Richard Dawkins on "coward liberals", Brexit and religion - BQ #12

[@kaddiedean15]

I love this man. He helped liberate me from Islam and I will always be filled with gratitude.

[@Waltham1892]

Welcome to a wider, more fascinating world...

[@superuberjedimaster]

I am happy for you, I wish you all the best!

[@urduib]

Religion have 1 book. Science have millions

[@nonegog5]

Congratulations. But never stop learning theology. That is what helps us disregard the garbage it comes up with.

[@urduib]

@@nonegog5 No need. No scientist have used theology last 160 years.

[@MyThingsRedux]

Richard Dawkins has some patience to be answering the same questions for 15 years in a row.

[@david10848]

And I'm glad he persists.

[@anthonybrett]

@Sharon Plume "his third wife left him...And rumour has it he’s gay too." Lol sorry, Im certainly not a fan of the 'new' Atheists but what the hell has THAT! got to do with anything? Seriously, so you judge the merit of someones content by what they do in their bedroom? ...tell me, what do YOU! do behind closed doors dearest? "He who has not sinned, cast the first stone..."

[@shike67]

@Sharon Plume Really? So being gay is an issue that somehow affects truth? Have you never read the Selfish Gene, or The Blind Watchmaker? There is no chance whatsoever that an ignorant moron like you would know what the "scientific community" believes

[@danielclee1]

It's because he claims, then fails, to answer them conclusively.

[@Unborn-Stillborn]

@Sharon Plume Sharon Plume you win this years prize for the most stupid and irrelevant response to a comment on youtube. I really hope you are not more than 9 years old.

[@popularfrontforliberationo8917]

I left Islam in January 2006 after watching The Root of All Evil documentary by Dawkins. I owe this man a debt of gratitude

[@usmani790]

he does not gave a single prove just theories only for example DNA ,but still people appreciate him a lot I am surprise

[@aditya_saha]

armin fan lol. atheist from India

[@stxfdt1240]

@@usmani790 hmm...thik kre lekha shek

[@kevanbodsworth4817]

@@usmani790 Well any reasonable theory is better than ancient speculation , Three cheers for the forces of reason , And the courage to face this universe as it is ,,

[@kevanbodsworth4817]

An attempt at compensation for tipping so much rubbish on the public's heads for years . I´m sure that will remain unchanged,

[@ankeleibrecht4763]

I love Dawkins...can listen to him endlessly...great mix of culture and reason comes from him.

[@darkpalm1242]

It looks like his health is returning. It's good to see

[@elderon]

@Papa Smurf At 2016 he had a stroke. After that he disappeared from public stage, but now is slowly returning. Thought, as you mentioned, stroke have left its mark

[@MarttiSuomivuori]

@Papa Smurf Ah, you do not remember how he used to speak before his stroke? To me, this is a disgrace. He should be left alone.

[@CBfrmcardiff]

@@MarttiSuomivuori I didn't notice a difference with his voice - and I have seen him speak ijn public. I had just assumed that he was getting old.

[@vishnuas1842]

Sir Hitchens already gone. Cant even think about losing Dawkins sir!

[@peakjvs4967]

Yes, let's hope he doesn't return to heavy drinking

[@michaelpalmer4013]

Brexit was NOT decided on a single vote! Vote 1. Cameron elected on a promise to hold a referendum. Vote 2. The referendum. Vote 3. 2017 election won on manifesto to honour the result of the referendum. Vote 4. 2019 election won on manifesto to honour result of referendum. This must bring into question at least the Professor's mathematical prowess..

[@johneastwood3039]

You forgot the 2 European elections.

[@deldia]

...and even if it was, it was the same way we joined.

[@johneastwood3039]

@@deldia And the alternative is no vote.

[@antreb15]

@@deldia. We never joined. We were taken into the Common Market by Edward Heath and his Tory Government (1973) illegally. Labour was mostly anti Common Market under Harold Wilson. Only two years later in 1975 were the public given a vote.

[@antreb15]

@@johneastwood3039 In 1972, when Heath decided to take Britain into the Common Market, he used Parliament's legal sovereignty to deny and permanently limit the political sovereignty of the electorate. Heath and Parliament changed the basic rules and they did not have the right (legal or moral) to do that.

[@yohannesgetachew5869]

If the meaning of islamophobia is disliking the religion of islam as an ideology an not hating its adherents the Muslims, then I am an islamophobe.

[@stonehouseguitars3869]

The meaning of the horrible conjunction of words "islamaphobia" translates to "phobia" of "islam". In other words, phobia: irrational fear of, islam: a religion. I am not islamaphobic; my fear of Islam is very very rational. It has been ever since 9/11.

[@NoOne-cf2ji]

Stonehouse Guitars so people have a a legit reason to be scared of right wingers and conservatism also then ?

[@NoOne-cf2ji]

Yeah that’s the thing do people hate muslims and use the way you described it as an excuse. Same way news look at anti Zionism

[@yohannesgetachew5869]

@@stonehouseguitars3869 okay May be I never thought about the meaning of'phobia' I agree that our hatred of Islam has to be rational. But I suspect the term was invented to guard islam from criticism .

[@NoOne-cf2ji]

Stonehouse Guitars that’s so gullible

[@richardkuda321]

Childhood indoctrination is powerful. It took me 34 years and financial independence to come out as athiest in my circle.

[@kolakora3373]

religions are all science , holographic realities , consciousness , non duality , vibrational frequencies , infintie source mind , people need to read the esoteric science and philosophies of religions ,they're all over the internet

[@nicadi2005]

@@kolakora3373 "religions are all science" - No, they most certainly are NOT! "holographic realities , consciousness , non duality , vibrational frequencies , infintie [sic] source mind" - *No amount of 'esoteric' word salad makes any kind of substitute for KNOWLEDGE...*

[@peakjvs4967]

Congratulations on your new faith.

[@robt3407]

It took me over 40 to return back to faith in the Most High and sleep peacefully.

[@MVando640]

How did financial independence influence your becoming an atheist? How do you believe that life began?

[@laurameszaros9547]

The interviewer here is outstanding. He asks perceptive, nuanced questions which steer the dialogue in a very effective way. Not what I'd expect from The Sun, but a pleasant surprise nevertheless.

[@clearview5281]

Laura correctly said "Not what I'd expect from The Sun, but a pleasant surprise nevertheless." Yes, I've noticed a new balance in the Sun lately, in fact they are starting to be worth paying attention to.

[@lilmandan96]

Yeah good wasn't it ( sorry about the grammar ) but your bang on

[@user-qf6yt3id3w]

@@dougb4483 Honestly I'd rather hear an interview by a fanboy than someone trying to do 'Gotcha' questions. A fanboy knows his subject well and will ask questions that let that subject explain their beliefs. A gotcha interview will make the subject clam up and is just irritating to listen to. And a lot of time you get the Cathy Newman/Jordan Peterson interview where it's clear the interviewer asking the gotcha questions doesn't really understand the ideas of the person they're trying to trip up.

[@lilmandan96]

@@dougb4483 Cut the boy some slack, you said yourself he's a kid; he can only get better

[@lilmandan96]

@@user-qf6yt3id3w Nice one

[@michaeltherrien6006]

"Pathetic lack of logic...." love this statement, not to belittle those who "believe" but he gets right to the point. Dawkins makes more sense than any politician or religious leader the whole world over. Just have to add, LOVE that he keeps using the word "indoctrination.:

[@trafficjon400]

He the atheist Mosses of the bible. Moses never knew god or God and the book mosses said who is this god your talking about on the hillside or mountain. then they came and said for mosses to visit GOD ON THE MOUNT. Moses was unpleased and said i'll go and see this strange god and he did becoming blessed king. Don't expect this to happen to you but richard has a better chance for being honest so i think it would be just him simply. Christian says we had to believe thier was a God 8000 years ago. they say they found him 3500 years ago. then they did 2000 years ago so now should we believe. wait today we have to believe they believed 8000 years and then we have to believe he came 2000 years ago. oh wait now again more new believing to do again now we have to believe he coming after we die. oh wait now we have to believe when we die he brings us to believe. BAFFLING INSANITY. But yet Creator please give me a simple taste of your love but no chance because reality is not a book.

