Richard Dawkins | Religion a Computer Virus | Oxford Union

An extract from Richard Dawkin's open Q&A session at the Oxford Union on 18th February 2014.
ABOUT RICHARD DAWKINS: Clinton Richard Dawkins is an English ethologist, evolutionary biologist, and author. He is an emeritus fellow of New College, Oxford, and was the University of Oxford's Professor for Public Understanding of Science from 1995 until 2008.
Dawkins came to prominence with his 1976 book The Selfish Gene, which popularised the gene-centred view of evolution and introduced the term meme. In 1982, he introduced into evolutionary biology the influential concept that the phenotypic effects of a gene are not necessarily limited to an organism's body, but can stretch far into the environment, including the bodies of other organisms; this concept is presented in his book The Extended Phenotype.
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[@anelencube9292]

I like the insect flying into a candle analogy, so simple and logical. This was one of Dawkins' arguments in The God Delusion that converted me, immediately, from agnosticism to atheism.

[@janboyega]

At the end I literally got goosebumps because how coherent and important that statement was, even tho hes talking about moths and computers for 6 minutes.

[@TurtleMC1993]

Yeah that was a powerful analogy

[@michaelz-c4178]

Coming into all of this, with the eye of a novice, I am just amazed at how intelligent this man is - it's nice to start where others have already elevated the ceiling skywards.

[@faizulhodzai4990]

Michael Blue Ribbon Telling people that religion teaching of doing good deeds and avoiding bad deeds is equal to computer virus is intelligent, really?

[@lxmzhg]

Duhkins has merely asserted his opinions based on rationalizations... nothing intelligent about that.

[@BreezeLeg-mo4jh]

​@@lxmzhgThese are not his opinions. Dawkins works with every scientist around the globe. There is scientific consensus, among those that have dedicated their lives to bettering our lives through knowledge, that these are our best explanation, based on what we can see.

[@marcuslopez3868]

@@faizulhodzai4990 religion does waaay more harm than you think. Do some research and you'll find that it's actually worse than a computer virus

[@pennyunderwood721]

Welcome. Check out Sam Harris. Christopher Hitchens, Aron Ra

[@SecretEyeSpot]

I wish these were ordered so we can watch them in sequence

[@Earth098]

His skills of explaining and storytelling area beyond amazing

[@primeminister1040]

Yeah, he's not a scientist but a fairy tales teller, and only the fools like you believe him

[@josephstalin3120]

@@primeminister1040 you believe in a book about magic,wizards,witches,dragons, people turning into salt,someone speaking from a burning bush,someone turning water into wine and claiming that his body is bread, where the authors couldn't even agree on the details of jesus' birth and you're saying that were fools?

[@primeminister1040]

@@josephstalin3120 I'm not Christian you moron. You're the one who believes in fairy tales, where somehow 0=1, where randomness and chaos can design something, where you believe that if you throw a buck of sand xthe falling sand can form a castle by itself, this is worse than magic. Dawkins is an absolute fraud, he has been debunked by mainstream academics.

[@alice_in_wonderland42]

@@primeminister1040 no u don't know anything No one has debunked him Evolution denial is completely stupid Just because u cannot understand large systems over a large period time doesn't mean that u someone

[@primeminister1040]

@@alice_in_wonderland42 have you seen the process speciation over a billion years ago? No and no one did, I will believe it when I see it with my own eyes

[@weeringjohnny]

He was professor for the public understanding of science. This video shows why.

[@xerox1959]

very interesting way of thinking. If you look at the studens, they don't seem to be there and listening...

[@pleasepermitmetospeakohgre1504]

Probably stoned, half of them.

[@michaelz-c4178]

I love how he leans back in the end with a "there I said it" look "I SAID IT GOD DAMMIT"

[@karisyanuaria3719]

"Certain psychological predispositions" Im blown

[@klartext2225]

A very modest genius. Thank you sir for now ten years of insight via this platform. (Yes, this also IS KZbin! Not only kids playing games and trolls telling conspiracy theories)

[@frostmourne4598]

Dawkin is truthful when he says he doesn't know whether God exists. He just lacks the opportunity for an encounter with something supernatural.

[@charleswragg2164]

A very modest genius lol - Dawkins is known as one of the more smug concieted intellectuals. As long as you listen and agree with everything he says without question he is very pleasant and respectful. Please explain where the genius part is? I would say Steven Fry is a genius who is athiest but Dawkins by comparison a simpleton. His ideas are not only flawed by they are not aruged obectively.

