The God Delusion: The God Delusion: A ResponseA Response

John Oakes, PhD June, 2007 John Oakes, PhD June, 2007

RichardRichard DawkinsDawkins

Considered by many the preeminent evolutionist Considered by many the preeminent evolutionist of our time. A popularizer of science and an of our time. A popularizer of science and an avowed atheist.avowed atheist.

River out of EdenRiver out of Eden

The Blind WatchmakerThe Blind Watchmaker

The Selfish GeneThe Selfish Gene

Unweaving the RainbowUnweaving the Rainbow

Key Points of “The God Delusion”Key Points of “The God Delusion”

There exists a known mechanism by which organic There exists a known mechanism by which organic evolution creates greater complexity through genetic evolution creates greater complexity through genetic mutation, gene crossing, natural selection etc.mutation, gene crossing, natural selection etc.

Therefore it is settled that nature can spontaneously Therefore it is settled that nature can spontaneously create complexity as a general rule (although he create complexity as a general rule (although he proposes no mechanism for this outside of Darwinism).proposes no mechanism for this outside of Darwinism).

By analogy, there must be some sort of complexity-By analogy, there must be some sort of complexity-creator which can explain why the fine-tuned universe creator which can explain why the fine-tuned universe we live in was created. (and the multiverse we live in was created. (and the multiverse speculation is assumed to be true, by the way)speculation is assumed to be true, by the way)

Key Points of “The God Delusion”Key Points of “The God Delusion”

This being proved (that the universe can This being proved (that the universe can spontaneously create complexity and spontaneously create complexity and information), then there is no need to information), then there is no need to invoke the Anthropic Principle or the idea invoke the Anthropic Principle or the idea of a designer.of a designer.

Therefore it is proven that there is no God, Therefore it is proven that there is no God, no supernatural presence. All of reality no supernatural presence. All of reality can be explained by random action of can be explained by random action of material forces.material forces.

Key Points in “The God Delusion”Key Points in “The God Delusion”

It being proven that there is no designer, no It being proven that there is no designer, no supernatural presence, then belief in God, in the supernatural presence, then belief in God, in the soul, in spiritual reality is a delusion—a soul, in spiritual reality is a delusion—a psychological illness.psychological illness.

The tendency—common to almost all humans—The tendency—common to almost all humans—toward religious belief is the result of the toward religious belief is the result of the formation of a “meme”. A meme is a pseudo-formation of a “meme”. A meme is a pseudo-genetic-like evolved cultural idea. Like a virus genetic-like evolved cultural idea. Like a virus that infects a culture. The religion meme is an that infects a culture. The religion meme is an artifact of brain evolution—a very unfortunate artifact of brain evolution—a very unfortunate one.one.

Key Points in “The God Delusion”Key Points in “The God Delusion”

Not only is all religious thought a delusion, it is in Not only is all religious thought a delusion, it is in fact the most dangerous, pernicious, destructive fact the most dangerous, pernicious, destructive force in human culture. It is the natural enemy of force in human culture. It is the natural enemy of the only true source of knowledge: the scientific the only true source of knowledge: the scientific method.method.

Those who refuse to give up all religious belief are Those who refuse to give up all religious belief are at least indirectly responsible for all the evil in the at least indirectly responsible for all the evil in the world. Religion has had absolutely nothing positive world. Religion has had absolutely nothing positive to offer to humanity. The sooner we abandon belief to offer to humanity. The sooner we abandon belief in morality and absolute ethical beliefs, the faster in morality and absolute ethical beliefs, the faster humans will approach their ultimate potential.humans will approach their ultimate potential.

One More ThingOne More Thing

The existence of God is a scientific hypothesis, to The existence of God is a scientific hypothesis, to be decided by empirical scientific experiment.be decided by empirical scientific experiment.

Problems with Dawkin’s arguments.Problems with Dawkin’s arguments.

Extremely biased and emotional argument.Extremely biased and emotional argument.

Religionists are:Religionists are: ““silly”silly” ““weird”weird” ““unworthy”unworthy” ““the root of all evil”the root of all evil” ““not enlightened”not enlightened” Etc.Etc.

Problems With Dawkin’s Argument Problems With Dawkin’s Argument (cont.)(cont.)

A prevalent use of logical fallacy to make his A prevalent use of logical fallacy to make his argument.argument.

