RDFRS US:
The mission of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science is to support scientific education, critical thinking and evidence-based understanding of the natural world in the quest to overcome religious fundamentalism, superstition, intolerance and suffering.
The Magic of Reality
for the iPad
Sean Faircloth:
Attack of the Theocrats!
I've enjoyed every one of these talks immensely. I don't consider myself an accomodationist by any means. I find, however, that many of those opposed to "accomodationism" in this context use the epithet as reflexively---and often inaccurately---as their foes use phrases like "militant atheist".
Sam Harris caused a stir when he appeared before an AAI conference and suggested that the word "atheism" itself has outlived its usefulness. He was virtually run out on a rail. This, of course, because he violated one of the more odious conventions of public speaking: pandering to your audience.
Which is the only principle I can see being defended here. If we mean for these talks to travel well outside of the conference's extended audience, then I'm on board with letting the content---devastating as it already is toward magical thinking---speak for itself.
Permalink Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:52:00 UTC | #411358