One of the most important things to keep in mind at all times and in any situation you find yourself is to remember to listen.
Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Bill Maher and many more sometimes forget to listen to other people's views and perspectives. I almost feel like there's some kind of clique that they are in and ridicule anyone who thinks differently from them. But, the main point to make here is that religion has been carefully cushioned and protected from criticism for so long and this is the first real time in history that people are outright questioning and dismantling it. And I completely agree with what they are arguing and truly believe that religion, and its critique, should be at the center of our conversation as a global family. However, I am really concerned about how these incredibly smart and funny atheists are trying to make their point. Ridicule and arrogance will not win the fight against dogmatic religion and the indoctrination of children. In fact, I fear, it might do quite the opposite.
Here are a few clips and articles outlining a recent controversy concerning Ben Stein's movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" which argues that Intelligent Design (ie the belief that God designed and created the Universe and every living being within it) is a legitimate theory that should be included in the teaching of science to students.
Click here for an interview with Ben Stein on CNN with Glenn Beck
Click here for another interview with Ben Stein on FOX News
Now,
click here for an article written by Richard Dawkins about being tricked into being in a movie pushing for free speech as well as addressing the many claims the movie makes (please take the time to read the whole thing)
And
click here for a clip of Dawkins and PZ Myers discussing being thrown out at the premiere of the movie
Click here for a sort of critique of Stein's interviews and his attempt to link Evolution with the Holocaust
This movie actually led to the launch of a
website dedicated to addressing the many claims that the film makes
Now, I want to make a very important point here. Many people disagree with atheism and Darwinism because they see them as just another dogma or another type of 'religion'. So, let's look at the definition of those two words:
Dogma:
1. That which is held as an opinion; a tenet; a doctrine.
2. A formally stated and authoritatively settled doctrine; a definite, established, and authoritative tenet.
3. A doctrinal notion asserted without regard to evidence or truth; an arbitrary dictum.
Religion:
1. The outward act or form by which men indicate their recognition of the existence of a god or of gods having power over their destiny, to whom obedience, service, and honor are due; the feeling or expression of human love, fear, or awe of some superhuman and overruling power, whether by profession of belief, by observance of rites and ceremonies, or by the conduct of life; a system of faith and worship; a manifestation of piety; as, ethical religions; monotheistic religions; natural religion; revealed religion; the religion of the Jews; the religion of idol worshipers.
2. Specifically, conformity in faith and life to the precepts inculcated in the Bible, respecting the conduct of life and duty toward God and man; the Christian faith and practice.
3. (R. C. Ch.) A monastic or religious order subject to a regulated mode of life; the religious state; as, to enter religion. --Trench.
4. Strictness of fidelity in conforming to any practice, as if it were an enjoined rule of conduct. [R.]
Now, what needs to be stressed here is that Science is not offering another kind of 'truth' (or an absolute 'Truth'). In fact, science continuously self-analyzes and critiques every hypothesis in order to get closer and closer to theories and laws that could explain our surroundings. Atheists are not pushing for another doctrine or claiming to know the 'truth, the way and the light'. They are arguing that relying on unsubstantiated claims and belief without evidence to explain our highly complex Universe is simply not good enough. Not only do they critique theism, but everything. Nothing is free from critique to an atheist and that's why it is nothing to be scared of or intimidated by.
Atheists don't claim to know everything. They are simply courageously standing up and saying "We don't know everything, so let's explore our Universe together free from the chains of any omniscient, omnipotent deity."