[@o0ozero0o]

​@trafficjon400 bro you really need to work on your english.

[@imdadbaloch6748]

LONG LIVE MR. RICHARD DAWKINS. YOU ARE AN HERO OF THE ENTIRE ATHEISM. I AM A FAN OF YOURS FROM BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN.

[@saifaliabbasi9036]

مہربانی کرکے اپنی تصویر تبدیل کرو۔۔۔۔ 🙏

[@pabslondon]

Out of interest, are you pro Baloch independence from Pakistan?

[@max-nu6vq]

Jesus is the hero!

[@ashutoshchouhan8380]

@Nautical Miles the mobile in your hand, laptop, tv ,motor and almost everything came from west. Deny those too

[@theconnoisseur2346]

Dawkins is a 2nd class scientist and a 3rd class philosopher. What he's telling about biology is OK, but when it comes to his naive, oversimplifying view of reality, it's getting rather boring and embarassing. Dawkins is basically a fossile, a relict of the last century, when dogmatic biologism and materialism were en vogue. Today we deserve clearly better and you should look elsewhere, if you want to have real state of the art stuff. And if you are a fan of this elderly, smallish, dogmatic guy, then you should ask yourself seriously, why you are in need of such a anachronistic guru. Start thinking yourself, your girlfriend will appreciate it for shure !

[@thomassperduti4500]

I never get tired of listening to Richard Dawkins, never.

[@popkorn256]

His books are also amazing :)

[@timnixon7690]

I do. I like him though.

[@shmeagol]

You’ll be answer it then do then til God finds you worthy.

[@preontimila7430]

His voice is really nice.

[@hanslimbersmith5018]

I like his accent

[@buttonbrite6198]

Steven Edginton sounds like an actual journalist. I haven't heard one in so long it almost brought tears to my eyes. Well done young man. Well done indeed.

[@NomadUrpagi]

Yeah whats interesting hes young but still has great insightful remarks

[@21sungalute.42]

At the very least Edgington should be questioned by Police concerning the Official secrets act.

[@robertwlester]

not really. well, not to me. because I have no idea what a non-actual journalist is. He was jumping at a few points to pose got-ya questions, in part because of possible implications. I would not say he is yet at his peak.

[@seventus]

Gay

[@kolakora3373]

religions are all science , holographic realities , consciousness , non duality , vibrational frequencies , infintie source mind , people need to read the esoteric science and philosophies of religions ,they're all over the internet

[@MyLoserville]

The Referendum had campagins to let the politicians give their thoughts and the people made their decision. Nothing wrong with how we did it. If anything I've noticed how incompetent some of these representatives are and how they just conform to one another.

[@RGBSF]

"Bronze age camel herders" - Love it when Richard goes full savage mode against religious zealots.

[@kolakora3373]

religions are all science , holographic realities , consciousness , non duality , vibrational frequencies , infintie source mind , people need to read the esoteric science and philosophies of religions ,they're all over the internet

[@tiarnan76]

name one thing you believe in that doesnt come from the religion of Kabbalah - an occult text written over 2,500+ years ago - eg - you believe that the universe - 1.5×10 (to the power of 53) kg - came into existence by exploding out of a single speck .... *Big Bang* - Kabbalah *Universe aged at 13+ billion years* - Kabbalah *Evolution of animals* - Kabbalah All these Kabbalistic theories were then further promulgated by Catholic Priests - Big Bang - Georges Lemaitre Evolution Hoaxes - (such as the Piltdown Hoax) - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin Copernicus - Heliocentricity etc So don't pretend you're not religious - you couldn't be any more religious if you tried - you vatican slave

[@peakjvs4967]

Richard Dawkins is just an old confused man who is on the edge of dementia, he should be locked in a nursing home

[@budd2nd]

tiarnan Can you explain what you mean by Kabbalah? Religion was our first try at explaining our world, as such it things gets things wrong. Scientific research is a much better way of understanding the world in my opinion.

[@tomfoolish5202]

@@budd2nd Not in your own opinion. It is a far much better way of understanding.

[@rosemariemann1719]

Prof.Dawkins, what a National Treasure. The voice of reason. "The God Delusion" : Best book I ever bought. 😊. Should be required reading in every school, including islamic indoctrination madrassars. He was asked where his,atheism started....age about 15, where his scientific nature was probably blossoming....my questioning started around age 5. What an intelligent, astute child. I am completely content that there are no gods of any sort, and that believers are way behind in questioning : don't believe the superstitious nonsense,folks, !isten to the Professor. 😊🇬🇧💕🎹💕🇬🇧😊

[@graemecreegan6749]

When science can say definitively what consciousness is, then we can dispense with much of what religion tries to describe.

[@billyrankin8890]

Listen yes. Imbibe everything he says as undisputed fact I will not.

[@kh23797]

@@billyrankin8890 As a scientist, Dawkins would find antithetical the idea of an indisputable fact. He'd encourage all to question any and all ideas, _including his own,_ since scientific philosophy depends on beliefs being held to be true only until scientific progress can disprove them. The 'undisputed fact' remains immutable, the hallmark of a close-minded, doctrinaire religion.

[@garymilne8900]

@@graemecreegan6749 god of the gaps much???

[@symmetrie_bruch]

and it´s of course a wonderful book. but i suggest at least the selfish gene and the extended phenotype should be on that list as well, especcially as audiobook since he and his wife read it themselves, which makes it even better still

[@valkyriesardo278]

The EU was initially a trade agreement when the UK first joined. The decision to leave the EU was based on what it became without consent of the governed. Taxation without representation is a deal breaker.

[@dirkgonthier101]

The EU was a political project from day 1. Central was (and is) the question: what shall we do with Germany? The answer is: incorprate it in a political structure (the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community, the European Union). You only proof your total ignorance by not knowing this. Even though, I admit, you've been told the same lie as the rest of the British public by your politicians. But you could have found the truth for yourself. All you needed to do was to know another language (as French or German) and read their press. But, I understand, that is too big an effort for the Anglo-Saxon world, isn't it?

[@jamesbeesley2767]

Dirk Gonthier whilst it was a political project from day 1, it was watered down after the French rejection in 1954 and had largely become a trade grouping by 1973.

[@dirkgonthier101]

@@jamesbeesley2767 Like any political project, it knew its ups and downs along the way. But never was the original dream of the founders of the ECSC abandoned. As time progressed, the union between the member states became ever closer. The euro (political project, not an economic one) is proof of that (and, untill today, it has proven to be an astounding success). And now the EU is working ever closer together in the field of defence. In the field of economics (every nation needs to get its budget approved). In the field of education (the Erasmus project that is a big success). In the field of trade (everyone wants to close a deal with the EU because it has the biggest market in the world). In the field of setting rules concerning consumer-protection and fair trade (the boss of facebook only recently has advised the world that all the nations should adapt the EU-laws concerning data protection)), and so on and on. The EU NEVER was only (or largely) a trading block. It's not because British politicians have told you this lie that reality didn't tell you otherwise. True, however, it goes slowly and very often it is a crise that helps the EU to move on. I'm not saying that the EU is perfect (because it isn't), but it's still the most important form of cooperation between nations this world has ever seen in its entire history.

