WRIT LARGE!

I would not think I was ever going to remotely defend Prof Dawkins, but in fairness to him Scientology is pretty iffy, if not downright nasty.  It appears to be a dubious system for self-improvement, without a shed of encouragement for compassion or sense of wonder.  I heard a rumour that Ron L Hubbard registered it as a religion it avoid tax complications in the USA.

But Dawkins' blanket condemnation of any form of religion is just blinkered.  But we've been here before.

This is an extremely telling point, Milly.  The point is that a serious scientist wouldn't dismiss the placebo effect.  Scientific method would work along something like the following lines:

- There is no evidence to support homeopathy, and as a body of theory it simply doesn't stand up

- But there are clearly some people who appear to recover when it is used - just as there are with other scientifically unsupported "cures"

- Therefore there is something going on here that is worth investigating, and is potentially enormously significant

- So we will devise trials to attempt to measure it, and to seek to describe the processes at work

If Dawkins is simply dismissing placebo - or just treating it as an assumption to be accepted - rather than being interested in asking questions about it, his outlook is every bit as unscientific as those he condemns.

Tony Watson

Exactly so. On the 'Today' programme this morning there was an item about the books politicians are taking on holiday and 'The God Delusion' was, I am pleased to say, a popular choice. I have the audio version and I would recommend listening to the excellent way he and another (female) reader read it. For those who disparage Richard Dawkins, there are just as many of us who much respect his consistent efforts to promote truth. I cannot read the internet well enough to be able to quote from his website, otherwise I would copy and paste a quote or two! Another excellent book is Bill Bryson's 'A Short History of Nearly Everything'.

I have listened to many of the 'Beyond Belief' programmes over the past few years and much admire Ernie Rea's chairmanship as he gives equal time to his guests and the programme almost never gets out of hand - the guests really do listen to each other and respond appropriately. Today's subject was Zionism and the 'Christian Zionist' thought he was right in what he said - he was, however, 100% deluded. It is very worrying that people think like this, that there are enough of them to warrant a representative appearing on such a programme and they will not look at another viewpoint.

Susandoris - you may applaud Richard Dawkins efforts to promote "truth", but it is only an opinion after all.  It just may not be the truth, or certainly the whole truth.

I have read all Dawkins' books as I have mentioned here before but I would not be taking "The God Delusion" on holiday.

As Frank Carson may perhaps say "It's the way he tells 'em."

He's publicising a new programme which is to show up psychic mediums/astrologers etc., as charlatans.  Provided he does this in a purely scientific way with suitable evidence to show that none of it can possibly true, and in a polite manner then I have no objections at all.  I'll watch it anyway.  I always watch his programmes and read the books -  I use it as an exercise in personal self-control. 

Everything I've referred to today is in today's Daily Mail on Page 3 and Page 12.  I'll try and find an online link for you - hang on.

The "stupid" remark was directed at the lady who worked at the airport who wanted to wear her cross.  He remarked that she "has the most stupid face I've ever seen."

Milly Jones
Thank you for your two further posts and for looking up that information.