[@joep6017]

@@charleswragg2164 He's maybe not a genius, but compared to someone like... you or me? Genius is just a hyperbole. He is very very smart. Is that better for you? As for modest... He does seem more modest because what he is exposing is science. He doesn't talk about himself or his beliefs. He just talks about the science. That's modesty. He talks about what he knows and understands. For example, if he started to talk about trains and told us everything about trains, that wouldn't be modest because he doesn't know anything about trains.

[@charleswragg2164]

@@joep6017 Yes now doubt he has a high intellect not a genius though. Sometimes having alot of knowledge can make someone seem more intelligent. The issue is not his intelligence but his wisdom. Yes compared to the pattern of the world his modestity could seem virtuous however. He does have some integrity I dont doubt that. Even geniuses can have mental blocks and blindness in some areas. His issue is spiritual blindness.

[@joep6017]

@@charleswragg2164 spiritual blindness? Have you ever heard him talk about the spiritual? He wrote a whole book about it and has done several debates. I wouldn't call that blind. I take it back he is a genius compared to... you.

[@jrgrover8826]

In the history of our planet, every organism has developed defense mechanisms to help ensure their survival. But we've evolved to a point past simple animals and developed a consciousness that enables us to perceive our end. With that ability we gained a defense mechanism known as religion.

[@dreamer2260]

Indeed. Or rather, an apparent defence mechanism which in fact is no defence at all.

[@greengiant9739]

Richard Dawkins is pure brilliance . What a mind blowing super intelligent man..

[@vishnubansal]

Man he is intellectual machine!

[@IrishScribbler]

Who soon afterwards had a stroke and ended up talking like Twiki from Buck Rogers. Machine is quite an apt description, except the only thing that turns this man on is young gay men.

[@soslothful]

@@IrishScribbler Do you have evidence for your claim about Professor Dawkins sexual desires? And what point are you trying to make citing his stroke?

[@manz92]

Very valid points.

[@faizulhodzai4990]

manz92 Which one is valid? Religions telling us to do good deeds and avoiding bad deeds are equal to computer virus? Really?

[@lxmzhg]

*@manz92* Exactly which are the "valid" points? Apparently you have a low standard for what is valid.

[@cua2279]

manz92 i share your opinion :)

[@marcuslopez3868]

@@faizulhodzai4990 If you look through the history of religions, you'll find out that many groups of people have committed many atrocities simply by believing "God wanted it to happen". If you honestly believe religion is focused on teaching what's good and to stay away from bad deeds, then you need to do more research on what religion has caused people to do not only in the past, but also the present. You don't need religion in order to be a good person and know how to stay away from doing bad deeds. I'd actually argue that not being religious actually makes you less likely to commit such atrocities.

[@marcuslopez3868]

@@lxmzhg apparently you have low standards when deciding what to believe.

[@samcan9953]

Wow. That man is so smart, so knowledgeable, and such a talented communicator. We're so lucky to have him.

[@AntitheistHuman]

brilliant human being indeed

[@QuranicIslam]

Man ... I wish my children listened to ANY advice.

[@juliosales5469]

Dawkins is amazing, a great professor, so intelligent.

[@bellarosalarsen1638]

Brilliant as well. Always learn a little more with Richard, thank you.

[@nemo9396]

What he didn't say is that a child and an uneducated adult can be equally gullible. Also t's not only matter of obeying authority, religion is also a by-product of our ability to see patterns even if they do not exist.

[@jamesshin4901]

This is excellent!! Thank you, Mr. Dawkins.

[@effimia3]

The cure of the sickness of religion involves at all stages "the transformation of selfish happiness-seeking love" into "the selfless love of one's own crucifixion" which I nothing of

[@skilifavas4016]

I ended up here watching my dear inspiration Richard Dawkins because I arrived at the same analogy and I'm not even suprised.

[@mj13again]

Wow, interesting way to look at it.

[@madscientistshusta]

Its so sad that the world only produces visonarys like prof. Dawkins once in a generation. Thank the earth we got him when we did though!😁

[@nv7287]

How can these kids be so scratchy and itchy! - i'd pay money to be there!

[@DarkMatter1919]

Very good insight, excellent analogy.

[@mashable8759]

This is so true because this indoctrination starts at a very young age, the moment a child is born, prayer is sounded in their ears.

[@AntitheistHuman]

that's the very beginning to the problem, too many mindless people walking around, breeding ground for terrorists without even knowing

[@kosys5338]

Man that was very well put and extremely accurate. If you take a brand new baby and want to make it a racist it can be done very easily. As a matter of fact if you put in the effort you can mold a brand new baby to be and think almost anyway you want, just a matter of the proper programming. This is just a fact. Religion is the perfect example, you believe the religion you do because you were programmed by your parents to believe it as were they by their parents. If born in North America your probably Christian. India then your probably Hindu, middle east then probably Muslim, jeez go figure. Richard Dawkins is absolutely right without doubt. God did not create man, man created god and the religion to go with it.

