Think For Yourself: Breaking Out Of Indoctrination

I will be on tour of North America, UK & EU talking about my latest book, religion, life on earth and beyond. I will be joined on stage by a range of friends and foes on stage. The events will include a Q&A and a limited meet-and-greet. You can get your tickets here: richarddawkins...
#richarddawkins #richarddawkinstour
It was my pleasure to speak with the physicist Janna Levin, about a range of subjects around religion, morality and improving public scientific literacy.
How does our society rob children of the right to truth, by indoctrinating them into their beliefs at an early age? We discuss freedom through science, the inspiration of that led to my books Outgrowing God, The Selfish Gene, Climbing Mount Improbable and Unweaving The Rainbow, morality and altruism, and the love and hate my work receives in equal parts from across the world.
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[@Jjengering]

How lucky is humanity to have such a wonderful mind amongst us in our time. I do hope we have Dawkins for many more years.

[@ossiedunstan4419]

Would be lucky if religion did not exist.

[@BoylenInk]

Evolution is in no way a reason to be atheist. In the history of the world there has never been a person who looked around and said, look at all this bio-diversity, there must be a god. No religion in the the history of the world has used bio-diversity as an argument for god(s) existence. And yet it is a historical fact that evolution is fundamental to the modern rise of atheism and it utterly fails as a logical reason for it.

[@fionagregory9147]

@@ossiedunstan4419 it will be gone in another century.

[@Manehoph]

are you really lucky?

[@fionagregory9147]

I am lucky and English too.

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

Followed and respected your good self as well as Hitch (greatly missed) and Stephen Fry for years and have always been filled with admiration for you all. I hadn't heard about your stroke but I am glad you are pulling through nicely by the looks of it. More power to you Professor.

[@rudolfboukal1538]

Janna Levin is absolutely brilliant in this presentation. She brings out the best in her guest, Richard Dawkins. What a great host, and even better conversation. Thank you!

[@TheWorldTeacher]

Great and lowly are RELATIVE. 😉 Incidentally, Slave, are you VEGAN? 🌱

[@davethebrahman9870]

The extraordinary thing about his works on evolution is that they are not merely fine works of scientific education, but also literary masterpieces.

[@briansmith3791]

Dawkins is a great communicator of Science, his books are marvelous. Unfortunately outside of science, in the real world, he's seriously deluded. Many of the 'intellectual elite' have little idea of the real world the rest of us live in.

[@davethebrahman9870]

@@briansmith3791 Very true. His takes on politics are embarrassing.

[@briansmith3791]

@@davethebrahman9870 There's more than Dawkins like that. In this age of social media , we can now know how the academics and the intellectuals view the world. I find it disturbing that many of them are so far removed from the real world. They live in an intellectual bubble.

[@trout3685]

​@@davethebrahman9870care to elaborate?

[@davethebrahman9870]

@@trout3685 He’s Progressive, just standard politics for his class.

[@attosharc]

A brilliant man, and I still hope to meet him. Conversations like this need to be heard by everyone.

[@abdiadan4837]

A wonderful man critcally thinking for himself asking him self great question that my direct him find his creator and creator of the universe and that are known and unkown and are on universe or on universe hidden or unhidden ;

[@RichardDawkinsIsaNonce]

@@attosharc I would say the child molestation excludes him from being a brilliant man.

[@artofmusic303]

The most valuable lesson my mother every taught me: think for yourself. When the school held a dance for 8th graders, my fundamentalist church said not to go because dancing is a sin. My mother said "Think for yourself." I did, I went, and was glad I did.

[@RichardDawkinsIsaNonce]

@@artofmusic303 Exactly, i decided one day not to listen to supposed authoritys like Dawkins and to think for myself which is when i realised that God must exist.

[@koalaplays8855]

@@RichardDawkinsIsaNonceand why must god exist? 😀

[@RichardDawkinsIsaNonce]

@@koalaplays8855 Why must he not exist? I told you i learned to think for myself. The problem is Dawkins tells people to think for themselves but if they don't come to the same conclusion he has then they must be wrong 🤔

[@koalaplays8855]

@@RichardDawkinsIsaNonce can you answer the question, your the one making a claim, not me 😀

[@RichardDawkinsIsaNonce]

@@koalaplays8855 I was actually responding to someone elses comment agreeing why we should think for ourselves, so i wasn't making a claim i was explaining coming to a conclusion that appeared to me the most rational. Perhaps you would be better responding to the original commenter on why they came to the conclusion dancing is not a sin. Are you the arbiter of truth?

[@JeanineLaMonica_fem]

My favorite part was calling out those parents and others who label children with their religion. Brilliant!

[@samdg1234]

My favorite part (mind I'm only 4 minutes into it) is Richard's immediate jump into propaganda. At 3:20 he says "That is not what we do" after they just did it.

