Dear Richard,
We're both scheduled to discuss issues of Darwin and God on the Riz Khan Show on Al-Jazeera on Monday, July 21. Viewers who are interested can watch the show live here. The segments will also be posted on Youtube and I'll link to them.
But a few hours after I mentioned our forthcoming debate on this blog, you posted a comment on your website essentially accusing me of making the whole thing up. So first you accuse me of having a Hitler voice, and now you accuse me of misrepresentation.
Here's what happened. Al-Jazeera contacted me a while ago, asking me to appear in a point-counterpoint format with a leading opponent. I said I was writing about God and atheism, and suggested I appear with a prominent atheist. They chose you. Then the producer Zeresnaey Abraha confirmed that you were ready to do it. Late last week I got a studio notice from Al-Jazeera giving me the time for me to arrive at their rented San Diego studio. The other guest was listed as "Richard Dawkins" and your studio details at Oxford were given.
Apparently when you found out that the two of us were booked on the same show, same segment, you rushed to the producer to insist that we appear separately. Your pretext according to Abraha was that you have a long-standing pledge not to debate "creationists." I can understand that you don't want to give legitimacy to people who flatly deny evolution or who insist that the earth is less than 6,000 years old. The only problem with you invoking this pledge is that I believe in evolution and am not, nor have I ever been, a "creationist."
Apparently the format now is that we will each be interviewed separately. So technically it's no longer a debate, although it is most certainly an exchange of rival ideas on the same topic. It's a pity that we cannot engage each other directly.
To be honest, I find your behavior extremely bizarre. You go halfway around the world to chase down televangelists to outsmart them in an interview format that you control, but given several opportunities to engage the issues you profess to care about in a true spirit of open debate and inquiry, you duck and dodge and run away.
If we debate on the Riz Khan show, a format comparable to ABC "Nightline," you cannot seriously think I will drown you out with Hitler shouts. And if I tried that in an academic setting I would make a complete fool of myself. I have done several debates with your fellow atheists Michael Shermer and Christopher Hitchens (and have just scheduled my second debate this fall with Peter Singer) because all of them have consistently found me a serious and worthy opponent. Hitchens told me in Las Vegas that each time our debates are different because both of us adjust to what the other guy said the last time around. This is how knowledge is tested, through the process of critical exchange, isn't it?
You are supposed to be the public champion of science and reason and enlightened discourse. This is basically what your title at Oxford says, right? This is why the Microsoft billionaire Charles Simonyi is paying your salary, isn't it? So are we to believe that despite the seriousness of the issues involved, issues that engage your whole life's work, you won't even stand up and defend your views even in a hospitable setting like Oxford or any other venue of your choice?
Many years ago I read The Selfish Gene and was deeply impressed. What especially struck me was your intellectual audacity, your willingness to jump into a big debate and take on the big questions, and of course your literary eloquence. If you are so confident that your position is right, and that belief in God is an obvious delusion, surely you should be willing to vindicate that position not only against Bible-toting pastors but also against a fellow scholar and informed critic like me!
If not, you are nothing but a showman who takes on unprepared and unsuspecting opponents when you yourself control the editing, but when a strong opponent shows up you manufacture reasons to avoid him. Somehow, I would have thought the author of 'The Selfish Gene would be made of sterner stuff. .
Reader Comments ( Page 25 of 26)
361. ok, this is wierd, it is double posting, on it's own.
Man_in_Wilderness at 3:50PM on Jul 23rd 2008
362. It is nice to see how protective you guys are of your daughters... you really do shape how they see and feel about the opposite sex...
Shannie at 3:54PM on Jul 23rd 2008
363. "there is naturally perfect harmony. Scripture flows with scripture and should be used as the rule to measure all true Christian faith."
Man In Wilderness,
EXACTLY!!! Perfect. And it will never flow in harmony and completely understood until all followers Follow The First Two Commandments unconditionally and without hesitation. If me telling you to Follow The First Two Commandments which is instructed from Jesus Christ in order to UNDERSTAND the Whole Law is dividing the Truth, I accept that claim. I'm guilty as charged.
"I really do try to love others as Christ loves them. I am not perfect, my human nature, or old self gets in the way. So the loving my neighbor, no matter their agenda against me is a stumbling block."
And following this Commandment does not mean you are perfect. And this stumbling block condemns you. You can't just follow the First. You MUST follow the second. It's a narrow gate, and you must not forget that...ever
"I do agree, war is senseless, useless, and should be avoided. But I have also found that ignoring the bully did solve the problem. However the free lesson in Judo did. So war is sometimes necessary, and should be a last resort."