[@cua2279]

thx for this comment openminded humanbeing :)

[@pleasepermitmetospeakohgre1504]

Then how do you explain a Christian becoming an atheist, if it hasn't been programmed to be?

[@kosys5338]

@J bruno Then there is religion that proves nothing, go figure.

[@kosys5338]

@J bruno Oh and your 100% right because unlike the religious I have the ability in the face of overwhelming empirical evidence to say I was wrong. Something the faithful are incapable of because their faith forces them to embrace willful ignorance. I'd rather prove to much than to prove nothing at all. Cheers!

[@chrisengland5523]

@kosys5338 - You've said it exactly as it is. I've had these debates with several Christians and when I tell them that the reason they are Christian has nothing to do with truth, but is due to the fact that they were brainwashed by their parents, they tend to get upset. Most don't seem to understand that had they lived elsewhere, they would believe in a different religion. At least, if they do follow the argument, they refuse to accept the conclusion. It's both sad and disturbing to see otherwise rational, intelligent people, blinded in this way. As has been said before (I've forgotten who by), if one person believes something happened by magic, then they're delusional, but if many people do so, they're religious.

[@likeicare300]

3:32 that reaction difference 😂

[@dreamer2260]

If that guy didn't want to be there, he shouldn't have attended. Disrespectful.

[@adanzye9151]

Definitely a good one.

Amazing speech, as always. Btw why moths fly with the moon at a fixed angle? To fly straight?

[@petermatthiesen8288]

if you have no reference, its impossible to fly/walk/run/drive straight. Its like walk in a foodball field following the lines, with closed eyes. Impossible.

[@sustomusickillsyoutube]

Where's the rest of the talk though...??

[@sanoamanleae7250]

Well said.

[@P1MPST1K]

3:34 that’s probably the nicest way someone could ever put that😂

[@johnbrown6189]

First time l heard this. Brilliant.

[@paulwolf3302]

The analogy to a computer virus seems pretty strained. A better one would be to multi level marketing schemes that have people believing they'll get rich by selling Amway, timeshare properties, and the like. People are drawn into them and are encouraged to recruit others. The stoke and enthusiasm of the believers is what does the convincing. The Amway soap is not actually that exciting, but recruiting more members is, and facilitates your rise in the Amway organization. These schemes also focus their recruiting on family members and close friends. Amway operated in the US for a long time, but when sued for operating an illegal pryamid scheme, settled the case for about $100 million dollars.

[@helenweatherby1694]

Spot on.

[@jesterlead]

Time check: 38 years after Blind Watchmaker, still winning.

[@Mark73]

Before the word "meme" came to mean silly captioned pictures, Dawkins coined it to mean something far greater, simply any idea that replicates through society.

[@prismbrandingrealestatebra6301]

Hundreds of years from now man will look back upon religion with the same shame we look upon slavery.

[@Shitsthebed]

So true 😍

[@frostmourne4598]

Religion is not a virus. The content of the bible is the truth. No one knows the rules governing what lie beyond this world. When there are many people who have encounter with the supernatural like myself, it becomes quite likely that Jesus is not just a myth.

[@gordiusrobustus5341]

@@frostmourne4598 Yeah, he's a bed time story character that puts children to sleep.

[@spicex4k901]

@@frostmourne4598 its not bruh

[@dusandusoleil]

Tnx

[@Kongodiantotela]

BRIIIIIIILLIANT !

[@salopaindahouz]

You Sir are the kapersky of these computer virus

[@FutureAbe]

INCLUDE THE QUESTION.

[@kirstamlew]

Respect is due to Richard Dawkins and to that other great man Thales of Miletus. Begin again people, bury your egos and listen hard, if your intellect does not match those of these men and others like them then that is even more reason why you should stop, shut your own thoughts from spiralling out of control, and learn, and in so-doing, WAKE UP!

[@kasrazr3113]

Well according to this video the reason of believing in a religion is that your parents forced you to believe in a religion in your childhood Well then what about those people that converted into a religion in their adulthood. They weren't forced by anyone

[@blossomx1804]

Uhhh you clearly did not listen well. He spoke of an evolutionary gene in us for accepting advice from authority. God, and religious leaders do represent a type of authority.

[@chrisengland5523]

The percentage of people who convert from one religion to another is absolutely tiny and there's usually some practical reason for doing so, for example, he or she wants to marry someone of that new religion. Also, I question the whole idea as to whether such conversion can be genuine. For example, say you're a Muslim and believe that Mohammed ascended to heaven on a winged horse and that Jesus being the son of God is a load of rubbish. Then a bit later you apparently believe the winged horse story is a load of rubbish and that Jesus actually is the son of God. Really? Seriously? It's impossible to just switch what you believe at will. You need some evidence or a convincing logical argument. So where do these come from? Sure, you can go through the motion of converting, but changing your beliefs is something that you can't simply choose to do.

