Atheists and the politics of productive engagement
There is room for all sorts of approaches in the so-called ‘culture wars’. Atheists that are perceived as aggressive speak to a certain audience – but they might well alienate another. But let’s not confuse polite engagement with religion as a necessary sign of weakness, as it could sometimes be a better strategy for political impact.
Start saving for Norway
Observations regarding Norway,the prohibitive cost of consumables, and the first few days of proceedings related to the World Humanist Congress in Oslo. Also, I experience a Larry David moment, and am briefly mortified.
Sam Harris, ‘new atheism’ and alleged Islamophobia
While there is much that some commentators find legitimately disagreeable about Sam Harris – most obviously, his moral philosophy as expressed in The Moral Landscape – charges of Islamophobia against him and so-called new atheists stem more from a politically correct fear of giving offence rather than a balanced consideration of his position in this regard.
John Edward is coming to eat your brain
John Edward, New Age woo-talk, astrology columns in newspapers, The Secret, and the fact that some take Deepak Chopra seriously are all part of the same basic problem, namely that our hopes for life to have some significance beyond the here-and-now lead us to suspend – or at least suppress – critical judgement.
Breivik, terror and Islamophobia
The problem with Breivik is not Islamophobia, or “Christophobia”, but rather that belief systems with no warrant encourage and legitimate you to interpret them however you please. This is one possible consequence of this epistemic laxness, and moderate religious folk can’t wish this problem away.
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