[@hjalmarolethorchristensen9761]

It is Abuse...

[@TheWorldTeacher]

Brilliant and lacklustre are RELATIVE. 😉 Incidentally, Slave, are you VEGAN? 🌱

[@granthurlburt4062]

Or their atheism before the age of reason. Very important in both cases. I'm lucky my parents let me choose.

[@granthurlburt4062]

@@samdg1234You completely misunderstood.

[@dennyworthington6641]

I like the idea that the bodies of all creatures are simply vessels that carry the immortal genes from generation to generation.

[@Apostle-of-Reason]

“Atheism is a natural result of intellectual honesty.” (Paulo Bitencourt, book ‘Liberated from Religion’)

[@ObservantHistorian]

Agreed. I should think that following the daily news and a general familiarity with history would be enough to dispel the notion of a merciful god.

[@briansmith3791]

@@ObservantHistorian We have observable evidence for one fine-tuned universe. For me, that points to a creator of some sort. That fine-tuning precludes any physical interference, so a creator cannot physically interfere even if it wanted to.

[@ObservantHistorian]

@@briansmith3791 Which is your personal take. You should take a look at the arguments against "fine-tuning," that take into account reality, instead of ignoring everything that ISN"T fine-tuned. Like all religious claims, there are millions of others who will make the opposite claim, so that the "god" assertion has NO agreed or understood meaning whatsoever, beyond what any INDIVIDUAL believer says it means to them. On the other hand, ALL the gods ever proposed have all shared the common trait of being invisible and evidence-free, and all for the same reason. You need to learn the difference between evidence and assertion. Atheism is a natural result of intellectual honesty.

[@briansmith3791]

@@ObservantHistorian What are the arguments against fine-tuning? If you had known anything about the universal fine-tuning argument you would know that it's not a Religious claim. Fine-tuning precludes any physical interference in the universe, ruling out ALL Religious Gods. The fine-tuned Physical Constants were inherent in the initial conditions of the Big Bang. Let me hear some of that "intellectual honesty" you claim to have.

[@ObservantHistorian]

@@briansmith3791My comment had to do with atheism. If you acknowledge that your beliefs precludes religious gods, what about my initial comment prompted you to talk about the "fine-tuned universe"? Nothing I said raises the topic one way or the other. If your argument isn't religious, what are you rabbiting on at ME about? Regarding the arguments against the "fine-tuned universe," I'm exhausted with people who expect to be spoon-fed information they can't be bothered to look up for themselves.

[@sobekneferu4041]

One of the best conversations on this channel! It was a joy to watch 😊

[@Slywulf86]

The world needs leaders like, Mr. Dawkins. Critical thinking like his makes the world a better place for everyone. Thanks for what you do! Mrs. Levin you rock as well!! 😄

[@christinleetmaa8259]

Critical thinking requires a bit toleration towards the subject you are handling. Just hating religions and laughing about "silly people comments" shows you need just audience who agrees with you. Here is nothing to do with critical thinking.

[@Slywulf86]

@@christinleetmaa8259 None religious people are not the ones that have been offing one another in "biblical proportions" for at least centuries, just because they don't follow the same god that the other made up, Talk about intolerance. On that topic, why are you here if you don't like them? Because from here it looks like you are just stirring the pot. A pot you obviously don't understand at all. I'll take a stab in the dark here and guess you are a religious person. I say that because your lack of "practice what you preach" is showing.

[@pankaja7974]

@@Slywulf86 whatever you expressed above sweetie, are those thoughts of yours simply by products of chemical reactions going on in our brain when your wrote them or do they more than that ? if more I want to know why you think so.

[@davidD3968-dd]

Janna is a gem. Lovely interview.

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

Well-read and has clearly done her homework. Good interview where she gave the good professor all the room he needed for thoughtful answers.

[@stardust_memories2260]

Janna is an amazing interviewer. Her questions are every bit as interesting and clearly expressed as Dr Dawkins' answers.✨

[@vladtheimpalerofyourmom-ag5112]

Long time fan. Thankyou for many years of contribution to science, writing and public conversation. My favourite Dawkins moment was probably the Q and A with George Pell…maybe not the most important contribution to the world but the funniest moment I’ve seen on TV and I must say reminds me of the reverse exorcism joke 😆

[@vladtheimpalerofyourmom-ag5112]

Also if you ever come to Adelaide there is an ex-Mormon bishop/scientist you should meet named Simon Southerton. Would make an interesting discussion around religion and in particular around DNA evolution and the Book of Mormon.

[@maboleth]

Tremendously enjoyed this episode and the host - always a pleasure seeing you both. Thank you!

[@jinstinky501]

Jenna is amazing! What a treat to see you two together!!

