Dawkins declares the use of Te Reo by the government of Aotearoa to be virtue signalling - the language of Piers Morgan, Jeremy Clarkson, Mike Hosking, and Sean Plunket. So why is Dawkins using it? Got some tickets to sell Richard?
Very articulate, Nick! I attributed Richard Dawkins' book 'The God Delusion" with helping me move away from fundamental Christianity, which hadn't seemed ok with me and nobody could answer my questions - I was just told repeatedly to "have more faith"...eg: it's illogical, but try to believe it without evidence. However the last Dawkins book I attempted, I simply couldn't finish- the arrogance is too much. To think he should have any opinion about Te Reo is a little strange, and even more so that he feels the need to espouse it here.
I went to see Dawkins the last time he came and it really was a terrible waste of money. He is insufferable. While it was amusing to see that some people at question time thought they'd catch him out with a bible verse which they saw as unanswerable, he just smirked though it all. One of the things I've loved about my career in science is that it made it so obvious what I didn't know and how much was perhaps unknowable. Sometimes people say things like "Scientists think they know it all", they don't. There seems to be something about scientific fame that sends some people off the rails. As a young scientist I heard four Nobel prize winners speak - not one of them spoke about science, somehow now they assumed we'd share their interest in Chinese pottery or want to hear an extract from their novel. While I think there have been some great science popularisers in our time, the fame and fortune approach to science seems destructive.
Richard Dawkins being himself is a prat. However when he is just sticking to the science he is very good. Read ‘ The Greatest Show on Earth ...’ his exposition on evolution written for evolution deniers. I found it easier to listen to but however you approach it is worthwhile. He should stick to the factual stuff and stay away from offering his opinions.
Probably, because I did not read widely during my working life, I must have skipped Richard Dawkins news stories. I thought Nick was referring to the guy in the wheel chair who died recently. Hawkens - googling him now- Stephen Hawking. Hawking was an atheist but, late in life, according to my recollection (not google) he came to believe in a superior being or force. I kind of do too. Because I was brought up in our predominantly (pre census 2023) christian nation I am sometimes guilty of blasphemy. As for te reo, I studied it in the 1970's at Canterbury when it was first introduced to the syllabus. I support its place as an official language mainly because it preserves the heritage of the indigenous cultures of Aotearoa. Ngaa tikanga o ngaa iwi katoa. Note - more than one iwi language. Another plus for having te reo. It gives kiwi a social and marketing advantage over ozzies. It def should be compulsory in our schools.
I find the virulent atheism odd - perhaps a reflection of his age (81), as it would have been more transgressive to be an atheist in his youth. No reason for him to comment on Te Reo at all, but I guess he knew that would get headlines here.
I have been reading Dawkins ever since I first heard of him when I was in my thirties. I had been studying religions to try to explain to myself why I had found Christianity so impossible to believe, right from the age of fourteen. I kept thinking that since which religion you adopted depended on which country you were born in, so it seemed clear to me that people from the beginning of time had been making up creation stories to try to explain things they could not understand. They even used their belief systems as an excuse for "righteous" wars. It also seemed clear that we now had explanations for almost everything! When I started to read Dawkins I finally found someone who could explain it all and expand my thinking - and what a huge relief and delight it was. I have no problem with other people believing what they choose, but find it very annoying if they try to "convert" me. Sorry, but I am a lost soul! However, the recent comments of Dawkins I have no time for at all, and I think he is exhibiting highly racist and sadly ignorant behaviour. I will be avoiding him in future.
Enjoyed your article Nick. Have also found Dawkins nashing his teeth and ranting against the church over the years as someone who hasn;t moved on or evolved in his thinking. So I agree he is just plain ignorant. Only ignorant pompous people think they have anything relative to say about another country's culture.
