Lately, I have been taking in, for a second time, online interviews with Eric Weinstein, former managing director of Thiel Capital. He is an interesting fellow, who has moved in elite circles. He describes himself, although perhaps in not so many words, as a Jewish atheist. I found this interview regarding religion interesting. Herein he makes the case for the importance of atheists' positive appreciation for religious culture.
I think a “Mormon atheist” movement would be much more positive than the current ex-Mormon one. Mormons seem to value their culture almost as much as Jews do, even after leaving their religious belief behind.
So not happy with the easy question you want to pose the hard one.
It is an old observation to say that ugly is a corruption of beauty so derives all of its meaning and existence from the existence of beauty. I doubt that covers certain arguments against the belief in God, death the central ugly is a fundamental part of this world's life.
Huckelberry: Bach points to God. All beauty points to God.
Morley: Given how culturally laden both tastes in music and concepts of beauty are, this is troubling. A teenaged girl into BTS or a middle-aged board moderator into Perfume might actually find the Brandenburg Concertos to be ugly.
Does everyone's conception of beauty point to God? Is eveyone's observation of ugly pointing away?
I understand that Johann Sebastian Bach wrote the Brandenburg Concertos when he was employed by a Calvinist Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Calvinists did not approve of the type of music Johann Sebastian Bach wrote for worship in Lutheran churches. (John Calvin, reformed theologian from Geneva Switzerland, around the same time as Martin Luther, the reformer in Germany, (not Memphis USA).
I wonder if Atheists would appreciate the writing of Clive Staples Lewis who converted from atheism to Christianity. Could Atheists let their children read the Narnia series of books, which told stories of some children who went through the cupboard in a house to a land called Narnia where they met Arslan, a lion which I understand Christians see as Jesus. (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) He wrote apologetic books for Christianity eg Mere Christianity. Would Atheists read The Screwtape Letters which is an imaginary dialogue between two devils? There is a youtube video titled The Question of God which Dr Armand M Nicholi has a discussion with a mixture of believers and nonbelievers about the writings of Sigmund Freud (Not Anna Freud) and Clive Staples Lewis. I believe it is one of Dan Petersen's favorites.
...I wonder if Atheists would appreciate the writing of Clive Staples Lewis who converted from atheism to Christianity. Could Atheists let their children read the Narnia series of books, which told stories of some children who went through the cupboard in a house to a land called Narnia where they met Arslan, a lion which I understand Christians see as Jesus. (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) He wrote apologetic books for Christianity eg Mere Christianity. Would Atheists read The Screwtape Letters which is an imaginary dialogue between two devils? There is a youtube video titled The Question of God which Dr Armand M Nicholi has a discussion with a mixture of believers and nonbelievers about the writings of Sigmund Freud (Not Anna Freud) and Clive Staples Lewis. I believe it is one of Dan Petersen's favorites.
Yes, of course atheists can appreciate great literature! I have almost all of c.s. Lewis' works, Including the Narnia chronicles and the Screwtape letters in my library, and I have always encouraged all my children and my family to read his works.
When I was growing up Mormon, my Mormon father disapproved of me reading the chronicles of narnia, because he said it would make me think religious works like the Bible and Book of Mormon were also fiction.
hauslern wrote:There is a youtube video titled The Question of God which Dr Armand M Nicholi has a discussion with a mixture of believers and nonbelievers about the writings of Sigmund Freud (Not Anna Freud) and Clive Staples Lewis. I believe it is one of Dan Petersen's favorites.
Could you elaborate on that?
"if you can't admire Joe Biden as a person then it's probably, you got a problem." -- Lindsey Graham
I understand that Johann Sebastian Bach wrote the Brandenburg Concertos when he was employed by a Calvinist Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Calvinists did not approve of the type of music Johann Sebastian Bach wrote for worship in Lutheran churches. (John Calvin, reformed theologian from Geneva Switzerland, around the same time as Martin Luther, the reformer in Germany, (not Memphis USA).
I wonder if Atheists would appreciate the writing of Clive Staples Lewis who converted from atheism to Christianity. Could Atheists let their children read the Narnia series of books, which told stories of some children who went through the cupboard in a house to a land called Narnia where they met Arslan, a lion which I understand Christians see as Jesus. (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) He wrote apologetic books for Christianity eg Mere Christianity. Would Atheists read The Screwtape Letters which is an imaginary dialogue between two devils? There is a youtube video titled The Question of God which Dr Armand M Nicholi has a discussion with a mixture of believers and nonbelievers about the writings of Sigmund Freud (Not Anna Freud) and Clive Staples Lewis. I believe it is one of Dan Petersen's favorites.
hauslern, I am pretty sure that the Brandenburg Concertos are not church music. They sound much closer to courtly dance music. No reason to hold that against them of course.
I think Marcus's comments made it clear that an atheist can appreciate and enjoy Bach's music. I would be surprised if she limited that to non church examples. All of his music expresses a human wonder and delight. Though I think that wonder is a pointer to God Marcus is clear that she thinks there is no God behind that wonder just the natural world we live in. I can understand that view. I think that wonder is a closer, much better, impression of God than sometimes comes out of pulpits.
hauslern, I am pretty sure that the Brandenburg Concertos are not church music.
Perhaps that is why Atheists and others appreciate them so much, especially Concerto # 3. Dr. Peterson could get into Ode to Joy while sitting back in a recliner and drinking a snifter of Seven Up.
I understand that Johann Sebastian Bach wrote the Brandenburg Concertos when he was employed by a Calvinist Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Calvinists did not approve of the type of music Johann Sebastian Bach wrote for worship in Lutheran churches. (John Calvin, reformed theologian from Geneva Switzerland, around the same time as Martin Luther, the reformer in Germany, (not Memphis USA).
I wonder if Atheists would appreciate the writing of Clive Staples Lewis who converted from atheism to Christianity. Could Atheists let their children read the Narnia series of books, which told stories of some children who went through the cupboard in a house to a land called Narnia where they met Arslan, a lion which I understand Christians see as Jesus. (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) He wrote apologetic books for Christianity eg Mere Christianity. Would Atheists read The Screwtape Letters which is an imaginary dialogue between two devils? There is a youtube video titled The Question of God which Dr Armand M Nicholi has a discussion with a mixture of believers and nonbelievers about the writings of Sigmund Freud (Not Anna Freud) and Clive Staples Lewis. I believe it is one of Dan Petersen's favorites.
Absolutely. I don't know why this would even be in question. This is applicable to all art forms.
One doesn't have to be a believer to appreciate the majesty of the Badshahi Mosque or the Basilica of Saint Denis--or the Manti Temple.
As there are many devout Christians like Huckelberry who appreciate painters like Lucian Freud, there are a multitude of non-believers (like me) who love and appreciate that some of their favorite paintings have religious themes.
For instance, I don't think it's even possible to avoid loving a painting like this one, no matter what you believe in.
Fouquet, Jean. Virgin and Child Surrounded by Angels (c. 1452)
