On religion, science, and The Breakfast Club
Hellraiser: The Breakfast Club‘s John Bender, played by Jud Nelson Note: This is a reworked version of a post published back in 2011. If all goes well, this version will be showing up at Huffpost later this week. A few posts ago I discussed the Bronze Age Goat Herder Conceit. This is the idea, held [...]
A man so in love with the world
Maurice Sendak died on 8 May 2012. Thanks to Arni at I Think I Believe for bringing this to my attention “To those who consider themselves on the safe side of belief, [Simone Weil] teaches the uncomfortable truth that the unbelief of many atheists is closer to a true love of God and a true [...]
Too simple to be wrong: the Bronze Age Goat Herder Conceit
My favorite goat herder: the constellation Auriga, copyright Sergey Mikhaylov. Auriga is usually called the Charioteer, but he’s almost always pictured as a goatherd on celestial maps. For those of us at mid-northern latitudes, he’s high overhead for most of these long winter nights. Image source: Bigstock Note: This is a reworked version of a [...]
Quiz: Why do people have trouble believing in God?
Michelangelo‘s Creation of Adam with a significant 21st-century alteration. Can you find it? Source: www.fotodiario2.it That’s the question I’m asking after reading physicist Marcelo Gleiser’s post published last week at 13.7. Pointing to the problems with creationism and the fact that that belief in evolution decreases as church attendance increases, he asks, “Why do so [...]
No place to call home: on Richard Dawkins’ academy, atheists in church, and the emptiness of scientism
Edward Hopper, Dauphinee House, 1932. It’s good to have a home, physical and otherwise. Image source: Museum Syndicate Back in September, I wrote an article for Religion Dispatches about Richard Dawkins’ refusal to teach atheism — his own view — to kids. Of all the things out there with my name on it, it is [...]
Repost: Door by door
Dear Alert Readers, This was first published, in a slightly longer form, several months ago. I am reposting it because it really fits my mood these days. Hope all is well with you and yours. Paul Doorway in Galileo’s villa. I took this photo in 2003 when I visited Arcetri, a small village just to [...]
Lying on a bed of nails: more on Johnny Cash, the prodigal son, and the truth of stories
Andrei Rabodzeenko, Prodigal Son, 2006 I have received a number of emails and Facebook messages and comments about my latest article at RD. I hope to reply to all of them in time. But I am still on the job hunt. Therefore these must suffice: This post and an expression of thanks to my interlocutors. [...]
