"The chances of each of us coming into existence are infinitesimally small, and even though we shall all die some day, we should count ourselves fantastically lucky to get our decades in the sun." RD
I will admit up front that I haven't read any books of Richard Dawkins. I will also admit that I haven't read any books of any other of the "Four Horseman" (Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett and Christopher Hitchins). I have only exposed myself to their oral contributions on Youtube and found that when they get into conversation with each other or with others... I find that fascinating. To immerse myself in only their own thoughts for the duration of a book read... well, somehow that hasn't been as inviting for me. That may change in the future... but right now, that is all I can offer as an explanation.
“If you are religious at all it is overwhelmingly probable that your religion is that of your parents.” RD
I went on the hunt for some less than abrasive quotes from Dawkins this morning. When a lot of people think of Richard Dawkins, abrasive comes to mind, but maybe he's not all that abrasive when you dig a little deeper. Maybe he just comes across that way because he is passionate about the harms that religion has caused this planet.
“Religion is not the root of all evil, for no one thing is the root of all anything.” RD
I enjoy listening to his conversations, but I have to dig deep to find common ground with him. I don't wish an end to religion, like he has mentioned on occasion. I wish for common ground with those that still need religion to navigate this world, and I wish that those needing religion would understand that their view point is one of many and not everyone's answer to their existence.
“I cannot know for certain but I think God is very improbable, and I live my life on the assumption that he is not there.” RD
This makes sense. "God" doesn't have to be the default just because I can't understand the world without a supernatural narrative. I may not understand all the things Dawkins understands, but I don't have to default to "God" just because I need to fill in a hole.
“Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.” RD
It's the last one that just sticks out in my brain. Rulers find religion useful because religion teaches and models subservience. What government would shy away from that?
“Fundamentalist religion is hell-bent on ruining the scientific education of countless thousands of innocent, well-meaning, eager young minds. Non-fundamentalist, ‘sensible’ religion may not be doing that. But it is making the world safe for fundamentalism by teaching children, from their earliest years, that unquestioning faith is a virtue.” RD
I wonder what it would have been like had I been invited to ask more questions when I was younger.
“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist when considering Zeus, Apollo, Amon Ra, Mithras, Baal, Thor, Wotan, the Golden Calf and the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I just go one god further.” RD
One god further... a big picture approach that is seldom experienced when one is immersed in one's own religious expression. I will leave you with some great conversations with Richard Dawkins.
(I read this one this morning... and didn't feel like I agreed with my thoughts of two years ago. I may have to revisit this one.)
