his face away from them when he pretends to give an answer ,meanwhile he just keeps on telling fables to the crowd,myths ... they are not even sure how things started , what can they teach you ... !

[@tgstudio85]

No one ever spoke to god, heck to any god... because they all are myths.

[@tgstudio85]

Ps. it's so funny how you are trying typical scare tactics. Sorry kiddo, but you are still no one. Dawkins will be known for centuries or longer, you will be forgotten the day you will rot in ground.

[@riaandoyle8196]

@@tgstudio85 Hallo,hope I find you well with peace of mind and joy in you're heart ! Thanks for being kind , i wil respect you too and be trembling before God , when i speak a word too you , for i would not want too say anything that He would not wil . Biblical Archeology , have you ever watched documentaries of those people who searches for the stories that is written,or spoken of by God in The Bible ? If the Biblical Archeology mean and count for nothing , then no Archeology cancount for anything ....! It's amazing the stories and things God tells us of in The Bible , How these archeologists uncovers ...... Truly amazing ! Too us born again believers I the Lord Jesus Christ, it is wonderful , but too others it wil be eye-opening! God is revealing Himself today and in these days we are living in in a powerful way , opening blinded eyes and death ears , holding back forces of darkness so that His light can shine on situations so you can see .... In Luke 19 :39 and 40 , as Jesus and many of His disciples were walking and that started praising God for all the miracles that had witnessed, some of the Pharisees, from the crowd said too Him :Master rebuke you're disciples! And He answered and said too them: I'm telling you , if they keep quiet, the stones wil cry out . And that is precisely what is seen when the ground , the stones are dug up all around the world at the places that Archeology that are Biblically related doing in these last few yeares ! The rocks are shouting out, showing us humans on earth and telling us :"Look , this is where that Biblestory happened , and there that one !" . Even Sodm and Gomorrah has been found , and it's on KZbin! Even the walls of Jericho , and they are laying as The Bibke says it fell ,until this day ,God preserved it ! Even the boat,the Ark of Noah, has been found ! The Tomb of Christ ! Just check on You tube , God let His chosen vessels for this purpose put everything on the networks .....for you all too find ! It's just that you're main speakers never mentions them , and if ever they have ,they lied too you about it ! Go check for youreself and tell me what you think ! I'll be glad to help you or speak with you ,if you want ! May God bless you and fill you at this very moment with His peace and joy and His Love,till overflow in the name above all Names,the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for my and you're sins on the Cross of Calvary,2023 years ago ,in Jerusalem, Israel! He Loves you and He wants you too know this ! He don't send us too the saved , He sends us too the world ! It's for you I'm here ! Father Love him ,Jesus Love him , and I say thank you for him , thank you that You Love him! Father God I honor You,Jesus I praise You,and lift You're Name on High! Biblical Archeology ...... they are nice blokes ,some women I think, but nice gentle people ! You wil see God's Love in their hearts ! All my best wishes only for you and you're family and all you're friends

[@tommyl.dayandtherunaways820]

If Hell is separation from the god of Christianity, that sounds like heaven to me. Why would I want to spend eternity with a being such as that when I can spend it instead with more enlightened and kind hearted people who’s only crime was not being a Christian.

[@tgstudio85]

@@riaandoyle8196 Kiddo, I seen Christian love, you aren't fooling me.

[@fritula6200]

Question Mr. Dawkins... where does love come from?

[@TheEthanwashere]

LOL

[@paddlefar9175]

The innate behaviour comes from our genetics and hence our social brains. Most Primates have evolved to be social creatures. Humans have a brain that has evolved with a social and empathetic nature because as we evolved and came down from the trees to obtain and scavenge food and travel to fertile grounds, we needed one another to survive the obvious dangers to gain the rewards and that could better be done in a larger group than just a single family. Larger numbers would mean an evolution and selection towards communities that were better at cooperation, socialization and communication. Hominids that bonded better with feelings of love, affection, and loyalty for one another, faired better than hominid groups that didn't. Love helps us survive better, especially during temporary sickness or injury. Some individual's brain power and/or acquired knowledge and skills was valuable to the social group, and love was the trait that kept the group together and stronger.

[@Raydensheraj]

Where does pedophilia, Crohn's disease and spontaneous natural abortions come from= Jesus Incorporated ©®™

[@stevepierce6467]

From our brains. We created the concept to describe our personal feelings. All the concepts in the dictionary? We created them.

[@ArtTripper]

Typical college production. Poor quality video.

[@boriskoslowski4301]

Actually, thats whats atheism is. It is the believe that there is no god/gods/higher beeing. What you describe would be an agnostic

[@bcshu2]

Boris Koslowski it’s more the lack of belief as opposed to the knowledge that there is no god. You can’t really prove a negative. You can’t prove the tooth fairy doesn’t exist but you can have a lack of belief in the tooth fairy ... hence you are a A-Toothfairyist.