[@albwilso9]

I have followed you through the years and read The Selfish Gene and The Extended Phenotype. you help me to understand the the world and universe better!!

[@majajackson777]

One of my most favourite conversations. I love how Richard always combines scientific facts with such eloquence. It's just a joy to listen to him. I feel so lucky that I got so see him in person. What an incredible human being. And he's funny too. What else can you ask for?

[@Wrensan]

Thanks!

[@robinghosh5627]

Greatest Exponent in search for scientific evidence, critical thinking and reasoning in the eternal quest for the Truth...Amazing Discourse..Thank You Sir Richard ( should be Knighted)..Appreciation Forever ❤❤❤

[@farid6072]

Thank you, prof Dawkins. You are a gift to us all. Please know that you have brought so much positivity to this world, taught and helped us all so much, and I hope every day in your life, you are focussed on the positive in everything.

[@tedaspiotis]

Scientists and philosophers of the 21th century. Keep it up!!

[@eniggma9353]

People like you or Hitchens are really a blessing to people in overly religious=overly hippocritical enviroments. Thank you.

[@briansmith3791]

Hitchens publicly supported the invasion and destruction of Iraq. I million died. Dawkins supports Israel even as it commits genocide. Where is the blessing to people?

[@pankaja7974]

they are a curse. they are fooling you by hiding the truth

[@mirandahotspring4019]

@@pankaja7974 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@SagheerAhmed-ps6km]

Professor Richard Dawkins is great person who has changed the thinking of mankind

[@sobekneferu4041]

Oh I just love this conversaton between 2 brilliant people ! Janna Levin is inspiring and so intelligent. And Dawkins is one of my heros

[@fionagregory9147]

Heroes*

[@blessedbaphomet]

​@@fionagregory9147 pedant.

[@fionagregory9147]

@@blessedbaphomet I don't charge for teaching. 👍

[@suedonaldson9815]

Fascinating discussion. You kickstarted my old brain with this wonderfully accessible discussion.

[@Namrevlis1938]

Doctors Dawkins and Levin, you are my favorite people in all the known universe. Fondest regards, David Silverman, MİT, 1962.

[@magorzatabrzezinska9380]

Dear Professor, yes, I want to understand. That is the essence of my existence since the rational man in me awoke. I was then five years old and a bit. I am very pleased with Your lectures, conversations and arguments. Philosophically, I am finally home.

[@karenseale9372]

The best discussion ever!!!

[@tommyvictorbuch6960]

There's no hate like Christian love.

[@phildoodler2199]

Don’t attribute hate to Christian’s alone.

[@Smartypants11]

​@@phildoodler2199 facts

[@phildoodler2199]

@@Smartypants11 oh, well. That one word beats all debate and argument. Congratulations!

[@Glasstable2011]

@@phildoodler2199nobody is attributing hate to Christians alone. But for a group that professes love above all else, it’s kinda ironic how many relish the idea of terrible things happening to none-believers.

[@phildoodler2199]

@@Glasstable2011 that’s easy to say without any statistical analysis of which groups of people have a monopoly on hate. Hatred is a human failing which everyone suffers from to some degree. Anyway, some people call themselves Christian’s, but are far from it.

[@tonyfendex2558]

A great scientist, EDUCATOR and an AMAZING HUMAN BEING--better than all theists put together!!!

[@TheWorldTeacher]

Great and lowly are RELATIVE. 😉 Incidentally, Slave, are you VEGAN? 🌱

[@saeedTHEgreat]

A biologist & a philosopher who also knows his way around physics and poetry. Much love to Richard and to Janna.

[@douglaschinn5132]

THANK YOU RICHARD DAWKINS!🙂❤

[@Baka_Komuso]

I taught critical thinking for forty years until my illness in 2016. So many seem unable or preoccupied with the necessities of life to practice it.

[@phildoodler2199]

Are you implying religious folk don’t critically think?

[@mlthornton1]

You taught how to think for 40 years yet can't write a clear thought?

[@Glasstable2011]

@@phildoodler2199if they are members of the abrahamic religions, where almost every page of their holy books are filled with ideas that run completely contrary to scientific knowledge and even common sense, how can they possibly be thinking critically about their beliefs?

[@brianwarburton4482]

Three cheers for Richard Dawkins.

[@RichardDawkinsIsaNonce]

Three boos for Dr Dick Dawkins

[@alanevery215]

Why!!!​@@RichardDawkinsIsaNonce

[@douglaschinn5132]

THANK YOU JANNA LEVIN! ❤🙂

[@jb6748]

Studying religion as a full believer made me "atheist." 😅

[@maxxkarma]

Then your still not where you need to be.

[@Cmkrs34]

Same happened to me

[@jb6748]

@@Cmkrs34 How old were you?

