PZ Myers – We talk to the University of Minnesota Morris biologist and author of the popular science blog Pharyngula [scienceblogs.com/pharyngula]. Dr. Myers is an atheist whose outspokenness often raises the hackles of fundamentalists. His recent missives on the controversy centering on University of Central Florida student Webster Cook’s “stealing” of a Eucharist wafer has brought him to the attention of Blowhard Bill Donahue and his Catholic League.
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Recorded 07/19/2008. Hosted by John C. Snider and David Driscoll.
Hi, guys.
I left some feedback on the episode at the American Freethought Yahoo Group.
Pax vobiscum,
NH Baritone
Ok, ok, ok…im outting myself here. Never listend to these podcasts. That said….how do I? Where do I click to hear PZ? All the links take me elsewhere in the web.
Thanks in advance….
Well, where it says “Download” at the bottom of the show notes will do it. Or click on the little “Audio MP3″ graphic. The EASIEST way is to go to iTunes, search for American Freethought and just subscribe.
:)
…oops.
It would be really helpful if you could use descriptive titles for the podcast, e.g. “American Freethought 22: PZ Myers interview” rather than just “American Freethought Podcast #22″. That way, the words that show up in feed readers and podcatchers and on digital audio player screens are actually used to express some useful information.
Jaap,
That’s a good suggestion. I’ll start doing that with show #23.
John
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gentlemen,
first off i am a confirmed atheist. i was brought up in the anglican faith (protestant) and spent many years (until late adolescence) involved in the church community.
i am no longer a fan of organized religion and believe that while it has done some good, the power it welds is far more damaging to society. it’s track record though history is as much proof as any logical human requires. that being said, i am angered by the way in which both you and mr. cook disrespected the catholic church. the eucharist is the ceremony in which the host (or loaf, or cracker as you put it) is used in. this is the central element in a catholic’s expression of faith. disrespecting this aspect of the religion, by removing it from the church unconsumed is akin to forcibly removing a sheik’s turban and cutting his hair. or, pulling a member of the first nation out of their sweat lodge in the middle of a ceremony.
you are confusing the debate over their specific religious beliefs with their right to freedom of religion. it is obvious to you (and i) that this is not in fact the flesh of god, and while you (I too) disagree with the catholic church on this point i am not willing to disrespect their view. i expect more from people who espouse “free” thought. i think Voltaire (little known enlightenment philosopher < tongue firmly placed in cheek) said something or other about that.
it is for these reasons i think this student is a poor representative of the student body and should be removed from student government. he exercised extremely poor judgment in his “protest” and should be held to a rigorous standard. we look to our leaders to show empathy and sensitivity and not simply dismiss those who hold on to antiquated notions.
you may be correct in your beliefs in as far as i agree with them, however if your goal is to offend i think you will do little to further our cause. it is far better to win over religious zealots with the strength of our arguments than by making fun of their beliefs.
finally, please don’t be dismissive, you’re adding credence to the religious right’s sentiment that you (we) consider yourself (ourselves) superior.
“i’ve got an open mind why don’t you all get inside.” ~ the beastie boys
interesting question. i was talking over this podcast with a friend and he made this comment “to be honest, if he had stolen from the poor box, the “free thinkers” would be more offended and the catholics less”.
Chad,
Thanks for your comments. I think if you go back and re-listen to the podcast, you’ll see we clearly state no one should disrupt church services and that Mr. Cook was wrong to do so. Whether or not he should be removed from student government is debatable.
Also, if you re-listen to what we discussed, you’ll see we are NOT “confusing the debate over their specific religious beliefs with their right to freedom of religion” – in fact, I explicitly stated that while I respect Catholics’ right to hold their opinions, I do not recognize their right (or anyone’s, for that matter) for their opinions be respected. We do believe in freedom of religion, so long as it is not imposed on others against their will. But that does not mean that we are not free, as individuals, openly to debate the merits or insanity of specific religious beliefs.
John
John,
I love to speak to you in person about this (or maybe we could take it offline – email?). however, the hour is growing late, and I think I’ve been able to identify what’s been bugging me about this particular podcast, with the help of your post above.
I now know that the catalyst for my post was the arrogance and velocity with which you dismissed an idea that is held rightly or wrongly by millions of people around the world.
You cannot discount the possibility that we are wrong in our atheism. It is highly unlikely, and I am pretty sure we are right. But, I am more certain of one thing, and one thing only, that neither of us is omniscient.
I enjoy the podcast and your irreverent sense of humor, but not the lack of respect for your fellow man. You don’t have to agree with the opinion, but you do have to respect the person. What are we made of, if not of our beliefs? Those people got to their current state of mind by a set of circumstances you cannot possibly know.
We, you and I both, are here by either the grace of a god, or the grace of blind chance, but GRACE nonetheless.
I am scared that you are fulfilling the temptation of simply being a polar opposite to your Mr. Donahue; a counterpoint to the religious extreme.
But then I’m just spit-ballin’
Cb
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