Like the title says, what are your thoughts on him, but more particularly, his thoughts on taking the best parts of religion and using them in an atheist context? I love reading Pharyngula and PZ Myers seems to hate him, apparently he is self-promoting and too friendly towards religion. I don't know much about him, but I just listened to his TED talk "Atheism 2.0" today and while some parts of it really grated on me (sermon better than lecture, admiration of religious institutions, etc.), some parts of it made sense.
Particularly, he made the point that there are gaps in secular life, because atheism hasn't yet found a way to fill the holes left by religion (ritual, community, shared goals, architectural awe, etc in one nice package.) This leaves atheists who desire the emotional components of religion w/o the dogma in a dilemma. Either they join a religion, get the emotional satisfaction they desire, but compromise their beliefs and accept the dogma; or they maintain intellectual integrity, forgo religion and lack the beneficial components of religion.
So, if you've heard of him and his perspectives, what are your thoughts? Apparently he inspires some strong opinions, so looking forward to some constructive talk, since this is an issue I'm currently wrestling with.
Particularly, he made the point that there are gaps in secular life, because atheism hasn't yet found a way to fill the holes left by religion (ritual, community, shared goals, architectural awe, etc in one nice package.) This leaves atheists who desire the emotional components of religion w/o the dogma in a dilemma. Either they join a religion, get the emotional satisfaction they desire, but compromise their beliefs and accept the dogma; or they maintain intellectual integrity, forgo religion and lack the beneficial components of religion.
So, if you've heard of him and his perspectives, what are your thoughts? Apparently he inspires some strong opinions, so looking forward to some constructive talk, since this is an issue I'm currently wrestling with.
