New Dawkins Documentary

[Furious George]

Slaves to Superstition
Monday 20 August
8:00pm - 9:00pm
Channel 4


Documentary in which evolutionary biologist Professor Richard Dawkins explains how organised religion and primitive superstition are blighting our lives. He claims that despite humankind's scientific knowledge increasing, more and more people are retreating into irrational belief systems such as New Age mysticism, clairvoyance and astrology. Prof Dawkins tackles influential mediums and astrologers in an attempt to debunk their superstitions with logic and reason.

Linky

When Dawkins consulted a medium who has appeared on daytime television and charges £50 for instant phone readings she said she could hear or see his father “on the other side”.

He did his best not to look surprised as she continued: “I’m aware of your father stood right behind you. “On a spiritual level he wasn’t the most openest man with his thoughts and his feelings. Ummm, I kind of want to say that I do love you and I do care – but that wouldn’t have been his character.” (Or that of many middle-class father figures of his generation, a sceptic might have said.)

But Dawkins let her continue. “I’m aware that you don’t have you dad’s photograph out” – it was true, he didn’t – “so I’m a little bit concerned why. So I’m going to ask you: why don’t you have it out?” Dawkins had a bombshell ready: “Well, he might be aware that I don’t have it out because he comes to the house about once a week.” “Oh, he’s still here,” she said, adding after a few seconds: “I don’t feel it’s working.”

“Is that because you thought my father is dead and discovered that he’s still alive?”

“No, nothing to do with that. I don’t know.”

She commented later: “As a clairvoyant you’re only as good as the client.”

Heh-he Swoosh!

 

[Frosty]

This clairvoyancy lark sounds profitable - I may give it a go!

The documentary should be interesting, but I do feel that Dawkins results to polemic far too quickly when dealing with religion and things that he disagrees with.

 

[Wibble]

True.

Enjoyable though I find this sort of stuff I find his God related stuff less than totally satisfactory because he finds the loons that we all live with every day bizarre and presents them to us as if we had never experienced them before.

 

[Furious George]

I like Dawkins on my telly.

I love his sneering arrogance and undisguised contempt. He should have turned to tv work years ago. It's a hell of a lot more refreshing than the gimps who tip-toe around subjects like this, wary of the danger of upsetting people.