Ad hominemAd hominem arguments arguments No True ScotsmanNo True Scotsman Begging the Question (circular reasoning)Begging the Question (circular reasoning) Straw man argumentStraw man argument Etc.Etc.

Problems With Dawkin’s Reasoning Problems With Dawkin’s Reasoning (cont.)(cont.)

““The God Delusion” is pseudoscience.The God Delusion” is pseudoscience.

Argument by analogy (virus of the mind)Argument by analogy (virus of the mind) Claims of persecutionClaims of persecution Quoting authors out of contextQuoting authors out of context Bogus use of statistics (correlation vs. cause and effect)Bogus use of statistics (correlation vs. cause and effect) Appeals to mystery and myth (the bicameral mind)Appeals to mystery and myth (the bicameral mind) Proposal of theories which have no experimental support Proposal of theories which have no experimental support

at all.at all.

“The God Delusion makes me embarrassed to be an atheist” Michael Ruse

A Response to Dawkin’s ThesisA Response to Dawkin’s Thesis

It is true that evil had been done in the name of God.It is true that evil had been done in the name of God. Islamic extremismIslamic extremism Crusades, Inquisition, etc.Crusades, Inquisition, etc.

But Jesus certainly would not have accepted this behavior But Jesus certainly would not have accepted this behavior at all (and perhaps neither would Muhammad have, for that at all (and perhaps neither would Muhammad have, for that matter) Matthew 5:38-48matter) Matthew 5:38-48

Christianity has done more to improve the human condition Christianity has done more to improve the human condition than any other force in human history.than any other force in human history. Woman’s rights.Woman’s rights. Abolition of slaveryAbolition of slavery Human rights in generalHuman rights in general Christian groups do the majority of all benevolent acts in the Christian groups do the majority of all benevolent acts in the

world James 1:27 Micah 6:8 etc.world James 1:27 Micah 6:8 etc.

A Response to Dawkin’s ArgumentsA Response to Dawkin’s Arguments

One can concede that random mutation/natural One can concede that random mutation/natural selection can produce complexity.selection can produce complexity.

However to argue by analogy that life was However to argue by analogy that life was spontaneously generated or that an Anthropic spontaneously generated or that an Anthropic Universe is naturally selected is not scientific.Universe is naturally selected is not scientific.

Two Competing Points of View:Two Competing Points of View:

RichardRichard DawkinsDawkins

In the universe of blind physical forces and In the universe of blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt and other people are going to get get hurt and other people are going to get lucky: and you won’t find any rhyme or reason lucky: and you won’t find any rhyme or reason to it, nor any justice. The universe we observe to it, nor any justice. The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect has precisely the properties we should expect if there is at the bottom, no design, no if there is at the bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good. Nothing but purpose, no evil and no good. Nothing but blind, pitiless indifference. DNA neither knows blind, pitiless indifference. DNA neither knows nor cares. DNA just is, and we dance to its nor cares. DNA just is, and we dance to its music.music.

Accident or Design?

The Anthropic Principle

William Paley

Water; A Designed Molecule

Designed Elements

a) b)

DNA: A Beautifully Designed Molecule

Protein

Simplest life form: break it Simplest life form: break it downdown

E. coli contain about 500 billion atoms.E. coli contain about 500 billion atoms. E. coli have 3000-4000 different E. coli have 3000-4000 different

proteins.proteins. DNA and RNA to make and be made DNA and RNA to make and be made

by these proteins.by these proteins. Dozens of lipids (membrane)Dozens of lipids (membrane) SaccharidesSaccharides Other organic moleculesOther organic molecules

Science before the 1950s:

The universe was NOT created.

The Bible all along:

The universe was created.

The Big Bang

· 1929 Hubble. The Red Shift: The universe is expanding.

· 1965 Penzias and Wilson, background microwave radiation.

Physicists now:

The universe was created. But…..

Multiverse speculation.

