Makers of South Park call Atheisum Stupid

[Sinue]

I wonder what Dawkins thought of the "go God go" episodes. (or if he saw/heard about them)

"Finally, I have repeatedly been asked what I think of South Park and of Ted Haggard's downfall. I won't say much about either. Schadenfreude is not an appealing emotion so, on Haggard, I'll say only that if it wasn't for people of his religious persuasion, people of his sexual persuasion would be free to do what they like without shame and without fear of exposure. I share neither his religious nor his sexual persuasion (that's an understatement), and I'm buggered if I like being portrayed as a cartoon character buggering a bald transvestite. I wouldn't have minded so much if only it had been in the service of some serious point, but if there was a serious point in there I couldn't discern it. And then there's the matter of the accent they gave me. Now, if only I could be offered a cameo role in The Simpsons, I could show that actor how to do a real British accent." - Dawkins

I think the "moral point" of the Go God Go episodes is that it doesn't matter what you believe. We will still fight wars and kill each other over stupid shit, and blaming people's beliefs for their actions is unproductive. Seemed pretty clear to me, but still rather weak sauce just kind of tacked on at the end. Oh, and that even Cartman thinks Cartman is an asshole.

 

[Chirios]

It kind of is.

 

[nemesiss]

There was a thread on Stephen Colbert that claimed that right-wingers thought Colbert was one of them, and none of us could really think of something on the left that was similar. I think South Park tricks everyone. Ultimately, the South Park guys are just childish and making fun of everything for the sake of making fun of everything, especially grown-up people who care about things. They are a couple of permanent 22-year old stoners who refuse to become more mature. There's no message there, deeper than the "knowing is half the battle" stuff on the old G.I. Joe cartoon from the 1980s.

Atheism isn't "over their heads"... EVERYTHING is over their heads.

Wow. I hadn't thought of that. You might be onto something there. They've always been sort of confusing with their seeming mixed messages making it hard to figure out what kind of stance they have.

there is another thing you might have not thought about; everything they made sofar has been a good laugh, but when you look at deeper, there is a point of view that should make you wonder about the world. ok, some less then others. thats why they have that part "what i have learned..." in it.
come on, you can't say that you never noticed how stupid the grown-ups are... while the kids seem to be alot smarter eventhough their just kids.

 

[RestrictedAccess]

No, but it does change the rest of the public's perception of us. If the rest of the public think we are barbaric Satan-worshippers, then they will act as though we are and politicians will attack us in the hope of getting more votes.
That could never happen here, but in the US, it is apparently a major problem.

Given that it's a cartoon on a comedy channel that pulls out every possible stereotype to mock everyone and their mothers, I really don't think we have to worry about a South Park induced backlash against atheists.

Atheists will do more to alter the general populations perception of us than South Park could ever do.