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Q & A: March 8

Monday night’s Q&A will feature prominent atheist and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins.

Monday night’s Q&A will feature prominent atheist and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins on the panel.

Joining in the discussion will be:

Patrick McGorry, one of Australian’s leading mental health experts and current Australian of the Year;
Catholic nun Sister Veronica Brady; (now out)
Tony Burke, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Agriculture; and
Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Julie Bishop.

It airs 9:35pm Monday on ABC1

14 Responses

  1. @ Secret Squïrrel

    What’s your source for the 40%?

    All of the figures I’ve seen from the ABS and the Zuckerman survey indicate atheism accounts for around 18-25% of Australia’s population.

    On the topic of tonights Q&A – it was very very bias.

    Richard was given far too much air time – more than the other panelists combined.

    Plus the audience was stacked with lefties as usual, jeering loudly everytime a right of centre viewpoint was offered,

  2. Richard Dawkins I really do not think you have any idea. When you are revealed with truth then you know and it is clear that you do not know and the truth is yet to be revealed to you, the Bible say’s people die through lack of knowledge. Your ignorance demonstrates your lack of knowledge, perhaps the writings of Malcolm Muggaridge may inform you in your self opinion of your unfathomable intelligence. Who are you to know the truth in the context of the universe, a little man in time. Sorry but I believe in the saving grace of Jesus undeserved and a gift. And I know what I know because of what has been revealed to me in ways no man could have done. Maybe you should seek Him who loves you without condition and find truth it is for you too.

  3. @Selma: The Australian 2006 census asked people “What is your religion?” which is a significantly different question from “Do you believe in God?”.

    The first question is slightly loaded as many respondents will answer with a religion that they identify with (eg that of their parents or the one that they nominated for school-based religious instruction). Ask these same people whether they actually believe in God and many will say that they don’t.

    Properly-worded surveys indicate that the percentage of atheists within Australia is similar to that of the UK – around 40%. This percentage increases with the highest level of education completed, and is highest amongst people working in science and technology-based occupations.

  4. @Goonies

    Recent polls show 40% of Australians support the Coalition (Source: Newspoll primary vote). And yet, Q&A seems to always have only one conservative on the panel (usually sitting in the “death seat” – ie. far right of the panel, where they are left out of the discussion).

    Conversely, around 18% of Australians identify themselves as atheists (Source: 2006 Census). So one atheist on a panel of six is quite fair.

  5. I wonder if it’s the same loaded audience as usual.
    Here’s an idea – no audience; Viewer’s questions asked, but chosen randomly live on air. Can’t see that happening.

  6. When fellow atheist, Christopher Hitchens was on Q&A last year, almost all of the questions were directed his way. I wonder whether the same thing will happen to Dawkins?

    Should be fun!

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