Classical Theism, Philosophy, and Religion Forum / How to end atheist provincianism/promote philosophical education?

**Posted by John West** 5/07/2018 6:21 pm

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**Posted by John West** 5/07/2018 6:26 pm

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**Posted by FZM** 5/08/2018 3:06 pm

John West wrote:
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I had a chance to meet a lot of vintage old Communists a couple of weeks ago, all retired colonels and senior ranks in the Red Army's ideological training branch. I don't know if its these types you were thinking of here, but I find they constitute a kind of living disproof to some of the more superficial New Atheist rhetoric and assumptions.

I think with New Atheism in general the problem is often more about countering rhetoric and sound bites because the arguments often don't go beyond a certain level. If theists attempt more thoughtful engagement it can be interesting (as an example, Alistair McGrath's book about Dawkins), but I doubt it makes much impact on actual New Atheists.

**Posted by John West** 5/08/2018 6:04 pm

FZM wrote:
I had a chance to meet a lot of vintage old Communists a couple of weeks ago, all retired colonels and senior ranks in the Red Army's ideological training branch. I don't know if its these types you were thinking of here, but I find they constitute a kind of living disproof to some of the more superficial New Atheist rhetoric and assumptions.

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**Posted by John West** 5/08/2018 6:25 pm

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**Posted by Brian** 5/16/2018 7:48 pm

DanielCC wrote:
There are two things at work....

2. Politics, politics, politics - the worm which has devoured Man's heart and enslaved his soul. People often display knee-jerk behavioristic reactions to metaphysical questions because of the most contingent parochial Culture WarsTM association.

Speaking of, I ran across this article (http://www.theimaginativeconservative.org/2015/02/camo-and-conversions-the-parallels-between-duck-dynasty-and-dante-culture.html) an hour ago by conservative Rod Dreher that looks at conservative anti-intellectualism. I think there are differences between the smug atheist provincialism and the simple-country-wisdom act that anti-intellectual conservatives put on, but I don't think they are ultimately different animals. And I think they both have a lot to do with politics and the culture wars.

**Posted by Brian** 5/16/2018 7:53 pm

John West wrote:
[Redacted by author, 7 - 23 - 2018.]

Haha Explain what you mean by that jab at rock concerts.

**Posted by John West** 5/16/2018 8:40 pm

Brian wrote:
Haha Explain what you mean by that jab at rock concerts.

I was taking rock concerts as a paradigm of the post-'68 culture. I also think a packed rock concert, the audience brought to a fevered pitch, can be a rather terrifying sight.