(March 31, 2014 at 4:46 pm)Clueless Morgan Wrote:(March 31, 2014 at 2:53 pm)Quantum Theorist Wrote: 3) Neil refuses the Atheist label even though he basically is one.
IMO, he does this for precisely the reason I gave in my last post: openly atheistic scientists often become lightening rods of controversy, and NdGT wants the conversation to be about the science, not about whether or not he's an atheist.
It would be fantastic if he were to publicly announce that he's an atheist, but I think that would hurt his ability to get people excited about science and that's his main goal.
And there are Atheists Scientists who don't fall into controversy...
But I agree, it would hurt his reputation, because there are so many bigoted assholes towards Atheists.
If the hypothetical idea of an afterlife means more to you than the objectively true reality we all share, then you deserve no respect.