[@rustyspottedcat8885]

... precisely ...

[@34672rr]

He's wrong about the moth. a moth going into a candle BROILS itself, not fries.

[@soslothful]

Ha! Well played.

[@user-he4ef9br7z]

i am now sure that the hall is stuffy and hot . All the speakers are either shiny or red . the audience seems irritated and itchy and many people walk out.

[@paololuckyluke2854]

Are these students at Oxford University?

[@stefcuiroche1512]

When I was a Christian I used to listen to Richard with contempt. I thought he was the biggest liar and most dangerous person on earth. Fortunately, after many years of struggling with issues of the morality and ethics of god, I eventually had an epiphany of god's evilness as portrayed in the bible. "Kill every man, woman and child", etc, as he commanded, which became the impetus for modern slavery and colonialism under the doctrine of discovery. You're a legend Richard. Thankyou so very much for your work.

[@ankurkaushik7190]

Indians who have watched "Padmavat", Professor Dawkins looks like Raghav Chetan.

[@drgreengood]

Why do some of the attendees chronically cough?

[@drsatan7554]

Disrespect

[@TheSuperTrickey]

Standards are dropping. Like it or not, humans are losing their focus on morality. Whether you agree with religion or not, it does help some people with morality and goodness, and personally I have absolutely no intention of challenging their beliefs and wish to treat them with nothing but love and care.

[@argayudhistira1113]

Most you guys think that because the children vulnerable to such "advices", means that the child wouldnt need any advices. Which is in my opinion also a human's psychological property : arrogance . But, if we never stop learning i'm sure that every individual will arrive to a point where they could reason every advices, so they could 'filter' wether a 2000 years old advice is good or bad or does it still fits today. Pardon my english, i'm not a native speaker 🙏

[@adrianh332]

I've watched a bunch of these videos and it would seem everyone at Oxford has an intractable cough they enjoy sharing with others.

[@joshjackson678]

I honestly dropped my practice of religion years ago, Baptist, but I was still struggling with heaven and hell. had it not been for dawkins and sadguru, I would still be petrified of death!. religion had me depressed as shit. i didnt wanna to go to heaven or hell. once i thought about them more in depth i realized they are both horrible. but it was all i knew and all i had been taught. Then once I learned about evolution and how dawkins explains it, Ive never been more happy to be alive. now all i do is study, read, write(journal) listen. Ive come a long way from being a lil missionary kid preaching about god, to being happy about evolving out of earth

[@sffsf81]

You got decieved by an actual freemason (Richard Dawkin) who partakes in secretive rituals with occult meaning and origin. Hahah!

[@Jumpingjackflash123]

Your problem isn’t religion. It’s that your brain operates at such a low degree that religion actually made sense to you. Just like this metaphor, religion is a virus. If we say that your brain is like your immune system then we can say that the virus of religion got to you and because your immune system (your brain power) was operating at such a low degree than the virus could take a hold. People who legit consider religion as true are people that operate at such a low degree of intellect that heaven and hell and a superconsciousness and walking on fire make sense to them. As you get smarter the idea of religion is laughable. Religion is 100% NOT TRUE. It’s can’t be true. I DENY JESUS AS MY SAVIOR! Does that sentence make you nervous? Am I evil to you or foolish? If I am than religion has still infected you. Me saying that is equivalent to you saying “I deny Clifford the big red dog as my savior!” That’s exactly how I see it because the virus of religion has no hold on me. It’s about as dumb as someone saying they believe in Clifford the big red dog.

[@ihadtochooseaname8532]

The greatest irony is that being strongly convinced as a group, even if the convictions are absolute false, is of great evolutionary advantage in comparison to critical individuals who dare to disagree, like Dawkins himself. They work strongly together as a group, silence criticism, are willing to sacrifice and reproduce more. So genes have a higher probability of survival and transfer to a new generation. Edit: Dawkins describes it as memes (not the internet memes) rather than genes in his book God Delusion.

[@penearth]

Dawkins doesn't dare to disagree. He perpetuates his own religious beliefs, stating them as facts. His is the opposite of creative and logical thinking, with a lot of tedium thrown in.

[@blossomx1804]

Group think. But it's kinda cool to be different, no?

[@freethink8235]

👏

[@sophiaangelini4368]

Richard Dawkins is God.

