I picked up a book (from the library) called The Magic of Reality: How Do We Know What's Really True by Richard Dawkins, the evolutionary biologist and author of The Selfish Gene. My mother said her book club was reading it. The title question is something I ask in various ways all the time. The book actually seems aimed at young people and is full of illustrations by graphic novel artist, Dave McKean. The first chapter is called, "What is reality? What is magic?" and after explaining what reality is, he says: I want now to turn to the other key word of my title: magic. Magic is a slippery word: it is commonly used in three different ways, and the first thing I must do is distinguish between them. I'll call the first one 'supernatural magic.' the second one 'stage magic' and the third one (which is my favourite meaning, and the one I intend in my title) 'poetic magic.'
I think the new atheist thing is probably good for kids coming out of very religious environments and rejecting them. It's easy to make fun of /r/atheism whining about that one time their parents made them go to church, but it really can be alienating to reject religion when it's very important to your family. Having people that loud an unapologetic who agree with you couldn't hurt.
I still haven't forgiven Dawkins for memes though.
I spent a year living with a roommate who was the church golden boy in middle school in order to save his soul because his parents told him he was goof to hell for masturbation, impure thoughts, and living anything but the pure Christian life. In simple terms it fucked him up. It lays a groundwork of basically never being able to receive legitimate acceptance from your family which is tough enough on it's own made worse when they believe you're going to recieve enteral damnation for it. I get what creates the "loud atheist". I still find it annoying, I do agree with you though. I think it could be considered comparable to the struggle of coming out as something other than cos gendered heterosexual. (In the familial sense, not too any people give a fuck apt your religion outside of that) Also yeah I've totally skipped over many chances to hear Dawkins speak on anything (documentaries and books) due to the internet persona that was created for him.
I hadn't heard of the God Delusion, or if I had, I have forgot it, but I've heard him referenced as the author of A Selfish Gene many times, fwiw.
Sweet! Thank you for letting me know, I must have sent out 25+ envelopes that day and haven't heard anything from anyone till you. I appreciate it.
I got mine yesterday, many thanks, my friend. Will try to find some good homes for them.
Awesome! I always wonder about the ones that head in your direction since your attempt to send me honey.
I just got mine! And I think I will go for a walk.