The Anti Dawkins

From The Sydney Morning Herald Aiming for knockout blow in god wars.

I have to confess I have never heard of the "ethicist" Margaret Somerville but a quick Google search reveals her to be the author of "The Case Against 'Same-Sex Marriage'” and "The Case Against Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide". Hmmm, I can't say I have read either of these writings but they smell more like theology than ethics to me?

She says, "By attacking religion Dawkins thinks he is going to eliminate the world's evils, but he is so negative, so destructive in his approach, that he is escalating the conflict between warring cultures at a time when we should be seeking common ground,"

Dawkins is "a dangerous man"? Never mind the people flying planes into skyscrapers, murdering doctors in America, and blocking the use of condoms in AIDS ravaged Africa. Apparently, Dawkins is the dangerous one!

Hmmm, "escalating the conflict"! I do have some sympathy for her position. People who believe in supernatural beings do tend to be some what un-hinged. And as Dawkins and his contemporaries such as Sam Harris have been trying to point the out, religion is a big problem which needs attention. But, I can't say I think Ms Somerville's, "Sssh, let's tiptoe around the loonies lest we disturb them" approach has much merit.

Let's hope Richard Dawkins continues his evangelism of science and his thoughtful reasoned critique of religion. Let's shine a very strong light the superstitions religious fundamentalists and moderates hide behind. Let's not let them influence our governments to create laws based on "bronze age myths".