[@whattheflyingfuck...]

95% of the EU policies were backed by the UK government ... the 5% that were not, were not implemented ... what exactly are you talking about?

[@dirkgonthier101]

@MrKingdig Lmao!!! :)))

[@LudvigIndestrucable]

I'm surprised both by Dawkins agreeing to an interview with The Sun, but also the quality of the interview. The rest of the journalist community should be ashamed that the epitome of red top tabloids is filling the void of intelligent engagement.

[@Si74l0rd]

While ironically the broadsheets fall ever further from telling the hard truths in the world, let alone host any sort of intelligent debate.

[@seanrodgers1839]

@@Si74l0rd Exactly. There are no journalists anymore. Investigation and debate might find truth. Reporting now is just to support preconceived ideologies.

[@Si74l0rd]

@@seanrodgers1839 Reporting is ever more a process of using Help A Reporter Out (HARO) and less actual investigation, whether on the web or wider internet through database access, to which the company will have a paywall subscription. Or, God forbid, offline research involving telephones and interviewing people that are involved, rather than finding a so called expert, or so called witness on HARO and printing it all verbatim without the slightest attempt to cross check with other people or resources. It's partly laziness, and partly the fault of the media outlets in general that demand so much in so little time. Though not necessarily providing little in resources, especially not when you're talking about the established tabloids who have access to all manner of information that's either paywalled, part of a network of contacts established over decades, or otherwise inaccessible to the majority of people. It's the fact checking, lack of oversight and loss of belief in the sanctity of truth in reporting, that permeates modern media that is fast becoming an almost insurmountable problem. With the advent of deepfakes fake news has the ability to turn the world on it's head. We need the legitimate media therefore to make every effort to be neutral, objective, and to fact check and cross reference extensively so there is at least some news format that delivers content the public can trust without fail. Speculation and bias is fine, and expected, but it has to be based on fact and those facts have to be reported in their entirety. Much like politics and politicians, it's hard to trust the word of even the few you might like and respect. That's really not how the world needs to run to most benefit mankind.

[@simonestreeter1518]

Over here the same thing is happening with the increasingly fatuous New York Times. I found myself reading the New York POST for good analysis, ffs.

[@gomofoi6832]

Yes, I absolutely love the interviewer, but were all the slightly more senior and perhaps better read stuff on more important assignments? Sorry I

[@MikeNewland]

My God this man is naive about politicians. He thinks they are there for us.

[@importantjohn]

You are anti all governments or just the ones that don't do things for you?

[@plymouthmade7589]

You have a right to vote mike. Calling this man naive is the most naive comment you could have posted. Please listen more carefully. Then make your own mind up.

[@marknash4442]

That’s because a lot of them are his friends

[@MikeNewland]

@@marknash4442 Mark hits the nail on the head. He enjoys the elite. People inside the bubble...

[@hopefuldave]

@Blake839 So you're happy to carry on trading etc. taking other people's rules rather than having any say in making those rules? Sounds a lot more like dependence, being dictated to, to me. You had freedom already, if you don't believe that try a few years in North Korea, fool.

[@rahuladhikari6990]

My world would have been depressing without Richard Dawkins, Thank you for helping me in my sensitive age!

[@Turbo2640]

Steven Edington always impresses. Well done young man.

[@Turbo2640]

@Sharon Plume Have you watched and listened to several of his interviews, similar to this one? Perhaps you cannot see past your own biases. My standards are quite high and well informed as it happens.

[@Turbo2640]

@Mmd O No, we are not related.

[@PineapplePineapple-qc3ze]

I for one did not vote brixit on a whim, but after over three years it was more about democracy.

[@jamesjack6769]

Democracy has its drawbacks , it let the unwashed masses vote for the downfall of the nation.

[@paulhunt2140]

Pineapple if you believe in democracy then you wouldn't be supporting a referendum result which was proven to have been ran illegally by both leave camps and would've had to be declared void if the result had been binding.

[@jackier4734]

Ditto that Pineapple.X

[@jackier4734]

YOU WON'T SEE THIS ON THE BBC

[@Iazzaboyce]

@@paulhunt2140 Remain was the safe option - so it stands to reason that more of those in two-minds would have opted for Remain. This means there are far more Remain voters that would change their vote than there are Leave voters that would change their vote.

[@EeezyNoow]

I'm an admirer of RD but he's tying himself in knots over Brexit. According to his logic how could we ever leave? The last 5 votes have all been for Brexit :- EU MEPs Election 2014, REF 2016, the GE 2017, the EU MEPs Election 2019 and the GE 2019. That's Leave 5 Remain 0.

[@1attheback]

Plus GE 2015 when referendum was promised. Leave 6 Remain 0

[@Iazzaboyce]

Not sure the UK/EU elections of 2014 and 2019 were 'for Brexit'. UKIP (2014) and Brexit Party (2019) did do very well, however, in both elections most votes went to other parties with either an anti-Brexit policy or a much less certain Brexit policy. I wish someone could Explain RD's supposed logic on the beginnings of life, because he was clearly in knots on that one too.

[@michaelpalmer5351]

Find somebody else to admire, I'd say.

[@EeezyNoow]

@@Iazzaboyce All good points. Yes my OP was over-simplified but what the almost 4 year post REF period has clearly exposed has been the lack of democracy, even anti-democracy, of many of our MPs (some of whom have now received their well-deserved P45s). We were taken into the EEC on 1.1.1973 without a ref and based on deception (Heath - no loss of sovereignty - only about trade etc.). Leavers had to wait 41 years for a ref but we were very nearly forced to have to vote again after only 3.

[@Iazzaboyce]

@@EeezyNoow The plain truth is the UK's involvement with the EEC/EU was always a top-down imposition. They thought they could 'pull-it-off' but they failed spectacularly. There is no evidence the British people ever wanted to be part of a 'united states of Europe'. Brexit will be a success and questions will be asked about wasted money and opportunity. What could the UK be today had those few not taken the decisions they did?

[@jameswhitfield1375]

The questioner asked Dawkins about the vote to join the EU [Common Market] in 1975. In actual fact, we didn't vote to join the Common Market in 1975. We joined in 1973 without it being put to the vote. The vote in 1975 was to determine whether or not we should remain a member of the Common Market. The difference between 1975 and 2016 was stark. In 1975, the media backed continued membership, even the Daily Mail, and the electorate chose to remain by a 2 to 1 majority.

[@benedictcowell6547]

Pedantry

[@forfar4fife5]

He is a brilliant man but like many clever people he seems naively to think politicians are as clever and dedicated to their jobs as he is when the opposite is true

[@lewisner]

@Calum Tatum Not least the fact that being appointed an MEP is an incredibly lucrative job. Neil Kinnock is worth about £10 million largely due to his EU job.

[@adm924s]

Totally !!

[@ricdavid7476]

Brilliant at what exactly ? Being famous ? What has he invented that has benefitted mankind in any way

[@adm924s]

@@ricdavid7476 Is inventing something the only mark of brilliance, what did you think of his books ?

[@ricdavid7476]

@@adm924s Save me the trouble please just let me know what he is famous for other than being famous please and trying to convince everyone that God does not exist? The latter is a fools errand if there ever was one.

[@cr7ckd0wn]

How could you believe most people are not capable of making a sensible decision regarding an issue like Brexit, yet propose reducing voting age further down at the same time?

