Sunday, June 22, 2008
Meme too!
Nobody tagged me with this blog meme, and I doubt anyone would notice if I tagged them, but here goes nothin'...
- How would you define "atheism"?
The lack of belief in a god or gods. Nothing more. It does not imply any kind of ideology or agenda. - Was your upbringing religious? If so, what tradition?
I grew up in a very strict Irish Catholic family. - How would you describe "Intelligent Design", using only one word?
Cretinous. - What scientific endeavor really excites you?
I'm fascinated by the nature of consciousness. - If you could change one thing about the "atheist community", what would it be and why?
There is no "atheist community". Atheists by nature are not joiners. - If your child came up to you and said "I'm joining the clergy", what would be your first response?
I have no children, and never intend to have any. Plus I have painful memories of my mother pressuring me to pledge to join the priesthood when I was still very young. But if I had a child, I wouldn't indoctrinate him. I would want to inculcate a love of learning in him, expose him to as much information from different sources as possible, answer his questions honestly, and try to show by example that an atheist can be a decent person with a fulfilling life. Then (assuming he was old enough to make an informed decision), if he told me he was joining some religion, I would support him as long as it made him happy. - What's your favorite theistic argument, and how do you usually refute it?
It's been many years since I found any theistic argument persuasive - the vast majority of them are simply ignorant and/or dishonest. My "favorite" is the ontological argument, in its various incarnations from Anselm to Platinga. The idea that a set of mental gymnastics and hand-waving can magic the lord of the universe into existence is laughable on its face. - What's your most "controversial" (as far as general attitudes amongst other atheists goes) viewpoint?
Not applicable. There is no dogma in atheism. That's why it's often known as free thought. - Of the "Four Horsemen" (Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens and Harris) who is your favourite, and why?
I've enjoyed all of them. There is a time for Dennett's gentle persuasion, and a time for Hitchens' full-on snark and scorn. I suppose Dawkins is the one I've read most, because of my scientific background. - If you could convince just one theistic person to abandon their beliefs, who would it be?
I have a number of problems with the idea that atheists should try to convert religionists. First of all, it isn't even possible. Becoming an atheist is a very different process than changing from one religion to another. All you can do is support someone who is already on the road to atheism, by (as I said above) answering his or her questions honestly and trying to show by example that an atheist can be a decent person with a fulfilling life.
Anyway, it's wrong to ask people to abandon their beliefs - I'd settle instead for people asking themselves what they believe in and why, and whether it is true. If enough people did this, religion would be on its last legs as people woke up to the folly and insanity of it.
But to answer the question, it's hard to see how "flipping" one religionist would make a difference. Maybe if Pat Robertson had a deathbed epiphany...
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RSS feed for comments | Mike Haubrich, FCD wrote 7/6 10:38am in reply to Original article: I never got tagged by this one, either! But you make a very good point on your answer to #10. I didn't "turn" atheist, myself. It was something I recognized, denied and then finally admitted to myself before "coming out." No one turned me, I had to turn myself through critical self-examination. I think that the best service we can offer is to support people who are questioning their faith and offer resources for them to examine what they believe. (Reply) |
