Thanks, Dana, for that nice review! I must move my copy up Mt TBR!
When it comes to discussion of "militant" atheists, I see a sharp cultural divide between the UK and the US. A British writer like Hitchens may seem mild and reasonable here, and yet may attract criticism across the pond for being harsh, abrasive, arrogant, etc.
It's about context. Britain is the most secular of Western nations, while the US remains predominantly Christian. So British atheists tend to be blunt and direct. Even so, Richard Dawkins pushes against the aura of respect that religion demands as its right: criticism of religion is seen by some as bad manners, one should tiptoe away quietly and not disturb the aura. Dawkins says we should tell it how it is.
The US still has this aura of respect for religion, even in atheist circles. It's hard to break the habit of a lifetime.
i don't think hitchens is harsh, i like him. look at bill maher or penn jillette. we've got our big mouth's here in the states too.
i loved jonathan miller's brief history of atheism. but even he started questioning is there something more after you die. and personally, i think there is that possibility, but not as the holy holy sense, but something energy related and natural.
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When it comes to discussion of "militant" atheists, I see a sharp cultural divide between the UK and the US. A British writer like Hitchens may seem mild and reasonable here, and yet may attract criticism across the pond for being harsh, abrasive, arrogant, etc.
It's about context. Britain is the most secular of Western nations, while the US remains predominantly Christian. So British atheists tend to be blunt and direct. Even so, Richard Dawkins pushes against the aura of respect that religion demands as its right: criticism of religion is seen by some as bad manners, one should tiptoe away quietly and not disturb the aura. Dawkins says we should tell it how it is.
The US still has this aura of respect for religion, even in atheist circles. It's hard to break the habit of a lifetime.
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i loved jonathan miller's brief history of atheism. but even he started questioning is there something more after you die. and personally, i think there is that possibility, but not as the holy holy sense, but something energy related and natural.
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