The God Delusion Weekend

Interesting but seriously flawed

     

In the very first lecture Ms. Talbot sets up a straw man of Dawkins argument, specifically she completely ignores the demonstrable fact that Dawkins is speaking to the claim that there is a designer god. When this is brought up the first time she vehemently demands that her belief that Dawkins said nothing about a designer be accepted and claims her assertion is supported by Dawkins's book. Subsequently when it's demonstrated to her that Dawkins was in fact specifically talking about a designer god she claims she can't find her glasses so can't read the passage she so vociferously proclaimed proved her right. It's read and it proves her wrong. She then tries to use the trick of agreeing with the straw man she built of Dawkins position simply so she can say it's not true later.

So, while this could have been interesting Ms. Talbot's incalcitrant refusal to use Dawkins actually argument in the face of repeated explanations and demonstrations of his meaning but instead insists on arguing against the straw man she's constructed makes the whole thing a bit pointless. This is especially frustrating because it's pointed out to her numerous times and every time she makes some completely non sequitur statement. Every time a valid argument is raised to her assertions she ignores them and moves on.

It is good for the logically minded to use to spot really bad logic, not just from the presenters but the audience as well, even the ones you agree with