[@Warschach87]

The Bible says "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge". Why would you go by religions filled with men? “But the time is coming-indeed it’s here now-when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth."

[@mikerodgers7620]

You'll believe in Jesus Christ when it's too late heathen.

[@magdalenachadrys9437]

Happy Birthday, Mr Dawkins! ❤🎉🌷🌿🌱🪴🌺😘🥀🍸🍾🍰🌹🪻🏵️🌼🌿🌷🌎🌱🪴

[@steelcom5976]

Two things gave me the proof that I was right, one from Dawkins explaining the path of the laryngeal nerve of the giraffe, and the team of scientists that found the Tiktaalik fossils using their knowledge in a number of areas that turned speculation into their exact location. No quasi-based religion has ever accomplished anything of that magnitude.

[@jordandthornburg]

Bro are you kidding? I mean that as a serious question. All the evidence of design and the spectacular complexity at the nano molecular level is overthrown entirely by one nerve which we don’t understand the intention of plus one fossil? That’s all it took?

[@steelcom5976]

@@jordandthornburg Not a serious question by any stretch. Evidence of design? Where? Actually forget it. I'm not interested in your nonsense.

[@jordandthornburg]

@@steelcom5976 the heart of my question is serious. I want to know if really that is all it took because that is wild to me if so. Why is evidence for design apriori nonsense? That seems like what you are implying or saying which is a very weird thing to say or think. I hope you don’t actually think that.

[@blessedbaphomet]

​@@jordandthornburgThere is no evidence of design, much less intelligent design. You're confusing a subjective perspective of biology with objective reality.

[@jordandthornburg]

@@blessedbaphomet yes there is. This is just nonsense question begging. All of our observations involve subjectivity. That doesn’t mean things appearing to be a certain way is not evidence they are in fact that way. Of course it is.

[@floriankrones3062]

❤❤❤ love to both! absolut gems!

[@cooswillemse7551]

Welcome back Dawkins. Greatly missed over the last couple of years where woke idiots tried to cancel you. Brilliant scientist and speaker

[@christinaalhinnawi5773]

The man who speaks clarity and not confusion..each statement he makes makes so much sense to the hearer.You are our saviour!

[@fritsgerms3565]

Funny. I never "needed" a better theory to know that the current one was wrong. The contradictions, the immoral morals, the fact that the dedicated all believed something different and geographic influence were enough to turn me from "it".

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

Exactly. It's mainly an accident of birth: where and to what kind of parents isn't it? If raised in a restricted-reading cult what else can happen?

[@mlthornton1]

@@TerryMcGearyScotland I think you are trapped by a learned helplessness in your own thinking. See if you can find answers your own questions without mockery and flippancy.

[@mattorr2256]

@@mlthornton1religion should be mocked without remorse due to all of the tragedy that has been produced by it. I mock it multiple times a day everyday

[@mlthornton1]

​@mattorr2256 good boy! I don't get it. You all go around looking for applause because you defy the man with your critical thinking powers.

[@ZenTheMC]

@@mlthornton1religion is a dying concept in the age of the technological singularity. Most future religions if they’re still called that, will likely worship an artificial super intelligence, or “machine god”.

[@roblloyd1879]

Back in the 50s, up to age about 9 I went to Sunday school and asked for bible story books as presents. We were a one parent family and my mother worked shifts as a bus clippie so I spent lots of time alone. I loved books and reading and my mother bought me a set of encyclopedias although she could ill afford it. What a mind opener, I began exploring everything. I lost belief in a god very rapidly and also started to question many of the accepted scientific theories of the time, particularly in reference to the development of Homo Sapiens. By the age of 11 I was already questioning the straight line theory of evolution and already believed we may have mated with other species, particularly Neanderthal. I think this was the real start of being labelled as a conspiracy theorist. Surprise I was right all along. I have a long history of being castigated as a conspiracy theorist, back in the day it was called a doom-monger, only to mostly being proved right.

[@amagara1990]

Dr Richard Dawkins, a gift to humanity from the universe.

[@WALLMUSICNOW]

Letting go of religion happens when you discover your self worth

[@cocobunitacobuni8738]

My son is 6 years old and knows many of the gods...Zeus, Mercury, Rama, Osiris, Thor (he calls them imaginary creatures)...he will not find it strange to learn about one called Yaweh or Allah.

[@phildoodler2199]

I know of more than that, albeit I’m more than 6yrs old. Don’t block of his curiosity in finding the one true God.

[@diaryofnricom163]

@@phildoodler2199 we are all ears to know. Tell us O the wise one, tell us about this true one.

[@MedicRN]

@@phildoodler2199so many gods not to believe In.