[@pleasepermitmetospeakohgre1504]

And yet he's asking you not to believe in him 😂

[@kevinmc70]

Unlike Richard Dawkins, I personally believe in the existence of God... That's just my gut-feeling and whether others believe in what I believe makes no difference to me at all because even I am not sure about my own belief! That being said, I find people like Richard Dawkins far more enlightening than any prophet and/or a demagogue!

[@morgancash6575]

try mcafee

[@DinamoDeet101]

you can Believe in the STONE!!! up tou you!!! but THE EARTH is not flat!!!

[@penearth]

How can stating the bleeding obvious be enlightening?

[@georgio1962]

BTW, scientist in the past claim the earth is flat and the universe has no beginning contrary to what the Bible says and proven to be true

[@ptkk21]

He described the idea of religious indoctrination.

[@newonotron2499]

Humans are pack animals, if my "pack" has a firm set of morals and guides that stop us eating each other and having children with their own children my "pack" does better, our social ties and genes are "stronger" than other packs. Hence religion does have a part to play in evolution. This can be basic religions or laws, Dawkins is wrong to just look at how it appears in the modern times where most of the old religions' guidelines are taken as a given in modern society. I've not seen the clip before this however it would appear he's doing what most politicians are doing these days, if you dont like a question, change it to fit the answer you want to give.

[@JhoomerSahib]

Dogs are pack animals. Humans are social animals. Pack animals are led by an alpha male. Humans (try to) cooperate. Religion only plays a part in evolution if you ignore the fact that ethical behavior predates religion. To paraphrase Hitchens: if people didn't already know why killing was wrong before the Ten Commandments, there wouldn't have been any people around to receive them. What "old religious' guidelines are taken as a given in modern society"? Abolition? Women's suffrage? Rights of commoners? Rights of ethnic minorities? The treatment of foreigners? Education for all? In the West, these values have more in common with Enlightenment ideals than they do with religion.

[@dub16100]

Almost sounds like a strategic, continuous cough from an audience member.

[@yannbouteiller2764]

Wait... The main point about religions probably being a side effect of how humans survived is interesting, but this thing about comparing religions to computer viruses is bluntly provocative and doesn't make that much sense to me?

[@petermatthiesen8288]

yes, I agree. All religions has at least some good things to give to the believer of it. You cant say that a computer virus has that.

[@stoyanfurdzhev]

Got it wrong at the end.

[@tracycove257]

As a firm believer of god I really really like this excellent logic and argument from Richard Dawkins, because I amn't religious but love god

[@linkeron1]

? But if u believe in god, u are religious, doesn't matter if u tell yourself or others that u aren't, u still are.

[@BASSER81]

How can you watch this and then believe in Gods 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@MylesAnthonyDelfinPH]

A very long-winded attempt at condescension towards people who practice religion, he could have actually said all of the things that he did in a single sentence rather than go through that painful attempt at allegory involving candles, flames, moths, machines, computers, viruses, and parasitized children.

[@anikettripathi7991]

Virus and antivirus are huge industries.

[@drsatan7554]

Unfortunately it's not easy to sell logic and reason which is the antivirus for religion

[@alinbarba1418]

By this same theory, the fact that the meme of religion propagated since well, the inception of the human race, means there is something very useful to it, since we kept it for such an unfathomably long time span. As such, I would be very careful to completely disregard something so ancient, and I am not referring to the metaphysical aspects of religion but the ones trying to teach us how to act in the world or that try to teach us something about our nature. I do not deny the disruptive corruptions that stemmed from it but ultimately a computer is very useful up until it has a virus, depending on the virus, it can still operate fairly well and if the virus is removed it goes back to normal. I don't think we have conclusive evidence of how religion was just a mistake altogether. Despite all the tragedy it caused, we still kept it. Maybe we deemed the tragedy as a good payoff for the other advantages it provided, and given the scale of the tragedy, that only leads me to think it might be proportional to the benefit.

[@seimerfortin9936]

2:54

[@kennethmarshall306]

Why didn't he say that religion is a by-product of the (evolved) human tendency to see a purpose in the natural world? Something that is, as he knows, a far more powerful explanation. What he is describing here is how religious ideas get transmitted and preserved.

[@GrammeStudio]

i think that would more accurately describe animism or superstition. religion is more complex than that. there's a organized structure and institute that the former doesn't

[@1wannabee1]

Because religion is NOT 'natural', not even close.

[@Ozone280]

I agree about religion being a virus, not so sure about the computer bit.

[@Ozone280]

@AllSeeingEye ofGod You prattle on about the problems with evolution, what about the problems with there being no evidence of your god existing? AllSeeingEyeofGod has his eyes wide shut.

