Dawkins is a breath of fresh air precisely because he's not a product of the American politeness which often hides the sort of hypocrisy and nastiness in someone like Ted Haggard. I live in Cincinnati - people are nice to a fault here, yet still vote in backwards ways on gay rights and taxes and such. It's pretty ugly.

That anyone would think Haggard, with his backward ideas and false front, would win an argument with Dawkins merely because he seems like a nice guy is almost as perverted as Haggard himself.

Remember how many people voted for Dubya because he seemed like a swell guy and they (ironically) wanted to have a beer with him? See how that turned out?

I don't push my beliefs on people in my personal life either, because I know how it makes me feel when it's done to me. But considering the generations of slimy televangelists who've been doing it over and over, it sure it nice to have someone like Dawkins on our side who isn't concerned with being polite.

"Tolerance", in my opinion, is a notion for bigoted people - people who hate someone else for no reason other than that they're different.
It doesn't mean tolerating intolerance, hoping it'll go away. If we tolerate the hate, the bigots, the ignorant - then nothing will ever change for the better.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

I was struck by how angry Dawkins seemed in that interview with Ted Haggard. Because Haggard, the freaky hypocrite, kept his cool - I would say he appeared to win that bout of verbal sparring, which is a shame.

Shepard Smith is the Pastor Ted Haggard of Fox News.

deathcow, you will have to excuse the giddy schadenfreude all of us "God haters" are going through. Give us our moment. They don't come around very often. We aren't whining. We are gloating. Big difference.

As for Dr. Dawkins appearing to come off as "arrogant", he isn't. This is a scientific debate. It's not for the squimish or the ill-informed. Mr. Haggard opened it up to scientific debate by saying that "American Evangelicals fully embrace the scientific method".

Mr. Haggard (I'm assuming that since he stepped down, he is no longer "Pastor Ted"), made a classic mistake in saying that evolution is accidental. Should Dr. Dawkins have spent the interview tutoring Mr. Haggard in basic evolution theory? No, Mr. Haggard has been "debunking" evolution for decades. If he hasn't learned the basics yet, he is either intellectually lazy or deliberately misleading.

Either is unforgiveable in someone that has a weekly audience with the POTUS. If Dr. Dawkins (or any scientist) had a weekly audience with the POTUS, I'd feel a lot better.

Haggard's Teachings on homosexuality
Haggard has condemned homosexuality, preaching that "we don't have to debate about what we should think about homosexual activity, it's written in the Bible." Haggard opposes same sex marriage, but has suggested that states should be free to enact civil unions for homosexual couples.[10]

Under Haggard's leadership, the NAE released "For the Health of the Nation: An Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility" in the fall of 2004[11], "a document urging engagement in traditional culture war issues such as abortion and gay marriage but also poverty, education, taxes, welfare and immigration."[11] The NAE has stated, "Homosexual activity, like adulterous relationships, is clearly con­demned in the Scriptures."[12]

Barney Frank Blasts Hypocrisy of Closet Gay Republicans.

Voice expert believes Haggard contacted male escort
http://tinyurl.com/yx4gvs

DENVER - A nationally known voice recognition expert says he believes voice mails left for a male escort are from a pastor in Colorado Springs.

Mike Jones, a gay man and admitted male escort, claims he and Pastor Ted Haggard have been having a "sexual business" relationship for the past three years.

He also claims Haggard used methamphetamine in his presence several times...

Haggard steps down amid gay affair inquiry
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_4588998

Ted Haggard, one of the most prominent evangelical pastors in the nation, resigned today as president of the National Association of Evangelicals amid allegations that he carried on a three-year sexual relationship with a male prostitute.

Haggard, founder of the 14,000-member New Life Church, has denied the accusations but said in a statement released by the church today that he could "not continue to minister under the cloud created by accusations made on Denver talk radio this morning."

He has placed himself on administrative leave pending investigation, spiritual counsel and a decision by the church's board of overseers, the church's legal counsel said. Haggard founded the church in 1985...