[@mlthornton1]

@@OnlyScienceRules ok John Lennon

[@mattorr2256]

@@phildoodler2199disregard this. Let your son know the truth about the absurdity of the teachings of the bible. All of the killing in the name of god over thousands of years. A good a d moral person can cone about without worshipping any “one true god”.

[@babusastry]

EVERYTHING evolves, living and non living, at their own rate. That is an underlying theme ever since the big bang. Cheers

[@TheJollyMisanthrope]

The problem with religion is when it becomes institutionalized and used as a means to enforce the will of government.

[@donnad1204]

Best interview I’ve seen of Dawkins 😮

[@albwilso9]

You are right about “getting out the word”, to all the people, and continuing into old age!!!!!😂

[@theantisalessalesclubwithl5827]

Great interviewer! Well done Janna!

[@TechnikMeister2]

Not so long ago, I was told about a star in the Sword of Orion that we can see in the night sky. The James Webb telescope was able to zoom in closer than anything before and lo, the image showed a central star and around it was a solar system forming from gas and particles in a disk, much like our own solar system. It gave us a view of the creation of our own Solar System. Then it was discovered to be a million times the size as our own. That floored me.

[@brendansherlock6442]

And all that and everything was created intelligently

[@wanton1234]

I like Mr. Dawkins, am a cultural Christian.

[@havocgr1976]

"test how hot hell is".There is a nice joke related to that.If all the scientists are going to hell it probably has AC already ;p

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

Maybe a deal with the devil could solve out energy crisis. Just a thought. But maybe he's burning fossil fuels so bad idea.

[@n8rsk8r41]

It doesnt

[@garyt123]

Of course it doesn't, it doesn't exist. It's a great joke though 😂👍

[@sibanought]

Having to live in a non-secular country under theism would be hell for me. ​@@garyt123

[@johnyang1420]

@@garyt123You will be surprised that it is real

[@pixie3458]

The fan mail is hilarious... Haven't laughed so much in ages! 🤣🤣

[@paulfaganpianist]

Wow, that segment where he reads love letters had me dying laughing. Never expected professional comedy level convulsions from Richard Dawkins. 😂

[@alwayswong]

A powerhouse intellectual whose namesake I'm privileged to share, and though I disagree with his views on religion and his position would have no bearing on my beliefs since for me, it's a personal and private endeavour as I journey through this maze of life, I would want to see him and his ilk engage more with the woke Lgbt+++ which imho is just creating so much confusion in our society

[@babusastry]

ONLY science is same for EVERYONE. Cheers

[@hjalmarolethorchristensen9761]

True, smart Word 👍

[@missypead2293]

Wrong science is changing all the time.

[@missypead2293]

especially the fact people. That science now says there are multiple genders, and there are more than two gender.

[@hjalmarolethorchristensen9761]

@@missypead2293 science is changing all the time offcorse....

[@babusastry]

@@missypead2293 silly!! Sciene is a process of investigating what is true in the universe and the found truth is same for everyone in universe. Oxygen, water, carbon and gasoline etc. are same in every corner of the universe! Understood?

[@borgiobesieger2806]

As a Germanic person I choose to honor my ancestors! We where our own gods and goddesses! We where the brothers and sisters of Wodan and Freya 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

[@aquinasnabiswa]

Elite conversation.

[@toddoneil7230]

I love you Richard

[@garrettpeters2547]

I love him reading his "fan" mail at 39:40.... It's always important to take a little part of your day to mock the fanatical, triggered, religious zealots around us.

[@johnhough7738]

"... so many gods to NOT believe in ..." A very perspicacious observation. I wish I'd come up with that myself.

[@johnhough7738]

On the Garden of Eden ... the minds boggles, flooded with unbidden images of naked couples, angels waving eviction notices, apples (some say pomegranates) and oodles of troubled cherubs. But ... all went exactly as the omniscient omnipotent had it all planned aeons before. (It couldn't do otherwise, could it? Yes, no, maybe?)

[@I.Reckon]

The fact that religious people watch and comment on a video like this one, that points to the redundancy of religion, underlines the shakiness and vulnerability of their faith. Without even trying, the spotlight of science and application of commonsense, continue to relegate religious dogma into anthropological history, where it belongs.

[@blusheep2]

Dawkins hardly challenges the position of a theist. Maybe the young earth creationist types but not the rest. Dawkins is kinda good at his job but hes more of a self promoter then an amazing scientist. He is absolutely horrible at philosophical reasoning.

[@I.Reckon]

@blusheep2 I don't think Dawkins cares too much about theists or their religion, so long as they keep creationism out of the science classroom and stop indoctrinating children with their nonsense.

[@blupandax7902]

Atheists comment on religious videos too. What do you have to say about that?

[@I.Reckon]

@@blupandax7902 I agree that some atheists are actively anti-religious but most of us don't care so long as they keep their 'god bothering nonsense' to themselves.

