Advertising Atheism – Justin Trottier on The Agenda with Steve Paikin
Discussion, Press February 13th, 2009
A discussion about atheism.
Hosted by: Steve Paikin
Guests:
Justin Trottier – President of the Freethought Association of Canada and executive director of the Centre for Inquiry.
Robert Buckman – President emertius of the Humanist Association of Canada, oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital, and author of Can We Be Good without God, and Biology, Behaviour and the Need to Believe.
Jordan Peterson – Clinical psychologist, a professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto, and author of Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief.
Gretta Vosper – Chair of the Canadian Centre of Progressive Christianity
Kathy Shaidle – Religious writer and blogger
Produced by: Meredith Martin
February 13th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
oh boo frickin hoo, Kathy’s upset b/c some people are making jokes about christians on comedy central. definition of fanaticism – inability to laugh at yourself.
February 13th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Justin and Robert did an amazing job! The host also represented the issue very well (It was no “Fox News” type assault). I was unfamiliar with Jordan Peterson and Kathy Shiadle before this and I was a little bit shocked by their ignorance. The link between faith and morality made by Peterson as well as the relations to Stalin were entirely out of line and took the entire debate well off topic at times. Gretta Vosper deserves credit as well. She really came across open minded and willing to really explore accept the positivity of exploring difference of opinion. Nice job Justin.
February 13th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Mr. Peterson simply looked like a moron when he consistently claims that without religion there would be no morality. I don’t know a whole lot of Atheists but to my knowledge they are for the most part more pacifistic than their religious counter-parts.
As for Mrs. Vospers willingness to label Obama as a, “Marxist” and ignore everything he wishes to say. This is simply intolerable as a free-speech favoring society. I myself encourage that as atheists, people should discuss these issues. But when we are to argue with ignorant, sometimes even slightly bigoted fools who prefer to ignore the things that make them uncomfortable. I don’t see the point.
February 14th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Excellent debate! Steve Paikin always does an excellent job moderating too.
Some valid objections to the ad campaign were expressed. I’m not particularly fond of the wording in the bus ads and it does make them more easily dismissed or criticized. But could also lead to more discussion given the ambiguity of meaning.
Jordan Peterson made some very interesting and thoughtful remarks which appeared to be misunderstood by some other members of the panel unfortunately.
Kathy’s remarks were much more lucid than Justin appears to think in his blog appraisal of the forum.
Robert Buckman, as usual, has a very agreeable manner and moderate point of view that probably fits the attitudes of the majority of viewers of TVO programming.
Gretta presents the very middle stream Christian perspective that has gotten the United Church of Canada into some internal controversy over the years.
Justin expressed himself well, but he did appear to get agitated with Jordan and this didn’t help score any points.
Would like to see more debates on the issues of “morality”. The Richard Dawkins clip was an excellent bit on that subject, but it requires much more time.
February 14th, 2009 at 12:03 am
I would absolutely adore seeing a debate between Richard Dawkins and Jordan Peterson. That would be very interesting I’m sure… a psychological point of view versus a biological one on morality and its origins.
February 14th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Kathy was almost too much! I tend to forget there are people like her out there, and she was an excellent reminder.
Saying that christians are being opressed in our society was very surprising! Probably due to the declining church attendence etc.
I missed the first few minutes when I watched it on T.V., and her remarks about Madalyn Murray O’Hair, were quite diturbing…It sounded like Kathy thought she got what she deserved for expressing her views…
And a marxist professor? Funny how if a politician wants to implement social programs he is known to the right wing as a dirty commie…George Bush was the one nationalising banks!