I have never known anyone who was an atheist to be chary of acknowledging such to me - they usually seem proud of it, in fact. Is this because I'm such a tolerant, open-minded individual?
Having Dawkins sell atheism and evolution, is like having the latest gold medal skier sell breakfast cereal. Dawkins is not a qualified philosopher. He's just another guy in the world, having trouble thinking things through--yet believing somehow he is a know-it-all.
I love Theodore Dalrymple's "nothing-but" statement:
Dawkins’s latest book is an example of the nothing-but school of historiography: European history is nothing but the history of warfare and genocide, American history is nothing but the history of exploitation and oppression of the blacks, and so forth. For him, the history of religion is nothing but the history of bigotry, savagery, ignorance, intolerance. Of course, all of these are to be found in the history of religion, and bigots still abound.
This is the case, as you know, of overgeneralization, covered early in any semester of freshman Logic, so that such a mistake in thinking might not be made by the college's graduates. And there Dawkins is, making himself famous for its use. Besides memes, this may become his second claim to fame, the warning to college freshman to come, not to make the same thinking error that Dawkins did.
Dawkins book is being ripped to shreds, while becoming a best-selling talk-of-the-world. Future releases will be titled: The God Delusion: How to Ruin Your Reputation as a Thinker With One Too-Many Books, an Illustration.
I have a suspicion that The God Delusion is going to suffer the same fate as The Da Vinci Code - a best-seller that everybody now claims they didn't like.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The God Delusion and can see why it's a bestseller. It's likely that other books questioning the idea of God will follow. It's too hot a topic, apparently, for publishers to ignore. I'm not expecting bigotry, hatred, churches burned to the ground or laws introduced to ban religion as likely consequences of Dawkins's book and don't see why anyone else should either. Theodore Dalrymple sounds a bit like a English country vicar - atheistic, apologetic and very polite, all admirable qualities at a Surrey tea-party.
Well, Noel, I thought Dawkins's book was a poor effort compared to ... other books by Richard Dawkins. It was haphazardly arranged, and maddeningly digressive. But he was preaching to the choir - and the choir, I presume, loved it.
The answer is probably no. I agree with Frank on a lot of things. The rest as they say in Wales is just a bit of fun!
Frank, all those people reading Dawkins's book, most of them I agree with you with doubts in the idea of God ... when you think about it, it's just common sense. ;)
I would like to recommend a wonderful book on this subject (however, it is fiction) to you folks: _Ideas of Heaven_ by Joan Silber. It was a Nat'l Book Award finalist a couple of years back and I would have given it the prize.
Noel, do you live in Wales? An absolutely beautiful country!
Hi Frank,
ReplyDeleteHaving Dawkins sell atheism and evolution, is like having the latest gold medal skier sell breakfast cereal. Dawkins is not a qualified philosopher. He's just another guy in the world, having trouble thinking things through--yet believing somehow he is a know-it-all.
I love Theodore Dalrymple's "nothing-but" statement:
Dawkins’s latest book is an example of the nothing-but school of historiography: European history is nothing but the history of warfare and genocide, American history is nothing but the history of exploitation and oppression of the blacks, and so forth. For him, the history of religion is nothing but the history of bigotry, savagery, ignorance, intolerance. Of course, all of these are to be found in the history of religion, and bigots still abound.
This is the case, as you know, of overgeneralization, covered early in any semester of freshman Logic, so that such a mistake in thinking might not be made by the college's graduates. And there Dawkins is, making himself famous for its use. Besides memes, this may become his second claim to fame, the warning to college freshman to come, not to make the same thinking error that Dawkins did.
Yours,
Rus
More on Dawkins, this from Ron Liddle in The Spectator:
ReplyDeleteA man who believes in Darwin as fervently as he hates God
Dawkins book is being ripped to shreds, while becoming a best-selling talk-of-the-world. Future releases will be titled: The God Delusion: How to Ruin Your Reputation as a Thinker With One Too-Many Books, an Illustration.
Rus
I have a suspicion that The God Delusion is going to suffer the same fate as The Da Vinci Code - a best-seller that everybody now claims they didn't like.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed reading The God Delusion and can see why it's a bestseller. It's likely that other books questioning the idea of God will follow. It's too hot a topic, apparently, for publishers to ignore. I'm not expecting bigotry, hatred, churches burned to the ground or laws introduced to ban religion as likely consequences of Dawkins's book and don't see why anyone else should either. Theodore Dalrymple sounds a bit like a English country vicar - atheistic, apologetic and very polite, all admirable qualities at a Surrey tea-party.
ReplyDeleteWell, Noel, I thought Dawkins's book was a poor effort compared to ... other books by Richard Dawkins. It was haphazardly arranged, and maddeningly digressive. But he was preaching to the choir - and the choir, I presume, loved it.
ReplyDeleteNoel and Frank -- are you guys gonna spar on every thread? C'mon!
ReplyDeleteHi Susan,
ReplyDeleteThe answer is probably no. I agree with Frank on a lot of things. The rest as they say in Wales is just a bit of fun!
Frank, all those people reading Dawkins's book, most of them I agree with you with doubts in the idea of God ... when you think about it, it's just common sense. ;)
I would like to recommend a wonderful book on this subject (however, it is fiction) to you folks: _Ideas of Heaven_ by Joan Silber. It was a Nat'l Book Award finalist a couple of years back and I would have given it the prize.
ReplyDeleteNoel, do you live in Wales? An absolutely beautiful country!
It is the sweetest place I know. We have use of a Welsh farm and enjoy it when we can. Bit damp in winter, but still beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIdeas of Heaven looks interesting. Thanks!