Videos like this one partake of the typical mind fallacy.
“I understand the world through rational explanations,” the rationalist auteur tells himself, “so I’ll produce a rational explanation of the value of rational explanation for people who irrationally value irrational explanations.” Hasn’t this been tried enough for us to conclude that it doesn’t win?
Instead, it seems to me that the only sane way to proceed is by adopting strategies that co-opt—or at least demonstrate some awareness of—believers’ reasons for believing.
in fact, they like all the same things about holidays that you do.
they also have some trenchant observations about the increasingly anachronistic rituals and institutions that we are supposed to accept are part and parcel of sincere belief...
It’s been six months or so since I was first introduced to Mr. Minchin, and every so often I still find myself snarking “We don’t eat pigs...” to myself as I wake up in the morning.
Videos like this one partake of the typical mind fallacy.
“I understand the world through rational explanations,” the rationalist auteur tells himself, “so I’ll produce a rational explanation of the value of rational explanation for people who irrationally value irrational explanations.” Hasn’t this been tried enough for us to conclude that it doesn’t win?
Instead, it seems to me that the only sane way to proceed is by adopting strategies that co-opt—or at least demonstrate some awareness of—believers’ reasons for believing.
For example, consider the subtext of Tim Minchin’s secular Christmas song, White Wine in the Sun, in light of what we know about the signaling role of religious belief. It says^Wsignals:
atheists have emotions
they have families
they love their children
they’re good people
they like music
in fact, they like all the same things about holidays that you do.
they also have some trenchant observations about the increasingly anachronistic rituals and institutions that we are supposed to accept are part and parcel of sincere belief...
and maybe you should too
The Minchin song for this occasion is probably this one:
“Tim Minchin—If You Open Your Mind Too Much...”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFO6ZhUW38w
Thanks for linking me to a Tim Minchin song I hadn’t heard before =)
It’s been six months or so since I was first introduced to Mr. Minchin, and every so often I still find myself snarking “We don’t eat pigs...” to myself as I wake up in the morning.