[@Ozone280]

@AllSeeingEye ofGod Rarely watch movies and hads no idea there was one called "Eyes Wide Shut". I used the description to accurately describe your belief in the unbelievable. If you want a word fight go ahead, but you will lose, even though you'll convince yourself you'd won. Told you, the time to give YOUR god attributes is AFTER you provide evidence that it exists. Something the abrahamics have thus far been spectacularly unable to do. 3rd eye? How about talking snakes and donkeys? A man living in a big fish? You seem to like fiction, whereas I've always read history and current affairs. I do agree that nobody can show you god - for one very good reason - god does not exist - not your god anyway.

[@Ozone280]

@AllSeeingEye ofGod Keep taking the tablets - or start taking them again if you've stopped.

[@Ozone280]

@AllSeeingEye ofGod I was about to say...real life, reality, things that actually are...not everyone gets that either.

[@realsciencerhythm]

How's he an atheist if as a freemason he's required to believe in a higher power?

[@drsatan7554]

He just is

[@0577SPROY]

I like this man so much because is very smart, and his English sounds lovely, but please next time take that guy out the room because is coff and coff so much that really sucks!!

[@paddy4478]

Well-said, Prof Dawkins

[@rogerjamespaul5528]

Post by Rex Memo Marcus Aurelius - Philosopher Emperor....I think, could be wrong, "Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones. Post by Golgotha_Mythos69 "Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful." ~Lucius Annaeus Seneca Post by Dorian Philotheates “Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool.” - Mark Twain

[@rogerjamespaul5528]

@J bruno The weird things people say to justify the need to worship an imaginary God thing.

[@saidouceesay3492]

Oh candles weren't there during natural selection for moths? What a mumbo-jumbo!

[@geobla6600]

What Richard states about computer viruses harming the computer is very true. These same principles also apply to evolution where these same mutations are the source of all the genetic code and information needed to build the massive amount of diversification of life on the planet One of the thousands of reasons based on science that that this is problematic that one in a million mutations may not harm , cause infertility or outright kill the animal , but certainly has little to no significance in the speculated evolutionery process. Put the more interesting point is that trillions of trillions of mutations are caught by the 5 different forms of anti virus (mutation correction and removal) that according to the Dawkins of the world must have mutated to stop the mutations. So these 100's of proof readers that are in the majority of the 100, 000,000,000,000 cells in a human body ( 100's x trillions) proofread and are capable of recognizing millions of complex codes , can then disassemble it , remove the specific section of incorrect code and then transmit this information to another molecular machine to go and retrieve the proper code and then reinsert it where the mutated ( or incorrect code was removed.) If for some reason the mutation (antivirus ) is missed , . there still two more correction devices that can correct it. So Dawkins analogy of incorrect information being presented as fact could not be any better suited then mutations developing 5 different levels of complex code( information to be able to recognize the billions of possible mutations) and the molecular machines that can either disassemble it or go and retrieve the proper code ( could be one of millions of different possibilities) and then reinsert it into the proper location? So we have mutations creating anti-virus software ( anti-mutation code) to stop mutations that created it and everything else on earth?

[@1wannabee1]

Evolution changes naturally by itself. Religion is TAUGHT.

[@basharadeeb6]

he's eating his fucking nails the guy on the left side at 0:30

[@nicholassexton2718]

Designer Baby Dawkins, why did you promote Eugenics on your Twitter account?? What do you have to say for yourself, Eugenics Dawkins????

[@bidenator9760]

Slander Dawkins as much as you'd like, religion is just as invalid as it's ever been. First they tried Islamophobia, and now eugenics.

[@soslothful]

Citations for your accusation?

[@joehinojosa8314]

Moral relativism,philosophical nihilism,believing our existence is insignificant in the scheme of the universe,that there is no ultimate hope in existence is "an evolutionary Advantage"? For some unknown REASON suicide prevention counselors never espouse these things to the depressed. I WONDER WHY.

[@soslothful]

Do you suggest moral relativism and the other ideas you list are casual in suicides? How do you know counselors do not discuss them with clients?

[@JabbarRafique]

“Obey authority”. There is a bit to this but not like that. Humans are not like other animals and to equate it like Dawkins does is simply stupid. Our number one issue is caused by our brain. It’s for survival in varied conditions. Unlike other animals however we are aware that we are here and aware that we will not always be here. At some point it made a inadvertent movement to this. It’s something beyond other creatures. It’s transcendent. It’s language/ symbol use. The sort of dogma new atheists like Harris et al, have to science is not the way to deal with religion. Imho.

