Like so many earthlings I adore Youtube. I admire the fact that it’s elves magically suggest with Robin-Hood-like accuracy the next video that I will enjoy.
Recently, though, I’ve been bombarded with videos issued by a small number of apologetics channels. Since I don’t want to offend the algorithms, I feel obliged to watch such offerings, though getting all the way through them isn’t always easy. Sometimes I even comment, which has proved less good of an idea.
This morning I found a movie where Dawkins is being “misunderstood”:
Unfortunately it ended in the content creator reminding me of his PhD in philosophy and letting me off with a warning. I’m not sure what the philosopher is warning me about … perhaps he’s going to think about me, which I admittedly don’t fancy.
Anyway, the amount of substance to be picked out amongst the ad homs were disappointing indeed.
ETA: Ok so it seems the punishment for engagement was the removal of my comments, which kinda renders this post pointless. Sorry about that. Have a good weekend.
All I can do is tell you I’m also quite weary of “Jordan Peterson DESTROYS atheist [insert personality here]” popping up on my timeline. Creative editing can let people get away with a lot. Those are the swings to free speech’s roundabouts.
Actually, here’s what I can remark on, above mentioned personality (JBP) always bemoaning post-modern relativism, but whenever someone corners him, he immediately drags them down a well of his own convulsions on meaning: “What do you mean, IS?! EXACTLY?!”, etc…
Yes! I noticed that too. On the surface he seems all up for common sense and good old fashioned practicality and reason, and then suddenly when pressed for some definitive answer on, typically god, he’d retreat like a terrapin into a bog of semantic murk.
He’s conversation with Alex O’Connor of Cosmiskeptic fame is a good example. Nice jacket though.
Perhaps the term “new atheists” refers to people who’ve just proverbially stepped out of the church’s closet thingy - that place where they store the pope’s dresses and hats? Some become a little giddy with freedom.