[@daviddavies822]

@Niconoclastic Neoc correct

[@daviddavies822]

true

[@razzle_dazzle]

@cr7ckd0wn - because in normal elections, people are voting for whoever they think will best represent them, which you can learn by reading a candidate's manifesto. But in a referendum on a massively complicated issue like Brexit, one would need to spend ages studying the economic and political impact to make a properly informed decision, which most people simply don't have time to do.

[@galenschultz3239]

What is your issue with younger people voting? I don't know what he said here, haven't gotten to it yet, but I'm assuming its 16? That's what's mentioned in the U.S. when its discussed.

[@pauldrake1858]

Hi Daz: I didn't think Brexit was "massively complex" I think the main issue behind Brexit was the the rotten deal that the British fisherman, farmers and workers got from the EU. The EU is still very corrupt and needs to be dismantled.

[@AntPDC]

A man of Dawkins' stature ought not to pretend that he knows nothing about the Referendum in 1975 about whether the UK should REMAIN in the EC (as it then was) because it would have totally contradicted his criticism of the 2016 Referendum to LEAVE the EU. Moreover, the EC gradually and undemocratically morphed into the EU - a political, federalistic entity with military and foreign policy ambitions. The Brits were never asked about that development until 2016. His calculated slipperiness and dissimulation here really do diminish his standing in my eyes because, frankly, he's not a democrat.

[@galenschultz3239]

@Gaz Roberts in what way were the books misinformed? Have you never heard of The Selfish Gene? Were you unaware he is a top of line Biologist and educator? His stature hardly comes from only his activism.

[@michaelpalmer5351]

@Gaz Roberts Absolutely

[@Iazzaboyce]

Dawkins belongs to a self styled elite intelligentsia that has gained power, wealth and influence in world full of greed, hatred and ignorance. He clearly believes the opinions of his ilk should be seen as 'being factually true' and as such, be imposed on everyone else. He's too embarrassed to admit he is opposed to democracy, but it's quite obvious that, he only wants people who agree with his opinions to be allowed to vote.

[@mkadi70]

One of the greatest men who ever lived. What I love most is his humbleness, typical of a scientist. When it is not his field, he says it openly. Especially when the theory of multiverse and the theories of the first moments of our universe are discussed.

[@graemecreegan6749]

But he’s a Biologist who has become famous talking about Theology 🤔

[@seasonedbeefs]

He's still alive

[@iang-lb7nx]

I wouldn't go that far. He's not in the same league as Newton, Einstein, Galileo, Darwin and the like. People get far too carried away in these comment sections.

[@johnorson6907]

Maybe one of the top billion

[@MCshlthead]

one of the greatest men who ever lived XD you cant be serious. he's literally one of the laziest grifters that ever lived. he's been saying the same crap and picking the same low hanging fruit for decades. and making a ton of cash in the process from easily impressed ldiots

Refreshing to hear such a young and smart interviewer!

[@DonswatchingtheTube]

He didn't really hold Dawkins to account with some of his answers.

[@philipwoodgate9555]

@@DonswatchingtheTube holding to account, can you isolate arguments this interviewer should have had ?

[@DonswatchingtheTube]

@@philipwoodgate9555 Every time he mentioned science, he wasn't clinical, but speculative appealing to gaps in our knowledge while denying the same for the theist. The pattern carried over into his social conclusions.

[@mrkv4k]

@@DonswatchingtheTube "...gaps in our knowledge while denying the same for the theist." - WHAT? There is no knowledge begind religion, just one big gap. How could he deny something that doesn't exist?

[@CaptainWilliamsLog]

Richard Dawkins is such a wonderful human being. You can feel his humanity, patience and compassion thru the way he speaks. His depth of Intelligence and logical explanations is way up there amongst the wisest of men. My salutations to Professor Dawkins.

[@dgnash]

Dawkins wanted us to rely on politicians to debate and decide on Brexit. LOL.

[@catscats50]

I don't agree with Dawkins but there are benefits to living in a society without democracy. For example if someone wants to build a hospital in England there will be a 2-year plus consultation period that will cost a fortune. In China they just build it.

[@lilmandan96]

Strange how such a wise man seem to lose it abit near the end

[@andrewrobinson2565]

@@lilmandan96 Wisdom, like beauty, is in the eye (ears) of the beholder...

[@realthings5821]

@@catscats50 Did you notice that Hospital collapsing in China? Just saying.

[@andrewrobinson2565]

@@realthings5821 Just sayin' what? That God was responsible? Or Buddha...(I didn't see btw..). 'Just sayin' ' doesn't really work. Effing say what you mean....

[@dinofrog926]

Richard Dawkins is my hero!

[@fionagregory8078]

Mine too. One of them anyway.

[@AdrianMulligan]

You have a hero? Stop watching Marvel films...you melt!

[@scottyd2903]

Richard Dawkins is someone I admire. That fixed it.

[@crawford1083]

I say this as a remain voter. He is wrong about not honouring the referendum It is and was wrong to say that the vote was a one-day snapshot and should be revisited.

[@AdeelKhan1]

Good to see Mr. Dawkins and to see him healthy and in good spirits!

[@PatrickChapmanuk]

Interesting conversation. Enjoyed the young chap holding his ground well.

[@lifesgreat9951]

He's merely asking questions that've been prepared for him to ask.

[@leftofcentrebrexit1546]

@@lifesgreat9951 Dunno, think he has a fair amount of freedom, cos he is a bit of an asset at the moment. The kind of guy to be assertive.

[@1attheback]

@@lifesgreat9951 He had his own Utube channel before joining the Sun and he was very good there, asking his own questions, and that will be why the SUn hired him.

[@PatrickChapmanuk]

@@1attheback Yes he is quite capable of his own questions. Notwithstanding the usual editorial input.

[@Fireglo]

Dawkins certainly lost his ground when it came to politics. An exam to be able to vote? An exam board deciding who has the correct opinions? That's not democracy.

[@theamericanaromantic]

Give this interviewer a raise, Sun.

[@rauminen4167]

I second that.

[@HebrewsElevenTwentyFive]

Hear hear! 👍🏾

[@fen0000]

The Sun is to be congratulated on the quality of its recent interviews. Steven Edginton is a definite catch for them. Another very watchable interview.

[@gromlech1107]

I've got to agree with you: a very interesting & enjoyable interview. Stephen Edgington leads the interview nicely but doesn't fall into the trap of talking too much himself; he displays a deft touch.

[@PACEUK22]

I would never buy the sun newspaper but I do enjoy Stevens interviews

[@studio-flash]

@@PACEUK22 well said.

[@alecdakin2319]

He asked the same questions that Dawkins has been answering for 15 years. He even wrote some books about it lol

[@butIwantpewee]

Ooh Matron! Some testy questioning there Stephen, didn't expect that.

[@r4h4al]

I thought he was quite tame compared to some. Christian Guru Murphy seemed more provocative when interviewing him for example.

[@rosemarie575]

Who would have thought that the sun would be producing some of the most interesting and insightful interviews you can find at the moment. Well done those involved with producing these thought pieces

[@thomaslivingstone6734]

Rose Marie this is about as insightful as peppa pig

[@tnekkc]

The best journalism comes from the SUN now....irony.

[@raydematio7585]

Not really. Only snobs and elitists are surprised

[@MisterCharlton]

Thomas Livingstone Do you think Papa Pig voted “leave”?

[@grizzadams2110]

@@tnekkc Really?

[@wefinishthisnow3883]

A surprisingly good interview. Thankyou to both Richard and Steven. Both good questions and answers. Also yes, there is some value to re-asking old questions as opinions can change, not everyone has heard them, points can be clarified etc. Definitely a lot to think about here whether to agree, disagree or simply mull over.

