Obviously he has long been an outspoken opponent of religion but I think from the short summary of the interview is that his major concern is the rise of nationalism throughout the world with it's inherent dangers and it has superceded religion as a danger to civilsation.

@Moravian It is frightening to think both fundamentalism and nationalism are on the rise. How did that many stupidly hateful people get born anyway?

@AnonySchmoose I blame the parents

can't find the article but as you know he has long been an outspoken opponet of god worshiping. Religion is certainly a threat to democracy, just look at the situation in theocracies such as Pakistan, Iran and Saudi Arabiaexit
The resurgence of nationalism is worrying as can be seen by the election of Trump, Brexit, The destruction of the Brazilian rain forest etc'
I can see no benefits whatsoever of nationalism or patriotism so perhaps you can enlighten me.

Do not confuse patriotism with nationalism, to do so accidentally is forgivable, to do so deliberately is not only intellectually dishonest it corrupt and propagandist.
Religion poisons societies, poisons minds and ultimately always has the aim of eliminating that which is "other" in favour of itself.

@Moravian I don't know much about Richard Dawkins other than he has written books on the subject of atheism. At some point I may read, but not any time soon. I am sure some of his points contain some validity, but I am not familiar with his writings.

Trump, Brexit and destruction of rain forests - I don't know if you can directly blame those issues on nationalism or if it's more a case of confusing cause and effect. Is Brexit really a bad thing? The way I have heard it explained, my understanding, it is not a bad thing. American politics right now, no not good, but hopefully this freefall will end soon with the essentials of our nation still intact. Heard in a talk not long ago, sorry can't credit fully, Zuckerberg and another author, discussing borders and how at this point in time the question of borders is a very valid one. One that societies, nations, must go through during this day and age of globalization to define themselves. Certainly borders must exist;nationalism is helping to define what and where the borders are.

Destruction of the rain forest is another HORRIBLE side to this, but is it nationalism's fault or the fault of ever growing population? Speaking of forest destruction, just read about Trump's plans to okay building a road in Tongass. When is enough ENOUGH? Like rolling back car emissions, BECAUSE NOONE NEEDS CLEAN AIR. Is that nationalism's fault? It's just bad policy and very poor decision making.

@LenHazell53, @Flowerwall I have heard Trump say he is a nationalist with all that it entails. America first etc.
No Brexit is not a good thing you have been misinformed
The burning of the Amazonian rain forest for agriculture to the detriment of the indigenous population and the diversity of the environment is being pushed by the right wing nationalisitic president.

@LenHazell53 I'm not confusing anything. Patriotism, the last refuge of the scoundrel -- Samuel Johnson.

Watered down nationalism . nothing else. The place where you were born and raised is superior to anywhere else /. why ?.

@Moravian Tell me why Brexit is not a good thing.

@Moravian What's wrong with patriotism? Go ahead and say that to a veteran or the family member of a veteran, or rather, DO NOT. It is disrespectful to all they have sacrificed. This is the problem.

@Flowerwall If what is called "defense" in the USA was actally defence and not the use of military might and economic superiority to try to control the world I may feel differently. As for any veteran who has suffered in any of the USA's illegal wars they have my sincere sympathy.

@Flowerwall In a nutshell, The UK has been a member of the EU for almost as long as I can remember to the benefit of the UK and the rest of Europe. We are so intertwined in everything from free trade,free movement of citizens, laws on everything from health and safety to employee protection that it will be an absolute nightmare to extricate ourselves. We have a common agriculture policy and a common fisheries agreement and many other common agreements.
PM Cameron made a disasterous error of judgement as he now admits to call the referendum, which was done to quieten a few right wing Eurosceptics in his party. He never expected the leave result and he cut and ran immediately after the result'
Obviously it does cost money but apart from the running of what is probably an overbeaurocratic organisation the rest goes to improving the lot in poorer European countries. Eg Ireland was a very poor country and is now one of the wealthiest countries in Europe.
Since the result the value of the pound has been in freefall and the economy is suffering through uncertainty of the future'
As a trading block the EU is one of the largest in the world and the Uk will now have to organise individual trade agreements wih all the current trading countries. A rather tongue in cheek analogy is -- I am going to leave netflix and arrange individual agreements with all the film distriburtors.
Fucking madness

