The God Delusion

[_MrStakhanovite]

Do people think they are somehow being clever when they misspell "new" in the ignorant term "new atheism?" Is this what passes for humor or intellectualism? Is it supposed to be disparaging?

This explains the background.

[_Aristotle Smith]

Do people think they are somehow being clever when they misspell "new" in the ignorant term "new atheism?" Is this what passes for humor or intellectualism? Is it supposed to be disparaging?

Just how idiotic do you have to be to think that's funny/special/clever?

This from the board whose posters regularly place under scruitiny the work and behavior of "Mopologists". Come on, Schmo. Be a bit more self honest, okay?

I think you are expecting too much from Schmo. Better to hope he has mastered the fine art of being able to grab his own ass in the dark.

[_Jason Bourne]

Jason,

Just checked in quickly and have not read the entire thread, but I do have one suggestion if you have decided to read work on religion and God by non-believing authors.

That suggestion is to start with Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris. This book is short, sweet, and gets the job done quite nicely.

It was written specifically in response to American Evangelicals who bombard Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, Dennett, and others with questions and hate mail each time one of them publishes a new book.

IMHO, this book should be required reading for graduation from high school.

Dr W I picked up Harris's book one day at Barnes & Nobles when I was browsing and read it for about 20 minutes. I did not buy it. Because I respect you I will get that one too and read it along with Dawkins book.

[_honorentheos]

If I had to make one main critique of the Nu Atheists it would be that they seem to be content to live in the afterglow of a Christian society, while supposing that the atheism they suggest can maintain that afterglow indefinitely.

This is an intriguing thought, AS. And depending on how it's meant one I agree with.

I would argue that there are some who are pursuing ways of self-energizing a humanist-based version of society but on the whole I suspect your comment could be applied more broadly than just to the NA movement. In the end, it's always easier to be against something than for something, and cynicism is practically the bread-and-butter of everything from message board nano-celebrity to anti-party politics.

[_Jersey Girl]

Jason,

Just checked in quickly and have not read the entire thread, but I do have one suggestion if you have decided to read work on religion and God by non-believing authors.

That suggestion is to start with Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris. This book is short, sweet, and gets the job done quite nicely.

It was written specifically in response to American Evangelicals who bombard Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, Dennett, and others with questions and hate mail each time one of them publishes a new book.

IMHO, this book should be required reading for graduation from high school.

DrW,

I am not at all familiar with the book that you recommended. I did a quick wiki on it and here is an excerpt:

We read the Golden Rule and judge it to be a brilliant distillation of many of our ethical impulses. And then we come across another of God’s teachings on morality: if a man discovers on his wedding night that his bride is not a virgin, he must stone her to death on her father’s doorstep (Deuteronomy 22:13-21).[3]

Tell me, does Harris acknowledge at all the New Testament and what does he have to say about it as it relates to the Old Testament?

[_Jersey Girl]

Aristotle

I think you are expecting too much from Schmo. Better to hope he has mastered the fine art of being able to grab his own ass in the dark.

That's okay. If he can't grab his own ass in the dark, I'll grab it for him.

;-)

[_just me]

Aristotle

I think you are expecting too much from Schmo. Better to hope he has mastered the fine art of being able to grab his own ass in the dark.

That's okay. If he can't grab his own ass in the dark, I'll grab it for him.

;-)

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Thanks, bff.

[_honorentheos]

Jason,

I second what Sethbag said. While I enjoyed Dawkins for entertainment value, I did not see his arguments in The God Delusion as very convincing. Sethbag's comparison to Mormon apologetics was spot on, in my opinion.

I wouldn't want to sell anyone on atheism or any other view of the world, but if I were to suggest a path it would be akin to getting in shape. For me, the path came organically as I questioned issues, read books on those issues, and began to reformulate my worldview around this new information. At some point along the way, I realized I no longer believed in traditional views of God, and questioned strongly that anyone had anything right expect possibly big-brush outlines. In some ways, I see Dawkins, Harris, and other's books as diet pills - big on promise, short on results. Any soul searching effort seems like it would require something more similar to changes in diet and exercise. But maybe there is that Moroni Promise for atheism out there and I missed it.

Best wishes as you continue on your journey, regardless of where you end up.

[_Jersey Girl]

Dear Mr. Bourne,

So far as I am concerned, you can read whatever the hell you want to read. But do one thing, if you will. Read the backgrounds/bio's of the authors. I say this because I think that in order to understand where they are coming from...you need to know where they come from in terms life course, experiences and influences.

In other words, treat the material just as you have in your study of Christianity.

Ever your friend,
Jersey
:-)

[_Ceeboo]

Hey Stak

If you understand Dawkins’ book, you’ll understand a lot of atheists as well.

Would you be so kind as to drill down on this thought a little more?

by the way: Are you engaged yet? :)

Merry Christmas and peace,
Ceeboo