International bestseller “The God Delusion” by Oxford biologist Richard Dawkins is sparking anger in religious Turkey, where the publisher of the Turkish edition of the book could face prosecution for insulting believers.
A reader of the anti-God, atheist manifesto complained that the book is an insult to Muslims, Christians, and Jews, said publisher Erol Karaaslan after speaking to the prosecutor on Thursday.
“A Turkish citizen complained, saying that this book was hurtful to members of religions living in Turkey, and wanted the book banned and the publishers punished,” Karaaslan told Reuters.
In the book, Dawkins – sometimes called “Darwin’s rottweiler” – wrote in one chapter that the custom of assuming children share the religious belief as their parents before they are old enough to think for themselves is “child abuse.”
Karaaslan’s company, Kuzey Publications, has printed 6,000 copies of the book and is among the some 30 foreign editions of the bestseller.
The prosecutor has not yet press charges but was considering taking action under a law against “stirring hatred among people,” Karaaslan said.
He is now preparing a written defense and seeking a lawyer.
Turkey, although officially a secular nation, is still considered highly religious with 99.8 percent of the population being Muslim, and the other 0.2 percent mostly Christians and Jews, according to the CIA World Factbook.
A survey measuring public of acceptance of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in 34 countries found that Turkey ranked last, just behind the United States, according to Reuters.
Comments
Richard Dawkins has brought religion together by giving us someone to hate
so ifeelfine,
which way is your head positioned on your neck?
backwards, or forwards? XD
Ifeelfine - you said "And you other point makes no sense whatsoever: "There were MANY things the people living during bible times didn't know, but if God knew, and if the Bible is His inspired word, then the rest doesn't matter." "
I was addressing a post of yours previously, which said ""Also, stop treating God as some magician who waves his hand and "poof" things appear. Literal creationism is clearly a Biblical parable. Man could not possibly understand if God had laid out evolution for us at that time. He gave us reason and rational thought and let us come to discover evolution for ourselves."
My point being, again, that man didn't have to understand evolution to write God's inspired word AS GOD SO INSPIRED IT. So your seeming assertation that if man HAD understood evolution at the time Genesis was written then Genesis would have given an account of evolution is false, unless of course the Bible is not the Word of God.
Look, if God is all-knowing, etc., and He inspires man to write His word, then it makes no difference what man does or does not know, because God will make sure the information written is sufficient for the knowledge He wishes to impart.
And please stop saying "end of story". We are not idiots, we also have minds that are capable of reason, would it help you to know that I got all A's through college? Of course it wouldn't, you would still say "end of story". But Ifeelfine, God is the only one that truly has the end of the story, and if my God can come to earth in human form, die for me, resurrect in 3 days, ascend into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, and come again for me in the clouds one day, then I have no trouble at all believing that He can "create" anything He wants to.
And btw, did you ever get that link lined out on the 20M scientists?
your point being?
GMG - The Bible is a book of faith and history - not science.
And you other point makes no sense whatsoever: "There were MANY things the people living during bible times didn't know, but if God knew, and if the Bible is His inspired word, then the rest doesn't matter."
If I'm reading that correctly then you agree with me - there are lots of things the folks during Biblical times didnt know - couldn't possibly know but that doesn't matter because God did and does. Right. So that is why evolution happened. They didn't know, God did, end of story.
And to answer your question, no, the apostles didn't have to know the future - they didn't know all of the future but were still of use to God.
ifeelfine72
i like how stupid you're making yourself look by asking that.
i wouldnt be surprised to see you on EncyclopediaDramatica before too long. As it is where many truly foolish individuals go when they alienate themselves for dumb reasons.
And no, the prophets didnt need to know their future, because their goals carried them forward, looking ahead, eyes forward.
what kind of fool looks back when he's running forward?
I'd say you haven't looked forward all your life...oh, look out for that tree that God created! XDDD
Ifeelfine - It didn't happen that way you say? But the Bible says it did, and just because you have decided you like evolution doesn't mean you speak for the Bible. There were MANY things the people living during bible times didn't know, but if God knew, and if the Bible is His inspired word, then the rest doesn't matter. Do you think the prophets and apostles had to know the future personally to be used of God?
HyperionOverseer - Do you see yourself as God? Do you think you are defending God? He doesn't need your defense. You are wrong here anyway.
I wouldn't pick a fight with God. I might get angry at Him but he forgives me.
GMG - It didn't happen that way. Now go back to thinking the Sun revolves around the Earth. . . you do believe that, right? That's what the Bible says.
Ifeelfine - "Also, stop treating God as some magician who waves his hand and "poof" things appear. Literal creationism is clearly a Biblical parable. Man could not possibly understand if God had laid out evolution for us at that time. He gave us reason and rational thought and let us come to discover evolution for ourselves."
Well, if you consider "disappearing" kinda special too, then He did wave His hand and "poof", lameness, blindness, etc. disappeared. Come to think of it, "poof" did cause life to appear in Lazarus.
And it is true that man during the time of Genesis couldn't conceive of evolution, but they wouldn't need to if God said "I created", all that would have to happen is that His inspired word got written down as He spoke it.
ifeelfine72
GAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA
then prove it!
oh and dont be stupid, youre discounting God's ABSOLUTE power
if He said DISAPPEAR right NOW!
you will, nuff said.
He tells you to SHUT UP, you will.
he tells you to sprout wings, you will.
Heck, HOW else did Mary get pregnant? you dont suggest he...(censorship lulz) her do you? then youre mormon if you thing so.
The point is, what God COMMANDS,
IT IS DONE!
POOF
just like that!
the bible says so, so stand down, you are defeated. and i hope God doesnt confront you on this matter, you WILL lose hope in yourself being proven wrong by your own behavior,
Pick a fight with God, you'll be sorry, He ALWAYS wins. We're just telling you what HE said.
maranatha7593 - The folks I know who understand the scientific principles and facts behind evolution have no problem with ID or creationism being taught in school - it just can't be taught in science class - religion class fine.
As for evolution, you can say what you want but evolution is a fact. It's been proven over and over, ID isn't a scientific theory, never has been never will be. Your comments clearly show your ignorance. We didn't come from "nothing." That's not the way it works.
Also, stop treating God as some magician who waves his hand and "poof" things appear. Literal creationism is clearly a Biblical parable. Man could not possibly understand if God had laid out evolution for us at that time. He gave us reason and rational thought and let us come to discover evolution for ourselves.
sounds like theyre saying:
I DONT BELIEVE IN GOD
BUT IM GOING TO KILL HIM!
isnt this a bit of an oxymoron?
how can one kill that which does not exist to them?
talk about chasing waterfalls, *why did i remind myself of that infernal song? why?* XD
Correction: The message below was written to letsgetreal, not Falconer33.
"It's amazing to me that many Atheists spend their lives trying to disprove God."
Excellent Point, Falconer33. I don't believe in other cultures' gods. Do I spend hours upon hours of quality time railing against those gods and the people who believe in them? Absolutely not. How can one rail against something which isn't there, which isn't real???
I think it's marvelous that Americans think for themselves and have not swallowed the myths of evolutionary theory which, by the way, have not been proven. I'm actually astounded to see how many have NOT swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. I remember being in school and college taking Biology, Anthropology, and History, having to write the right answers to tests to get A's, while actually chuckling to myself wondering how anyone could actually believe that stuff. It takes a lot of FAITH to believe that ANYTHING can come from nothing.