[@geneticalintrovert226]

​@@blupandax7902Because we either like the Content or are searching for Answers to Question we have. Whats your point? Your "Argument is as stupid as saying "There is a Heavymetal Concert, i wonder why so many HM-Enjoyers are gathered here".

[@lewissmith350]

Cool show, interesting stuff, I like alot of Christians,and a lot of atheists. As also people of other faiths, Dawkins is a great humanist.

[@briansmith3791]

"Dawkins is a great humanist"? LOL. He praised the warmonger John McCain as a "good man", has "no sympathy" for Julian Assange and supports Israel even as it commits genocide. Find someone else to admire.

[@brightroarttttbbbb]

Atheism refutes its own discourse. Let's think of someone who does not believe because he does not see God. We do not see atoms with our eyes, we do not see the energy emitted by some devices that can be controlled by remote control. The eye cannot see everything. Human beings need to believe by nature because they are weak and face many struggles and troubles. A safe haven is infinite power. The owner is Allah, most people believe in Allah, they pray and Allah sees His servants, He helps when needed, the last religion Islam says that Allah exists and is one.❤❤

[@joshjackson678]

Bro those letters are top notch. I’m so happy he reads them, bahaha I’m rolling 😂😂

[@granthurlburt4062]

I'm an atheist, or at most a "believer" in Spinoza's God, but I find the rainbow has a beauty that is lessened when you think of the physical explanation, which makes perfect sense. Robert Pirsig (Zen & Art of motor. Maintenance) described two types of beauty: a. Romantic beauty, like the curves of a motorcycle; and b. classical beauty, in the sense of the functioning of a motorcycle. I would suspect Dawkins isnt a very good photographer and doesnt appreciate art much (I could be wrong). I use, teach, and apply statistics, and only accept empirical reality as truth, but I like the world of the romantic imagination too. To the best of my knowledge, it was Blake who said he'd happily have killed Newton for explaining the rainbow. But Keats may well have said what he did. To me, art is expressing reality with what appeals to the emotion, whereas science appeals to measurable reality and reason.

[@seans9203]

Thank you once again Richard and you as well awesome Janna - great stuff :O) cheers, Sean

[@Mudflap1110]

Non religiously (of course) I love your brain!

[@anonemouse3768]

In High School I became agnostic. I then read the bible and became an atheist.

[@johnyang1420]

Im a former atheist….I became a devout Catholic. Take RCIA and ask your questions there.

[@anonemouse3768]

@@johnyang1420 why would you do something so foolish? Your statement doesn't ring true.

[@blusheep2]

@@anonemouse3768 So only fools can evaluate evidence and reason and make judgments that you disagree with? Atheism is no different than theism. In both camps you have people with desire, and that desire skews the way they evaluate things. Most people don't believe because of evidence but because of their desires. Your statement proves the point because you couldn't just disagree with him or be curious about what changed him. You had to call him a fool. Because you haven't been convinced then there must be something wrong with someone who has. That is a very shallow take on reality.

[@anonemouse3768]

@@blusheep2 One of the best definitions of faith. "Believing in something you know is not true". There is zero evidence in any religion. I was being polite when I used the word "foolish" I have read the bible, parts of the torah, and the koran. They are all fantasies.

[@blusheep2]

@@anonemouse3768 _One of the best definitions of faith. "Believing in something you know is not true"._ Well that isn't a definition of faith. You might have invented that definition in your own mind but that isn't one you would find in any dictionary, so I'm going to just brush that away and act like you didn't say something so silly. _There is zero evidence in any religion._ If you think that, then you need to read more. _I was being polite when I used the word "foolish"_ Ok, thanks for revealing, again, your character. _I have read the bible, parts of the torah, and the koran. They are all fantasies._ Reading something doesn't make it a fantasy. Don't think I didn't notice that you were unable to address any of my points. I can only imagine that is because you aren't a critical thinker and your not that intelligent about the way you have addressed this issue. From what I can tell, from your comments, if you have an opinion on something then everybody needs to tow the line or they are fools or worse. This shows the shallowness of your intellectual honesty and returns us to my point that most people don't hold to their beliefs because of evidence but because of desire. I'd wager that your position is driven more by your desire then any honest critical analysis of the facts.

[@257rani]

❤🧠🧬❤Richard and Janna ❤The Best Podcast ❤Thanks ❤

[@fionagregory9147]

Richard Dawkins made me an atheist. Thanks Mr Dawkins.

[@johnyang1420]

Atheism is not good

[@fionagregory9147]

@@johnyang1420 oh yes it is dear person. Bye.

[@nombrequedeseo]

Richard Dawkins has helped so much in my personal process of adopting a rational way to think and feel after being an atheist for years and to accept that the religious people I cherish are so wrong!

