...Science is reality. Religion is superstition. The christian doctrine requires one to suspend rational thought...
Understandably, science seeks to understand the laws of nature and physics etc with the scientific method. Your comment does seem to demonstrate the approach described in the original article. Why is it nonsense to accept the existence of these things? After reading the Bible, I'm persuaded by it. It's not according to the scientific method but it's rational.
I'll take secular humanist values over christian morals anyday.
The thing about the Bible is that it says that there is a God, who made us, and therefore understands what's good for us better than we do. Smarter than us, with a highly vested interest in our success collectively and individually. Significant, I think.
The most offensive thing about religion is that it is imposed on the young before the development of the ability to reason. I agree with Dawkins when he equates this to child abuse. Religion also seeks to impose its codes of behaviour on others. It doesn't seem they can be happy keeping to themselves.
Looking at this rationally:
All parents impose their values on their children.
The public school system and everything it embodies is imposed on the young before the development of the ability to reason.
Many human beings seek to impose their [whatever it might be, morals, will, opinions, political affiliations, power] on others.
We're surrounded by influential messages all through our lives. signs, TV ads, TV shows, everyone putting out a message seeks to influence others.
So the accusation pretty much applies to all parents, and everyone putting out their message. Richard Dawkins seeks to impose his views on others. It seems he just isn't content to keep his opinion to himself. :) But seriously, accusation of child abuse is a pretty serious accusation... how about we say secular humanists abuse their children with their views and we'll call it a stale mate. But personally, I'd rather aim to have a rational discussion rather than throw around such ridiculous accusations.
Understandably, science seeks to understand the laws of nature and physics etc with the scientific method. Your comment does seem to demonstrate the approach described in the original article. Why is it nonsense to accept the existence of these things? After reading the Bible, I'm persuaded by it. It's not according to the scientific method but it's rational.
The thing about the Bible is that it says that there is a God, who made us, and therefore understands what's good for us better than we do. Smarter than us, with a highly vested interest in our success collectively and individually. Significant, I think.
Looking at this rationally:
So the accusation pretty much applies to all parents, and everyone putting out their message. Richard Dawkins seeks to impose his views on others. It seems he just isn't content to keep his opinion to himself. :) But seriously, accusation of child abuse is a pretty serious accusation... how about we say secular humanists abuse their children with their views and we'll call it a stale mate. But personally, I'd rather aim to have a rational discussion rather than throw around such ridiculous accusations.