In Dawkin's bus campaign There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life, the word probably stands out as a wart in the face of atheism...
"There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life" Let's analyse this statement's key sentiments.
'Probably'. Not exactly a confidence building word. In terms of realistic probability and logic (not mathematical abstraction) the odds are in the Divine's favour (existence DOES exist). In terms of (abstract and immaterial) mathematical probability the odds are just what you make them; based on factors included in your system. So for me, they stand high. For Dawkins they are low. What does this mean to an undecided/agnostic mind? Nothing. To the faithful? Even less than nothing. In short, he is preaching to his choir. Only a convinced positivist and hard materialist would buy his 'probably' and be content with his omission of entire disciplines of thought, ages of human experience, and the immaterial.
The second idea in this sentence seems to be the 'anchor' of the proposal. This is what Dawkins wants you to do. He introduces the idea with an imperative: 'Stop'. Stop what? 'Stop worrying'? Worrying about what? 'God'. This is the most telling line in the statement. Dawkins thinks people worry about something due to God's existence. Something we would not otherwise worry about. What could this 'worry' be? Consequences of immorality? Good and evil? The fate of their dead and dying loved ones? How does embracing a purposeless and accidental style of cosmology reduce 'worry'? Apparently because it allows you to focus on the single imperative of Dawkins 'New Atheism': The 'ME' factor. Kill your unborn child inside you. No worries. Cheat on your wife with that young thing. No worries. Lie, steal, cheat, and even kill. No worries. Warehouse your old folks so you do not have to witness that which frightens you most: Death's slow embrace. No worries. Just 'Stop worrying'. TAKE what you want from life, and do not worry about any divine or moral consequences. 'Don't worry'. Be Happy. In this light, his end message is the same as that of men like Aleister Crowley or Anton LeVay (without the Satanic panache). Soulless, selfish, and amoral.
:P
ReplyDeleteHere's something else funny, Mike!
ReplyDeleteIn Dawkin's bus campaign There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life, the word probably stands out as a wart in the face of atheism...
DeleteExcellent analogy, Pépé.
Delete"There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life"
Let's analyse this statement's key sentiments.
'Probably'. Not exactly a confidence building word. In terms of realistic probability and logic (not mathematical abstraction) the odds are in the Divine's favour (existence DOES exist).
In terms of (abstract and immaterial) mathematical probability the odds are just what you make them; based on factors included in your system.
So for me, they stand high. For Dawkins they are low. What does this mean to an undecided/agnostic mind? Nothing.
To the faithful?
Even less than nothing.
In short, he is preaching to his choir. Only a convinced positivist and hard materialist would buy his 'probably' and be content with his omission of entire disciplines of thought, ages of human experience, and the immaterial.
The second idea in this sentence seems to be the 'anchor' of the proposal.
This is what Dawkins wants you to do.
He introduces the idea with an imperative: 'Stop'.
Stop what?
'Stop worrying'?
Worrying about what? 'God'.
This is the most telling line in the statement. Dawkins thinks people worry about something due to God's existence. Something we would not otherwise worry about.
What could this 'worry' be? Consequences of immorality? Good and evil? The fate of their dead and dying loved ones? How does embracing a purposeless and accidental style of cosmology reduce 'worry'?
Apparently because it allows you to focus on the single imperative of Dawkins 'New Atheism': The 'ME' factor.
Kill your unborn child inside you. No worries. Cheat on your wife with that young thing. No worries. Lie, steal, cheat, and even kill. No worries.
Warehouse your old folks so you do not have to witness that which frightens you most: Death's slow embrace. No worries.
Just 'Stop worrying'.
TAKE what you want from life, and do not worry about any divine or moral consequences.
'Don't worry'. Be Happy.
In this light, his end message is the same as that of men like Aleister Crowley or Anton LeVay (without the Satanic panache).
Soulless, selfish, and amoral.