Reason Rally, Dawkins and Christians
“When you meet somebody who claims to be religious, ask them what they really believe. If you meet someone who says he’s Catholic, for example, say: ‘What do you mean? Do you just mean you were baptized Catholic?’ Because I’m not impressed by that… When you met somebody who claims to be Christian, ask her, ask him: ‘What do you really believe?’ And in many cases they will give you an answer that is no more convincing than ‘That I like to be a good person.’… For example, if they say they’re Catholic: ‘Do you really believe that when a priest blesses a wafer, it turns into the body of Christ? Are you seriously telling me you believe that? Are you seriously saying that wine turns into blood?’ Mock them, ridicule them… in public. Don’t fall for the convention that we’re all too polite to talk about religion. Religion is not off the table. Religion is not off limits. Religion makes specific claims about the universe which need to be substantiated and need to be challenged and, if necessary, need to be ridiculed with contempt.”
- Richard Dawkins at the Reason Rally, March 24th, 2012
Transcription and emphasis by thepoorinspirit.tumblr
Speech source: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/21334608
My response:
