Richard Dawkins supports Bibles in schools

Atheist Richard Dawkins says he supports the Department for Education's drive to make sure every public school in the nation has a copy of the King James Bible.

"A native speaker of English who has never read a word of the King James Bible is verging on the barbarian," said Dawkins in a column for The Guardian.

The author and evolutionary biologist even went as far as to say he would have donated to the cause had he been given the opportunity to do so.

The books are being distributed to the schools in celebration of the translation's 400th anniversary last year. The plan is being spearheaded by education secretary Michael Gove, who wrote the letter that is being included with each of the Bibles. While some have enthusiastically supported Gove's goal, others say it is unfair to people who hold to beliefs other than Christianity.

"This is not simply another piece of literature, it is the holy scripture of one particular religion," Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society. "Is it really the job of the Government to be promoting one particular religion in schools that are increasingly multi-faith?"

But Dawkins is backing the distribution plan, albeit with an "ulterior motive".

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aldotoo

Give them the bible and then Dawkins will realize his sick motive is caused by false Christianity not the bible nor true Christians. The new testament is the best moral guide there is.
- Al Ferrari
  
  Christopher Hitchen shared the same opinion as Mr. Dawkins.
Grumpy Old Man

If God can use a donkey, He certainly can use an atheist. His word as always wiil not return void.
msjallen

Doing what is right in the wrong way is wrong. The Bible was written to give man who and what God is and His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter what Dawkins says about the Bible; it matters what he reads and his response to God's message of salvation. The Bible should be distributed not as just a text book but the Word of God to mankind. There have been people who have just read the Bible and have believed in Jesus Christ as their savior because God's Word is…
Heb 4:12 -For the word of God is alive and powerful sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- daves
  
  So much of the Bible has been changed by humans that it hard to tell how much really is God's word.
  - Dionesius3
    
    And upon what evidence do you base your conclusion? Making "Blanket" statements like So much of the Bible has been changed, indicates either you have heard someone else say this and accepted it as true, or you have read some stupid website somewhere and thought it was true._But if you had actually done ANY real research into the question there is absolutely NO way you would make such an ignorant, and uninformed statement.
    - Red Eagle
      
      Amen, you are so right
    - bighoss
      
      Amen, Dionesius..
      
      Trite assertions like those of daves, offered without explication, are cheap and easy to offer and confirmed "true believer" atheists lazily offer them in lieu of anything of substance.
  - Eric
    
    Why do you assume that ANY of it is God's Word then, since even the parts of the Bible that claim to be God's Word may be some of the very parts you say were "changed by humans"?
  - Red Eagle
    
    Bro Daves, how could you tell ,which is Gods word and which is humans?
    - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
      
      That is the easy part. The words written down in any book are words from men.
      - Dntmkmecomovrther
        
        @JeffDixon: You didn't finish the sentence: …words written down by men 'inspired by the Holy Spirit'. Faith believes that God communicated His Word through these individuals. That makes the Word written in the Holy Bible unique and meaningful for His message of salvation for his creation.
      - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
        
        No, I completed my sentence. The words in the bible are simply words that men made up.
      - http://dl.dropbox.com/u/22306708/Jn6.37.png Despeville
        
        :) Dodo you are even dumber than I thought you are :)
      - Dave
        
        You wish Jeff that the words were made up Jeff, That would make you feel a whole lot better would it Jeff. That would mean you will NOT have to account for anything. But Jeff your so so wrong as always.
        
        It is Time to grow up Jeff.
      - http://dl.dropbox.com/u/22306708/Jn6.37.png Despeville
        
        "It is Time to grow up Jeff."
        
        Yes and a high time too… First thing jettison those comic books and comic books perspectives Dodo.
      - http://www.sargee5.blogspot.com The Watchman
        
        No one said that God wrote the Bible, only that the Bible is the inspired word of God.
    - Linda F.
      
      I'm sure he bases his opinion upon which passages he agrees with and the ones that he disagrees with. The ones that he agrees with are probably the ones that he believes were inspired by God. The rest, he probably believes were written by men.
  - Linda F.
    
