Aletheia's

I felt almost-plagiaristic not giving the link, but you had said about this blog in a friendlocked entry, so I thought it would be improper of me to trumpet it in the way which could lead to you on LJ. Now I've linked it happily and with relief!

I think Dawkins is best in science popularization - he's brilliant when it comes to clear and attractive (yet not overly simplified!) explaining complicated things, and this is the best part of his activity, in my opinion. Still, I'm very interested also in his religion-related works, cause even if he represents 'aggressive atheism', and even if he in fact tells nothing new, he still does it in interesting way. And I think that he brought one thing into the debate, that is he told loudly: Let's stop at last with this damned respect. /warning for zone of political incorectness/ And I must admit I agree with this... One just can't honestly discuss, think, and decide in atmosphere of eternal fear for hurting someone's precious sensibilities. In my opinion, truly serious and mature debate always brings the risk of offending someone's values, and a person who yells 'Ow, ow! How could you! Don't tell such ugly things, cause it hurts me, and you have no right to it!' behaves just infantile. For me, the mature defence of absolutely every view in the world is argumenting, not pouting, whatever value has been just offended. And in fact, I think that 'end of respect' would be beneficial also for religious people, cause they could decide for themselves more honestly - without bounds of tradition, without feeling of duty being often just moral blackmail, without fear to think and choose, whatever their choice would be. /end of zone/

Ooh, from what you say, now I think I want to buy The Ancestor's Tale! I liked the Watchmaker too, and I think what fascinated me the most, was the fragment about hypothetical non-organic evolution before DNA coming.

(Your icon! ♥)