I have just read Daniel Dennett’s book Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon. It’s a great book. Unfortunately, I doubt that it will be read by the people who really need it, though the author tries very hard to preach to them, rather than to the choir of convinced unbelievers such as myself.… Continue reading Oh, Lord, It’s Hard to Be Atheist
Category: religion
The Crusading Atheist: Richard Dawkins’ “The Root of All Evil?”
“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.” Stephen Henry Roberts (1901-71) Richard Dawkins, author of The Selfish Gene and many other excellent books, recently did a TV program on… Continue reading The Crusading Atheist: Richard Dawkins’ “The Root of All Evil?”
The Hundred Years’ War
The Strange Religious History of the Straughans shot Mar 6, 2005, 7:29 mins Some of my recent articles have caused some readers to wonder why I have it in for Catholicism. Actually, I am even-handed in my dislike of religion: I don’t like any of them. But, due to family history, I have un dente… Continue reading The Hundred Years’ War
An Unholy Alliance: American Conservatives and the Vatican
I have had it up to here with the media frenzy over the Papal death-and-succession, and can only be relieved that the Conclave only lasted two days (to the disappointment of news crews, no doubt – hang around in Rome and wait for a chimney to smoke? Tough job.) Though I’m glad it’s over, I’m not… Continue reading An Unholy Alliance: American Conservatives and the Vatican
The Papal Funeral Bash
I’m not going to say much about this; I wasn’t there, and ignored it as far as possible. The only footage I actually watched was on the Daily Show. But I do have a few items: Early last week, I was riding the bus down to Lecco, at my usual time when it’s full of… Continue reading The Papal Funeral Bash