[@larryparis925]

This is wonderful. Many, many thanks.

[@JCResDoc94]

*40:00** +++ Fan mail segment.* _JC

[@oldcowbb]

37:29, actually there is a reason for that in terms of computer science, for some problem, it is easier to check the validity of a solution than to calculate the solution from scratch

[@crispyrobot77]

One day soon (for the END is nigh) the Tooth Fairy will RISE from the Dead and replace all of His believers' teeth.. with dentures. Sounds as logical as the story of Noah right?

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

🙂 Reminds me of one of our old Irish comedian's (Dave Allan I think) routines where he was relating a fire-and-brimstone minister shouting with vigour at the congregation about the last day when " there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!" . An old voice pipes up "But I haven't got any teeth!". The bellowed reply was " TEETH will be provided!!" 🙂

[@briansmith3791]

Forget Religion, it's a throwback to ancient beliefs when we knew little about nature. We should be looking at present day science for our worldviews. We have observable evidence for one fine-tuned universe. Start there.

[@houmm08]

Janna is fantastic, a brilliant mind. Watched loads of her physics and astrophysics documentaries, she's enthusiastic about describing very complicated things in terms we can all understand

[@crispyrobot77]

There's no argument that may be made for the existence of "God" (ie YAHWEH) that cannot be made for the existence of Zeus. In ancient times people were just as steadfast in their belief of Zeus as they are today in their belief of Yahweh, Allah, etc. Might be an interesting topic for a future debate/viddie Richard. A panel of 4 "experts": #1 argues for the existence of "God", #2 argues for the existence of "Allah", #3 argues for the existence of "Zeus", #4 argues for the existence of "Santa" (..I'm betting Santa logic wins :)

[@Warschach87]

Allah means God. The Bible literally says there are other gods but only one God with an uppercase G, and the spirit of Santa is very apparently real. He may not be delivering gifts on a sled but parents bring his legacy to life. Better question is why, if the Bible isn't true, are people everywhere claiming to see and communicate with gods but they aren't talking to Homer Simpson, Al Bundy, or Roger Rabbit? They all confirm the truths of Jesus Christ. The reason for multiple gods is very obviously for diversity in peoples. God didn't want everyone to be exactly the same, hence, the tower of Babel.

[@phildoodler2199]

Maybe you should read more and stop copying other peoples crude assertions.

[@mlthornton1]

You are looking for proof of existence via the scientific method. They are all as real as love and dreams.

[@MikeFisher-l3j]

There are great numbers of religions, however only one scientific school.

[@jazzsaz]

Laws of physics created the universe, OK, then who created the law of physics?

[@bazpearce9993]

Why does it have to be a Who??

[@amagara1990]

Why do you assume everything has to be created? And your God can't be created!

[@EdVandenberg-j7n]

Studying evolution and listening to Richard Dawkins affirmed my belief in Christianity

[@ObservantHistorian]

So you believe in the efficacy of the primitive and barbaric practice of human sacrifice to appease a cruel god? You agree that anyone who does not accept this sacrifice and provide adequate saccharine adoration and worship to Jesus will suffer in eternal hellfire? If there is no Adam and Eve, and no Original Sin, can you explain the role of Jesus in Christian theology? If you accept at least some science, how do you know when the Bible magic overrides science (i.e., reality) and become real? How do you know when it switches back? Which parts of science and the Bible do you have to ignore to come to the conclusion that your version of Christianity is real?

[@EdVandenberg-j7n]

@@ObservantHistorian Maybe you should spend a little less time strawmanning things you don’t understand very well and a little more time honestly looking at the anomalies in your belief system

[@ObservantHistorian]

@@EdVandenberg-j7n What exactly am I "strawmanning"? The rest of your response is just nonsense.

[@EdVandenberg-j7n]

@@ObservantHistorianUntil you understand and admit that the theory of evolution has serious anomalies that remain unanswered, you will see my worldview as nonsense because you are hiding behind a deeply flawed theory to keep “God” off the table. If you are a rational and scientific person, you should be able to admit that science admits to no “brute” facts and everything is up for reexamination if anomalies persist. One example: Every living organism has a DNA blueprint. Please explain the very first DNA code spontaneously coming into existence to form and organize the very first organism.

[@EdVandenberg-j7n]

@@ObservantHistorianNot sure if my last reply went through. The theory of evolution is a deeply flawed and tautological argument that people like to hide behind so they can keep “God” off the table. The way I understand science is that if anomalies persist, the investigation is not over. One example: All living organisms have DNA code. Please explain how the very first organism’s DNA code spontaneously formed to organize its host..Whether you like it or not, intelligence preceded matter.

[@MikeFisher-l3j]

As a child, I thought that the concept of god was ridiculous. And morals are products of cultural conditioning. They are not from god.

