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Dawkin’s views on the Jewish Lobby

Meyer came across an article in the Guardian about Professor Richard Dawkins' activities in trying to raise an "atheist lobby". (Well, it was actually an article by David Finkelstein in the Times Comment Central "Dawkins on the power of the Jews" about an article by Ewen MacAskell in the Guardian "Atheists Arise" )

I must admit I've never been a great admirer of Dawkins, but he is a generally respected authority on things because of his insistence on the necessity for "scientific proof" in order to have "certainty" on any issue.

Well, blow me down, Dawkins says:

"When you think about how fantastically successful the Jewish lobby has been, though, in fact, they are less numerous I am told - religious Jews anyway - than atheists and [yet they] more or less monopolise American foreign policy as far as many people can see. So if atheists could achieve a small fraction of that influence, the world would be a better place."

Note the rigourous scientific evidence on which his claim is based:

"... I am told .."

"...as far as many people can see ..."

If that which "many people can see" is sufficient evidence for the truth of an abstract claim, I don't see why Dawkins has a such problem with the existence of God!

Comments welcome.


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Hi Ralph I won't get embroiled in this at the moment, though broadly I have similar views on religion & science to those of Dawkins (though I will certainly have no truck with anti-semitism). So on a point of detail, Finkelstein's actual forename is not "David" but "Daniel" or "Danny". Very best wishes John B

Posted by John B on 2007-10-17 21:38:15 GMT


Hi Ralph I won't get embroiled in this at the moment, though broadly I have similar views on religion & science to those of Dawkins (though I will certainly have no truck with anti-semitism). So on a point of detail, Finkelstein's actual forename is not "David" but "Daniel" or "Danny". Very best wishes John B

Posted by John B on 2007-10-17 21:34:34 GMT


Just how ignorant this unpleasant Dawkins is! Doesn't he know that the leadership of both the Soviet Union and the Chinese Maoists HAD to be atheistic to achieve their positions? And what a nice job they all did for human improvement!

Posted by Barrie on 2007-10-15 07:34:24 GMT


Reb Meir I didn't know that Arabs and the Jews got along together as from all the things that I have read it has been the opposite other than for very odd times, even as far back as Mohammad he skited that he had killed and chased the Jews off their land.. here is something that might be of interest.. This is what all Arab nations have done to their Jewish population (who greatly contributed to making their Arab nations great)? The Arabs and Muslims stole everything the Jews had, and then either kicked them out or murdered them. Statistics of Jews in Arab Countries: Shocking - These stats were taken from "Myths and Facts" - a great book by Mitchell B. Bard. You can go to the internet link for this book at: http://standwithus.com/links.asp First number is from the year 1948, the second number is taken from the year 2000: Algeria 140,000...Less than 100 Egypt 75,000.............. 200 Iran 100,000...12,000 to 40,000 Iraq 150,000...............100 Lebanon 20,000,........... 100 Libya 38,000................ 0 Morocco 265,000..........5,800 Syria 30,000.. ............200 Tunisia 105,000..........1,500 Yemen 55,000 ..............200 See a pattern???? and what do Muslims think of pagans/infidel, are we in for any better,,,,,hmmmm

Posted by Gaye on 2007-10-13 03:43:34 GMT


Actually Dawkins' line of argumentation in the quote is fascinating. As Ralph points, out Dawkins relies on rumour (so scientific!), on the "it is well known" fallacy. He then attributes to Jews a mysterious power that he cannot fathom, but would like to emulate. For all his scientific sneering, Dawkins is a superstitious bigot and anti-Semite. He thus destroys his own argument.

Posted by paul2 on 2007-10-12 13:32:47 GMT


Sadly, Dawkins is in the dark about the "powerful Jewish Lobby." I only wish "TO GOD" that it was true. Meanwhile, read any Jewish obituary page - an abundance of ordinary jobs, middle class people --Oh,oh, I know, the POWERFUL ones are hiding.... Stupidity reigns, so does prejudice....

Posted by Roberta E. Dzubow on 2007-10-11 16:51:01 GMT


As a Jewish agnotic I am very disturbed that a man of Dawkins stature can with a few stupid statements destroy my agnnostism !

Posted by Ike Brajtman on 2007-10-11 13:11:50 GMT


Dee, ICJS is non partisan in approach...our site is for information and opinion which delivers..what we like to think is...valuable, topical, educational and important ...to be discussed and considered honestly and intelligently. Cheers

Posted by Ronit on 2007-10-11 04:38:07 GMT


When Jewish supporters of Israel make up less than 1% of the US, the very idea that those chosen by the people for their leadership are waiting around to be told what to do by this teeny lobby, is nothing short of laughably insulting. Ironically, it seems that the "Jewish Lobby" derives all of its power from the giagantic size of the myth that it really has power (much like the Wizard of Oz). It makes people forget the number of times America has forced Israel to act against her best interests.

Posted by Morry on 2007-10-11 04:21:44 GMT


People who like to think that they are intelligent will use words like "scientific proof", to silence people who are not quite as "knowledgeable" in THIS area as they are, and they use language to try to prove it, but when it suits them they REDUCE themselves to the language of normal people.. When My husband was doing a Ph.d he every quickly realized that many of these poor people who liked to think that they were so intelligent were in fact only able to talk on one level and that was the level of their interest...

Posted by Gaye on 2007-10-11 03:54:11 GMT


If Jews were really so much more influential than all the atheists doesn't that tell you something. What is wrong with the atheists what about Jewish atheists, is there a supernatural power supporting the minority Jews? Logically he should be wondering what the atheists are doing wrong.

Posted by Peter Cohen on 2007-10-11 03:36:54 GMT


If we had to have "scientific proof" on everything we would still be back in the dark ages..

Posted by Gaye on 2007-10-11 03:28:59 GMT


sounds like an anti-Semite, looks like an anti-Semite, and smells like an anti-Semite ....

Posted on 2007-10-11 03:26:09 GMT


Great article and I will probably link back to you on my blog tonight. To be honest, I haven't visited your blog since I found out you support Kevin Rudd. Glad to hear you're on track with Dawkins. He's also made some shockingly condescending and naive statements about Americans who believe in God (91 percent of the country according to a poll).

Posted by Dee on 2007-10-11 03:23:59 GMT