Ten thousand atheists get together to listen to Richard Dawkins tell them to mock and ridicule Catholics
His interviewer seems somewhat perturbed by this.
It's obvious to me. Ridicule of this nature is straight from the pits of Hell which will use any means at it's disposal. Dawkins also lies, he pretends that he is a good guy who doesn't insult people and then does so. No big deal, most people won't pick up on that, and the few that do he doesn't care about. It's the masses he wants to reach.
As for us Catholics (and Orthodox) who believe that Jesus is truly present the Eucharist - his ridicule just makes us stronger. Bring it on!
Related link: Interview: Richard Dawkins Celebrates Reason, Ridicules Faith ~ NPR
In insisting that he does not insult people who believe in God, only their beliefs, Dawkins tries for a distinction I find problematic.
On his blog last year, Dawkins called a person named Minor Vidal a "fool" for his expression of thanks to God after surviving a deadly plane crash. (To be fair, Dawkins called "billions" of other people fools, too, in the same post.)
Dawkins told me that if he insulted any person, he regrets it. But this example shows how hard it is, in practice rather than theory, to aim harsh language only at a person's belief, and not at the person.
Another example comes from Saturday's rally. There, Dawkins noted his incredulity when meeting people who believe a Communion wafer turns into the body of Christ during the Eucharist. He then urged his followers to "mock" and "ridicule" that. (He says this 13 minutes into the video, though it's best to watch the whole thing.) His exact words after describing the Catholic ritual, were "Mock them. Ridicule them." So by "them" did he intend to refer to Catholic beliefs, not Catholic people? In context, it doesn't seem so to me.
It's obvious to me. Ridicule of this nature is straight from the pits of Hell which will use any means at it's disposal. Dawkins also lies, he pretends that he is a good guy who doesn't insult people and then does so. No big deal, most people won't pick up on that, and the few that do he doesn't care about. It's the masses he wants to reach.
As for us Catholics (and Orthodox) who believe that Jesus is truly present the Eucharist - his ridicule just makes us stronger. Bring it on!
Related link: Interview: Richard Dawkins Celebrates Reason, Ridicules Faith ~ NPR