    And let me guess. The passages that you claim to be "changed by men" just happen to be the ones that you don't agree with. Right, daves? (Eye-roll)
  - Evermyrtle
    
    Daves, If you get a copy of the King James version of the Bible, it has not been changed since it was put into the English language. hundreds of years ago. You are right, it has been changed, manipulated to say things differently from from the King James Version but to get most other versions they have been changed, and some of them, or so they say, are good. You just need to be careful what version you get. Some of the newer version are very much screwed up, so I understand. I will just stick to King James version or the Amplified version.
Robert Burns

Matthew 24: 35 "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." Spoken by Jesus, and He is God,
because he said so. ……."he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;" (John 14:9).
- Evermyrtle
  
  Matthew 11:27-30
  27. All things are delivered unto me of my FATHER: and no man knows the SON, but the FATHER; neither knows the any man the FATHER, save the SON, and HE to whomsoever the SON will reveal HIM.
  28. Come unto me, all you that labor and are heave laden, an I will give you rest.
  29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; an you shall find rest unto your souls.
  30. for my yoke is easy and my burden is light..
- Walt
  
  Well said
G Watson

The enemy always over plays his own hand as when he crucified the Lord of Glory and He rose again.
Mrs James Clemons

May God use each opportunity to spread His Word to all. He can blind the eyes to man's reasons in his words as well as open hearts and minds of those who are truthfully looking for God. Perhaps God will open Richard D.'s eyes to the Truth and he will be able to receive Salvation inspite of his own letter.
Norm Winne

What if you are wrong? Consider this:
"I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn't… than to live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is!!!"
- http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
  
  During the debate with Christians, there comes a point when they will say something to the effect of, "If you are right, then at least I led a good life, however if I am right, then you will end up in Hell." This is, of course, Pascal's Wager. It also begs the question of whether or not they actually led a "good" life. I have known many Christians who cheated, lied, fornicated and stole, among other "sins". Whether their lives were any more moral or better than others is highly debatable. In addition, it assumes that the atheist did not live a good life, which is very amusing.
  
  It assumes that there are only two alternatives to choose from; belief and disbelief in the biblical god. However, that is not accurate. There are thousands of different gods that mankind has dreamt up over the centuries. Therefore, he must also choose the correct deity to believe in. If the Romans, Hindus, Aztecs, Muslims, early Greeks or any of the thousands of other gods were correct, then the Christian is in as big of a problem as the atheist. Now, I am sure the Christian is not worried about whether the Greek or Aztec gods of old are the correct deity. Yet, why not? Millions of people have believed in these gods, with the same devote fervour as current day Christians. It could also be possible that the true god has not yet been revealed. It has been said many times, that there is little difference between a theist and an atheist. A theist does not believe in all of the thousands of other gods that mankind has thought up over the centuries, they just believe in the one they think is correct. An atheist agrees that all the other gods are myths and fables, we just add one more to the list; the one the theist believes in.
John

Good for Dawkins. The problem is that there are many Bibles on teachers' desks but they never gets used. Let's not just give them a Bible; let's let them teach from it- using it as light on all other subjects.
- John B.
  
  As you likely well know, the Bible was used for the early centuries of American education as a textbook and for moral instruction. And the principle colleges which are Ivy League schools now, were spawned from well intentioned Christians who believed a quality higher system of education would prepare our future leaders. Now look what they have become, and how intolerant they are of the very Christian message. The founding fathers must be crying rivers of tears from up above.
  - Evermyrtle
    
    There should be a course available for students, BUT someone who knows the Bible, should teach it, not someone that knows nothing about it, and has no idea what they are teaching.That would be worse than no Bible teaching,at all.
edcrandall

Jesus said that even if the Word of God is preached in pretense it is still going to be Gods Word. It's the same with distributing Gods Word, even if it's for show, at least it's being distributed. Gods Word never returns without doing its job, glorifying the Lord of Glory.
Deep_Thinker

I believe in property rights. Whoever owns the school can determine its curriculum. Whether that is a university or public school.
- edcrandall
  
  WE the People own public schools and the majority of us believe in God and His Word. We do not force anyone to read it but it should be available for everyone.The Bible was the first tectbook in our schools and helped form America into the freedom loving country that we love
lambsev11

Is this a response to the Muslim "invasion" of Britan?
Sonny Magoo

Genesis 50:20 But as for you (Mr Dawkins), you meant evil against me (the believer); but God meant it for good, to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Who says history wont repeat? Go ahead, want to see God laugh??? Make plans!
- Evermyrtle
  
  We, The People do own the schools but the government usually rules it, in modern times and it comes out with new anti-GOD things, every year.. It is not like it was when I went to school
- Evermyrtle
  
  I will give Mr Dawkins the benefit of the doubt, I hope that even though he does not claim to be a Christian he has a sense of right from wrong and realizes that it is wrong to exclude such a historical book for the schools. With this attitude there is a great chance that Dawkins will come to accept the Bible as the WORD OF GOD AND ACCEPT HIM AND JESUS CHRIST, HIS SON AS HIS SAVIOR. We should pray for him.
- http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
  
  Yes, I want to see your god laugh. It will never happen as long as you are alive.
M W Baumeister

The Lord God Almighty saysThe Lord God Almighty says
REPENT Americans
Turn from all of your sinful ways and
Return to God
Seek to do His will and to serve Him only.

