I don't remember that particular argument in the book but his theological points tend to need extra work. And I think his comment about debates was directed to some of the more extreme examples where random people are self-proffessed experts and epitomise confirmation bias. He's had debates and televised conversations with actual religious leaders/scholars and it's all been quite amicable.

I would expect them to be out in full force now since the great "christian leader" Romney is not president. The religious nut jobs have come out the woodwork since. Preaching end of day prophecies and proclaiming Obama as some sort of anti-christ. Its weird though since the election is over its kind of too late for all that, they should have been out spreading their message beforehand!

Yeah, that's my general point. Its not that difficult to do some research on the argument, especially when you're writing a book on the subject. Maybe he's tightened his arguments a bit since then, but my general impression when reading the book, was that he took some fundamenalists arguments, argued against these, and then claimed he had proof that God was highly improbable. Now his argument against a complex God is better formulated although I think he still misses the mark on a couple of points and could have done a good bit more research.

As far as the debate comments, I think you're right. I read the book two or three years ago, and I'm trying to recall it off the top of my head. To me, the only notable part of the book is his argument against a complex God, so I've forgotten most of the other stuff. : )

Edit: Oh! I do remeber one part of the book that made me laugh. He claims early on that he's going to provide an inductive argument for the non-existence of God. Then, he proceeds to argue that omnipotence and omniscience are incompatible.......which would deductively proof that God does not exist. I remember thinking....well, if that's true, what's the point of the rest of the book?

There is not much difference between a religion and a cult. A religion is just bigger and more organised than a cult. Followers of religions and cults are brainwashed by the leader(s) who preach to them.

The atheists who can't relax are mostly people who are worried that fundamental christians and other zealots want to sabotage the educational system, juxtapose religion with science as if religion was a branch of science on it's own and use bronze age books filled with superstitious hear-say to shit on centuries of hard work and thoroughly documented scientific theories and basis.

Jumpin; just to be clear, you do realise that Hitchens isn't leading any kind of movement since he died of cancer nearly a year ago, right? As for Dawkins, he is speaking out about the things I mentioned above and does not approve of fundamentalism of any kind. He sees an attempt to halt scientific progress and the imminent and ongoing segregation of the world with intolerance and hate through religious zealous behavior and he fears the ultimate consequences.

Religion is philosophy and has nothing to do with science and thus should not attempt to perform a coup and shove science as a whole to the side and out of our schools.

And, to anyone who suggests that Dawkins has poor arguments and debative skills, I refuse to believe that you have seen a single one of his debates. Furthermore, if you want to see silly circle arguments, logical fault, lack of basic reasoning skills, utter contempt for progress and history and lack of insight into the world at large, watch creationists and other fanatics debate. Its incredible to think that I breathe the same air as some of these people. Its unfathomable, even, that we are composed of the same basic materials.

It is a perdicament that as a Christian you're supposed to share your faith, but when people blurt it out as a conversation starter or randomly in the middle of a conversation it can be uncomfortable. Some ppl just aren't socially inclined either, which just makes it worse.

I think their intentions are always good, though; it's their approach that's the problem.

Btw, I didn't even realize there were other Christians on this site.

ask them if they want to know the riddle of steel

LMAO

What I'd do is act like an atheist, then find out where THEY live, and constantly bombard THEIR asses about MY belief system, or lack there of lol.