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Ted Talks: Dan Dennett: A Secular, Scientific Rebuttal to Rick Warren
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http://www.ted.com Philosopher Dan Dennett calls for religion -- all religion -- to be taught in schools, so we can understand its nature as a natural phenomenon. Then he takes on The Purpose-Driven Life, disputing its claim that, to be moral, one must deny evolution.
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers are invited to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes -- including speakers such as Jill Bolte Taylor, Sir Ken Robinson, Hans Rosling, Al Gore and Arthur Benjamin. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, politics and the arts. Watch the Top 10 TEDTalks on TED.com, at
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers are invited to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes -- including speakers such as Jill Bolte Taylor, Sir Ken Robinson, Hans Rosling, Al Gore and Arthur Benjamin. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, politics and the arts. Watch the Top 10 TEDTalks on TED.com, at
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10
Jan 21, 2009 11:31 AM
Re: Ted Talks: Dan Dennett: A Secular, Scientific Rebuttal to Rick Warren
As someone who was made to take a mandatory Religious Education class in 3rd form (8th grade) in England, I'm getting quite a kick out of this concept.
By: scalpod
Re: Ted Talks: Dan Dennett: A Secular, Scientific Rebuttal to Rick Warren
This was an excellent talk.
By: chronomitch
Re: Ted Talks: Dan Dennett: A Secular, Scientific Rebuttal to Rick Warren
I disagree. I wanted to like it but he meanders and manages to say nothing of substance except that he disagrees with several parts of some guy's book. Plus, calling this a discussion of "design" is really a stretch.
Sure, a society in which teachers instruct children fairly and factually about all the world's religions would be great but we all know it's not going to happen. You may as well say that you think everyone should 'honor thy neighbor'. It's an unrealistic expectation for a species (us) that isn't wired to work that way.
I wish philosophers like this would take a realistic look at human nature when they make arguments like this. Heartwarming idealism is not the only ingredient needed to make change.
Sure, a society in which teachers instruct children fairly and factually about all the world's religions would be great but we all know it's not going to happen. You may as well say that you think everyone should 'honor thy neighbor'. It's an unrealistic expectation for a species (us) that isn't wired to work that way.
I wish philosophers like this would take a realistic look at human nature when they make arguments like this. Heartwarming idealism is not the only ingredient needed to make change.
By: Chewbot
Re: Ted Talks: Dan Dennett: A Secular, Scientific Rebuttal to Rick Warren
My high school did have a class entitled "Religions of the World." But it's obviously a rarity. Many people are self-affirming idiots who dream up and perpetuate reasons to destroy other people. We're still just a bunch of marauding chimps, but with a dangerous level of sophistication, wired - like you said - to hate and kill efficiently.
By: boyblunders
Re: Ted Talks: Dan Dennett: A Secular, Scientific Rebuttal to Rick Warren
And who better to deliver this lecture than someone who looks like the classical representation of God.
By: Faffy
Re: Ted Talks: Dan Dennett: A Secular, Scientific Rebuttal to Rick Warren
I don't believe religion could be taught in schools without the teachers own beliefs getting involved.
By: Boglin
Re: Ted Talks: Dan Dennett: A Secular, Scientific Rebuttal to Rick Warren
I'm an atheist, but I don't feel like our "Great Atheists" (Dawkins, Hitchens, Dennett, Harris) contribute anything new to the discussion. I certainly agree with most of what they say, I just don't think it's original. Can anyone give me some insight about something NEW and USEFUL that you've learned from these gents (religion/atheism ONLY!).
By: shitba
Re: Ted Talks: Dan Dennett: A Secular, Scientific Rebuttal to Rick Warren
What is considered new and useful depends on an individual's experience, and so each would declare different things as such. For my part, I learned to see evolution in a different light due in great part to Dawkins' writings, which in turn enforced my atheism.
By: Overmann
Re: Ted Talks: Dan Dennett: A Secular, Scientific Rebuttal to Rick Warren
Thanks for your response. Your answer supports my opinion, I think. No one can refute Dawkins' contributions to the field of Biology, and I can certainly appreciate how his efforts have indirectly buttressed the viewpoints of atheists. But, have his atheism/religious themed publications/speeches/debates/presentations added anything new to the subject? I don't think so. But someone may be able to explain why I'm wrong. I suppose you can respect his work in this area on the basis that he (and Hitchens, Harris, and Dennet) has reintroduced old ideas to a new generation. I'll satisfy myself with that thought.
By: shitba
Re: Ted Talks: Dan Dennett: A Secular, Scientific Rebuttal to Rick Warren
I'd say their main contribution to the discussion on atheism is their willingness to engage in it. I've noticed a perceptible shift in public opinion on the topic, just in the past few years, largely because of these respected people's unapologetic attacks on religion. They seem to be having their desired effect.