[@matthewkopp2391]

I don’t believe in God, in a literalist sense and many theists don’t and did not throughout the history of Christianity and even 2nd temple Judaism. So it narrows down to higher being. I don’t just believe in higher being, I think it is an a priori fact of human consciousness. In fact I think lower being is an a priori fact of human existence. The problem with the new atheists movement, is they don’t contend with the real philosophical issues in this regard. There have been modern philosophers like Schopenhauer did. But this entire field of philosophy, phenomenology, ontology, psychology is ignored. And if they new and understood this they wouldn’t use comparing Thor with the undersea of JHWH of Jesus‘s time. There is a reason why the atheist Greek philosophy was adopted into Christianity by early writers, is because they weren’t talking about an old man in the sky. Sam Harris does slightly better in this regard, but he too is ignorant of the actual philosophical arguments. I agree with them and cheer them on as they tear down Christian literalists or other literalists. But this is amounts to a demonstrative straw man. Who he should be debating would be religious people who feel less obligation to dogma, if Paul Tillich was alive that would be the best debate despite the thick German accent. Chris Hedges did pretty well. Hedges understands this issue, and many said „he won those debates“. But the reason was Hedges was talking about something they did not consider. (Harris, Hitchens)

[@cannoncarroll722]

Richard Dawkins is that äll ýôu got....He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

[@stevepierce6467]

Your only two affirmative assertions are things you do not and cannot know. There is no evidence that anyone "sitteth" in the heavens or that a supernatural lord exists. (although we are pretty sure that god's native language is Elizabethan, or should I say King Jamesian, English. 😀)

[@cannoncarroll722]

@@stevepierce6467 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

[@stevepierce6467]

@@cannoncarroll722 I have faith that Cheddars's ice cream will become available in stores. I have faith that the Flying Spaghetti Monster will soon touch me with her noodly appendage. I have faith that everyone will suddenly abandon greed and learn to live in harmony with the earth. My faith is firmly based in the fantasy that what I want will happen.

[@tommyl.dayandtherunaways820]

@@cannoncarroll722Things not seen…okay, I have faith that God doesn’t exist. I haven’t seen him. You haven’t seen him. Prove that I’m wrong. Prove that your faith is true and my is false. You can’t because faith is meaningless. You can have faith in anything by that logic, as the other commenter pointed out.

[@user-xk1sy9pl6z]

@@tommyl.dayandtherunaways820 This man stands up on his hind legs, shakes fist at the sky and says,"there is no God", whilst both God and the devil roar with laughter...

[@mikebuchanan3018]

This fool is confirming scripture and doesn’t know it (because he’s lost). John 15:18 “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” King James Version (KJV)

[@Dr.Ian-Plect]

tripe

[@c.p.8062]

The apostle Paul's letter to Timothy: 2nd Timothy 1. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 10. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11. Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

[@stevepierce6467]

You do realize of course that any assertion, stated anywhere by anyone, is worth exactly the value of the paper and ink unless there are facts to back them up. In the bible, if you plug in any other word in the place of lord, god, holy spirit, etc and you still have an equally valid piece of writing, pure fiction. All sentences in the future tense are meaningless unless based on present-time antecedents.

[@user-xk1sy9pl6z]

@@stevepierce6467 The only people who espouse atheism are still breathing...

[@stevepierce6467]

@@user-xk1sy9pl6z The only people who espouse god belief are also still breathing.

[@Akabuego]

You mock God. You're not sure if he does or does not exist, you simply do not believe in him. You think that if you push hard enough, deep enough and long enough, you may provoke a response....but to what purpose, just to register your disregard for the teachings of the Catholic Church?

[@dongregg7425]

Nacio99 god who? Odin?

[@hedgie9823]

Provoke a response from what? Nothing.

[@michaelcampese5627]

Bruh don’t talk about the juju at the bottom of the sea like that 🙄

[@kantraxoikol6914]

no actually, to stop you people from diddling our children and not paying taxes, and telling us how we should run our lives, what to eat, who to mate with, how to mate, how to shave your penis at birth to support this fairy tale god of yours. we're done trying to explain ourselves to brainwashed sheep. we mock YOUR god, just as you would mock Zues or Apollo today, we mock your sheep stupidity and the teachings of your church is all about power HERE where supposedly it shouldn't even matter to you religious idiots who can't wait for it all to end so paradise on earth can come. ridiculous harmful drivel and deceit and theft and buggery we can all deal without and should be ashamed of ever supporting. imagine trying to take someone else's crimes on your shoulders so they can be blameless and carefree about their crimes, just recite 5 hail mary's and guess what? you're ABSOLVED!!!!!! how wonderful it must feel to molest children tax free then just confess and be free of all that pain and suffering you caused....how wonderful it must be to never take responsibility for your actions, but give them to a higher power to forgive you of the unforgivable. you're ALL BRAINWASHED CHILDREN SHEEP IDIOTS

[@edwardcopeland5069]

Stop being butt hurt and listen

[@IbrahimAhmed-ci7zy]

According to Bible he is a prophet