Comments on: An Advent Triptych of Atheism (I did me some book readin’): intro https://freakytrigger.co.uk/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro Lollards in the high church of low culture Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:48:25 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 By: Alan https://freakytrigger.co.uk/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro/comment-page-1#comment-146324 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 10:48:45 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro/#comment-146324 Why on earth find it so hard to swallow? Does this mean that you think that most intellectual pursuits are driven by a variety of intellectual vendetta – i find that hard to swallow. My own dispositions to write about or think about things are rarely driven that way, and I don’t believe that is the case for most people.

And in Dawkins case yes he is in the right place because his previous work has led here quite naturally, so it just doesn’t follow that he has been driven by anything other than his philosophical view rather than reaction to an antithesis.

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By: Jack Fear https://freakytrigger.co.uk/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro/comment-page-1#comment-145854 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 03:57:31 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro/#comment-145854 Which actually seems to be the case for Jesse Bering, although for “puppy” substitute “mother.”

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By: Pete Baran https://freakytrigger.co.uk/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro/comment-page-1#comment-145833 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 01:08:45 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro/#comment-145833 I think Alan’s right though. It is not so much the concept of a Judeo-Christian God that Dawkins rails against, it is the concept of (and moreover the historical and current unscientific thought proccesses bundled up with) organised religion. And it is the orgnaisation which perhaps Dawkins over-compensates for, but I think the point is that like many an academic and self-publicist, he has been given fame for this particular aspect of his writing/personality and his own vanity allows himself to keep running with it. Which is a pity because it does colour his other truly great work on evolutionary biology.

Altenratively God killed his puppy and he’s bloody well going to make him pay.

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By: Jack Fear https://freakytrigger.co.uk/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro/comment-page-1#comment-145814 Thu, 28 Dec 2006 00:04:03 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro/#comment-145814 …there’s no good reason to believe that those who so choose are in some sense compensating.

No? Then why take on the task in the first place? Would you have me believe that it’s all to do with his being in the right place at the right time, and not with any deep drive within the man himself? I find that hard to swallow, Alan.

No one thrust this fight upon Dawkins. He gloved up and came out swinging, and he did it for reasons of his own.

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By: Alan https://freakytrigger.co.uk/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro/comment-page-1#comment-145711 Wed, 27 Dec 2006 18:15:10 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro/#comment-145711 What he really has a problem with is religion. The existence of god is well below his radar when you understand his position – its a non-issue. So no I still don’t believe the concept of God does loom large in his life. There are plenty of atheists in the world, only a few are in the ideal position to write extensively in its defence, and there’s no good reason to believe that those who so choose are in some sense compensating. Of course having taken on the task he can’t just retire and has to stand up and repeat his arguments (ad nauseum it would seem).

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By: Jack Fear https://freakytrigger.co.uk/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro/comment-page-1#comment-145693 Wed, 27 Dec 2006 17:06:55 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro/#comment-145693 In the same way that the organizing principle in Ahab’s life was the white whale, yeah? Self-defined by his opposition; the concept of God obviously looms large in Dawkins’s life, else he wouldn’t dedicate so much time and invective to refuting it.

I reckon it’s the same for any professional atheist—for such Dawkins has become. Admittedly, he’s not as naked about it as the evolutionary psychologist Jesse Bering, who matter-of-factly says, “I’ve got my hands around God’s throat, and I’m not going to stop until one of us is dead.”

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By: Alan https://freakytrigger.co.uk/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro/comment-page-1#comment-138530 Fri, 22 Dec 2006 21:17:39 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro/#comment-138530 i’m not sure i get you, but his organising principle of life is clearly not about divinity.

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By: Dave Boyle https://freakytrigger.co.uk/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro/comment-page-1#comment-138002 Fri, 22 Dec 2006 13:39:41 +0000 https://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/science/2006/12/an-advent-triptich-of-atheism-i-did-me-some-book-readin-intro/#comment-138002 Dawkins is a fine example of the assertion that no-one believes in God like and atheist; his organising principle of life is about divinity, as much as any christian fundy.

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