Why does Richard Dawkins sing Christmas carols?

At best, if he was a true scientist, he should be agnostic. If he believes in atheism, it is by faith. Nothing in science is ever proven. Plus there is no explanation of how and where the universe came from. Saying your atheist closes the door on possible explanations. I for one, do not believe it for a second, and I think everyone is always keeping an eye out for God.

Yeah, a true scientists has no beliefs whatsoever.- No, saying you're an atheist means you've come to a certain conclusion based on what you know about the world, a conclusion that can change if and when new information comes along.I mean, Jesus Christ, Rat! You believe in some things, don't you? And at least some of those beliefs would change if you came across better information, wouldn't they?Or are you saying that each and every one of those beliefs are set in stone forever? Not that I would be surprised at such a thing.

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It has become fashionable on the left and in Western Europe to compare the Bush administration to the Nazis. The comparison is not without some superficial merit. In both cases the government is run by a small gang of snickering, stupid thugs whose vision of paradise is full of explosions and beautifully designed prisons. -- Matt Taibbi

when i sing silent night, i think of when the fighting stopped in the trenches in germany during the first(?) world war. always have. living through another year. considering my family, making it all the way to christmas can be quite an accomplishment. also, having the rest of your family make it to another christmas. being together is something to celebrate in and of itself. why do we celebrate on december 24? because it's near the solstice. and maybe, just maybe, spring will come.i find it funny that you aren't concerned why christians celebrate in december considering that jesus was born in march.

wrong. putting up a tree makes your house smell like love. *snuggles*

Hi RiverRat,
I can't help but think that your implied comparison between scientific tentativity and agnosticism is unfair. Scientists always leave an element of doubt in their explanations of natural phenomena, but that doubt is often very slight. Agnosticism implies a much greater degree of doubt and ambivalence than exists around well established theories like evolution or gravity.
Dawkins' position is not "There is, without doubt, no God", but rather "There is almost certainly no God". A perfectly sensible opinion I'd say, and hardly an unreasonable one, even if you happen to disagree.
Would you protest so much if a scientist professed a belief in God?

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Mutate and Survive

He's both agnostic and atheist. An atheist is someone who does not believe in any gods, and agnostics do not believe in any gods.If you actually read Dawkins on the subject, you'll find he's not 100% sure that there are no gods. Same with all atheists I know of. A popular misconception. It is by lack of faith.If a supernatural proposition for which there's no evidence is made, it is belief in it which requires faith, not lack of belief in it. Try this with the proposition "there are little green wood-elves" and you'll see what I mean.As for atheists singing carols, we can sing any religious music of any religion freely, if we want to, because it has no magical significance to us. I have an atheist aunt who used to go bell-ringing, which is easily understandable to anyone who's grown up hearing the bells peeling out over the English countryside.

I don't understand something, rat. Do you think everyone should be agnostic in regard to Zeus, Apollo, Hades, Poseidon, etc.?

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Owing to the deficiency of the English language, I have occasionally used the academic jargon generator to produce phrases that even I don't fully understand. The jargons are not meant to offend anyone or to insult anyone's intelligence!

LindaLou, if it is enlightenment you’re looking for you’ve come to the wrong place.
No science forum or science discipline is going to give you that, no, not even evolutianity. You have to look beyond science for that. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.Ps. Don't waste your post-it notes...or your time.

I don't know about you, but I've been using the same plastic tree for several years now. No smell here.

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Owing to the deficiency of the English language, I have occasionally used the academic jargon generator to produce phrases that even I don't fully understand. The jargons are not meant to offend anyone or to insult anyone's intelligence!

i currently use a plastic tree. i make up for it with candles. when i can afford it, i will be killing more trees.

Are you sure you're not confusing comforting self-delusion with enlightenment, Lucy?When you look beyond science, do you prefer crystal balls, mediums or tarot cards?

No need for more derisory comments thanks, there are enough here already.Dogmatic skepticism is a position too, and those who choose it as their world view are in as much danger of deluding themselves -- by ridiculing and ignoring the valid experiences of others and potentially of their own -- as anyone else.

LindaLou Indeed it is and it would do good to recall the words of Richard Feynman“If you thought that science was certain - well, that is just an error on your part.”

I thought them things were for the atheists.Why does Richard Dawkins sing Christmas Carols?
Because he’s a closet Right Wing Christian. And he’s got you all sucked in. The atheism thing is only to make money and fame.

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Mutate and become a burden on society

I don't get what's with the big deal with real trees. You know you'll be throwing it away afterward anyway. Why kill a perfectly good tree for a month of traditional pleasure? And if you like a real tree so much, why not plant one in front of your home and then decorate it every christmas?

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Owing to the deficiency of the English language, I have occasionally used the academic jargon generator to produce phrases that even I don't fully understand. The jargons are not meant to offend anyone or to insult anyone's intelligence!