“I’m a cultural Christian”, says Richard Dawkins

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Still waiting to hear why OP and others care so much about this random, British guy who is an atheist.

Not OP, but he's got a big mouth and is kinda hard to ignore.

Where do you hear him speaking?

go away, troll

Not a troll. Why don’t you want to answer? Do you subscribe to his newsletter or something?

He's in the news a lot. I know, I know, that requires reading, and maybe that's not your thing.

What’s your news source that covers him?

FoxNews? Bible Beaters Daily?

You're a troll. But to humor you.... that post was addressed to me. And I read the Guardian, NY Times, and others. Happy?

You frequently read about Dawkins in which of those?

Go back under your bridge

The only trolls here are the bullies who regularly antagonize atheists. Like it’s your job.

It’s not a tough question. Why won’t PP answer? Seems like it’s just because they’re full of crap.

Where is PP hearing so much about Hawkins? OP apparently read about it in some “Focus on the Family” newsletter.

So all of the people obsessed over Dawkins are hearing about him from “Focus on the Family”?

Cuz he doesn’t get covered much in The Guardian or NYT for you to hear about him frequently on those.

Unless you have other reasons for obsessing over this random guy…

You can search the New York Times for their coverage of Richard Dawkins. Link: https://www.nytimes.com/topic/person/richard-dawkins

You can search the Guardian for their coverage of RD. Link: https://www.theguardian.com/science/dawkins

Casually perusing one cannot see any stories at either link about Dawkins interview from 1 April 2024.

Both media outlets have discussed Dawkins and his views, his books, his tours, his predictions for the future, etc.

ZOMG. You repeatedly and shrilly accused everybody here of reading Focus on the Family and Fox. When we all ignored your attempted derailment, you accused us of trolling. A single poster finally answered you and (successfully) proved that no, they don't read either Fox or FotF. So now you're hounding that single poster - for pages! over two different threads! - about The Guardian's coverage. Newsflash: yes, we all clicked on OP's link, and that's why we know what Dawkins said 2 days ago. End of Story. Finished. Done.

This is pathological. Get help.

There have been multiple posters claiming that this was covered in normal media. It’s not. Because it’s not newsworthy. Except to OP and the other believers who post often about Dawkins.

So friggin what? Is OP not allowed to see something on Dawkins and link to it here? Are the rest of us not allowed to click on it? And who are these mythical "other believers who post often about Dawkins"?

Get help.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Q: Still waiting to hear why OP and others care so much about this random, British guy who is an atheist.

A: Not OP, but he's got a big mouth and is kinda hard to ignore.

Q: Where do you hear about him?

A: …

Embarrassed to admit that you read “Focus on the Family” newsletters?

We read OP’s link. That should be easy for you to understand. I doubt anyone here reads Focus on the Family.

Seems like OP does. And you, if you clicked on the link.

So you read a lot about him because some believer(s) are obsessed with him and frequently post about him on DCUM?

OP cut and pasted the key parts, so nobody even had to click through to the dreaded Focus.

This derailment is so strange. Nobody is obsessed with Dawkins, but we know who he is and when he says something like that, yes, we listen. Why is this so surprising to you?

There are multiple threads about him on the first page of the religion forum. Why are believers posting about him so often? They’re obsessed.

Because he’s well-known? Because he just said something surprising?

It’s called listening, and that doesn’t mean obsession. And to play devil’s advocate, suppose there actually is a poster here who “religiously” combs the daily media for Dawkins news (I doubt there is though)—what’s that to you? Who the heck cares?

Because it’s odd that religious people would care what he says.

Why is it odd? I listen to what Trump says although I despise the man. It’s called following the news.

Except Dawkins isn’t really covered in the news. And he is just some random guy in another country, not the former POTUS/current GOP candidate.

You’re really reaching. You’ve put in your 6 daily hours on DCUM. Go get some sleep.

I’m good. I just got back on.

Why can’t believers just share their true motivations and news sources? Embarrassed?

You got me. I entered DCUM’s religion forum where a thread on Dawkins was at the top. I read OP’s summary of what Dawkins said, as quoted by Focus. I didn’t click though (bad idea to click on random links). I’m willing to bet 99% of the other posters here did the same thing.

If you see some massive conspiracy in that, or some unhealthy obsession with Dawkins—that’s on you.

I hate to break this to you, but not everything posted on DCUM is about you. And hopefully you don’t get most of your “news” from DCUM.

Lame. You lost the argument so you post abuse. Better not to post anything at all. Unless you’re a religious troll trying to make atheists look bad.

Clearly, the comment wasn’t directed at PP if he’s not starting threads about Dawkins or complaining that he’s “too loud” and covered often in the news.

