Some Of The Most Dangerous Words In Print

Richard Dawkins, who is perhaps today's most influential evolutionary biologist, is known for writing and speaking many words concerning religion and reductionism.  It is obvious that he is anti-religious, and sees no problem whatsoever with writing statements like this:

We are survival machines - robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules [of DNA] known as genes.

If Dawkins is correct is asserting that the discovery of the structure of DNA and its genetic code "has dealt the final blow to the belief that living material is deeply distinct from nonliving material," then human beings are of no more value and have no more purpose in living than the non-living table I am currently leaning upon.

These words, and more importantly, the ideology that underlies them, are some of the most dangerous words in print.  Here are just a few of the reasons why:

1.  If we are nothing more than "robot vehicles blindly programmed" then there is no such thing as freedom.  Dawkins and myself are no more responsible for the words we write than the wind is for blowing.  Here and there, this idea or that, we have no way of controlling what we say or do.  Our "life-like" expressions are nothing more than the result of our blind programming.

2.  If this is true, then we have no way of predicting our behavior in the future.  Sure, Dawkins may say that he will "probably" act this way or that, but even that inference via induction is entirely inconsistent with an empirical worldview.  Dawkins has no way of assuring us that he will not be a child molester tomorrow.

3.  If he becomes a child molester tomorrow, then, according to his worldview, he is not responsible for such and can be judged by no objective ethical standard.  His atheistic worldview may sit nicely packaged on the shelf, and it may sound intelligent enough through his british accent, but it is deadly and poisonous.  He may be a nice guy who believes what he writes wholeheartedly, but one thing is certain...

Should he molest a child tomorrow, and should he be convicted and incarcerated, he will soon meet a very large, strong, and brutal organism.  And given that most incarcerated organisms are blindly programed to detest every single DNA strand of child molesters, Dawkins will forcefully be compelled to yell to the top of his lungs "STOP!" to which his adversary will respond, "I read your book.  As far as I am concerned you are not living."