The Atheists 4 Horsemen
This is a 2hr discussion from September 2007. The 4 men are scholars, scientists, and
philosophers: Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett, Richard Dawkins, and Sam Harris (from
left to right). It starts with an unspecified question from Dawkins regarding their collective
approach to critically analyzing religious belief. In REL 207, we have to employ an academic
approach to mythology and, therefore, to the texts of religions on which beliefs are based.
You will watch the first 15.17 minutes of this hour long discussion. Questions to consider follow
and you should pause the video and answer them as you listen. Please type in your responses,
upload to TII, and then participate in the discussion. The paper should be about 2 pages long.
1. Is the academic study of religion hostile to religion? Is it hostile to religious people? Is
there a difference?
2. Is Religious Studies trying to disprove religion? After listening to that part of the
discussion, what do you think about religious people being offended by the academic
discussion?
3. Is criticizing religion comparable to the criticism of art, literature, beauty, physics, oil
treatment plants, or pharmacology? Do you think religion should be treated differently
from secular topics?
4. Why might non-religious people want to defend religious ones? From the discussion,
why is it condescending for them to do so?
5. What are your thoughts on the discussion whether all numinous/transcendent experiences
should be considered spiritual or religious?
6. Is religion arrogant? Is atheism?
7. Can religion admit if it is wrong? What may be some positive or negative
repercussions to this?
this is the link for the video
