Nov-13-1996
DAWKINS ATTACKS PSEUDO-SCIENCE IN NATIONWIDE ADDRESS
American Atheists News
[Original article here]
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In This Issue...
* British Atheist Takes On "The X-FILES." The Truth IS Out There!
* GOP "Big Tent" Ready To Collapse?
* Bishops Plan ~ You Pay
DAWKINS ATTACKS PSEUDO-SCIENCE IN NATIONWIDE ADDRESS
Dr. Richard Dawkins, Oxford University zoologist and Atheist, attacked
what he termed an "epidemic of paranormal propaganda" on British television
last night, during the 21st annual Richard Dimbleby memorial lecture. He
decried the growing cultural trend of obsession with mysticism and paranomal
phenomenon as "an appetite for wonder," but cautioned viewers: "By all means
let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out."
"Who would go back to astrology when they've sampled the real thing --
astronomy?", mused Dawkins.
Noting the burgeoning public fixation with astrology and television
programs like "The X-Files," Dawkins sigled out a recent half-hour prime time
program which focused on the bizarre claims of a man claiming to be a faith
healer reincarnated from 2,000 years ago. "Some might call this
entertaining," noted the British scientists, "comedy even, though others
would find it objectionable entertainment, like a fairground freak show."
Darwkins also criticized astrologers who "are playing on -- misusing,
abusing -- our sense of wonder. Real astronomy is the rightful proprietor of
the stars and their wonder. Astrology gets in the way, even subverts and
debauches the wonder."
The popular "X-Files" program was also singled out by Professor Dawkins.
This award-winning program carried in America on the Fox Networks, depicts
two FBI agents on the trail of bizarre, "unexplained" phenomenon who also
battle a shadowy government cabal linked to aliens and UFO abductions.
"X-Files" producer Chris Carter also has launched "Millennium," an even
darker program dealing with serial killers, cults and turn-of-the-century
madness which is combatted by a semi-secret "Millennium Group."
Dawkins noted that programs like "The X-Files" present a mystery and
"offer rational and paranormal theories as rival explanations," according to
today's Electronic Telegraph.
"And, week after week, the rational explanation loses," said Dawkins.
"Imagine a crime series in which, every week, there is a white suspect and a
black suspect. And every week, lo and behold, the black one turns out to
have done it. Unpardonable, of course. And my point is that you could not
defend it."
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Tags: x-files
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