Richard Dawkins on Compass this Sunday night

ABC TV
Compass, with Geraldine Doogue

ENEMIES OF REASON: Part 1 - Slaves to Superstition
Sunday 4 May, 9:25pm

In a new onslaught evolutionary biologist Professor Richard Dawkins pits hard science against astrology, tarot, psychics and alternative medicines. A strongly authored two part series.

Part 1 - Slaves to Superstition, Richard Dawkins takes on the "New Age" and occult industries from spirit mediums to astrology, a spiritualist church and seances.

http://www.abc.net.au...

Isn't this available on DVD? I'm sure it's the same as one I bought in a box set with a couple of his other DVDs.

I'm watching this atm - it is fantastic. I have often wondered if it is all in an individual's mind. Afterall the mind is an incredible thing eg. psychic tells you will undergo great change so your conscious and YOU create the change because the idea has been put there. I guess it is like a placebo effect.

I think people have capabilities to possibly be able to pick up on electrical fields and magnetic fields, this is how our mind, body and nervous system operates - but I think this is probably where it ends. I would say this how you can detect 'vibes' in people, but it is in now way supernatural or psychic. I would rather see science uncover the power of our minds rather than people wasting their time trying to prove things which don't appear to have any scientific basis.

Whatever the case, I think it is an extremely exploitative of many of these charlatans that pose as spiritual guides. Having seen a relative turn to the supernatural instead of dealing with their grief, it is painful and sad to watch, and I have come to understand they will never move on with their life.

Last time I checked the skeptics society reward for proving supernatural phenomena had not yet been claimed. So all this proof that the psychics keep going on about - where is it? I also find it rather amusing that when a blind trial is done it is because the individual testing them is a 'skeptic' and this is why it their powers do not work.

I just think humanity doesn't want to accept we are like every living thing on this planet - we die, we rot,we turn to dust, and we are not some superior force. I choose to live my life now, rather than dwell on what happens when I die. Denial is a wonderful thing for many ignorant people.

I always enjoy RD, however I found Geraldine's snide introduction and end comments particularly annoying. The only blemish on a useful public education broadcast.

I thought the very same thing Warren.

Me too. Stupid bloody political correctness. I guess they don't want to put the mystics off compass, so they distance themselves from it's contents. It's like "Here you go, but we don't necessarily endorse this".

I haven't even watched Part 2 yet (I recorded it)... and I'm already annoyed!

Vonnie