Comments on: Intelligence Squared – Is Atheism the New Fundamentalism?

By: Patrícia Maria coelho T.

Patrícia Maria coelho T. — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:18:57 +0000

A reputed musician here in Portugal said: «the religion I hate the most is atheism! atheists are the bigger fanatics!» and he is right! I have been insulted by atheists over my beliefs…they say that the best for all religious people is to leave their beliefs behind. So: who asked for their advice anyway?! why don`t they mind their own business and let people think whatever they want! Most are not even real atheists; just mad at God, angry at Him for things that are not His fault!
They treat people who believe as beeing intelligently inferior and undeveloped..so: who are these “genious” who know all the misteries of the universe, and who do they think they are? to me their oppinion is just that a bitter and full of rage oppinion. Don`t “worry” about believers, don`t try to “save” us from the so called “ignorance”: we`re fine! happy in our “ignorance”…

By: The Atheist Blogger » Intelligence Squared to be Broadcast Live!

The Atheist Blogger » Intelligence Squared to be Broadcast Live! — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:10:33 +0000

[...] out on the Intelligence Squared debate featuring Richard Dawkins & A C Grayling vs. Richard Harries and Charles Moore? Whether you [...]

By: PaulSJenkins

PaulSJenkins — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:12:39 +0000

Arcanus,

My reference to "drive-by trolling" was prompted by your unsubstantiated assertions concerning the "indefensibility" of atheism, but as you've replied to my comment I'm happy to accept that my suspicions (they were no more than that) were wrong.

Nevertheless I'd still be interested to hear you articulate the indefensibility of atheism, in particular that it "cannot withstand intellectual honesty". (If you feel it would be inappropriate to do so here, please post a link to a more appropriate place, perhaps even to somewhere you have already addressed this issue.)

By: @intelligence2

@intelligence2 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:13:59 +0000

We're definitely live streaming this Sunday from 6.45pm at http://www.intelligencesquared.com/live. Please spread the word!

By: Adrian Hayter

Adrian Hayter — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:38:05 +0000

Indeed. Far from being a troll, Arcanus is possibly one of the most well-informed and rational Christians I have come across and I have clashed with him on many occasions. The only problem I have with his argument is that I can't get around the seemingly assumption-ridden "TAG". Whether that is a problem of TAG, or a problem of my understanding of TAG has yet to be seen. :P

By: Arcanus

Arcanus — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:08:16 +0000

Can I rationally articulate the indefensible weakness of atheism? Well of course I can. However, that was not the point of either Robert's question or my answer. It is an interesting issue but a tangential Red Herring to the one Robert inquired about. It seemed that Robert thought this fellow was attacking atheism. My response indicated that he was attacking only 'strong' atheism, probably on purpose because it's an easy target, and that 'weak' atheism can be targeted too but is a more complicated target. Now, even if I had never returned to respond to you, there is nothing in my answer to Robert that qualifies as "drive-by trolling" (given what the term means). As Adrian can attest, I am anything but a troll.

By: @intelligence2

@intelligence2 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:19:27 +0000

We're going to be trialing live streaming for free next Sunday (fingers crossed) and this may become a premium service if it takes off. When the new website goes live on Monday (again fingers crossed) our archive of video will be freely available too, in MP4 format, so demand for DVDs may plummet.

By: PaulSJenkins

PaulSJenkins — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:13:23 +0000

This is good news (if it pans out). I'm assuming this will apply to all the IQ2 debates? Will video be archived (and freely available) — or is that reserved for the DVDs for sale?

By: PaulSJenkins

PaulSJenkins — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:08:28 +0000

First, he is correct that atheism cannot withstand intellectual honesty, but I doubt he could rationally articulate why.

Can you? I'd be interested to hear it articulated because I'm of the opinion that my own atheism is derived with intellectual honesty.

Weak atheism is indefensible too, but that is a much more complicated target to hit.

I note that this statement (as with the other I quoted) is as yet an unsubstantiated assertion. (I hope this will be followed up, otherwise it might appear that the above comment is nothing more than drive-by trolling.)

By: @intelligence2

@intelligence2 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:10:43 +0000

Don't shout it from the rooftops / ivory towers of atheism, but we are almost definitely going to be live streaming this event from Wellington College. A few technical issues to iron out, but if it all comes together then you can watch this wherever you are with a broadband connection. Watch this space!