Cardinal Pell debates atheist Dawkins
April 10, 2012
A televised debate between Cardinal George Pell of Sydney and the crusading atheist Richard Dawkins drew headline coverage in Australia, but left viewers split on the merits of the argument.
While the Sydney Morning Herald called the event “one hell of a debate,” Michael Cook of MercatorNet found the exchange unsatisfying—in part because Dawkins backed away from a strictly atheistic stand, and in part because Dawkins offered no guidance at all regarding the meaning of life in a godless universe. Cook concluded that Dawkins is “a gifted demagogue but he is a mediocre philosopher.”
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Further information:
- Dawkins and Pell battle it out in one hell of a debate (Sydney Morning Herald)
- Pell, Dawkins wage battle of belief (The Age)
- A clash of the Titans? (MercatorNet)
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Posted by: Justin8110 -
Apr. 10, 2012 6:10 PM ET USA
Indeed life in a godless universe renders everything utterly meaningless beyond a shallow pragmatism for the sake of some silly social contract. There would be no real reason outside a shallow pragmatic argument about a nebulous "common good" to condemn Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin and their actions. Truly everything would be pernmissable and the world would be left to whoever hasa greater "triumph of the will". Dawkins needs prayers and Masses said for his hellbound soul.