@Moravian I listened to someone giving a talk on this and now I forget the specifics but the way it was described EU seemed to be overstepping its role in governance and that it was more than just being overly bureaucratic. Great to hear Ireland's economy has improved but that doesn't mean that leaving will be the end of the period of financial prosperity. UK is 4th largest economy-I am confident all will work together to make it happen. Sure it will have a negative effect on stability in markets temporarily, not forever. Nations change, needs change and if the majority say Leave, then leave it should be.

@Flowerwall thanks for your positivity. I appreciate it.
I live in Scotland where we voted overwhelmingly to remain. With a declining birthrate we are dependant on immigrants. I have friends from Poland, Bulgaria,France, and they are now feeling insecure.
In a world of increasing nationalism I think it is a big mistake.
Sure there are problems. It is overly bearacratic and free movement of citizen have allowed for the influx of a few undesirables like Rumanian gangsters and in parts of Glasgow there are a few Rumanian child prostitutes.
One worry is that the much touted trade deal with the USA will include the NHS and big pharma will be creaming profits from it. That is in addition to the chlorinated chicken and beef pumped full of antibiotics.

@Moravian Yes I did hear immigrants to the area were feeling insecure. Even saw one where an immigrant woman was remain and her partner was leave and it was causing relationship issues. In the end they married. Leaving doesn't have to mean the end of all immigration just redefining how it is done.

Certainly law enforcement takes care of crime, right? Or what, is the criminal justice system overwhelmed there?

Hadn't heard of chlorinated chicken. Very familiar with the big pharma problem. Just another way to squeeze the citizenry for more money.

@Moravian
Oh come on, you know better than to make that quote and credit it to Johnson, Johnson wrote extensively on Patriotism in for example "The Patriot" 1774

for example

"A patriot is he whose publick conduct is regulated by one single motive, the love of his country;" Samuel Johnson in "The Patriot"

"a man may have the external appearance of a patriot, without the constituent qualities; as false coins have often lustre, though they want weight." ibid
(John effectively in this section predicts Nationalism as a false form of patriotism the word would not be formalised until 1844)

"Patriotism is not necessarily included in rebellion. A man may hate his king, yet not love his country." ibid

"It is the quality of patriotism to be jealous and watchful, to observe all secret machinations, and to see publick dangers at a distance. The true lover of his country is ready to communicate his fears, and to sound the alarm, whenever he perceives the approach of mischief." ibid

"He that wishes to see his country robbed of its rights cannot be a patriot. " Ibid

The quote you give appears nowhere in the writings of Johnson, it is from "Boswell's Life of Johnson, by James Boswell" 1791 seven years after the death of doctor Johnson by a man who only knew Johnson in his dotage, without context, though most scholars believe it to be exclusively about the attempts an acquaintance (possibly his wife's lover) to redeem their tarnished reputation.

@Moravian
I have heard Trump say he is a nationalist with all that it entails. America first etc.
Exactly Trump is a nationalist, but he is in no way a Patriot

No Brexit is not a good thing you have been misinformed
In this I agree with you completely, Brexit is a disaster endeavouring to happen, the only difference between a Brexit with a deal and a no deal Brexit is the measure of the catastrophe that will ensue.

@LenHazell53 Thank you for posting that.

@LenHazell53 Exactly

@Flowerwall [msn.com]

I think it is more of an animal health issue than a food safely one. Chickens are bred in overcrowded conditions and diseaes is rife.
We have the same issues. During a hot spell in summer thosands of chickens died in overcrowded sheds in England.