channel 4 religious programme

[charliebaps]

Did anyone watch the programme last night - think it was called 'the root of all evil'? Any thoughts on the subject matter raised?

[LazyGun]

I watched it, and thought it interesting. As someone who is an atheist myself, I am in agreement with the worldview as expressed by Richard Dawkins, and it is more than a little disconcerting to witness the absolute unquestioning certainty of the fundamentalist believers. The blind belief and expressed hatred for athiests and western culture by the man who had converted from Judaism to Islam was particularly chilling, I thought.

Not sure that RD is necessarily the best person to interview these people though... whilst he is a good commentator etc, I dont think he is a particularly good debater :)... too confrontational, and too easily loses his objectivity IMO.

I shall watch next weeks programme with interest.

[charliebaps]

Next week?? I didn't realise it was a series! I just caught it by accident.

I agree with you on the objectivity of RD but the converted jewish man scared the life out of me - I half expected him to chase RD through the streets until he realised the error of his ways.

Good to have such a frank programme on though and I liked the teapot analogy at the end - although I huess others would disagree.

[charliebaps]

guess even

[LazyGun]

I think I understood them to say that it was a two part series charlie, the second part being broadcast next week.

[charliebaps]

excellent, thanks

[Drusilla]

Hi charliebaps. I looked forward to this programme with great interest as I am a member of The British Humanist Association and professor Dawkins is one of our Vice Presidents. I'm really pleased to see such challenging television, but I think it was a swizz to edit the confrontation with the American minister and I suspect Prof Dawkins deliberately wound him up and the editors made it look like a one sided rant.

The Jewish convert to Islam was chilling and perpetuated the usual nonsense that atheists lack morals, but I would argue that I'm good because I choose to be, not because I'm frightened of retribution from an imaginary 'spy in the sky'.

If anyone is interested in the BHA they have a website at www.humanism.org.uk

[charliebaps]

Thanks Drusilla. I found the website very interesting and will definately be looking more into it.

I agree the American minister section of the programmeand the editing involved but unfortunately I missed the beginning. I look forwards to next weeks episode and hope channel 4 don't regret airing it.

[lynneuk74]

I am a Christian but welcome all open debate. Didn't catch a lot of this program but do feel that Richard Dawkins is a little bit unbiased (understatement or what?!)

Would prefer to see something a little more balanced with an interviewer who could see both sides.

I think that religion is a wonderful thing - but organised religion has a lot to answer for sometimes.

That is because people are flawed and act in a way which they think is right but is in reality wrong - like in the crusades. They had the 'right' motives (wanting to share their faith) but went about it completely the wrong way.

As a Christian I do not 'hate' anyone. I may dislike individual people who hurt me personally or who I just clash with but I definitely do not hate atheists, agnostics, muslims, jews...... I don't agree with their point of view but they are entitled to it.

What I do hate is the fact that it seems to be ok to belittle and ridicule my beliefs - surely I am entitled to believe what I choose to believe and be respected in my choice in the same way as any non-believer (so long as they do not lead me to harm any other person of course).

[charliebaps]

I'm sorry if you felt ridiculed Lyn - I feel that RD may have voiced his opinions strongly but my general feeling from the programme was one of welcome debate. I hope that the second episode encourages more thought provoking ideas but yes he is biased - then again what programmes on religion aren't?

[lynneuk74]

Not saying specifically that program charliebaps. Just this site. It seems that as soon as I say I'm a Christian my opinion is dismissed.

Not just being a Christian but basically having what are considered 'traditional' or 'conservative' views.

I would never mock someone for not believing in God but I hear theists called stupid, insecure (needing religion as a crutch), brain washed.....

I am personally anti-homosexuality and anti-abortion. That is seemingly not permissible on this site. I do not hate homosexuals and feel great sorrow for those women who feel the need to have an abortion and respect anyones right to believe differently from myself. So why do I get accused of being intolerant just because I happen to not agree with what is the modern 'norm'.

As for biased documentaries - I agree that religious programmes are not unbiased. Then again, most don't claim to be. Just that you'd be unlikely to get, on modern TV, a documentary which gave the opposite view (because it would be classed as un-PC and maybe offensive). I would love to see something more 'open' but it is fair to say that, regardless of what he says, it is obvious that Richard Dawkins isn't going to give a balanced view.

It would be fine for him to contribute but is hardly objective when he is the presenter.

[aquilotta]

Interesting points, Lynneuk24. It seems society has pendulumed. We are told that it used to be that society viewed with deep distrust and suspicion anyone who WASN'T a Christian. Now it's the opposite: Society wants to be seen to be tolerant to those who have faith in xyz/Other Faiths/alternative therapies/atheism/agnosticism, but anyone foolhardy enough to be a Christian is often considered at best ripe for a therapeutic straitjacket, and at worst the dregs of extremism or hypocrisy. (I suspect that those most certain of such sweeping generalisations and condemnations would be those most aghast to be asked what such prejudice made them...)

It is politically incorrect and UNfashionably unconventional to be a Christian. It must have therefore taken quite some guts for Lynneuk24 to stick her head above the ramparts.

So for the record, yep, I'm a Christian. And proud to count among my close friends Jews, Muslims, atheists, agnostics and yes! Christians from other churches! The fact that I hold strong personal convictions doesn't prevent me loving/accepting/respecting others' different views.

And no, that DOESN'T mean that were I living in the US, I'd be a ******* (I was aghast at commentators' assumption in their last elections that all Christians would by definition be voting republican).

So here's to all you who are fashionable, and to all of us who aren't: happy new year!

[aquilotta]

! AB appears to have replaced a word with a string of asterisks in my previous post just now - so for the record: the word wasn't a derogatory term. It was purely an abbreviation of the phrase: An-ardent-admirer-and-supporter-of-President-George-W-Bush.

Not quite sure therefore why it required censoring... Ah well. The whims of websites I guess!