sarahmichigan: (Default)
sarahmichigan ([personal profile] sarahmichigan) wrote2005-05-02 09:42 am

Dawkins on religion at salon.com

I know he's an arrogant fuck, but I love me some Richard Dawkins

How would we be better off without religion?

We'd all be freed to concentrate on the only life we are ever going to have. We'd be free to exult in the privilege -- the remarkable good fortune -- that each one of us enjoys through having been being born. An astronomically overwhelming majority of the people who could be born never will be. You are one of the tiny minority whose number came up. Be thankful that you have a life, and forsake your vain and presumptuous desire for a second one. The world would be a better place if we all had this positive attitude to life. It would also be a better place if morality was all about doing good to others and refraining from hurting them, rather than religion's morbid obsession with private sin and the evils of sexual enjoyment.

[identity profile] matt-arnold.livejournal.com 2005-05-02 12:03 pm (UTC)(link)
I was quite happy when an organization I'm involved in got to have a live chat with Richard Dawkins a couple of months ago. He's a fascinating guy. If you haven't read The Blind Watchmaker yet I highly recommend it. Or pick up any of his books.

[identity profile] sarahmichigan.livejournal.com 2005-05-02 12:29 pm (UTC)(link)
I have read "The Blind Watchmaker." I found it fascinating.

I also heard him referring to fundamentalists in the USA as bigoted ignoramuses when he was talking to (I believe) Terri Gross on NPR a few weeks ago.