Eikonoklastes by Michael Hartl: Trapped for three days with stupid beliefs

Trapped for three days with stupid beliefs

Michael Hartl — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:31:00 -0800

Prominent atheists/agnostics/unbelievers like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens are sometimes accused of attacking a strawman version of religion. Most religious people, it is claimed, hold much subtler beliefs than the broad big-man-in-the-sky belittled by atheists.

Maybe so. But there seems to be no shortage of people whose beliefs deserve the derision heaped on them by the infidels. Three sources seem particularly rich—war, sports, and near-tragedy. I’d wager God has been on the side of the combatants in most wars, at least according to the combatants; athletes apparently should both practice and pray, if we are to believe all the stud sports stars who credit God with their success; and any time people survive a shooting, or a tornado, or three days trapped in the snow, God always seems to have a hand in it.

When asked how he and his three children survived being trapped in the snow for three days, Richard Dominguez replied “Jesus Christ”. Now, I’m happy for Mr. Dominguez and his family, but his improbable survival doesn’t excuse this sort of sloppy thinking. Doesn’t he notice that some people trapped outdoors—some Christians, even—don’t make it back alive? That the helicopter pilot who saw him maybe deserves some of the credit? That he and his kids were out looking for a Christmas tree, so, of all the people to get credit for his survival, Jesus Christ should be last on the list?

I’ll tell you this much: precious few atheists get trapped outdoors for three days looking for Christmas trees. And thank God for that.

"Trapped for three days with stupid beliefs" by Jess

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:01:31 -0800

NPR: KERA’s Think: http://tinyurl.com/hg78g

"Trapped for three days with stupid beliefs" by Jess

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 17:45:44 -0800

There is a podcast, KERA’s Think, available thru NPR, with a recent episode called “Crazy for God”, eponymous for the author’s book. His legitimate claim is that he helped establish the ~legitimization of the lunatic fringe of the right, thereby destoying america~ and now he’s changed into a liberal christian. It’s very compelling. Another episode, “why we’re crazy for Obama and why he can’t win” is equally compelling, in the same vein.

Also, an old boss of mine, a religious sunspotatic, got my attention to some of those religious forums. I test the waters by registering myself under the handle, Lucifer, and finding the first post on atheism, saying, “Actually, most atheists go to heaven.” The atheists are tickled pink, tho you can guess the righteous judgments slewn frothily from the other 60% of “commentators.”

In other news, one can find my very own first code in Ruby on my blog. Doing simple static pages is a major motivator to learn Ruby. In a couple months (via listenlight) I will again feel confident to get in the ring with Rails.

Season’s Greetings