• Former New York Mayor Ed Koch discusses the Spitzer scandal, as well as his battles against anti-Semitism.
• The world’s most prominent atheist, author Richard Dawkins, sits down with Alan to defend his claim that people of faith have a “God Delusion.”
• The latest on the 2008 presidential race.
how the hell did i miss this interview? just listened to it from dawkins’ website.
Dawkins was good interview Alan. Thank you. I would have loved to hear what he thought about Secular Government. The term Secular has been tainted by many in the US to mean Atheism with out thinking about why government is Secular. Secular government is the removal of religion from state, the removal of religion from reason, logic, and law while respecting its existence outside of government. Secular Government protects the freedom of religion by not including it in the laws that govern the nation. Steven Waldman (speaking of faith NPR) could not be more incorrect when he mentions the founding fathers personal belief as proof that religion or the church should fuse with government. State written prayers, church/religion, or state belief systems violate the individuals right to believe as they choose. Steven Waldman should realize that a secular government keeps any singular form of religion from taking control of the government. A secular system of democracy is the cornerstone to the foundation of the amendments that allow citizens the right to believe in any or no religious system. The separation of church and state or the anti-establishment clause of the constitution allows Christian religious conservatives to practice their faith as they see fit. As well it protects the Buddhist, Hindu, or any other religion, the freedom of religion does not mean that any one religion has a right to use the state as a tool for self-advancement. The argument that the separation is a gray area is a fallacy. A nation is either secular or theocratic. There is no gray area. The separation of church and state was not intended for the flourishing of any one religion. It was intended to keep all belief free by keeping the state out or belief. There is no mention of any sectarian definition of God used in any historical document of the US, nor should there be. Waldman should remember that there was no founding faith outlined in the declaration of independence or the constitution. I would ask Waldman who’s God does it refer to? Does religion truly make for improved civic or individual behavior patterns? Some of the worst elements of society have been devoutly religious, Hitler, the BTK killer, the leaders of the Christian and Muslim crusades, the witch hunters of Europe and early America, Bin Laden, and on and on it goes. Yes there was Stalin and Poll Pot but they pale in comparison to the religious violence perpetrated over the millennia. So I would argue that the founding fathers knew history well and that is why they created a secular government even while they may have been religious themselves. It is sad that many Christians hear the term religion and think only of themselves. How greedy and self-serving. We must realize that secularism rejects religion in government while recognizing its right to exist separate from government, in the privacy of your home and places of worship. It recognizes God given rights while not recognizing any particular organized religion.
Dawkins is always a fantastic guest and great interview. :)
And oh, by the way….it is spelled ALLAN not ALAN. Wrong!
Allan,
I was listening to your show with Professor Dswkins Thursday night, and it turned my stomach. The subject matter was not the problem, because I was taught to be a “critical thinker” in College. What really disappointed me was how you were so condescending to several of the callers that obviously disagreed with the Professor. When the Professor said (I paraphrase) that only the uneducated believe there is a God, I could just see you nodding your head up and down. I lost a lot of respect for you last night. Will I listen again? I’m not sure. You have my email, Alan. I expect an apology.
Only registered user allowed |
Where *DOES* Alan find all these God hating faggots?!!!
March 13th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
^ Are you a Christian? I’m sure Jesus would be so proud of you for using the word faggot. How loving of you to do so. You are a fine example for your beliefs and religion or spirituality.
And are obviously threatened and fearful of someone who doesn’t believe as you do. I guess you’re not really a “true believer”.
Thank you so much Alan for having Professor Dswkins on again. I think he’s magnificant. He has a brilliant mind and is fascinating to listen to.
March 14th, 2008 at 2:23 am
Allan,
I was listening to your show with Professor Dswkins Thursday night, and it turned my stomach. The subject matter was not the problem, because I was taught to be a “critical thinker” in College. What really disappointed me was how you were so condescending to several of the callers that obviously disagreed with the Professor. When the Professor said (I paraphrase) that only the uneducated believe there is a God, I could just see you nodding your head up and down. I lost a lot of respect for you last night. Will I listen again? I’m not sure. You have my email, Alan. I expect an apology.
March 14th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
And oh, by the way….it is spelled ALLAN not ALAN. Wrong!
March 14th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Dawkins is always a fantastic guest and great interview. :)
March 14th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Dawkins was good interview Alan. Thank you. I would have loved to hear what he thought about Secular Government. The term Secular has been tainted by many in the US to mean Atheism with out thinking about why government is Secular. Secular government is the removal of religion from state, the removal of religion from reason, logic, and law while respecting its existence outside of government. Secular Government protects the freedom of religion by not including it in the laws that govern the nation. Steven Waldman (speaking of faith NPR) could not be more incorrect when he mentions the founding fathers personal belief as proof that religion or the church should fuse with government. State written prayers, church/religion, or state belief systems violate the individuals right to believe as they choose. Steven Waldman should realize that a secular government keeps any singular form of religion from taking control of the government. A secular system of democracy is the cornerstone to the foundation of the amendments that allow citizens the right to believe in any or no religious system. The separation of church and state or the anti-establishment clause of the constitution allows Christian religious conservatives to practice their faith as they see fit. As well it protects the Buddhist, Hindu, or any other religion, the freedom of religion does not mean that any one religion has a right to use the state as a tool for self-advancement. The argument that the separation is a gray area is a fallacy. A nation is either secular or theocratic. There is no gray area. The separation of church and state was not intended for the flourishing of any one religion. It was intended to keep all belief free by keeping the state out or belief. There is no mention of any sectarian definition of God used in any historical document of the US, nor should there be. Waldman should remember that there was no founding faith outlined in the declaration of independence or the constitution. I would ask Waldman who’s God does it refer to? Does religion truly make for improved civic or individual behavior patterns? Some of the worst elements of society have been devoutly religious, Hitler, the BTK killer, the leaders of the Christian and Muslim crusades, the witch hunters of Europe and early America, Bin Laden, and on and on it goes. Yes there was Stalin and Poll Pot but they pale in comparison to the religious violence perpetrated over the millennia. So I would argue that the founding fathers knew history well and that is why they created a secular government even while they may have been religious themselves. It is sad that many Christians hear the term religion and think only of themselves. How greedy and self-serving. We must realize that secularism rejects religion in government while recognizing its right to exist separate from government, in the privacy of your home and places of worship. It recognizes God given rights while not recognizing any particular organized religion.
March 16th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
how the hell did i miss this interview? just listened to it from dawkins’ website.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:20 am