A weblog devoted to spurring a conversation among those who use words to varying degrees in their daily work. Hosted by John Ettorre, a Cleveland-based writer and editor. Please email me at: john.ettorre@gmail.com. "There comes a time when you realize that everything is a dream, and only those things preserved in writing have any possibility of being real." --James Salter
A Lovely & Concise Thought for the Day
I'm a Cleveland, Ohio-based writer, editor and writing coach, with more than 25 years of experience, including stints in Chicago and Washington, D.C. My work has appeared in more than 100 print and online publications, from the New York Times and the Christian Science Monitor to local and regional publications. My work has been recognized by awards (including an Emmy) from four journalism groups.
24 Comments:
I agree about science being poetry, but Dawkins was a little heavy-handed for me in The God Delusion.
I really didn't know anything about him, though I recognized the name, so I'll have to read up a little to learn more.
I suppose it depends on which reality we are talking about. There are many 'realities', many different perspectives and I imagine science with a capital 'S' is one of many.
Oh, now I remember who this guy is--the militant atheist who ridicules people of faith, even calling it delusional. I take back everything I said about him. But I still like the way he put this, even if his larger philosophy is distasteful.
One could also say that poetry is the science of truth.
I was thinking the same thing, Art.
"Nature is the art of God."
-Dante
Before i read the comments I was thinking that the quote reminded me of my view that science and God are not in conflict to me at all. They are both parts of the same world.
I'm glad you mentioned that, Diane, because that's precisely the reaction I had and it was the same spirit in which I posted this. There is no conflict between the two. We merely tend to invent them, for a number of reasons which would take decades to outline, I suppose. But no less an authority than Einstein found little or no conflict between physics and the idea that god has a guiding hand in the cosmos.
Einstein about his religious views"
"I'm not an atheist and I don't think I can call myself a pantheist. We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many different languages. The child knows someone must have written those books. It does not know how. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangement of the books but doesn't know what it is. That, it seems to me, is the attitude of even the most intelligent human being toward God."
"I believe in Spinoza’s God, who reveals Himself in the lawful harmony of the world, not in a God Who concerns Himself with the fate and the doings of mankind."
"I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly.”
"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weakness, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still purely primitive, legends which are nevertheless pretty childish."
Now there's a name that's a sight for sore eyes. Welcome back, amigo. And come to think of it, I believe you've pointed this very thing out in the past. Thanks for keeping us honest.
Wouldn't be surprised if my chain got jerked previously.
There is a distinction between atheism and antitheism: lack of belief in a deity vs. active opposition to theism.
Clearly, Dawkins is in both camps. I think he's decided that sitting back while aggressive theists of all stripes impose their will on the world has had negative consequences.
As has been said elsewhere, there is very little difference between an atheist and, say, a Christian. They overwhelmingly agree in their disbelief in countless gods fielded over the millenia. The atheist simply disbelieves in one more.
Or lacks belief in one more, I should say.
I'm not sure there's ever been a comment here that I disagreed with more, this notion of there being very little difference between Christians and atheists. I find it hard to believe that anyone would try to make that argument with any seriousness. It seems more like a party trick designed to spark a rousing debate.
I didn't mean it glibly. It is a numerical fact, though, the observation of which puts a different light on the matter.
For years, Isaac Hayes voiced the character of 'Chef' on "South Park," and a more caustic show toward a wide range of personal beliefs you will not find.
Apparently Hayes was fine with the goring of all those sacred oxen, until came the show that made fun of Scientology. He quit soon afterwards.
An atheist would seem to have in common with Hayes a lack of belief in almost all religions, including Christianity, Islam, etc.
Scientology--now there's an interesting belief system. And I do know you not to be glib. You just like to be provocative, especially on this subject.
Wikipedia says of Scientology:
"Xenu was, according to the founder of Scientology and science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, the dictator of the "Galactic Confederacy" who, 75 million years ago, brought billions of his people to Earth in a DC-8-like spacecraft, stacked them around volcanoes and killed them using hydrogen bombs."
Sounds a lot like like modern air travel.
Or something straight out of Marvel Comics.
Well, let's bring it back to the theme of this blog.
"Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion" ---L. Ron Hubbard
One more item:
Frederik Pohl is a famous science fiction writer. He is 90, and writes a terrific blog.
In it, he told a fascinating personal story about L. Ron Hubbard, chick magnet:
http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/tag/hubbard-l-ron/
Sorry, got that URL wrong. Try this:
http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/2009/09/the-worlds-of-l-ron-hubbard-part-2/
That Hubbard quote about starting your own religion made me laugh, hard. What a piece of work he was (or is?) Is he still alive?
He left us physically in 1986, However, according to the Church of Scientology, he is now living "on a planet a galaxy away."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Ron_Hubbard#Later_life
I should have guessed!
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