[@GarethE94]

What is surprising about it? Dawkins is renowned for his interviews

[@GarethE94]

@@davidbanner6230 quite the opposite actually. Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist and his field therefore deals with life. Organic life. The origin of the universe is a matter of physics. Dawkins, unlike most Christian’s who claim to have an answer for everything, never claims to know everything and certainly not matters that fall outside his field of expertise.

[@NeverMind765]

@@davidbanner6230 Nonsense. The equivalence you're trying to draw fails because of a simple thing you may have overlooked. You see the equivalence between a religious person believing in something because of religious or faith based reasons and not being able to explain those themselves, and Dawkins here being unwilling to substantiate his belief in multiverse theory because it's not his field as the same thing. Superficially, they look the same. However Dawkins, being a scientist himself in a different field, has a great understanding of the scientific method and the rigors of peer review. Even if Dawkins had no understanding whatsoever of multiverse theory, which I know he does if nothing else from having watched different talks of him and Lawrence Krauss, him trusting the scientific method and lending credibility to a theory that has gone and is going through a scientific scrutiny is nothing like a religious person being unable to substantiate their belief in a faith based notion they subscribe to. Even if there were no other difference, the stark contrast in the methodologies each chooses to trust is amply evident and I hope I don't need to go into the specifics of that. On a more pragmatic note, I think it was a wise decision on his part not to try and explain the specifics of a theory that is extremely abstract and difficult to grasp even for the few that are genuinely equipped to understand and divulge it. Some christians might call that humility.

[@russ4294]

@@GarethE94 It's a modern way of speaking. It is in the same category as "Massively underated".

[@GarethE94]

@@davidbanner6230 no

[@rinkrat4459]

So great to see Mr. Dawkins back, one of the most important teachers and authors of our time.

[@robt3407]

Rink Rat I just discovered that Mr Dawkins actually invented the word “meme”. That’s enough to secure any human being’s place in Wikipedia.

[@0penminds]

The more i see of this interviewer the more i like him.

[@andrewdevine3920]

Because he came equipped with all the right pro-religious obfuscation tactics?

[@Zenhumanist]

trident3b I wish I was as thick as professor Dawkins.

[@iainrae6159]

@trident3b How many books on genetics have you written clever clogs.

[@albertcastle6961]

Dawkins is simply a disgusting dirty old propedo man. At least, that's what he claims to be. If true, it invalidates all his arguments.

[@KEYUNTISER]

I hadn't heart of Steven Edginton until about 6 months ago but I think he's going places.

[@angusmcangus7914]

I agree. And without the 'benefit' of a university education too.

[@ElectricInevitability]

I watched him when he first started his own KZbin channel and he impressed me... Clearly so did The Sun too.

[@robertwlester]

maybe. he is, so far, not a great contender. He needs to mature a bit

[@lindabalz5480]

Oh, seriously? The little chap's an arrogant incompetent and Professor Dawkins was extremely polite to him - he 'd have had a verbal kick up the arse from me..

[@KEYUNTISER]

@@lindabalz5480 You seem very opinionated Linda and over something so trivial as a simple comment. Calm down love.

[@georgegunnell6319]

Steven Edginton does a bang-up job here. Thank you Mr. Edginton and Richard Dawkins! Peace

[@fabir1675]

it honestly makes me a little sad that the like-dislike-ratio is only at 5-1...so many people cant deal with facts and logic in this world... Greetings from Germany to every rational mind in the world.

[@primeminister1040]

Something from nothing sounds stupid to me

[@befosocial]

@@primeminister1040 Take a look at the "Zero-Energy-Universe" and the "Vacuum Fluctuation". The second is used to extrapolate the first.

[@rjclarkeePincadeRebel]

How on [flat] earth have the Sun dug up someone so intelligent as to ask such great questions to such a great man.

[@andrewroddy3278]

Great question. Richard.

[@jamesbartle6684]

Disappointing to have a globalist view on the nation state.

[@johnbr59]

judging from this interview, dawkins hasn't evolved or grown in his views for about 20 years. the guy is a one-trick pony. it's great that he doesn't shy from criticizing islam, but the rest of his views are one-dimensional and frankly, idiotic.

[@williaml5223]

@@johnbr59 "I like it when he agrees with me"

[@fredof4413]

Richard Dawkins is just anti white like everyone else

[@jueshihuanggua3162]

ffs, not everyone who's against islam has to be the same, we would be like the progressive left if we have the same views on every single thing

[@billlyons7024]

Anti-globalism is the height of ignorance. If you can't accept that the welfare of all people is a shared responsibility, then you still have one foot in the cave.

[@wodantheviking]

Both the interviewer and Richard Dawkins are misinformed about the 1975 referendum. That was a referendum to join the Common Market, a trading union. We were told by Heath that it would not lead to political union. That was a lie. Heath was advised by Lord Kilmuir that it would inevitably become a political union. Also suppressed was the opinion that the people of the UK would not realise this until it was too late to do anything about it. The people were not given a referendum for the Maastricht Treaty and the Lisbon Treaty, both of which had a fundamental political significance for our independence. By the time of the 2016 referendum a lot of people realised what was going on and decided to do something about it. People voted to remain in a parliamentary, common law democracy, not an unelected, napoleonic law based bureaucracy. Constructively the people of the UK were lead into the EU by deceit, which is surely the road to a fascist Europe. Dawkins work on evolutionary biology is impressive. I have read The Blind Watchmaker and found it gave excellent insights into evolution. Also I agree with his overall argument in The God Delusion, although I am a 50/50 agnostic rather than an atheist. However I think even Dawkins, as a scientist, still looks for evidence that he is wrong about religion.

[@Turbo2640]

Some very good points regarding the political history John. Regarding Dawkins though, I don't think he actually looks for evidence that he is wrong so much as sometimes worries that he might be.

[@laurameszaros9547]

Well said @John Eley. Your points about the 1975 referendum, how Britons were lied to, are spot on.

[@franknhonest]

Or rather, a referendum to remain in the project, since we'd already joined the EEC in 1973 under Heath.

[@clemalford9768]

Dawkins wouldn't agree with you on the EU. That part of his interview disappointed me. Maybe his privileged boyhood.

[@Handlethis342]

I have been watching and listening to a lot of interviews with Dawkins and it amazing how no matter all the condescension and strawman arguments thrown at him he never argues in bad faith and remains respectful.

[@Handlethis342]

@@davidbanner6230, do you want to try your hand at making a coherent point again?

[@Handlethis342]

@@davidbanner6230, yeah, I totally sound crazy. You nailed it.

[@petermitchell6348]

We never had a vote to join the EU in 1997, so what is the problem with having a vote to leave an institution we never voted to join?

[@LordLorenzo834]

It's a fair point no liberal has ever fathomed to consider

[@desmondroberts6034]

Government policy in the UK is not typically decided by referendums.

[@petermitchell6348]

@@desmondroberts6034 But the Labour Government under Tony Blair had no mandate to steal the democratic rights of the people of this country and transfare it to a foreign power. It was, in fact, an act of treason on the people of the United Kingdom.

[@desmondroberts6034]

@@petermitchell6348 What democratic right do you imagine were stolen? On the contrary, the Labour Party made it clear in their manifesto that they were an enthusiastic proponent of active and assertive EU membership. They vowed to sign the Social Chapter and cooperate more effectively on environment protection for example. The EU is not a foreign power, as the UK was an executive member of the organisation with a powerful veto over any new law, or at least the power to 'constructively abstain'.

[@petermitchell6348]

@@desmondroberts6034 'What democratic right was stolen'? What a totally stupid question! Did you ever bother to get yourself an education? Or were you at the back of the que when God gave the brains out? If you cannot vote for who Governs you then there is no democracy.

