What He Said, With Less Manners

Thursday, December 24, 2009
I like Sean Carroll.* I enjoy his posts over on Cosmic Variance, and I already have his audiobook reserved at my awesome library when it becomes available. I find his writing clear and easy for a layperson to understand, and I'm looking forward to learning what he has to teach.

Which apparently isn't limited to science and physics. Today he posted on his issues with the Freedom From Religion Foundation's sign at the Illinois State capital, and I had a "Hell, yeah, what he said," moment. Sean feels, like I do, that atheists do themselves a disservice when they act like, well, dicks. Except he has better manners than me, so he didn't say "dicks." He said "tiresome bores." Po-tae-to, po-tah-to. 

Here's the offending language:
At the time of the winter solstice, let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is just myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.
Really, FRFF? You couldn't think of a better way to put your ideas out there during the holiday season without essentially telling 96% of the people in the world that they're delusional asshats with no capacity for reason? Really? There's a new concept abroad in the world. It's called "manners" or sometimes "sensitivity." Perhaps you should look into it.

It's this kind of crap that makes me self-identify as an "agnostic" rather than an "atheist," even though my personal worldview has more in common with atheists than with agnostics. There's a time and a place for everything, and you cannot expect moderate people of faith to help you fight (for example) the Young Earth Creationist nutbars if you spend all your time poking them with a stick and acting like a superior dick. Err, I mean, acting like a tiresome bore.

So, today, the eve of one of the most important religious holidays in the Western World, I will take the opportunity to bid you all Merry Christmas. Whatever you believe, may these days be filled with the things that make you happiest.


*If you asked, "Which one?" after reading that, congratulations. You have massive geek cred.

2 comments:

Nathan said...

Yeah. What he said.

Karl said...

Glædelig Jul, Janiece :)

Warm and happy in your home.