Very articulate, Nick! I attributed Richard Dawkins' book 'The God Delusion" with helping me move away from fundamental Christianity, which hadn't seemed ok with me and nobody could answer my questions - I was just told repeatedly to "have more faith"...eg: it's illogical, but try to believe it without evidence. However the last Dawkins book I attempted, I simply couldn't finish- the arrogance is too much. To think he should have any opinion about Te Reo is a little strange, and even more so that he feels the need to espouse it here.
I went to see Dawkins the last time he came and it really was a terrible waste of money. He is insufferable. While it was amusing to see that some people at question time thought they'd catch him out with a bible verse which they saw as unanswerable, he just smirked though it all. One of the things I've loved about my career in science is that it made it so obvious what I didn't know and how much was perhaps unknowable. Sometimes people say things like "Scientists think they know it all", they don't. There seems to be something about scientific fame that sends some people off the rails. As a young scientist I heard four Nobel prize winners speak - not one of them spoke about science, somehow now they assumed we'd share their interest in Chinese pottery or want to hear an extract from their novel. While I think there have been some great science popularisers in our time, the fame and fortune approach to science seems destructive.
Richard Dawkins being himself is a prat. However when he is just sticking to the science he is very good. Read ‘ The Greatest Show on Earth ...’ his exposition on evolution written for evolution deniers. I found it easier to listen to but however you approach it is worthwhile. He should stick to the factual stuff and stay away from offering his opinions.
Exactly!
Probably, because I did not read widely during my working life, I must have skipped Richard Dawkins news stories. I thought Nick was referring to the guy in the wheel chair who died recently. Hawkens - googling him now- Stephen Hawking. Hawking was an atheist but, late in life, according to my recollection (not google) he came to believe in a superior being or force. I kind of do too. Because I was brought up in our predominantly (pre census 2023) christian nation I am sometimes guilty of blasphemy. As for te reo, I studied it in the 1970's at Canterbury when it was first introduced to the syllabus. I support its place as an official language mainly because it preserves the heritage of the indigenous cultures of Aotearoa. Ngaa tikanga o ngaa iwi katoa. Note - more than one iwi language. Another plus for having te reo. It gives kiwi a social and marketing advantage over ozzies. It def should be compulsory in our schools.
I find the virulent atheism odd - perhaps a reflection of his age (81), as it would have been more transgressive to be an atheist in his youth. No reason for him to comment on Te Reo at all, but I guess he knew that would get headlines here.
I have been reading Dawkins ever since I first heard of him when I was in my thirties. I had been studying religions to try to explain to myself why I had found Christianity so impossible to believe, right from the age of fourteen. I kept thinking that since which religion you adopted depended on which country you were born in, so it seemed clear to me that people from the beginning of time had been making up creation stories to try to explain things they could not understand. They even used their belief systems as an excuse for "righteous" wars. It also seemed clear that we now had explanations for almost everything! When I started to read Dawkins I finally found someone who could explain it all and expand my thinking - and what a huge relief and delight it was. I have no problem with other people believing what they choose, but find it very annoying if they try to "convert" me. Sorry, but I am a lost soul! However, the recent comments of Dawkins I have no time for at all, and I think he is exhibiting highly racist and sadly ignorant behaviour. I will be avoiding him in future.
Very well said, Nick. What hypocrisy ... appreciate the way you point out the responsibility for the world going nuclear and climate change.
Those "what's in it for me" guys are on the wrong side of history Nick.
Whata ngarongaro he tangata, toitū he whenua.
(Man disappears but the land remains.)
Wonderful. Thank you Nick. Your writings are such valuable advocacy for Maori aspirations. I enjoyed the doghouse metaphor. Ka nui te mihi ki a koe.
As for Mr Dawk: Every third kupu? Really? You pokokohua!
https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=pokokohua
Richard Dawkins & Elon Musk didn't get the memo "Don't be a dick"!
Enjoyed your article Nick. Have also found Dawkins nashing his teeth and ranting against the church over the years as someone who hasn;t moved on or evolved in his thinking. So I agree he is just plain ignorant. Only ignorant pompous people think they have anything relative to say about another country's culture.