Attitudes

Nov 19th, 2006 8:58 pm | By

Tom Freeman at Fisking Central also disputed with Theo Hobson and his rather idiosyncratic account of what atheism is. He points out that Hobson isn’t altogether consistent.

This atheist, believing that religious claims are factually untrue, is naturally likely to prefer others to reject these untruths. It is also possible, though, for an atheist to believe that (some) religion can (in some circumstances) have (some) social or cultural benefits. And Hobson knows this: less than a week ago, he wrote about the atheist philosopher Julian Baggini, who “agrees that dogmatic atheism is unattractive: ‘to think there is nothing to be learned from religion is extremely arrogant,’ he says. And he acknowledges the appeal of religion, even to a hardened atheist.”

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It depends

Nov 19th, 2006 7:17 pm | By

Canada’s talking about it too.

In recent weeks, the debate in Britain over the wearing of the niqab or face veil has crossed the north Atlantic to Canada. It came on the heels of claims that the leaders of the large Indo-Canadian population in British Columbia were turning a blind eye to widespread domestic violence. Last year saw an acrimonious dispute in Ontario over whether Muslims could use Islamic sharia courts to settle family disputes.

Notice what all three of those examples have in common.

In themselves, fights over cultural practices and symbols are nothing new in Canada…What is new about the latest arguments is an underlying tension between some cultural practices of recent immigrants and the mainstream values

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Tariq Ramadan Explains About Allah *

Nov 19th, 2006 | Filed by

Humphrys will keep asking about stoning to death.… Read the rest



Jonathan Sacks Explains About God *

Nov 19th, 2006 | Filed by

Talks what sounds to a nonbeliever like condescending evasive noise.… Read the rest



Michael Ignatieff as Philosopher King *

Nov 19th, 2006 | Filed by

There is ‘a hunger for political engagement, a need for inspiration.’… Read the rest



Chaotic Religious Blather Makes a Comeback *

Nov 19th, 2006 | Filed by

Incompatible claims whiz around, theists nag, secularists wince, archbishops scold.… Read the rest



Nick Cohen on the Housing Bubble *

Nov 19th, 2006 | Filed by

Inflated housing prices are not an unmixed blessing.… Read the rest



Al-Jazeera International Covers Developing World *

Nov 19th, 2006 | Filed by

But at the price of ignoring other news.… Read the rest



Multiculturalism Questioned in Canada *

Nov 19th, 2006 | Filed by

Maintenance of cultural and religious practices clashes with women’s rights.… Read the rest



No fundamentalist optimists here

Nov 18th, 2006 8:21 pm | By

An excellent look at the Theo Hobson-Mark Vernon school of argument from Obscene Desserts.

He then suddenly changes direction and – accompanied by the wrenching sounds of screeching, overloaded gears and, moreover, ignoring Grayling’s definition of atheism – alleges that atheism

entails a certain narrative about historical progress: we can move to a new and better age once we have dispensed with superstition. Atheism is more than the rejection of religion as false: it is the belief that religion is an evil that holds back human history. (Empahsis added)

Huh? Really? Atheism entails (‘to have, impose, or require as a necessary accompaniment or consequence’) a certain narrative about historical progress? All atheists have the same view of history without

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A counter-Leavisite snack

Nov 18th, 2006 7:35 pm | By

Some quotables in Hitchens’s review of Clive James’s memoir.

James’s strenuous test of the De Vriesian proposition was to try to demonstrate that one could be simultaneously cerebral and on television…I can only say, as someone who doesn’t watch much television, that when Clive James invited me on to one of his shows…I did actually feel that I wasn’t under orders to be stupider than I really am.

It’s irksome, being under such orders. There’s always (or often) that lurking dread when writing books, that some faceless publisher or editor or agent will swear that no no a thousand times no, this book will never make it past your poxy little computer unless you make it readily understandable to … Read the rest



Women are tools

Nov 18th, 2006 6:26 pm | By

Misogyny wins another round.

Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos has signed into law a ban on all abortions, even in cases when a woman’s life is judged to be at risk. Previous legislation from a century ago allowed an abortion if three doctors certified that the woman was in danger…President-elect Daniel Ortega once favoured abortion rights but changed stance after re-embracing Catholicism. Mr Bolanos signed the law in the presence of Roman Catholic bishops and Protestant evangelist leaders.

All of them agreeing, apparently, that a foetus is more valuable than the woman who is carrying it.… Read the rest



Fundamentalist Optimism and Historical Progress *

Nov 18th, 2006 | Filed by

A historian disputes the claim that atheism derives from Protestantism.… Read the rest



Poll on Greatest Science Books *

Nov 18th, 2006 | Filed by

Vote and offer write-in candidates.… Read the rest



25 Greatest Science Books *

Nov 18th, 2006 | Filed by

Darwin, Newton, Galileo lead the pack.… Read the rest



Dawkins on ‘I’m an Atheist But’ *

Nov 18th, 2006 | Filed by

But get over it, but what’s the point, but you’re too strident, but religion is consoling.… Read the rest



Some Dutch Muslims Condemn Burqa Ban *

Nov 18th, 2006 | Filed by

The issue of Muslim women’s clothing is a hotly-debated subject in several European countries. … Read the rest



Nicaragua’s Ban on All Abortion Signed into Law *

Nov 18th, 2006 | Filed by

President signed law in presence of Catholic bishops and Protestant evangelist leaders. … Read the rest



AU Reports New Attacks in Darfur *

Nov 18th, 2006 | Filed by

The Sudanese government and Janjaweed militia have launched new attacks.… Read the rest



Rosemary, Lavender, Coffee, Cedar

Nov 17th, 2006 8:26 pm | By

I liked this article on the sense of smell. It made me think, as the saying goes.

Mine is a mediocre specimen of a post-lapsarian nose. As a fallen daughter of Eve—or, more accurately, a fallen granddaughter of a sharp-nosed chimpanzee—I am conscious of smell only a few times each day…But for most of the day, it is unusual for me to notice any particular smells. I do eat food, of course, but with the illusory impression that I am tasting rather than smelling the myriad different flavours that make up even an ordinary meal.

Yes, same here, I suppose; but I do value smells, I thought to myself. Then later in the day when I was outside, I … Read the rest