Amen and amen …
Richard Colonel

Give every school a Bible? That should be "give every student a Bible." If a Bible is given to each child upon entering their third grade, by the time they graduate from High School they would have read the Bible in its entirety at least twice.

As for an atheist, such as Richard Dawkins, to want to see the Bible in the schools, what is keeping him from perusing one himself. Either he believes in it or he doesn't. He needs to make up his mind. I have heard people say, "I don't believe in heaven and I don't believe in hell." and I tell them, better believe in one of the two because there ain't no fence between them for athiests to sit on."
- http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
  
  He believes it is good literature, not good theology.
  - Joe Anzilotti
    
    Dawkins is a farce, just like the Farcebook IPO Jeff. Actually, he is a farce like you to be exact.
    - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
      
      He is a strong and educated voice of reason, that is true. I appreciate the comparison.
      - Joe Anzilotti
        
        Actually Jeff, the comparison is only in the realm of farces. Stay focused. Farce like Farcebook.
      - Joe Anzilotti
        
        "voice of reason"? Are you kidding me? He is actually an Agnostic to be exact, Jeff.
      - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
        
        Bully for him.
      - http://dl.dropbox.com/u/22306708/Jn6.37.png Despeville
        
        Hahahaha I almost chocked on my ice cream… HAhahhahaaha you are a sordid clown Dodo…
      - http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
        
        Don't you mean choked on it? You have obviously had too many glasses of wine. If you chocked on it, it is doubtful you would be alive.
RevLarry

The first Ammend ment says that congress ( meaning clearly no one in government shall) restrict , make any law against any Christiaan church , i said it that way because since the state constitutions were written they have been changed,.THey used to sayg no one but a christian could be in the /our govern ment ,and untill last year some of them still had it that way.that means Athiests go home ,same for every other socalled religion , do some research .
- http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon
  
  The marvel of America's founders, even though nearly all of the new nation's citizens were not only Christian but Protestant, was that they possessed the foresight to avoid establishing a Christian or religious government and instead chose to create the first secular government in the world.
  Regardless of the framers' private beliefs about God, it is more important to look at their public actions in crafting the legal foundation for the new republic… And here the your script goes awry, for it cannot explain why, if the founders intended to base the government on Christianity or monotheism, they failed to spell out their intentions in the Constitution itself. There was certainly ample precedent for doing so, not only in the Articles of Confederation but in nearly every state constitution.
  Custom, rather than law, is the basis of the most common arguments for breaching the wall between church and state… Handed a tabula rasa [something in its original pure state] by a public uneducated in civics, church and state revisionists are free to ignore not only the strong anticlerical views of so many of the nation's first leaders but also their loathing of all entanglements between religion and government.
  - Deep_Thinker
    
    “The government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion” – George Washington
    
    “This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it” – John Adams
    
    "Strongly guarded as is the separation between religion and government in the Constitution of the United States the danger of encroachment by Ecclesiastical Bodies, may be illustrated by precedents already furnished in their short history” – James Madison
    
    “In every country and every age, the priest had been hostile to Liberty.” – Thomas Jefferson
RevLarry

Sorry about Sp fingers still need renewing, but i am sure you get my drift and If this govern ment went about things legally Obama could not be in the white house because he was not schooled in righteousness.
Ruth Walker

In the article at http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/may/19/ric… Dawkins recognizes that the bible should be read as a great work of literature – but it is not a guide to morality, as the education secretary Michael Gove would have them believe. The ignorant only listen to their leaders, but MANY become atheists after studying the bible: http://clergyproject.org/news

I understood why the bibles were printed in such small print after reading Genesis 19. It must have been to discourage children from reading it!
http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/ Jeff Dixon

Humpty, as always your opinion means nothing.
- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/22306708/Jn6.37.png Despeville
  
  Dodo you never read any serious book on theology and surely not past 400 pages. I will bet that you do not read more than 5 – 7 books a year so in short you are a helpless ignorant neophyte with a chip on a feeble shoulders :)
- Joe Anzilotti
  
  Emphasis on staying away from Google. I really think "googling" has done irreversible damage to you Jeff. Perhaps it is the "Chrome" version.
jim

give the biblea out and reserve the results to God, look at Pharaoh in the OT and see how God uses those who do not really beieve that God is the sole and superior Ruler that exists, and that all others have idolatry as the basis of their religions but our Gospel is based on the love and mercy of a holy and merciful God that desires many to repent and be restored to the state before the fall.
Suzanne

Using a world-renowned atheist to distribute the Bible! Does God have a sense of humor or what?