The internet practically shuts down during the holiday season every year. Most of the time I don't mind but it's been a little different this time around. Since we recently relocated to the West we didn't have to do any traveling this year. I ended up having to count on the web for a little more of my entertainment during my down time. With most of my social network contacts to busy to post anything I've had to look a little deeper to get my fill.
Here are a few of the things that I've looked into:
For the most part I have spent time keeping up to date on the Benazir Bhutto assassination. This included reading about her and her party on Wikipedia. I have to admit I'm no further along understanding what really happened. I can only be glad that I'm not forced to have an opinion on the issue like some of the citizens of Pakistan are.
I have started reading my copy of "The God Delusion" recently. Between chapters I have been doing a little independent research on the subject. I have a hard time seeing faults in Dawkin's arguments because I was already sold on the idea before I picked the book up. What I'm looking for is a convincing position from the other side of the issue. The problem with that has been that in order for the counter arguments to seem convincing you have to already believe in supernatural creates to an extent.
Steal This Film I and II. A couple of fantastic documentaries on the issue of copyright and what it means to society. Both freely available and well worth the trip to Pirate Bay.
Zeitgeist: The Movie. This is a documentary about how scary it could be to live in this world. It depicts Christianity as a mechanism for slavery, 911 as a government conspiracy and the American reserve as a dark overlord. I think there is at least a partial truth in everything presented in this piece at the very least.
I also spent a bit of time researching Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. He is attempting to become the first Mormon candidate. He delivered a speech which has been titled the "Faith in America Address" outlining his feelings about religions role in government. It's not exactly what I would call a great direction for the global super power.
That's about it. Not exactly what I would call a thrill ride but it keep me sharp during the time when mist people over stuff and drink themselves into hibernation.
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Yes, Andy, you’ve nailed the problem exactly. Everything hinges on a belief or non-belief of the supernatural. What you believe about that will determine how you see just about everything in Dawkins’ book. Dawkins’ is a bit scientific for me; I’m not accustomed to approaching issues from a scientific angle, although I appreciate how it has driven me toward making that angle part of my regular evaluation process.
I’ve been reading (by audiobook) Christopher Hitchens and I find his approach more familiar. It makes sense that I would understand a literary perspective on atheism better than a scientific one, and I find him both more rational and less agitated than Dawkins. Since he is, in his own words, a “Protestant Atheist” so he covers a lot of idiosyncrasies that I am more familiar with… plus he has that raspy voice and English accent that always adds a layer of credibility to anyone’s argument.
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