big bullies

Anyone who remembers being bullied on the schoolyard should already understand this but what the hell...

Core problem of science vs. religion

Science attempts to use structured arguments based on reasoning and observation vs. unstructured arguments based on conditioned emotional reactions and perceptual manipulation.

Case in point from crit of recent Dawkins documentary on religion:

"Dawkins' main presentation was reasonable enough. In primitive times, man's mercy at the hands of nature gave the impression that supernatural forces controlled the Earth. Religious worship arose as the need to appease what man saw as powerful Gods. So far, so good. Yet when explaining why religion continues to play a part in modern life, Dawkins' explanation is to flash the 'you must be stupid' card."
http://www.spiked-online.com/Articles/0000000CAF1A.htm

Now, Dawkins does not ever say that anyone is stupid... but a significant fraction of humanity... whenconfronted with the evidence of how little they actually know... well... they tend to feel... erm... Stupid.

So throw in a healthy dose of paranoid transference and viola:

"Oh shit, I know nothing. I didn't know I knew nothing until Dawkins opened his big trap therefore Dawkins must be saying that I'm stupid, well fuck him!"

QED.

Stupid? Yes.

Serious obstacle? Oh Jesus yes.