More TV time for atheist discussion

rohatch · 05-12-2009 2:39pm #1

As Irish atheists we are very much ignored by current affairs on TV. We are watching the collapse of the RC church in this country but still no one has bothered to examine the history of the church or it's bible.

Critical investigation of the bible (or its origins) has revealed nothing other than it is a book. I think the vast majority of the population has moved their blinkers enough for a peak into what the church really is.

If we had programmes that clearly showed to the devoted believers that the church, an organisation based on a collection of jumbled stories from history, that is morally corrupt, then we might hasten the exit of the church once and for all.

condra · 05-12-2009 4:27pm

Personally, I would much prefer a format that gives all sides a balanced say. Perhaps a big dirty national debate, live on TV.

I think any media item which objectively discusses religion, or lack there of, is a good thing, for 2 main reasons.

1 - There are still a lot of Christians who haven't been exposed to atheism, and just showing that atheists are normal people too, is a positive thing.

2 - I agree with Dawkins when he said "thinking is the anathema of religion".

The more people actually take time to think objectively about religion, the more they will choose to abandon it.

Dades · 05-12-2009 5:27pm

Most people don't believe in religion because of the convincing evidence - they believe it because they want to. And they won't be told otherwise.

As they say - you can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into in the first place.

robindch · 05-12-2009 7:02pm

condra wrote: »

Personally, I would much prefer a format that gives all sides a balanced say. Perhaps a big dirty national debate, live on TV.

Difficult to do in practice. Religion works very well in the kind of rabble-rousing, heart-tugging, guilt-inducing atmosphere that's not very conducive to calm, rational debate based upon a nuanced understanding of the literary, historical, philosophical and other issues involved.

That's unless somebody got Christopher Hitchens up on the podium, in which case, I'd imagine that no religious person in Ireland would be brave enough to go up against him after the eloquent drubbing that he and Stephen Fry delivered in London a few weeks back.

Interesting, yes. But unlikely to achieve very much.

Flamed Diving · 05-12-2009 7:11pm

rohatch wrote: »

Critical investigation of the bible (or its origins) has revealed nothing other than it is a book.

This made me giggle.

Stop the presses! A recent 5-year study of the Bible by top science boffins has just published and have concluded that it (Bible) is definitely a book.

MagicMarker · 05-12-2009 10:44pm

Flamed Diving wrote: »

This made me giggle.

Stop the presses! A recent 5-year study of the Bible by top science boffins has just published and have concluded that it (Bible) is definitely a book.

No no no, this is ridiculous. I can't believe it, no, I WON'T believe it!!!

07-12-2009 10:03pm

The Frontline (the show Pat Kenny has been getting abuse on) is doing a show on religion and secularism tonight it seems.

22:35 to 23:40 - after Primetime.

08-12-2009 12:14am

Never mind - it is all about the RCC

bleg · 08-12-2009 12:34am

church is coming out of it pretty bad.

MagicMarker · 08-12-2009 12:37am

Deleted User wrote: »

Never mind - it is all about the RCC

Still a very good programme tbh.

rccaulfield · 08-12-2009 1:08am

Dades wrote: »

As they say - you can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into in the first place.

Very good! Ian o Doherty was ok on it-liked the comment about you can believe in the jolly green giant if you want, superstition has no place in our schools!:p

cavedave · 08-12-2009 9:57am

Did you notice that all the people who spoke in defense of the church were palpably crazy?

Galvasean · 08-12-2009 1:51pm

Deleted User wrote: »

The Frontline (the show Pat Kenny has been getting abuse on) is doing a show on religion and secularism tonight it seems.

22:35 to 23:40 - after Primetime.

Anyone who missed it can catch it here:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1207/thefrontline.html

cavedave wrote: »

Did you notice that all the people who spoke in defense of the church were palpably crazy?

Between that creepy old fossil in the front row who tried to blame the priests touching kids on pornography (fair play to Pat Kenny for pointing out that much ofthe abuse happened in the 50s when there was no pornography!) and that woman in the red jacket who had that creepy glazed over look in her eyes.. *shudder* What the hell is with those glazed over eyes anyway? Oh and let's not forget the Jonas Brothers wannabe. In fairness to him he didn't seem crazy. He just looked funny.

One thing that annoyed me (now, this did happen on both sides of the debate, however it was more glaringly obvious on the pro Catholic people) was how as soon as someone said something that certain people agreed with, theyu would immediately clap as quickly and as obnoxiously loudly ashumanly possible in an attempt to get an applause going (perhaps to make the point seem stronger). It was painfully obvious and luckily most of the time it fooled absolutely no one. It was quite funny to see certain people's repeated attempts at orchestrating an ovation repeatedly fall flat on it's arse!

rohatch · 12-12-2009 3:04pm

Reminds me of RD on Late Late show. What a waste of a guest the calibre of Dawkins.

Tubs asks how many people here believe in god and nearly all the audience claps or puts hands up. I felt like sending an email to RD website apologising for the stupidity of our people.

More TV time for atheist discussion

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