You hounded pp for his own sources. When you didn’t like his answer, you abused him. Such bad faith.

Atheists get a bad rap because of behavior like this.

More projection.

If that’s the same PP as before then they must get their “news” from DCUM. So then they only hear about Dawkins a lot because some believers post about him often.

Ok. So going forward, I’m going to judge all Christians based on Russell Brand’s behavior. He’s your representative now. Good luck with that.

Why are you confusing the Russell Brand thread with this one?

Bring it up with him. He’s your representative now.

And the Satanic Temple is your representative. I'll look to them for all things atheist ... and racist and misogynistic and even flat earth.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Q: Still waiting to hear why OP and others care so much about this random, British guy who is an atheist.

A: Not OP, but he's got a big mouth and is kinda hard to ignore.

Q: Where do you hear about him?

A: …

Embarrassed to admit that you read “Focus on the Family” newsletters?

We read OP’s link. That should be easy for you to understand. I doubt anyone here reads Focus on the Family.

Seems like OP does. And you, if you clicked on the link.

So you read a lot about him because some believer(s) are obsessed with him and frequently post about him on DCUM?

OP cut and pasted the key parts, so nobody even had to click through to the dreaded Focus.

This derailment is so strange. Nobody is obsessed with Dawkins, but we know who he is and when he says something like that, yes, we listen. Why is this so surprising to you?

There are multiple threads about him on the first page of the religion forum. Why are believers posting about him so often? They’re obsessed.

Because he’s well-known? Because he just said something surprising?

It’s called listening, and that doesn’t mean obsession. And to play devil’s advocate, suppose there actually is a poster here who “religiously” combs the daily media for Dawkins news (I doubt there is though)—what’s that to you? Who the heck cares?

Because it’s odd that religious people would care what he says.

Why is it odd? I listen to what Trump says although I despise the man. It’s called following the news.

Except Dawkins isn’t really covered in the news. And he is just some random guy in another country, not the former POTUS/current GOP candidate.

You’re really reaching. You’ve put in your 6 daily hours on DCUM. Go get some sleep.

I’m good. I just got back on.

Why can’t believers just share their true motivations and news sources? Embarrassed?

You got me. I entered DCUM’s religion forum where a thread on Dawkins was at the top. I read OP’s summary of what Dawkins said, as quoted by Focus. I didn’t click though (bad idea to click on random links). I’m willing to bet 99% of the other posters here did the same thing.

If you see some massive conspiracy in that, or some unhealthy obsession with Dawkins—that’s on you.

I hate to break this to you, but not everything posted on DCUM is about you. And hopefully you don’t get most of your “news” from DCUM.

Lame. You lost the argument so you post abuse. Better not to post anything at all. Unless you’re a religious troll trying to make atheists look bad.

Clearly, the comment wasn’t directed at PP if he’s not starting threads about Dawkins or complaining that he’s “too loud” and covered often in the news.

You hounded pp for his own sources. When you didn’t like his answer, you abused him. Such bad faith.

Atheists get a bad rap because of behavior like this.

More projection.

If that’s the same PP as before then they must get their “news” from DCUM. So then they only hear about Dawkins a lot because some believers post about him often.

Ok. So going forward, I’m going to judge all Christians based on Russell Brand’s behavior. He’s your representative now. Good luck with that.

Why are you confusing the Russell Brand thread with this one?

Bring it up with him. He’s your representative now.

And the Satanic Temple is your representative. I'll look to them for all things atheist ... and racist and misogynistic and even flat earth.

Scratch that. We'll just form our opinions about atheists based on your behavior here and on other threads. Derailing two threads with badgering about inconsequential cr@p? Check. Responding to arguments you can't beat by insulting the poster? Check.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Q: Still waiting to hear why OP and others care so much about this random, British guy who is an atheist.

A: Not OP, but he's got a big mouth and is kinda hard to ignore.

Q: Where do you hear about him?

A: …

Embarrassed to admit that you read “Focus on the Family” newsletters?

We read OP’s link. That should be easy for you to understand. I doubt anyone here reads Focus on the Family.

Seems like OP does. And you, if you clicked on the link.

So you read a lot about him because some believer(s) are obsessed with him and frequently post about him on DCUM?

OP cut and pasted the key parts, so nobody even had to click through to the dreaded Focus.

This derailment is so strange. Nobody is obsessed with Dawkins, but we know who he is and when he says something like that, yes, we listen. Why is this so surprising to you?

There are multiple threads about him on the first page of the religion forum. Why are believers posting about him so often? They’re obsessed.

Why are atheists like you on DCUM 24/7?