[@laeequenadvi4746]

Mike Hunt PARTICLE PHYSICS IN HOLY QUR'AN The word " ذرة " used in this verse means atom. Smaller than atom indicate that there are particles smaller than atom. Atom contains electron and proton and.These particles are smaller than atom. و قال الذين كفروا لاتأتينا الساعة ، قل بلى وربى لتاتينكم علم الغيب لا يعزب عنه مثقال ذرة في السموات ولا في الأرض و لا اصغر من ذلك ولا أكبر إلا في كتب مبين o ( سبأ : ٣) Those who disbelieve say: The Hour will never come unto us. Say: Nay, by my Lord, but it is coming unto you surely. (He is) the knower of the Unseen. Not an itom's weight, or less than that or greater, escapeth Him in the heavens or in the earth, but it is in a clear Record". (Qur'an.Saba:3) Modern science knew this fact in 20th century. Who can say 1450 years ago that there are particles smaller than itom? Almighty Allah pointed to the electron and proton particles that are smaller than atom. Even this indicates to the quantum physics. Higs Boson particle is not " God particle". Even Peter Higgs does not agree with this name. Latest researches shows that Higgs Boson is not not a dominating force. It is subordinate body of dark matter and dark matter is still not known well. More researches of the higgs boson negated it's status of " God particle". Every particle is created by Almighty Allah and well-known to Him. He is the Creator of every thing. If yon see meaning of ذرة in Arabic dictionary you will come to know that this word means atom. It is written in all English-Arabic dictionaries. You don't know Arabic. Learn and study more. It is in your interest to believe in Almighty Allah and worship Him only and believe that prophet Muhammad is His last and final messenger. We believe in Jesus( pbuh) that he is prophet of Allah not God. Jesus never claimed the dignity. He was a Muslim and preached Islam as every prophet did from Adam to Prophet Mohammad(pbuh). Mohammad( pbuh) very clearly told his followers that he is a man like others but Allah choosed him and made him His last and final messenger. Muslims do not worship Mohammad but they worship Almighty Allah as prophet Mohammad ( pbuh) taught them. Jesus like Mohammad taught his followers to worship Allah only. The word father means the Lord. In Arabic He is called as رب( Lord)not God. Hope it is very clear now for every followers of prophet Jesus(pbuh) If we Muslims do not believe in Jesus as a prophet we are not Muslis and not acceptable to Almighty Allah. If a follower of JESUS wants to go in Paradise after death they should revert to Islam earliest possible and work as prophet Mohammad taught otherwise they may not enter into Paradise. Almighty Allah bless all of us DR.MOHAMMAD LAEEQUE NADVI Ph.D. (Arabic Lit.) M.A. Arabic Lit.+Islamic Studies) Director Amena Institute of Islamic Studies & Analysis A Global & Universal Institute, Donate to promote this Institute SBI A/C30029616117 Kolkata,Park Circus Branch [e-mail] Thanks

[@rsl6767]

Great analogy, Dawkins is an anti-virus program

[@1wannabee1]

WRONG. RD is the computer programmer who Destroys viruses, ie Religion!

[@Robertfrench3364]

this guy rox

[@RifaOnGaming]

God save the Queen

[@pinth]

Dawkins presents a limited perspective on the utility of repurposing infant psychology in adulthood. Obedience to authority can go a very long way in war, which determines the survival of genes over other genes. Religion entails obedience not only to humans but to an extreme supernatural power (even if only a latent force in the subconscious, atheists). Religion, therefore, gives the fight for survival a special sharpness. Dawkins seems biased toward the absence of any survival utility in repurposing the psychological mechanisms of infants, rather than fully exploring the very wide range of its possible utility in survival. Perhaps these mechanisms of obedience to authority were never even exclusive to infants, but were present in other manifestations in humans of all ages, as various expressions of the process of connecting with a superior source of content, which has universal utility. In infants, connecting with a superior source of content takes the form of obeying parents. In adulthood, connecting with a superior source of content takes the form of receiving wisdom from elders, reading books, etc. In late life, connecting with a superior source of content takes the form of connecting with the best possible future beyond the horizon of death.

[@TallicaMan1986]

Yeah but we can do this with or without Religion and they do in the scientific community now that no one is burning their lifes work over some religions text. Spirituality isn't really religion. "Religion entails obedience not only to humans but to an extreme supernatural power" we do this as well in Spirituality, but instead of submitting to outside forces. You are one of the same of those outside forces and that this power is within you too. Yes, you can do this with religion, but honestly. It's Love that ultimately gets us to that place. Actual Real Love. Whether its for your country, family, and even within Religion, but you don't need religion to do this or have that feeling of possession where every move you make can't go wrong. In your second paragraph. I think Imma disagree with that perspective. I truly believe we should be learning from eachother at All times. We tried the whole superior method and it has it's uses in smaller scale communities, but as it stands right now. The youth have a lot more to learn and teach then probably any other generation ever because of Hyperconnectivity and how fast technology is moving. We have to adapt to the population.

