Rowan Williams: debating with Richard Dawkins was like meeting Robert Mugabe

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Apache

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Dr Rowan Williams said that he struggled with nerves before squaring up to the man nicknamed the “high priest of atheism” over the existence of God and asked friends and supporters to pray for him during the encounter.

He added that, despite having a grasp of 11 languages, been an Oxford professor and the leader of 77 million Anglicans worldwide, he was “not always very good with words”.

Speaking during a visit to Springfield Church in Wallington Surrey on Sunday he was asked about his recent debate at Oxford University with Prof Dawkins about the origins of life which captured attention around the world.

“I was quite nervous about hat really because I never feel I’m at my best in debates, you have to be quick on your feet and clever and slick and I always feel anxious about that.

“I want to think about what I say and I’m not always very good with words.”

He added: “I had the same sort of experience last October when I went to meet President Mugabe.

“I asked a lot of people to pray and beforehand I thought ‘what on Earth is this going to be like’

“It started and, whether it was Mugabe of Dawkins, I thought well a lot of people are doing the heavy lifting and I ought to be able to relax.

“It felt more like a conversation than a head-to-head and because I know him a bit and like him as a person and we have a respectful relationship so it didn’t feel too much like a gladiatorial combat.”
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Link

Interesting comparison...
 
Let's see if we can have no one taking the bait :)
 
Looks like that was written by a dyslexic twelve year old. Hey Ass-patchy, are you consulting for The Telegraph by any chance?
 
Apache said:
Its just an interesting view Randhir.
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No it's not. In fact it makes absolutely no sense. All he says is that he prayed beforehand, like he did before he met Mugabe.

What is so interesting about that?
 
So Op, did the prayers work? Did god intervene and pimp his powers of debate?
 
DJ... said:
No it's not. In fact it makes absolutely no sense. All he says is that he prayed beforehand, like he did before he met Mugabe.

What is so interesting about that?
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I'm assuming he had respect for Dawkins.
 
Apache said:
I'm assuming he had respect for Dawkins.
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What has that got to do with anything? More than just that - the article quotes him as saying that they have a mutual respect for each other.

So...what's so interesting here?
 
What a misleading BS title.
*snoooooort*
*spit*
 
feetnot.jpg


:mad:
 
DJ... said:
What has that got to do with anything? More than just that - the article quotes him as saying that they have a mutual respect for each other.

So...what's so interesting here?
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We can learn from them. Even though they have different opinions and beliefs they still respect each other.
 
Thread reported as spam. I suggest others do the same if you feel patchy-ass is bringing the quality down here...
 
Also shows the value of debate as a platform where both sides can put forward their arguments in a civilised manner. It is possible to engage someone who doesn't have the same opinion as you in a calm and rational manner without either side resorting to browbeating & ending the discussion without agreement but with mutual respect.

I say well done to the both of them, I wonder if it's possible to get a transcript?
 
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