R2OK!

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

I'm a bit late with this one but, as it's seasonal, I'll go ahead anyway.

On Tuesday Prof Richard Dawkins said on Jeremy Vine's programme that, though he's an atheist, he happily sings Christmas Carols in his local church.

He justified this by saying that to him singing Carols is in the same realm as enjoying works of fiction, such as Wuthering Heights.

Of course Prof Dawkins is perfectly free to do what he wishes in this regard and no doubt many other atheists do the same.

But where he differs from most other atheists is in the way that he has rammed his non-belief down everyone's throats, rather than be content with maintaining a live-and-let-live position (as I would happily do with him).

Isn't it a bit rich for him then to support the singing of theology of which he allegedly doesn't believe a word?

I know that this topic is always a hot potato but I'd be really interested to know what others think.

Ian.

tarahrah bomdiay · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 260

I don't believe in god but I enjoy listening carols and some other hymns as well. I would like to think that those who do believe in god would tolerate this.
I do hear what you say about Dawkins, he is kind of an extreme atheist I suppose, but I think he does have every right to sing carols if he wants to.

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Welcome tarra-ra (that sounds like hello goodbye)

Ian I find it dd that dawkins goes to church, even just once to sing carols Rolling Eyes

I may not be a believer either but tonight I've listened to most of Handel's Messiah on ClassicFM. Beautiful.

Briant · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 12:04 pm Post subject:

Most human beings including myself at some time wonder about life on Earth and what we are doing here. Is there a purpose to it all other than life being the result of evolution, the Big Bang, or is there a benevolent or malevolent god behind it all. The truth is that no one knows. There is science. There are man made religions. There is progress and discovery about the planet and the universe. We may destroy humankind or we may survive. I'll quote Jackson Browne....'Somewhere between the time you arrive and the time you go, may be a reason you were alive, but you'll never know.' Rolling Eyes

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:20 pm Post subject:

I too enjoy fiction - in the form of political manifestos.
_________________
Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil

gfloyd

SantaFefan · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 9:27 pm Post subject:

I heard most of that interview too.
I found it interesting and slightly amusing listening to the both of them arguing their corner.
I don't pretend to know where I stand on religion but I don't feel the need to visit a Church and I've not been particularly impressed by a couple of Vicars I've met either! Laughing

( Nature would represent my religion together with my desire not to kill any living creature. )

I haven't heard of him before the interview but I went along with his stand on Christmas Carols. I think most are really nice tunes and I don't blame him for wanting to sing them at all.
I don't think he's being hypocritical by belting them out in a church.
If he doesn't believe in Christianity at all, the Carol or the Church is just another "song" or place.
Why shouldn't he sing those songs along with any other?
_________________
Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

gfloyd · Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 10:19 am Post subject:

When you have the Archbishop of Canterbury describing he Christmas story of the Three Wise Men was nothing but a 'legend', maybe they should chuck him off the carol singing team as well! Laughing

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/20/nwise120.xml
_________________
His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.....

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Not at all surprised that not everyone agrees with me, as this has always tended to be a divisive subject. My main intention was to get a debate going and I'm grateful for comments.

About this time tomorrow I'll be off to the church of which I'm a member for our own Carol Service!

Ian.

nod · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558

Interesting comment on the radio this morning about how most of the people celebrating Christmas don't believe Confused

Now shouldn't they be at work then ?