Brilliant brilliant brilliant
April 2nd, 2008I’ve felt for some time that the world is teetering on the brink of illogic; that the very notion of reality and knowledge is being undercut by dark forces of Cheneyistic amorality and fundamentalism of all kinds. This image underscores the importance of knowledge and my own feelings about smart people. See also.
Corollary: Hitchens is right. o
Tags: anti-intellectualism, end of times
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Hitchens is so right. It’s freaking scary and getting scarier all the time.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I read Susan Jacoby’s op-ed piece when it was published in the Times, and the immediate thought I had upon reading it is that older generations are always arguing that subsequent generations are getting dumber Now, I’m not sure what you meant by linking Hitchens, but I do agree that religious fundamentalism (the key word there being fundamentalism) represents a kind of anti-rationalism / anti-intellectualism that is problematic. I’m an agnostic myself, but I do strongly disagree with the current wave of “new atheist” writers (Hitchens, Dawkins, Harris, etc.) who posit that anyone who is “religious” is an idiot. Ironically, they tackle religion with the same simplicity that fundamentalists do and fail to address more nuanced and sophisticated beliefs. I’ll stick with Hume, thanks.
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I agree that Hitchens is right a LOT, but I am surprised you do.
Do you think he was right HERE ?
or here?
or even here?
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Nice.
If only I was nerdier!
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Long ago I heard an NPR interview dealing with how the lack of interest in reading is changing our culture. Particularly that of young men. If you don’t read a book, you are less apt to have an understanding of varying cultures and varying eras. Those that read are more empathetic.
I, too, disagree that practicing faith equals a certain lack of intelligence. One needs to be able to explain why they believe what they do, whether it be regarding faith, or any other opinion.
Finally, two things that annoy me the most in life: someone that wastes my time, and believes that I am as stupid as they are.
To wit: a floor contractor that arrives 30 minutes late for an appointment and then proceeds to try to sell me on a lame idea.
“Don’t pitch me, Bro.”
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:06 pm
IIn addition to the Hitchens links, I would like to add that practitioners of faith are not necessarily less intelligent. I grant that many people use a faith to compensate for the inability to think critically; however, not practicing a faith doesn’t automatically bestow that ability. Many of the most intelligent people I know, left and right, are extremely devout in a religion.
General rule; people who use the Bible, Koran, et al., as swords, shields or almanacs are less intelligent than those using the Books as maps.
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Indexed is wonderful and spot on, on this one.
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:26 pm
And yet Hitchen has supported Bush-Cheney Co. for the past eight years. I can no longer stomach anything Hitchens has to say. His anti-God talk comes too little too late and he’s still an apologist for those dark forces.
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:37 pm
@Lesley, certainly one can change ones mind. And certainly, people can agree with a portion of what someone says and still disagree with another, different portion? Or is it an all or nothing proposition?
It has to be that we can disagree politically and still agree that religion can act as a poison. It can also act in other ways, but Hitchens (Christopher) makes some very valid and good points in his book. Particularly for our time.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Wow, at first I thought you were going to reference something about Hitchens’ support for the war. I always suspected (hoped) that you and Heather were more than just “not mormon”.
@Mari & Karl “. . . anyone who is “religious” is an idiot” There are a lot of intelligent religious people, but why do they seem to suspend their analytical abilities when it come to (a) god?
@Lesley Not that I necessarily support Hitchens’ point of view; I was under the impression that he not so much supports Bush/Cheney as wants to keep any WMD out of fundamentalist hands.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Blurb,
I don’t think it is an all or nothing proposotion.
However, I do find it interesting that “Cheneyistic amorality” is associated with a rise in anti-intellectualism, but you support your argument with a devout athiest who supports the ongoing efforts in Iraq and against Islamic Extremist.
Intellectual atheists support the war and accused-non-intellectual religious folk support the war.
Is there a common denominator ?
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:15 pm
I keep berating myself for reading the same book for six months, but then I read a book at a friend’s house in one night. Thats what I used to do before blogs. Turns out the book was by a blogger, so wondered if I had just changed what I liked reading. I used to hate short stories. I am apparently addicted to them now. I love to find good blogs and read them from beginning to end. Currently on Violent Acres and Pioneer Woman. So am I reading a book? No, but I am reading. Does that count?
The anti-intellectualism is quite frightening when I think about it and as Bush was president Twice, it is quite obvious that it is rampant. People have always turned more toward religion during dark ages.
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:51 am
I’m always amazed at how much politics and religion are intertwined in America. In Europe, I have the feeling no one really cares much. In Switzerland, we had our religious wars some centuries ago, came to the conclusion it was a waste of time and energy, and since then nobody cares if the people in high places are catholic, protestant, atheist or worshippers of the flying pink elephant with golden earrings.
Besides, personal faith and organized religion are two different, if related, things.
Ahem.
One can be a believer, and still have an open, critical, and tolerant mind, and a fair share of intelligence. Take me for example
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:08 am
Religion/religious faith is tough stuff for many because it oftentimes sets a higher standard for living than people are willing to set for themselves. Anti-religious zealots are part of that “do anything say anything be anything…it’s all good” mindset and personally, I find that much more amoral.
Things and ideas are only poisonous when one doesn’t like the message that is being perpetuated. It’s all relative; I find the pervasive religion of liberalism to be poisonous, but I’m sure you would disagree.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I like your photos. I like your product reviews. What I most like, though to be fair the photos are awesome, is the political commentary and links. I’m always finding something new to read and its nice to see you add social consciousness to list of things to post about.
~gg
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Blurb: @Lesley, certainly one can change ones mind. And certainly, people can agree with a portion of what someone says and still disagree with another, different portion? Or is it an all or nothing proposition?
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My point - and perhaps I’ve seen Hitchens in too many political debates - is that Hitchens supports an administration that empowered - over the past 8 years - a religious movement that has dumbed down the American education system, demonized the theory of evolution, and made abortion and birth control less available to women.
How can he rail against religion and support an administration that funds fundamentalists? He has not changed his mind about Bush and the neoconservatives. He’s as gung-ho for that asshole as ever. I find him despicable. That’s just my opinion.
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Dave K wrote: Lesley Not that I necessarily support Hitchens’ point of view; I was under the impression that he not so much supports Bush/Cheney as wants to keep any WMD out of fundamentalist hands.
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Dave K, Hitchens is fully committed to the idea of widespread Islamic terrorism. He’s bought into all the propaganda of the Bush-Blair doctrine. He’s also got some weird ass psychosexual issues and thinks the neocons are manly men who can get the tough jobs done i.e. mass murder and torture if it’s required. He’s a strange duck. I think the alcohol has messed up his brain.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Thank you for posting the WP link. Aggressively dumb people make me nervous.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
I heard Christopher Hitchens and his brother, Peter Hitchens, debate last night here in Grand Rapids. How can he be so right about the god thing and so wrong about the bush thing? It amazes me. It was a pretty left-leaning crowd (pretty odd for Grand Rapids), so Peter got applause on his opposition to Iraq and Christopher got applause on his opposition to religion.
Is there a Center for Inquiry where you live? I found one here in GR, and it has been my (excuse the expression) my salvation ! Susan Jacoby has spoken here twice in the last year along with Peter Kurtz and many other amazing secularists!