[@clearview5281]

I am now convinced that even the Intellectual Liberal Globalists are ignorant. At least he admitted that he knew little about the 1975 vote to join a "trading only" pact with the EU.

[@kushan101]

Thats whats odd though - he admits not knowing anything about it, yet will throw his opinion around on it.

[@JNYC-gb1pp]

They've back themselves into a corner and now they're just doubling down.

[@user-vl5qg5rf4n]

@Barthelemy well if dawkins has no knowledge then negative knowledge must exist, or you wouldn't be here!

[@Emcfree2084]

The height of arrogant hypocrisy, Dawkins is just another establishment puppet.

[@eckyhen]

@@Emcfree2084 I think you will need to justify that assertion otherwise it will just be that. An unjustified assertion.

[@melvinbeck5047]

Can we also have a driving test for people above 65 years and living in certain "socioeconomic" areas?

[@paulmelville2126]

It’s not surprising that the Sun interviewer had trouble understanding why truth is important.

[@urduib]

@@dianastevenson131 Dawkins made it very clear thousands of times. Have you not been listening to anything he said before making ridiculous statements ? Dawkins even created a massive organization build on this principle you apparently never heard him say, even though he have repeated it for the last 20 years over and over and over and over. No reason for me to state what he said, because you have heard it but pretend you haven´t. You should stick to the truth and not your bias. The man created an organization on this principle ffs

[@dianastevenson131]

@@urduib I know about his organisation and I've read most of his books, but I haven't seen him answer my question and you haven't either.

[@urduib]

​@@dianastevenson131 His answer is, and his organization is built upon this principle. The solution is for every religion. Forget about grown up religious people, they are lost forever. Get hold of their children before the brainwashing is complete. Dawkins have said many times, religion will take a deathblow if we convince one generation of children, that Gods and heaven is a fantasy made up by chimps of evolution. You should watch the Dawkins Krauss world tour. And if you had watched Dawkins you would have known all this. So you are clearly dishonest at best. So the answer is ignore them, and convince their children.

[@dianastevenson131]

@@urduib I'm not dishonest - I didn't know about this world tour. You could have said this the first time.

[@urduib]

@@dianastevenson131 You claimed he had not given the answer to Muslim religion and how to handle and move forward on this issue. He have debated many Muslim´s, from journalists to higher up leaders (all on KZbin). If you have phrased your first comment like. It seems to be he have not given the answer to Muslim religion..... etc etc, or have i missed something. I would have answered with more respect and giving links and help to find the material. But to be honest i feel bad about this argumentation and how it unfolded. You and i seem to share many world views, so we should not fight each other. So for that, i am sorry. But go watch Dawkins & Krauss world tour. Krauss is a Nobel price winner in physics, and you will see Dawkins slowly moving his needle towards harder measures on religion, and their brainwashing of children, as the tour moves on. And they get really deep into the Universe and Evolution. Have a nice day and stay safe

[@psycho6542]

good to see dawkins still fairly sharp in his age, and with having a stroke in all

[@jcpettit1028]

Not even noticable.

[@blackmore4]

@Sharon Plume Is he gay?

[@darthvader5514]

@Sharon Plume feminine doesn't equal gay.

[@noobadoc]

@Sharon Plume you seem obsessed with gays?...anything u want to share?

[@peakjvs4967]

@Sharon Plume interesting observation.

[@robtdocher8051]

indoctrination is a REAL thing..the most powerful misguided behavioural training with lifelong consequences

[@mrkartalinvestments6299]

It's illegal to "insult" religion in my country, just to give you an idea of what level of intelligence exists in today's world.

[@antoineduchamp4931]

So good to see the great man back.... the clarity of his thought is truly astounding: his ability to express his thoughts makes him one in many many millions of people. We do not need to look to a God for help - he says we need to look to ourselves to help in our problems. Religion is usually a force for bad, I speak as one who received acres of abuse from education in the Catholic Church.

[@rabidsquirrel2168]

For one so devoted to truth, he relies an awful lot to referring to "polls" when it comes to brexit.. Sad to see bias reduce such a great debater.

[@NPC-st7zv]

Probably got research funding from the EU.

[@subsonic9854]

Whats wrong with polls? Something about polls in general or polls in the uk specifically?

[@NPC-st7zv]

@@subsonic9854 for a country that was supposed to be anti Brexit, according to polls. They voted for the only party that was seriously able to deliver some sort of Brexit, and some places turned blue for the first time ever.

[@gulinotm]

@@NPC-st7zv Just like how all the polls in America said Hillary was going to win by a landslide lol.

[@nicadi2005]

@@NPC-st7zv "They voted for the only party that was seriously able to deliver some sort of Brexit" - How many votes did the Conservatives manage on this last General Election 2019?

[@methods3110]

Dawkins is muddled and self-contradictory in some of his answers. Outmaneuvered by the interviewer in instances when going outside his expertise in biology, and drifting in such an arrogant, unscientific, and didactic manner into into the realm of politics, sociology, and psychology.

[@SpocksBro]

Let me guess, butthurt Bible thumper?

[@FizzVizard]

I never understood why people think a biologist is an expert on whether a God exists or not, evolutionary theory does not scientifically disprove the possibility of a God, even if all aspects of the theory were completely provable, which they aren't. People have always believed in God, because of their own personal metaphysical experiences.

[@ashleywebb2736]

His expertise is biology! The intelligent design community show him and darwinism up for the poor theory that it is

[@crossroads670]

People bashing Dawkins are just as guilty of prescribing their political bias to the debate. Just shut up and listen to another opinion.

[@BlackMesa_UK]

Professor Dawkins' work has changed my life for the better in many respects. But I've always found his political views somewhat perplexing. To hear some of his opinions regarding Brexit and politics from such an otherwise articulate and very intelligent man is disappointing. Well done for pushing him on some of his statements in this area.

[@kushan101]

That weird stuff at the end about a test to allow for early voting for sixteen year olds? What the hell was that? You get the vote when you are legally responsible for yourself. Rights and responsibilities. Simple stuff.

[@Iazzaboyce]

Can you mention one of the ways your life has changed for the better, because of something Dawkins has said?

[@brentherman7393]

I think it's funny a man talking about indoctrination if so heavily indoctrinated about any people ruling for themselves instead of an unelected officials in Belgium I'm not even European I'm an American but the thought of having bankers in Belgium have full control of my political life doesn't seem too Keen for me.

[@BJ-zd2or]

Think of it like this, if Dawkins works or he was around during anther era that the politics was swayed by. Would he have too confirm?

[@jona457]

Great interview. Everyone must listen to this. Thank you for sharing your thoughts Richard Dawkins. Thank you for your patience.

[@SteveCaseyBeijing]

As a Dawkins person the last 2 minutes of that interview was a car crash.

[@deathproofbum0197]

I'd say the whole interview was a car crash.

[@LOLERXP]

@@analogeit Nationalism _is_ controversial...

[@LOLERXP]

@Mitzi Paap Explain to me how nationalism is immune to totalitarianism, and how it is innate in globalism, and you might have the ghost of a point. At least the first half of that challenge is pretty hysterical since totalitarianism was most prominent in western civilization when nationalism was at its peak, and in most dictatorships in the world from Iran to China they still go hand in hand. If you can't do both, you're just a silly ideologue that hasn't quite thought things through critically. But I will await your rebuttal with an open mind to the chance that you could be correct, so feel free to give it a shot.

[@mayman4255]

@Mitzi Paap Western Civilization is immune, there's no need to "protect" it, Britain is 85% white people and if that number went down not much would change.