I’m not on 24x7. Try again.

How about 18*7 (you need to sleep)

I wasn’t on most of the day or even the week. Busy week.

And yet here you are.

Derailing a perfectly fine discussion about surprising comments from a public figure.

Spending your life wasting away people having discussions that you think they’re weird and obsessed because you don’t agree.

We don’t care. We will continue to discuss Dawkins and Hitchens and Atheism and Christianity and other religious topics of interest to us.

Move along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Q: Still waiting to hear why OP and others care so much about this random, British guy who is an atheist.

A: Not OP, but he's got a big mouth and is kinda hard to ignore.

Q: Where do you hear about him?

A: …

Embarrassed to admit that you read “Focus on the Family” newsletters?

We read OP’s link. That should be easy for you to understand. I doubt anyone here reads Focus on the Family.

Seems like OP does. And you, if you clicked on the link.

So you read a lot about him because some believer(s) are obsessed with him and frequently post about him on DCUM?

OP cut and pasted the key parts, so nobody even had to click through to the dreaded Focus.

This derailment is so strange. Nobody is obsessed with Dawkins, but we know who he is and when he says something like that, yes, we listen. Why is this so surprising to you?

There are multiple threads about him on the first page of the religion forum. Why are believers posting about him so often? They’re obsessed.

Why are atheists like you on DCUM 24/7?

I’m not on 24x7. Try again.

How about 18*7 (you need to sleep)

I wasn’t on most of the day or even the week. Busy week.

And yet here you are.

Derailing a perfectly fine discussion about surprising comments from a public figure.

Spending your life wasting away people having discussions that you think they’re weird and obsessed because you don’t agree.

We don’t care. We will continue to discuss Dawkins and Hitchens and Atheism and Christianity and other religious topics of interest to us.

Move along.

They were just simple questions - not sure why people were so threatened/triggered by them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Q: Still waiting to hear why OP and others care so much about this random, British guy who is an atheist.

A: Not OP, but he's got a big mouth and is kinda hard to ignore.

Q: Where do you hear about him?

A: …

Embarrassed to admit that you read “Focus on the Family” newsletters?

We read OP’s link. That should be easy for you to understand. I doubt anyone here reads Focus on the Family.

Seems like OP does. And you, if you clicked on the link.

So you read a lot about him because some believer(s) are obsessed with him and frequently post about him on DCUM?

OP cut and pasted the key parts, so nobody even had to click through to the dreaded Focus.

This derailment is so strange. Nobody is obsessed with Dawkins, but we know who he is and when he says something like that, yes, we listen. Why is this so surprising to you?

There are multiple threads about him on the first page of the religion forum. Why are believers posting about him so often? They’re obsessed.

Why are atheists like you on DCUM 24/7?

I’m not on 24x7. Try again.

How about 18*7 (you need to sleep)

I wasn’t on most of the day or even the week. Busy week.

And yet here you are.

Derailing a perfectly fine discussion about surprising comments from a public figure.

Spending your life wasting away people having discussions that you think they’re weird and obsessed because you don’t agree.

We don’t care. We will continue to discuss Dawkins and Hitchens and Atheism and Christianity and other religious topics of interest to us.

Move along.

They were just simple questions - not sure why people were so threatened/triggered by them.

Bye now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Q: Still waiting to hear why OP and others care so much about this random, British guy who is an atheist.

A: Not OP, but he's got a big mouth and is kinda hard to ignore.

Q: Where do you hear about him?

A: …

Embarrassed to admit that you read “Focus on the Family” newsletters?

We read OP’s link. That should be easy for you to understand. I doubt anyone here reads Focus on the Family.

Seems like OP does. And you, if you clicked on the link.

So you read a lot about him because some believer(s) are obsessed with him and frequently post about him on DCUM?

OP cut and pasted the key parts, so nobody even had to click through to the dreaded Focus.

This derailment is so strange. Nobody is obsessed with Dawkins, but we know who he is and when he says something like that, yes, we listen. Why is this so surprising to you?

There are multiple threads about him on the first page of the religion forum. Why are believers posting about him so often? They’re obsessed.

Why are atheists like you on DCUM 24/7?

I’m not on 24x7. Try again.

How about 18*7 (you need to sleep)

I wasn’t on most of the day or even the week. Busy week.

And yet here you are.

Derailing a perfectly fine discussion about surprising comments from a public figure.

Spending your life wasting away people having discussions that you think they’re weird and obsessed because you don’t agree.

We don’t care. We will continue to discuss Dawkins and Hitchens and Atheism and Christianity and other religious topics of interest to us.

Move along.

