Reason Rally - March 24th, 2012

To me, Infected sounded amazing. I'm so happy they have decided to gig on RR. Dawkins and BR in one place, just like a dream. Unfortunately, I was in Poland, preparing for my exams.

@Frod

I did not know that you are a Christian - I always thought the religious fans of BR that Greg talks about were imaginary. Thanks for writing out that review, it made a good read, though I can't stand Tim Minchin.

Regarding Dawkins' speech that I watched on the stream in my dry house: I hasten to agree with any criticisms. I like to watch Dawkins debate half baked religious arguments, and I really enjoyed his selfish gene book (he pretty much got me interested in science). However, I think he turned me into a bit of a fundamentalist on the matter of religion. It is easy to forget that their are some thoughtful religious people out there, and that even the thoughtless ones deserve more respect than Richard Dawkins' speech might suggest.

I personally agree with Richard Dawkins on a lot of the things he says on religion, though I don't agree with the vilification that he appeared to frontier on that rainy Saturday. I think there is a thin line between defence and offence that the atheist community should try to steer clear of.
 

 
A slightly clearer video of Greg's national anthem singing^




Edited by BringBRTotheUK - 03/27/2012 at 13:12

i'm offended the writer of this blog/article couldnt spell Paterson NJ right! 

Robo Pilgrim wrote: My only real problem with the rally is that it perpetuated the idea that secularism = atheism when it should be neither theistic nor atheistic.

I noticed this also from the speakers I heard on the internet stream. It seems like a lot of people wanted to assert their atheism given the venue, which is understandable, but there should have been much more emphasis on secularism and not just atheism.

Cool photo guys 

Robo Pilgrim wrote: I don't think challenging a person's beliefs should necessarily make them change, but it's good to make them think and see things from a different perspective. And there have been plenty of instances where people have left their religion because they read or heard something debunking it, though it does result in stubbornness as well.

I guess I should have said that criticism is fine, because criticism does indeed give people reason to question and does encourage them to look at something from a different angle. I was more speaking toward the idea of being negative toward someone's belief. Challenge and critcism can be effective, but I don't think negativity ever really is.

I'm the one not in the picture :)

Edit: until Torbar photoshops my goggles head on there someplace.


Edited by simian - 03/28/2012 at 21:30

kariscene wrote: Idk guys, this rally looked way more "fun" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUPMjC9mq5Y

The only time I've ever seen more old white people is at a Denny's on Sunday morning.

golden wrote:  I always thought it was strange that someone would think that everyone who liked Bad Religion was an atheist .

I liked the guy with the unicorn T-shirt.