[@corydorastube]

@@LOLERXP They make it up as they go along.

[@chrisf1600]

I'm very impressed by the interviewer. Smart young chap with interesting and insightful questions. Dawkins is as impressive as ever. These interviews are really excellent, well done The Sun !

[@exmodule6323]

I found the interviewer a little rude. Not about the content of his questions, but with some of his mannerisms

[@Faiselmoha]

@@exmodule6323 mannerisms? what wrong did he do?

[@Crabfat809]

@QE ornotQE wring about what exactly?

[@Nigelforemporor]

Mate politics uk kid is smashing it with guests now days

[@dirtypure2023]

@@stoufer2000 why would you say that? he seems intelligent to me

[@bkray26]

Dawkins calling people cowards, then running away from Craig when he asks for a debate.

[@mikepett4575]

We never voted to join the EU

[@undogmatisch5873]

You've had a referendum in 1975, in which you voted for either staying in or leaving the EEC. Noone claimed that you voted to join the EU (that soesn't even exist in 1973. You voted to leave in 2016, but even if nothing of what the current government does was even mentioned during the campaigns for the 2016 referendum, Brexiters still act as if Bozo would do exactly what they voted for.

[@iPhown]

undogmatisch Thats a long and poorly written answer. You should have just typed “correct”.

[@undogmatisch5873]

@@iPhown So what? It's not even remotely as long and poorly as the UKs ridiculous attempt to decide what it wants ( except of all the benefits of an EU membership, but without any of its responsibilities).

[@CheersDits2979]

Lost me on Brexit. He actually thinks the people shouldn’t have a vote ffs.

[@akaakaakaak5779]

No, he didn't say anything of the sort

[@christophertregellis7284]

Lets himself down badly at end when he regards the people as being unqualified to opine on the EU

[@catscats50]

Richard Dawkins is a coward himself. He agrees that there can be differences of ability within a species but that doesn't apply to humans. Why would that be, is it because Jesus made it like that Richard? To be fair scientists and academics are given a very hard time by left wing socially liberal student activist groups.

[@kmh134]

I am born Muslim and from childhood, age 4-5, I disliked religions specially Islam that I was born in. It was not till later in life, in 30s that I found the reasonings to counter faith-based ideologies/ religions and find reasons to encourage others blinded by religions of their choice to have a new look at their beliefs.

[@goodgravy3047]

Thank you for a thoughtful discussion. I enjoyed that. A broken clock is right twice a day.

[@PACEUK22]

I would never buy The Sun newspaper but I do enjoy these interviews

[@davidbettney785]

He lost me when he went on a rant about Brexit....Before that he was doing so well....Sorry Dawkins, you are WRONG with your underlying anger for leaving the EU. Stick to science and let the British be proud of themselves :)

[@BodyGuardOfLies1]

But his chums will lose all those fat EU research grants that have been used by the EU to buy academia using our money.

[@necaacen]

national pride is a cancer and a tool used to make poor people do the bidding of rich people.

[@evelynvanzale4757]

David Bettney - Dawkins' raison d'etre is to rain on everyone's parade!! Why doesn't he just let people derive comfort and reassurance from their beliefs if they so wish instead of persisting in making it his life's work to keep reminding them that their life; in his view, has no meaning! Quite sad really but he has made a career of it so I'm guessing he isn't going to desist from his nihilism anytime soon!!!

[@984francis]

@@necaacen Yes.

[@michaeltaylor5451]

@@evelynvanzale4757 No one is forcing anyone to pay attention to him. And he can't espouse nothingism after he wrote "The Selfish Gene". There is nothing in atheism that mandates despair or disables your ability to see the beauty of life.

[@papershark]

The day The Sun does better TV journalism than the BBC is the day I stop believing in god.

[@madzangels]

Long form conversations is the future, I'm glad The Sun have taken notice

[@harrytd]

Staggering naivety from Dawkins around his faith in MPs and the technocracy. Somehow, I expected more from him.

[@iain5615]

Staggering naivety on everything. Some of what he says is Farley reasonable but the basis by which he reached those positions are not at all well founded.

[@shughy1]

He is rich, and having rich politicians means he will be well looked after all of his days.

[@JNYC-gb1pp]

Dawkins: Don't trust religion with a god at the core controlling everything Also Dawkins: Trust religions with humans at the core controlling everything

[@michaelmcgee7996]

@@iain5615 What does Farley mean?

[@iain5615]

@@michaelmcgee7996 the wonders of a mobile phone. It happily attempts to foretell what you want to write. Obviously it prefers Farley to fairly.

[@jamesscottvideos]

Great scientist, poor political philosopher. Apparently, hating Islam is fine, but patriotism and loving your country is evil. He lives in an elite bubble, sadly.

[@clemalford9768]

My feelings too. Lost some respect for him especially on the referendum issue. I spent a lot of time and effort researching before the referendum.

[@Supercars-r2e]

True I'm from Nyeri Kenya, grew up in a Catholic orphanage. I listened to Christopher Hitchens and Dawkins after my friends in law school impugned my biblical God. I dropped Yahweh like a hot rod!

[@methods3110]

You can see on his face his discomfort when confronted by the incisive questions and responses of the interviewer.

[@JohnClayCa]

What you see as discomfort I see as a determination to think of the analogies and distinctions that might resonate with the listener and have the ring of truth.

[@sirjimgreen2275]

Great fan of Dawkins but he is totally out of kilter on brexit.

[@r4h4al]

Disagree. I thought he made a good point. The Brexit referendum was not democracy because both campaigns lied so the referendum was built on lies. Of course then again one could use that argument for general elections as well.

[@JoolzThePirate]

Michael Brock ahhhh someone who lost!

[@richardjames5147]

@@r4h4al it's unconvincing. No major lies were told by leave. No major lies were really told by remain either. Remains estimates & historical analogies were just overbaked nonsense.

[@gazlives]

he made some good points. I've always disagreed about having a referendum for the issue as we are a parliamentary democracy. and I agree with him people like me voted for Boris in order to uphold democracy (even though I didn't agree with having a referendum in the first place, the people voted to leave). his opposition to Brexit seems to come from a false reading of nationalism and the idea of the nation state. He probably wouldn't agree that the nation state is probably the largest democratic entity we can have. at least until/if society gets so technologically advanced that all goods are free and made by robots on order. i.e. once resources are not an issue, culture and cultural preferences won't be either.

[@jamesjack6769]

Good old Richard! He's far too intelligent ever to be a Brexitard.

[@tonyturton4650]

I was interested in most of the interview but Dawkings view on Brexit made no sense. I get the impression he is a remainer and yet supports democracy. How confusing is that?

[@catscats50]

Many scientists received lots of money from the EU but what they don't understand is that for every £1 got the UK taxpayer had to give £2 to the EU. It would be cheaper just to give him them the money directly.

[@indogoUI]

@@catscats50 Except ... The UK government won't.

[@borderlands6606]

Dawkins' opinions have always been a fudge. Like all liberals, he's a puritan with totalitarian tendencies, none of which bear scientific scrutiny.

[@michaelpalmer4013]

@trident3b Not in this case! It was made clear that the government would implement the wishes of the majority.

[@michaelpalmer4013]

@trident3b The wish to leave was affirmed in the two subsequent elections, presumably you think that they too, should be annulled?

[@tgrman1]

I'd like to hear what professor Dawkins has to say about the corona virus

[@tropicalnofruit1419]

john smith would of thought they’d cover it in an hour long interview only 3 weeks ago.