They were just simple questions - not sure why people were so threatened/triggered by them.

DP. Because you're a bully who went on for 2? 3? 4? pages on TWO different threads each. First people ignored you, because your questions about our news sources were completely OT. Then on TWO different threads you started claiming the people who ignored you just didn't want to admit they read Focus on the Family. When somebody finally took some time to answering your OT question, you went further OT to hound them about Dawkins coverage in The Guardian.

You got your answer pages ago: people get their general news from The Guardian or wherever, and most of us don't read Focus, but when there's a DCUM thread we'll click on it. But no, you're still here hounding everyone.

I'm with PP. Let's continue to discuss Dawkins and Hitchens and Atheism and Christianity and other religious topics of interest to us.

[Anonymous]

Dawkins is being read to filth in the online atheist communities I frequent. Apparently he’s only a good scientist and thinker when he says things people agree with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Q: Still waiting to hear why OP and others care so much about this random, British guy who is an atheist.

A: Not OP, but he's got a big mouth and is kinda hard to ignore.

Q: Where do you hear about him?

A: …

Embarrassed to admit that you read “Focus on the Family” newsletters?

We read OP’s link. That should be easy for you to understand. I doubt anyone here reads Focus on the Family.

Seems like OP does. And you, if you clicked on the link.

So you read a lot about him because some believer(s) are obsessed with him and frequently post about him on DCUM?

OP cut and pasted the key parts, so nobody even had to click through to the dreaded Focus.

This derailment is so strange. Nobody is obsessed with Dawkins, but we know who he is and when he says something like that, yes, we listen. Why is this so surprising to you?

There are multiple threads about him on the first page of the religion forum. Why are believers posting about him so often? They’re obsessed.

Why are atheists like you on DCUM 24/7?

I’m not on 24x7. Try again.

How about 18*7 (you need to sleep)

I wasn’t on most of the day or even the week. Busy week.

And yet here you are.

Derailing a perfectly fine discussion about surprising comments from a public figure.

Spending your life wasting away people having discussions that you think they’re weird and obsessed because you don’t agree.

We don’t care. We will continue to discuss Dawkins and Hitchens and Atheism and Christianity and other religious topics of interest to us.

Move along.

They were just simple questions - not sure why people were so threatened/triggered by them.

DP. Because you're a bully who went on for 2? 3? 4? pages on TWO different threads each. First people ignored you, because your questions about our news sources were completely OT. Then on TWO different threads you started claiming the people who ignored you just didn't want to admit they read Focus on the Family. When somebody finally took some time to answering your OT question, you went further OT to hound them about Dawkins coverage in The Guardian.

You got your answer pages ago: people get their general news from The Guardian or wherever, and most of us don't read Focus, but when there's a DCUM thread we'll click on it. But no, you're still here hounding everyone.

I'm with PP. Let's continue to discuss Dawkins and Hitchens and Atheism and Christianity and other religious topics of interest to us.

Understanding motivations is always important in a discussion to put comments into context.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dawkins is being read to filth in the online atheist communities I frequent. Apparently he’s only a good scientist and thinker when he says things people agree with.

Thanks for an actually substantive comment.

- a person of faith

[Anonymous]

Richard Dawkin is white. This has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with cultural preference and being with his people primarily in his own racial group; which is understandable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Richard Dawkin is white. This has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with cultural preference and being with his people primarily in his own racial group; which is understandable.

Are you saying he can't compare religions and make an informed choice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Richard Dawkin is white. This has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with cultural preference and being with his people primarily in his own racial group; which is understandable.

I've read the Quran and the New Testament, both cover to cover. I choose the New Testament.

No doubt Dawkins has also read them both. You're claiming he can't make a similarly informed comparison, and that's just dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an atheist who LOVES Christmas.

And like Richard Dawkins, I'm a cultural Christian, having grown up Catholic and still celebrate Christmas and Easter. Not the religious aspect of it, but the together-with-family aspect. And the commercial secular version as well, with Santa and the Easter Bunny having visited my kids.

It's a bit similar to secular Jews who don't practice the religious aspects of Judaism, but have a Jewish identity.

And yeah, if I had to choose to actively practice a religion, I'd choose Christianity over Islam any day. I'd choose Judaism, Hinduism, Druidism, just about anything over Islam.

I have no issue with this except I wish he had not brought Islam into it. I think there's a good argument for cultural Christianity based on history alone.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know how people can separate Christianity from the source of Christianity. Liking something and admitting you benefit from something but disregarding the source seems like you want the fruits but not the labor. We see a lot of the same thought in our culture and society now, about many different aspects of life. All the good with none of the work or commitment. So it goes.