The Atheism Meme
Monday, July 14th, 2008
Elizaphanian’s blog has prompted me to respond to the Atheist meme. I didn’t get tagged (boo hoo) and I’m doing it off my own initiative.
Q1. How would you define “atheism”?
Living without reference to a god or to supernatural ideas.
Q2. Was your upbringing religious? If so, what tradition?
Catholic and, during my teens, Baptist.
Q3. How would you describe “Intelligent Design”, using only one word?
Confused!
Q4. What scientific endeavor really excites you?
The Large Hadron Collider. Messing about with the fundamentals has always fascinated me. It’s going to be like taking a watch apart using a sledge hammer. Sparks will fly!
Q5. If you could change one thing about the “atheist community”, what would it be and why?
Get them to contribute to awareness campaigns such as the “Imagine No Religion” billboard
Q6. If your child came up to you and said “I’m joining the clergy”, what would be your first response?
That’s nice dear.
Q7. What’s your favorite theistic argument, and how do you usually refute it?
The cosmological or first cause argument. And my question is the usual “And what caused God?”
Q8. What’s your most “controversial” (as far as general attitudes amongst other atheists goes) viewpoint?
That you can only be truly moral if you are atheist. Morality is of a low order if it depends on the reward and punishment basis at the foundations of most religions.
Q9. Of the “Four Horsemen” (Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens and Harris) who is your favourite, and why?
I like the anger of Dawkins. Most people think of anger as a negative emotion. I disagree. Anger gets things done. It rescues the abused, homeless, hungry. Frees the imprisoned and enslaved. Cold anger changes the world.
Q10. If you could convince just one theistic person to abandon their beliefs, who would it be?
Barak Obama. He’d loose the election but it would be a magnificent fight!