[@rawjor]

debate the hijab guy pls

[@pleasepermitmetospeakohgre1504]

This man believes that we evolved from 'a common ancestor". Yeah, so common that absolutely no fossil record exists of 'it' 😁

[@dannylad1600]

And where is the evidence of god recorded..?

[@dannylad1600]

@J bruno why?

[@Broomtwo]

I think he misses his own point entirely. The evolutionary advantage of religion is not to make obedient children (or obedient adults for that matter). That would assume all religions are based on doctrine and that all religions are inherited. History tells us that neither of those are true, religions can spring up seemingly out of thin air, and people convert to them, and also not all religions are doctrinal or even necessarily are well defined, they are malleable. Rather, religion exists to provide meaning, a purpose to life, and often a set of moral principles to work towards that purpose. It is a way of explaining the world around us, so that we can then navigate our way through it. Religion explains reality by saying there is some power greater than you, that although a human inclination might be to think they know everything and are infallible, there is always something greater than them, meant for them to be humbled by. There is probably some evolutionary utility in this while in a sort of tribe, the way we evolved.

[@petermatthiesen8288]

Sorry to say I think yo mis understand Dawkins. By no means he say that religion is to make obedient children. What he say is that children are, by nature, believing anything their parents tell them and thats how religion is sneaked into them. Religion uses this "opening". For a while children are like a border with no border patrols. This is the window where religion has to enter. If it misses that window, it will be very hard because later there will be patrols at that border that blocks for bullshit (sorry). Also I would like to comment that religion is NOT a way to explain the world around us. Science does that much better. I saw a paster in US saying "The sun came out of Gods mouth" !! Is that the sort of explanation you seek and want your kids to believe?

[@petermatthiesen8288]

@AllSeeingEye ofGod Thank you so much for your lengthy answer to me. Certainly I will spend some time watching the links you provided. Maybe I can change my mind, who knows. Certainly I appreciate your time and effort in guiding me, for you, the correct way.

[@petermatthiesen8288]

@AllSeeingEye ofGod Sure. The truth is that I am in Brazil, surrounded by many very religious people. And in fact I envy them. Because their faith give them so much. But you cant force faith upon yourself. You can help it by learning but the actual faith has to arrive as a consequence. So thats what I am doing, I study and hopefully, faith will come. Thank you again for your help. I am on to it. Slowly but surely.

[@assanshaukat3058]

So what about those who come to a religion in adulthood? He is using the fact that children can be 'taught' to attack something he dislikes. It would therefore mean a child shown atheist views at a young age has a virus, would it not?

[@evincelik61]

Corona virus covid 19

[@Bowhabdle1000]

Where is the David icke episode ?!?!?!

[@Seekingtruth63]

Good use of terminologies but bad analogy!

But children grow up and use logic and computers get installed anti-virus software

[@drsatan7554]

Become atheists lol Logic and reason are the anti-virus to religion. If you still believe in religion then you haven't been exposed to enough

[@zahramahde2096]

This is so cool Its the best time of my life Its amazing You know we are all hear creating HISTORY We are kind of living in the past and future You just need to get your 3D glasses 🌺❤🙏😊 Read the Quran And you will be sure of many things Just be happy that Islam is shining throughout again everywhere.

[@muhamedadel5859]

It is the type of relation between an infant and his parents that makes him listen to them, that relation is called family and it's part of his primitiveness. Even a child would seek the origin of his existence and will eventually recognize that his parents are part of the process that yielded him becoming alive. and yet we still see some people claiming that their origin is unknown, nothing, chance or evolution while denying the most simple and logical relation and that is we're created and there is a creator.

[@mauricelaidler4789]

muhamed adel Simple, but not logical.

[@muhamedadel5859]

@@mauricelaidler4789 why do you think it's not logical ?

[@petermatthiesen8288]

ah. its not logik that something can make a thing out of clay and then say some magic and puff, there is a human.

[@muhamedadel5859]

@@petermatthiesen8288 Not far away ago, it wasn't logical for someone to speak at a part of the world while another one is being able to hear/see him at the same moment. *What do you think is more logical ?* telling someone we woke up one morning and we're able to telecommunicate, or telling him that we communicate by establishing the underlying communication infrastructure. then we *say some magic* - ( communication protocol ). and *beep* there is a communication.

[@petermatthiesen8288]

@@muhamedadel5859 I understand what you are saying. Nobody in the stone age would ever imagine that man can walk on the moon. However, when you then see that it can be done, understand how it can be done, dont keep saying that it needs a miracle. Same with the creation. Science KNOW how it all came about, using logik. Science dont guess or read in old books. Still I claim that its easier to say "A creator did it", but it has nothing to do with logik.

[@1233moktar]

Creationism FTW!