War is NEVER necessary. Never. The bully will get my love.
God loves you MIW, and so do I whether we disagree or agree.
Botts at 4:15PM on Jul 23rd 2008
364. Whoa, that's severe. I would have politely made some excuse to go out to my car, would then have left without taking the girl out, and would have never have asked her out again. I learned at a young age that it's always best to avoid getting involved with psychos. Or their daughters. >>>
LOL The reason I know about this is because we were there one evening when it happened. In real life it didn't come off nearly so threatening as it does in writing. It was said with a smile and the guy just laughed and said "Yes, sir."
Anon at 4:19PM on Jul 23rd 2008
365. All the stories about dating remind me of once when I was a young man in California.
I was walking along Santa Monica beach when I spotted a really pretty girl in a red bikini sitting in the sand with a blanket over her legs. I struck up a conversation, and we seemed to hit it off, so I asked her out.
"You may change your mind when you see this', she said, and pulled the blanket back. She was a double amputee!
I gulped and told her my offer still stood. That night I picked her up at her parents' house for dinner and a movie. Afterwards, she asked me to drive out of town to a spot she designated. We began making out and she told me to pick her up, and take her to a nearby tree. We make love with her hanging from a lower branch, and it was incredible!
I took her home and was about to leave when her father stopped me and directed me into the kitchen as his daughter went upstairs to bed.
To my surprise he poured me a stiff shot of Crown Royal and began talking to me about his daughter, how she came to lose her legs in an auto accident, how she was the light of his life and how hard it had been for her. He accompanied this by pulling a $20 bill from his wallet and handing it to me to cover expenses. When I objected he insisted, telling me I was a gentleman.
'Most guys', he said, 'just leave her hangin' in the tree!'
Clif Kuplen at 4:27PM on Jul 23rd 2008
366. Botts; what are your thoughts on other holy books? The Qu'ran, the Bagavadaghita, etc...
Do you believe they are divinely inspired (encoded) as well.
Ryan Anderson at 4:42PM on Jul 23rd 2008
367. Clif... please tell me you are just funnin'. That is just.. wrong on so many levels. : 0
Shannie at 5:11PM on Jul 23rd 2008
368. Clif,
That was absolutely hilarious when it shouldn't have been. I feel bad for laughing.
Botts at 6:43PM on Jul 23rd 2008
369. My wife and I raised two girls, It was tough when it came time for them to date.
The boys like to drove us crazy, -Observant
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You have to be like my old buddy....When the boy comes to the door, answer in your most stern face and look right at the boy and say " What the hell are you smiling about!", then inform him when he WILL bring her home.
I'm glad I have boys ;-)
mac at 6:50PM on Jul 23rd 2008
370.
Of course, him being a third Dan blackbelt doesn't hurt his intimidation factor any at all.
mac at 6:53PM on Jul 23rd 2008
371. That was absolutely hilarious when it shouldn't have been. I feel bad for laughing.
Botts at 6:43PM on Jul 23rd 2008
xxxxxxxxx
well, it ain't old as the hills if you've never heard it before, eh, sonny, and shannie?
Well, 23 skidoo everyone. Cast off, Leela...
Clif Kuplen at 6:57PM on Jul 23rd 2008
372. Botts - although we don't see things the same, some things we do. So that is good.
Yes love your enemies, but you do not have to worry about a dead one.
Just to make my position perfectly clear.... If you are really saved by grace, through faith. Then you cannot, and will not ever lose that salvation. It is not so much what you do, but what Christ has done for you. There is rewards and loss of rewards. As well as there are different degrees of everlasting fire.
Man_in_Wilderness at 9:12PM on Jul 23rd 2008
373. MIW: "If you are really saved by grace, through faith. Then you cannot, and will not ever lose that salvation."
With all due respect, this just isn't true. It's just a nice axiom to explain why people leave the faith... they weren't true to begin with. It's cultish.
Ryan Anderson at 9:29PM on Jul 23rd 2008
374. MIW,
What is your opinion of Mormons, saved or not?
bigTuna at 9:42PM on Jul 23rd 2008
375. 370.
Of course, him being a third Dan blackbelt doesn't hurt his intimidation factor any at all.
mac at 6:53PM on Jul 23rd 2008
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I'd say that would be enough to make him wet his pants. lol
Observant at 9:46PM on Jul 23rd 2008