.00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001

Constants Which Had to be Just Right For Life 

Constant A Little Bigger A Little Smaller  1. Gravitational constant very short-lived stars no stars  2. Strong Nuclear Force no hydrogen, fusion only hydrogen  3. Weak Nuclear Force all H2 He at big bang no He at big bang

no heavy elements  4. Electric Force no chemical bonding no chemical bonding  5. Expansion rate of universe no galaxies universe collapses quickly

6. Ratio of electrons to protons no stars and galaxies no stars and galaxies

8. Ratio of matter to antimatter too much radiation for life not enough matterfor galaxies to form

  9. Proton/neutron mass difference protons decay, no nuclei protons decay, no nuclei

10. Decay rate of 8Be no elements heavier than Be catastrophic explosion of stars 

11. 12C to 16O nuclear energy ratio almost no oxygen almost no carbon 12. etc… many others

Conclusion:

“Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

Romans 1:20

Part II

Science and the Bible

Delos B. McKown:

“Christianity is scientifically unsupported and probably insupportable, philosophically suspect at best and disreputable at worst, and historically fraudulent.”

Papyrus EbersPapyrus Ebers

The Ebers PapyrusThe Ebers Papyrus::

““To prevent hair from turning gray, To prevent hair from turning gray, anoint it with the blood of a calf anoint it with the blood of a calf which has been boiled in oil or with which has been boiled in oil or with

the fat of a rattlesnake.”the fat of a rattlesnake.”

““A mixture of six fats, namely those A mixture of six fats, namely those of the horse, the hippopotamus, the of the horse, the hippopotamus, the crocodile, the cat, the snake and crocodile, the cat, the snake and the ibex.... to prevent hair loss.the ibex.... to prevent hair loss.””

Drugs of Choice included:Drugs of Choice included:

Lizards bloodLizards blood Swine’s teethSwine’s teeth Putrid meatPutrid meat Moisture from Pigs’ earsMoisture from Pigs’ ears Excreta from animals including Excreta from animals including

human beings, donkeys, antelope, human beings, donkeys, antelope, dogs, cats and fliesdogs, cats and flies

“I will not bring on you any of these diseases...”

Exodus 15:26

“The pig... is unclean for you...those that walk on their paws...the weasel, the rat...are unclean for you.”

Leviticus 11

“The snail trailing a moist streak after it as it crawls, and so using up its vitality serves as a remedy for boils.”

“The sting of a hornet is healed by the house-fly, crushed and applied to the wound.”

“The gnat, feeble creature, taking in food but never secreting it is a specific against the poison of the viper.”

An ancient Hebrew medical manuscript.

SemelweissSemelweiss

Vienna, 1847Vienna, 1847

In maternity wards one out In maternity wards one out of every six women dies.of every six women dies.

Obstetricians ascribe Obstetricians ascribe deaths to constipation, fear deaths to constipation, fear and poisonous air.and poisonous air.

Death Rate falls Death Rate falls from 18% to 1%from 18% to 1%

Thymol

The life is in the bloodThe life is in the blood

Leviticus 17:14 “… the life of Leviticus 17:14 “… the life of every creature is in its blood. That every creature is in its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, is why I have said to the Israelites, ‘You must not eat the blood of any ‘You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off.’ ”eats it must be cut off.’ ”

Bloodletting

The most common medical practice

in 1700s and 1800s

1693).

                                     

George Tiemann & Co. American armamentarium

Bloodletting Instruments from 1800s

“For the generations to come, every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised...”

Genesis 17:12

Vitamin K

Prothrombrin: a clotting protein.

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100

120

140

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days

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alClotting Protein Peaks on Day EightClotting Protein Peaks on Day Eight

Available Prothrombin

Arguments I could have madeArguments I could have made

Historically, Science was born out of Christian Historically, Science was born out of Christian theologytheology

Consciousness is a real, non-physical phenomenon. Consciousness is a real, non-physical phenomenon. “I” exist. “I” exist.

Science does not and cannot do justice to the Science does not and cannot do justice to the fullness of human experience (beauty, love, fullness of human experience (beauty, love, inspiration, etc.)inspiration, etc.)

Moral/ethical truth is real, not an accidental artifact Moral/ethical truth is real, not an accidental artifact of brain evolution and social meme-development.of brain evolution and social meme-development.

Further Arguments I Could Have MadeFurther Arguments I Could Have Made

Atheism/Scientism is a kind of a religion, Atheism/Scientism is a kind of a religion, including faith-based beliefs and definite including faith-based beliefs and definite “oughts.”“oughts.”

A world governed by atheists and scientifically-A world governed by atheists and scientifically-determined truth alone is a dangerous and very determined truth alone is a dangerous and very unpleasant place. (Polyanna, USSR, Red China, unpleasant place. (Polyanna, USSR, Red China, Pol Pot)Pol Pot)