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Professor Richard Dawkins embroiled in Twitter row over Muslim comments
The Telegraph ^ | Aug 8, 2013 | Alice Philipson

Posted on 08/08/2013 9:43:35 PM PDT by Kip Russell

Richard Dawkins has been forced to defend controversial comments he made online after saying the last time Muslims contributed something worthwhile was during the Middle Ages.

Prof Dawkins, the bestselling author of The God Delusion, wrote on Twitter that all the world's Muslims had won fewer Nobel Prizes than Trinity College, Cambridge. He went on to argue that although Muslims were responsible for many achievements during the Dark Ages, including alchemy and algebra, their contribution since then was questionable.

His comments sparked outrage from many high-profile writers and journalists including author Caitlin Moran and Channel 4 News Economics Editor Faisal Islam.

Moran tweeted: "it's time someone turned Richard Dawkins off and then on again. Something's gone weird." Writing on Twitter on Thursday, Prof Dawkins said: "All the world's Muslims have fewer Nobel Prizes than Trinity College, Cambridge. They did great things in the Middle Ages, though."

While in response to another Twitter user who wrote that Muslims were responsible for alchemy and algebra, he replied: "Indeed, where would we be without alchemy? Dark Age achievements undoubted. But since then?"

He later tried to justify his comments by saying he talked about the number of Muslim prize winners because we often hear "boasts about their total numbers".

He wrote: "Why mention Muslim Nobels rather than any other group? Because we so often hear boasts about (a) their total numbers and (b) their science."

He added: "A statement of simple fact is not bigotry".

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: caitlinmoran; dawkins; dhimmitude; faisalislam; godsgravesglyphs; islam; nobelprizes; religionofpieces; richarddawkins; thegoddelusion; twitter; unitedkingdom; waronterror
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1 posted on 08/08/2013 9:43:35 PM PDT by Kip Russell
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To: Kip Russell

For once I agree with Dawkins. What positive effect has Islam had on the world? I can think only of negatives.


2 posted on 08/08/2013 9:49:14 PM PDT by beethovenfan (If Islam is the solution, the "problem" must be freedom.)
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To: beethovenfan

Perfected killing innocent women and children with IED’s


3 posted on 08/08/2013 9:51:03 PM PDT by Kozy (Calling Al Gore)
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To: Kip Russell

Alchemy? Muslims achieved transmutation?


4 posted on 08/08/2013 9:52:29 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: beethovenfan
Islam was not a torch, as has been claimed, but an extinguisher. Conceived in a barbarous brain for the use of a barbarous people, it was - and it remains - incapable of adapting itself to civilization. Wherever it has dominated, it has broken the impulse towards progress and checked the evolution of society.

- André Servier, French historian who lived in Algeria
5 posted on 08/08/2013 9:54:11 PM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: Kip Russell

If religion is a choice and someone chooses Islam, then they deserve all the criticism they get.

And if it isn’t a choice, then how can we respect anyone that can’t be bothered to reflect on their own religion so they CAN make a choice?


6 posted on 08/08/2013 9:54:24 PM PDT by freerepublicchat
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To: beethovenfan

No, no let’s all become muslims, gay, criminals, illegal aliens, druggies, because only the groups liberals pander to are noble and above approach.

And trash all the peaceful Christians, scientists, and so on for the same reason.

What’s the likelihood you are getting nobel prizes in science out of hell holes like Egypt, Pakistan, Somalia, etc.


7 posted on 08/08/2013 10:00:13 PM PDT by Williams (No Obama)
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To: Kip Russell
20th Century Tactical Assault Infants?


8 posted on 08/08/2013 10:02:47 PM PDT by rawcatslyentist (Jeremiah 50:32 "The arrogant one will stumble and fall With no one to raise him up; And I will set)
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To: Kip Russell
He added: "A statement of simple fact is not bigotry".

Your side changed that rule - no good crying about it, now.

9 posted on 08/08/2013 10:05:41 PM PDT by Mr. Jeeves (CTRL-GALT-DELETE)
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To: Kip Russell

God bless Richard Dawkins.


10 posted on 08/08/2013 10:06:39 PM PDT by Fester Chugabrew
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To: Kip Russell

He’s wrong, modern Muslims invented the child suicide walking bomb.


11 posted on 08/08/2013 10:11:35 PM PDT by sickoflibs (To GOP : Any path to US Citizenship IS putting them ahead in line. Stop lying about your position.)
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To: Kip Russell
I thought it said Prof Richard Dreyfus— I'm tired, and it's shark week! And he is another liberal loon.

Now watch the Atheist run to the Christians and Jews for protection.

12 posted on 08/08/2013 10:12:23 PM PDT by MacMattico
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To: SpaceBar

Thank you. That is an excellent quote worth publishing and repeating.

One thing we need to be careful about, however: people are capable of change. I would not indict every individual who has fallen under this insidious religion, but pray for them. I wish no ill on either Dawkins or those who err in matters of faith and life.


13 posted on 08/08/2013 10:12:42 PM PDT by Fester Chugabrew
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To: Kip Russell
"His comments sparked outrage from many high-profile writers and journalists including author Caitlin Moran and Channel 4 News Economics Editor Faisal Islam."

Notice that his comments did not elicit outrage from scientists, but from journalists and "high-profile" writers. Journalists are - by and large - second- or third-rate thinkers, or worse.
14 posted on 08/08/2013 10:12:59 PM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: Kip Russell

Did anybody list some accomplishments, instead of expressing outrage?


15 posted on 08/08/2013 10:13:17 PM PDT by Chaguito
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To: Steve_Seattle
Journalists are - by and large - second- or third-rate thinkers, or worse.

LOL.

F. A. Hayek once referred to journalists, politicians, and college professors as "the second-hand dealers in ideas".

16 posted on 08/08/2013 10:18:12 PM PDT by SeeSharp
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To: Kip Russell
"A statement of simple fact is not bigotry".

Bless his heart.

17 posted on 08/08/2013 10:20:35 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (People are idiots.)
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To: Chaguito

Doing that would refute his claims a lot better than expressing ‘outrage’’. C’mon muzlims - list the contributions...

< crickets >


18 posted on 08/08/2013 10:21:26 PM PDT by Bob
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To: Kip Russell
"All the world's Muslims have fewer Nobel Prizes than Trinity College, Cambridge.(...)"

Is the bad Doctor Dawkins leaving someone off the list?


19 posted on 08/08/2013 10:21:36 PM PDT by Yossarian
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To: beethovenfan

Dawkins was too generous. Muslims STOLE algebra, they didn’t invent it.

As a matter of fact, I believe that Islam itself was a badly bungled theft of Judeo-Christianity.


20 posted on 08/08/2013 10:29:05 PM PDT by John Valentine (Deep in the Heart of Texas)
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