Rowan Williams v Richard Dawkins

Williamson is boring to listen to - but he is far from dogmatic. He keeps saying he doesn't know - which makes you wonder quite what he does believe in.

I also find Dawkins a boring listen and somewhat irritating.

Good luck to those who go and hear this!

I wouldn't expect to gain any insights from anything Dawkins might say. Find his arguments naive and shallow. Williams maybe.

* Bags* many churchpeople, especially Williams, are willing to admit to doubts, the sins of the church, their own crises of faith etc.

Not all religious find it necessary to rest in the bosom of certainty.

mishap and petallus, agreed.

That is, I agree with both of you, not necessarily that you agree with each other.

So when is it? This debate, is it on the telly?

It's tomorrow. Not on telly. It's at the Cambridge University Debating Society. I'm hoping it will be widely reported in the papers. Or on You Tube? (if some student was to film some of it on their phone)

Should be on t'telly.

I agree.

Just seen, "i will be available for viewing shortly afterwards on the Cambridge Union's website".

That's something then.

NOT "i" it will

Oh good.

petallus - 'militant atheists'? Something of an oxymoron.

Richard Dawkins and Rowan Williams have had discussions before, and there was no blood on the carpet - Dawkins is a gentle soul who does not relish confrontation! Williams will waffle - it's what he does best - but of course he will come up against the complete lack of substantiation for his beliefs. What possible 'points' can he make that would make any sense to a scientist?

They seem to be quite friendly...

Petallus 'resting in the bosom of certainty'. Oh, I like that. I don't think Rowan is boring but he certainly needs you to stay alert and concentrate the whole time. That's why he gets misrepresented and misquoted so often!

Oh, wouldn't we all like to "rest in the bosom of certainty". [sigh]

Sounds like it could be a bit disappointing then, Feetlebaum.

I believe it was... although you'll be glad to know that the vote was on the side of religion being relevant in the 21st Century.

Dawkins concentrated on religion giving an excuse not to find find out the truth of anything. Williams wurbled on as usual... No idea what Tariq Ali had to say. Debate is a poor format, with no real discussion taking place.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/religion-is-redundant-and-irrelevant-richard-dawkins-takes-on-exarchbishop-of-canterbury-dr-rowan-williams-in-cambridge-debate-8476499.html?origin=internalSearch

Oops - I meant Tariq Ramadan, not Tariq Ali!

The Guardian report mentioned that Dawkins pointed out all the evil done in the name of religion (yawn) and got a huge laugh from the audience when he referred to God as 'an immortal knob twiddler'.

Williams presented a learned, intellectual theologically sound argument (yawn)

No surprises there then!

Thanks for putting that link up feetlebaum. Will read with interest later. Off out now.