[@tiarnan76]

as a satanist he'd most likely tell you the whole thing was real

[@rajmohankadavil5983]

@@tiarnan76 Satan exists? doubtful. Religious virus does exist

[@tiarnan76]

@@rajmohankadavil5983 ok - name one thing you believe in that doesnt come from the religion of Kabbalah - an occult text written over 2,500+ years ago - eg - I assume you believe that the universe - 1.5×10 (to the power of 53) kg - came into existence by exploding out of a single speck .... *Big Bang* - Kabbalah *Universe aged at 13+ billion years* - Kabbalah *Evolution of animals* - Kabbalah All these Kabbalistic theories were then further promulgated by Catholic Priests - *Big Bang* - Georges Lemaitre *Evolution Hoaxes* - (such as the Piltdown Hoax) - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin *Heliocentricity* - Copernicus etc So don't pretend you're not religious - you couldn't be any more religious if you tried - you Vatican slave

[@robt3407]

I’d like to know what he has to say about the Karenovirus.

[@shahzadbabar1536]

This guy is very intelligent. Really inspired by his rationality and how he well explains all aspacts of life and subjective matters

[@JamesDunthorne]

It just goes to show that even atheists are succeptable to filling in gaps in their knowledge with beliefs. Richard got shredded at the end. Best interview from the Sun I've seen for ages. If they continue, they may become quite popular

[@razzle_dazzle]

Shredded how exactly? They just had a disagreement on whether the Conservatives' win was more about Brexit or Jeremy Corbyn.

[@Iazzaboyce]

@@razzle_dazzle He got shredded on the beginnings of life - he was basically making stuff up without any substance. As for Brexit - it was obvious the 2019 vote was won to 'get Brexit done'... In 2017 when people believed Labour would 'do Brexit' Corbyn almost won.

[@jobrinn1449]

I think everyone should take the citizenship test at 18 and if they pass they can vote. If they don't pass they have to wait till 21.

[@Raz.C]

I get what you're saying and I don't particularly disagree and yet I can't help but think of Robert Heinlein's "Federation" and how one becomes a citizen with voting rights within it (ps: it's nothing like Star Trek's Federation).

[@progrow6767]

Thank "god" for rational, articulate, solid people like Dawkins.

[@boxeriain]

I love him even though I disagree with his take on Brexit ❤️

[@clemalford9768]

Same here. Political elitist though.

[@boxeriain]

@@clemalford9768 I sense he is internally conflicted

[@milliewray]

" Give us one millisecond after the Big Bang and DNA and we'll explain the rest" The Atheist Dellusion

[@milliewray]

@bucketsandshims No

[@0shizznes0]

Really interesting hearing what type of "political" test a biologist would give a human. Such a great conversation this. That hour just flew by. 👍

[@stuross8190]

I was raised pretty much indifferent to religion/atheism but have a growing respect for both camps.For me they answer different questions. Dawkins and scientists like him can come across as totally irrelevant when I make some decisions but vital in others.

[@politelyimpolite]

Richard Dawkins is a legend. I love him.

[@quintonballenden1436]

I am a great admirer of Richard. I am on his side of atheism. However, I was rather hoping he would support the fundamental principle of freedom. For a man so bright, not to recognise that freedom from an undemocratic institution such as the EU is evolution taking place before our very eyes. Just a reminder: referendum/leave won/passed into law by a huge majority. Richard in this regard you should do your homework.

[@tristanbeal261]

The EU is VERY democratic considering the amount of power that it has, which isn't very much. Most decisions require unanimous agreement by democratically elected governments. And the EU budget is less than 1% of member states GDP's.

[@quintonballenden1436]

@ Typical of the left, quick to anger and personal insults. The facts and the truth about the EU are that the Commission is made of unelectable and unaccountable bureaucrats. The commission is more powerful than the EU Parliament as the commission can ignore any motion passed by the Parliament irrespective of the size of the majority. So instead of trading insults, why don’t you do your homework?

[@christopherbrookfield4785]

52% of voters choosing to opt out of the European Union is hardly what you would call a majority, by anyone's standards. Dawkins Rocks! He is so brilliant, in so many ways, but ever so slightly batty. I love him! 😘

[@rezafarhadi8167]

Leaving the Religion needs a bit of wisdom and bravery. Thanks again Richard we are very proud of you.

[@ryancruz1876]

Who’s “we”?

[@SH-wk9xx]

I’m assuming you’re an Iranian

[@samkostos4520]

There is a theory called Pre Hypnagogic Reflection and Contemplation. It suggests that we worry about our lives and reflect on daily events because in ancient history we had to select a safe sleeping location.

[@kiljoy3254]

He reminds me of someone so much 🤔 Tony Blair 😡

[@r4h4al]

That's a nice compliment.

[@seanmcgrady8688]

I thought you were going to say Stewie from Family Guy.

[@mumbainan]

Clearly this refers to Western civilisation - atheism has had a place in Eastern philosophy since ancient times. India had the `charvakas` who did not believe in the existence of god/gods and were the predecessors of Jainism and Buddhism. In Indian philosophy, Charvaka(or Lokayata), Jainism and Buddhism belong to the `naastika` or atheist branch and other philosophies such as Dwaita, Advaita, Vishishtadwaita, etc to the `aastika`.

[@sharp_iodine2737]

Such ignorance, the whole point of Vedic religion was to show people that gods don't actually exist. How can creatures just as fallible as men, who squabble and fight over petty things be gods? They are representations of human natures

[@trafficjon400]

@@sharp_iodine2737 what do you do when we start eating each other just join the team at best taste or become a god and make them meak. Iodine 5 drops aday keeps the dentist from toruring my mouth for profit. Phrophets turned me in to a need of nothing from some thing.

[@TheBuildKingR]

Good to hear from prof Dawkins again...

[@roderickbridge4244]

The interviewer became more irritating as the talk progressed.

[@snoopdoggfanclub]

Richard Dawkins doesn't get it

[@michaelflamingsword3131]

He will get it when he is about to die.

[@douglasandtheworld]

Great interview, good to see dawkin getting pressed and on brexit and voting age where he showed his true colours

[@xifongchristian1066]

All of the opinions that Dawkins gave here were basically already in the public domain - how did he show his "true colours" by being utterly predictable?

[@texturedfrog9611]

Showing his true colours, getting pressed? Yes, on the same subjects for years now, and always answering the same way. Why would you assume or allude to the notion that Richard Dawkins had been attempting to conceal these ideas or "true colours" of his? The mere fact that you don't agree with him I'd imagine. Your comment emphasises a very demonstrably fallacious presumption of yours.

[@rauminen4167]

@@texturedfrog9611 No Mr Frog. What Matt here is talking about is Dawkins' tweet implying that he would revoke voting rights from those who voted for Brexit, and him having to walk back on it when directly asked to clarify. How do you not see that?

[@texturedfrog9611]

@@rauminen4167 Mr. Frog is my father, call me Textured. But regardless of Richard Dawkins' supposed belief that those who voted in favor of Brexit should be revoked voting rights(which was quite a revelation for me), it takes not from the fact that he's never made a secret of his ideology that relevantly informed, well educated and competent people should have greater influence in big decisions over those who aren't. My point is not that I agree with him,but to put it simply- that there is no New or True colors being exposed in this interview. RICHARD DAWKINS ELITIST ariticles are ripe in quantity to the point of banality.

[@granthurlburt4062]

His "true colours". You mean his political beliefs? Surely these are up to the individual. Hs "true colours" are his courageous advocacy of science and opposition to those irrationsl movements and beliefs which in the main are harmful.

[@imdadullah7420]

Long live Richard the legend of the free thinking 💞

[@sumansaha2151]

Its pleasure listening to Richard Dawkins I can listen to him for hours on nd on