Rowan Williams v Richard Dawkins

In the blue corner we have...and in the red corner...
Chocks away...and duck.
I imagine there will be fur and feathers flying in next to no time.

...and I won't be taking the blame.

Where's Bags?!

Expected something by now!

And Greatnan!

Naughty titters from behind the baracade.

...and also from behind the barricade

Pish. It's only a debate. Let's wait and see.

Yes. Let's wait and see. [rubs hands in anticipation]

Can't imagine Rowan Williams being specially aggressive. Nor can I imagine that anyone in this debate will be breaking new ground. Surely it has all been said before. [bored emoticon]

Why use such language as "fighting it out". I am sure a debate between two well educated people with differing views will be interesting and enlightening whatever your views. Why does it have to be advertised as adversarial. A good debate should give each the opportunity to put their views and hopefully listen to each other respectfully while arguing for their own view. I think nowadays the word "debate" had been debased to mean two people shouting at each other. It does depress me!

Why would the ex-Arch have to be aggresive anno. He will put his views quietly and assuredly. and walk all over daft Dawkins

wisewoman - I quite agree with with adversarial implication suggested in the article. In fact, when I read the 'fighting it out' comment, I decided not to read further. So I remain uninformed about this debate, but can't say I particularly mind.

Likewise.

He wouldn't J0. I was responding to soop's prediction of 'fur and feathers flying'.

anno...I was being childish. Off to the naughty corner to repeat 100 times...I must grow-up soon!

I can't help thinking that this will probably be one of the most boring debates Cambridge has ever seen. As already pointed out by annodomini, much of this has already been said umpteen times and Rowan Williams is often quite a boring speaker.

Oh, come out of that corner, soop. You must have finished that penance by now!

It would be bits of beard flying.

How's that for being grown-up soop.

I think they will both be excrutiatingly polite. Shame really . Wonder if Williams's much touted intelligence will shine through? Haven't managed to detect it so far. #notexpectingmuch

Thanks for welcoming me back from the naughty corner. I met some entertaining GN's there. We had fun!

Richard Dawkins is the beloved champion of militant atheists. He can't afford to 'get' any of Williams' points.

I do hope I'm wrong.

And vice versa. It wouldn't 'do' for Williams to understand the other side; he'd be letting his own side down. It will be interesting for all that to see how they bat the ball between them.

There was a similar debate between Tony Blair and Christopher Hitchens. Great entertainment.

I think these debates help people who aren't quite sure whether they are believers or non-believers.