What Do You Think About This Statement By Richard Dawkins?

Question

"When you think about how fantastically successful the Jewish lobby has been, though in fact they are less numerous, I am told—religious Jews anyway—than atheists and (yet they) more or less monopolize American foreign policy as far as many people can see. So if atheists could achieve a small fraction of that influence the world would be a better place."

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/contentions/index.php/waldron/1016#more-1016

Answer 1

I would not want the Atheist nor any other group to run the world. Any one who thinks their group alone can do a better job is full of themselves!

Answer 2

A small but vocal minority can effect great changes so if atheists became more vocal we probably could end up taking quite a bit of control over the planet.

OTOH a lot of the Jewish lobby successes might be due to their rather strange alliance with the fundamentalist Christians that think the Jews are all going to have to be killed for the second coming of Jesus Christ that was predicted to happen within the lifetime of his disciples.

Answer 3

That guy is telling the truth as far as the influence that Jews have. But he is like this special messiah that Atheists enjoy, when all along he is not sure about the existence of God.

I find that peculiar.

Because he came up with a number of probability, doesn't that make him an Agnostic? And all those thinking that they agree with him, they too are Agnostic? Meaning: They really don't know, and coming up with a number, not matter how small, admit that there is a possibility that God is?

So why be an Atheist when you think there is a possibility? I think it's pride. And the stubborn will that makes their arguments even sillier. So by faith and pride and stubborness, they are calling themselves Atheists.

Answer 4

Well, we can't really predict the future, but I do think that society would be better off if agnostics and atheists had more of an influence in our government. I would agree with his statement, and as a political science major I would say it is a very interesting topic to explore further and write a paper on. (That's all we do is write papers, I miss my business major.)

Edit: I just want to point out to everyone, that NOTHING that is within the statement suggests that he is anti-semitic. I knew as soon as I read this question some people would immediately jump to that conclusion. He is making a point about the political power of a group of people to establish a comparison. Seriously people...

Answer 5

I accept his opinion but do not agree with it. Jewish culture has seen education and knowledge as absolutely necessary. They do not monopolize foreign policy, but they do have considerable influence because of their comprehension of the dynamics involved in establishing purposeful dialog to resolve conflict. Finally, other cultures are recognizing the importance for education. Knowledge is the real impetus for improvement.

Answer 6

Besides a charming character Mr. Dawkins holds some viable ideas and more oft then not impeccable logic in debate . I wish him well and he achieves the respect he is seeking for atheism that he might move on to formulate some
workable scheme or paradigm to facilitate the void in society that religion is making.

Answer 7

I don't really agree. The facet of someone that makes them an atheist, or religious, and its influence, probably has little effect on how "good" the world is.

Answer 8

I wish I could have him write a book based on the following title
"The psychology of an outsider"

Answer 9

Dawkins presupposes that Atheists are a cohesive group, or he is lamenting the fact that they are not. not sure, but in his "if" I can find much to agree with.

Answer 10

Yeah, let us form an atheist lobby.