Comments on: Spiritual Atheists http://www.raggedclown.com/2007/05/24/spiritual-atheists/ It's just a shadow you're seeing that he's chasing... Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:10:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Kevin http://www.raggedclown.com/2007/05/24/spiritual-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-1690 Kevin Fri, 25 May 2007 17:50:31 +0000 http://www.raggedclown.com/?p=319#comment-1690 I read the main thrust of his argument to be 'those bad things that you attribute to religion should more accurately be attributed to tribalism'. The religion angle in the middle east is just a convenient banner under which the tribes can march. Unfortunately, 'religion' is a *very* powerful banner. I agree with you that there was no need to stick the word 'God' in there. His argument holds up very well without it. I thought he was just playing tricks with words - but at least he did it knowingly. I read the main thrust of his argument to be ‘those bad things that you attribute to religion should more accurately be attributed to tribalism’. The religion angle in the middle east is just a convenient banner under which the tribes can march. Unfortunately, ‘religion’ is a *very* powerful banner.

I agree with you that there was no need to stick the word ‘God’ in there. His argument holds up very well without it. I thought he was just playing tricks with words - but at least he did it knowingly.

]]> By: Chris http://www.raggedclown.com/2007/05/24/spiritual-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-1688 Chris Fri, 25 May 2007 16:19:36 +0000 http://www.raggedclown.com/?p=319#comment-1688 I do not always agree with Harris either, and I do agree that Hedges is closer to an atheist than theist, but I was not as moved by his remarks as you were. I though they were silly. I suspect that Harris will point this out. Why the need to stick the word God into the whole thing? He is not just presenting a nicer form of atheism anyway. He is supporting the major monotheistic faiths, while holding views that are completely counter to their dogmas. Maybe Harris goes too far, but to look at all of the suicide bombings, beheadings, killing of and threats to apostates, that goes on in the middle east and suppose that it is primarily due to economic anger and frustration, is a stretch. I do not always agree with Harris either, and I do agree that Hedges is closer to an atheist than theist, but I was not as moved by his remarks as you were. I though they were silly. I suspect that Harris will point this out. Why the need to stick the word God into the whole thing? He is not just presenting a nicer form of atheism anyway. He is supporting the major monotheistic faiths, while holding views that are completely counter to their dogmas. Maybe Harris goes too far, but to look at all of the suicide bombings, beheadings, killing of and threats to apostates, that goes on in the middle east and suppose that it is primarily due to economic anger and frustration, is a stretch.

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