[@HkFinn83]

I was young when the new atheists really took off. Hitchens and Dawkins were selling out arenas in the mid/late 2000’s. For a few years there it was as though a new political and social movement had got going. It sort of fizzled out and it’s hard to imagine now, but a for a lot of us if that era, not being a religious believer was a significant part of how we defined ourselves.

[@briansmith3791]

Dawkins, Harris and Hitchens used the new atheist platform to attack Muslims, just as the West was destroying Arab countries. It's no surprise the leading new atheists support Israel even as it commits genocide.

[@LAlba9]

Dawkins may be wrong here, (at appeix. 11 mins), about red flowers and insects not seeing the color red. It's not necessary to discern red, the color. As a fisherman, I'veve learned that red spoons and lures are a high contrast color, even in monochromatic images. So, perhaps, it's the same with insects. Maybe they can see red flowers better not because they're red but because they have higher contrast.

[@Goettel]

When I was old enough, I realized many different religions claim the truth. The only conclusion I could come to is none of them can.

[@jademat31]

I'm not university educated, but I do have an interest in science and the way the world works. Do you think I would be able to understand your books? Which would you suggest for someone who is new to your body of work?

[@dogwithwigwamz.7320]

There`s a useful way to understand the interest you have in Science and that is first to get a grip on Maths. To this, there is a Website available free of charge here in YT called "Exam Solutions." The site is not mine, but you`ll likely find it useful nomatter the level you are currently in understanding maths, from GCSE through A Level to Further Maths. If you are not from the UK this means that the course ( divided typically between individual videso that are between 10 and 15 minutes long ) will teach you every topic required to teach you Basic Maths to and through Advanced Maths.

[@PaulK9-g9p]

Please someone correct me if I'm wrong. As I understand it, Evolution Theory applies beyond explaining the obvious complexity found in organisms. It is applicable in the other scientific disciplines, where a progressive series of changes result in new traits or applications, improvements on a theme or design function. Now like Dawkins, I am no physicist. However when we talk of fundamental constants like Gravity, why couldn't that constant come about through a random process of selection as with biological processes? Similarly the appearance of the first self-replicating molecules which were the genesis of biological evolution must have been a random event where the evolving environmental factors in play triggered the origin of 'life' from non-living molecules. I believe that the gaps in our knowledge about such fundamentals can best be explained using Evolution Theory as a tool to explain the most mysterious of events relative to the creation and expansion of Reality itself.

[@howardleekilby7390]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Dawkins in Little Rock, Arkansas thanks to the Clinton Presidential Center for making it possible. It is my view that every person is born helpless and learn that great beings UP THERE can make things better. Thank you, Richard ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Mchokonozi-mu5hh]

That part of emails got me down 😂

[@joepyfer1696]

We are human beings and grow up differently religious and give others their choice to believe or not believe You speak so much of the past as to what and who we are to believe.

[@ionebarczak9383]

What you find inside you can be seen as a deity. If that is what you need to get your life together and you are happy to let the rest of us get our life together without a deity, I'm glad for you 🤗

[@thedayisnigh5886]

I like the part where they talk about the beauty of the creation and then saying it is

[@Francisco-ou1us]

When was that recorded? 2024?

[@mikedonald1974]

I think I heard him say 2021

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

I assumed so!

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

Why is it being released now?@@mikedonald1974

[@Francisco-ou1us]

@@mikedonald1974Many thanks, Mike.

[@AyaInoue-l3r]

2019

[@shahidmiah917]

How did Dawkins keep a straight face when reading out the hate mail? I almost died.

[@D-Rv8iv]

I woke up from religion by way of evolution. My religious leaders had brought out a book debunking evolution, promoting the biblical creation myth. My science teachers were able to point me in the right direction by simply explaining the evidence, how it’s proven, and what that means. I mentally checked out until I was 16, then left the religion. Carl Sagans ‘The Demon Haunted world’ was a life changing book. All the demons in my life just disappeared once I realized they didn’t exist.

[@granthurlburt4062]

Re: the fig, I would think of the Garden of Eden as a metaphor. Yes Dawkins doesnt give a damn how it feels but a lot of scientifically literate people do. I must add that The Selfish Gene opened my mind to a tough way of thinking and it made sense in terms of what I then knew of biology, and still does.

[@keikonemeth2467]

Indoctrination takes the form of parental guidance, education, cultural influence, company policies, military disciplines, Oath of Office to the Constitution and a whole host of societal constructs. Religion is a part of the dynamic. Faith, on the other hand, is a realization of one's own agency in the lived human experience.

[@Peekaboo-Kitty]

I never believed in an "instant" Creation even when I was a devout Catholic and Bible believer.

[@willmpet]

John Baker is an example of someone who deals well with evidence! I will attempt to place evidence as highly as he did!