Is anyone else an atheist with BC besides me?
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LaurenInPHX I think each one of Richard Dawkins' books stands alone, and I'll describe the ones I've read. I think that there's no reason to read them in order; just pick what you're interested in. He's such a polymath that whatever he dives into, he researches and knows and explains it all beautifully. He's a biologist, but also a lecturer, teacher, wonderful writer, and very amazing at explaining science to non scientists/the lay reader.
What I love about his books is his clear writing, super-wit, and the logical unfolding of information. Like other good non-fiction writers, he leads the reader to ask the next question, and then to its answer. His posed questions, and the teaching of complicated things is as experiential and by 'discovery' method as possible in narrative form.
The Selfish Gene explains a lot of how evolutionary biology works, and so does A River Out of Eden.
The God Delusion is an analysis of how ethics and morality can stand alone without religion, and it's a thoughtful examination of how humans' reliance on religion for those guidelines is logically, intellectually and scientifically flawed. The tone of this book is fairly impatient about 'belief without evidence' as a basis for religion. The opposite of science!
The Ancestor's Tale dives down, from the present day to the beginning of life on earth, to look at how life has evolved, and what various organisms gave rise to. I remember that although it's a tome, it was surprisingly easy to follow, as he guides the reader through this backwards tunnel through time very masterfully. Evolutionary biology, for sure.
I enjoyed The Greatest Show on Earth, which illuminates Darwin's contributions to the field of evolutionary biology, and is an impassioned look at how observational field work has contributed to botany and zoology.
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Wow HikingLady, thank you for such a detailed answer! I haven’t gotten into my book yet, but I am looking forward to it. It sounds like The Selfish Gene might be a good next choice. The weather is finally clearing up here in Dallas so reading in the backyard will commence next week!
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I saw this on Facebook this morning, and it made me giggle. (Note: I know this is an awful idea in terms of the litter created)
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xD xD xD
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While Hobby Lobby is forcing their employees to come to work and "tighten their belts" because "God told them to", JoAnn donated cotton yardage and launched a craft campaign to make protective masks and gowns for hospital staff. Not because of gods, but because it's a good thing to do.
https://www.joann.com/make-to-give-response/
"...Since launching the Make to Give effort, we have donated fabric for more than 1.5 million masks in stores. The amazing thing about our customers is that, especially in difficult times, you are always looking for ways to help. And we know you are making to give far beyond what we give through this program; we estimate customers have purchased enough cotton and elastic to make nearly 9 million masks to-date. You are making a difference."
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lovepugs - That's fantastic! :-)
Miriandra - Hobby Lobby has been on my no-go list for a while for similar pickle-headed moves. But cool about JoAnns.
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JoAnn Fabrics vs Hobby Lobby highlights the difference between the ethics of caring for everyone and the self righteous proclamations about what God wants others to do.
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I’m sure they think it’s gods will
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The Arkansas religious, not being completely stupid, are driving to their churches and praying in the parking lots in their cars.
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That's much better than cramming the pews, but I wonder why they can't do this from home. I grew up in Okla, so was exposed to the same kind of religion.
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I think religion is basically a social activity. Meeting is an important part of it. Online doesn't work very well for many people.
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Ananda, I pretty much agree that social activity is the main draw of a majority of church members.. It makes me wonder if even just a small percentage of people who aren't able to congregate with other church goers will, during this pandemic, reassess what their religion means to them, what effect it has on them, if it has any true meaning for them. My neighbor (talking over the fence) said things will be different in his church because he doesn't think people will be hugging each other like they used to once things resume back to more normal. He said hugging is a big thing in his church.
Some people never, ever miss that Sunday go to church routine. With such a shake up that's never been seen before, will the disruption make people more religious, less religious or the same?
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I think everything depends on how long and how enforced 'shelter in place' goes on. If it goes on for several months, some people will go back to church at first but it won't be how they remember it. We always remember pleasant things as being better than they were. They may be disappointed and even put off by the closeness. What ever happens it will be just a small part of many adjustments to something that won't be quite normal.
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I was glad to see that minister in FL was arrested for putting hundreds of people at risk. I think he is the religious equivalent of DT.
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same w Jerry Falwell Junior. What a moron.
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You bet, santabaraian!! I’m betting he gets sued and he should!
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There was a community choir in a rural area with no virus cases in the entire county. They had a practice in a church and tried to stay apart. No one had any symptoms and they used hand sanitizer as they walked in. 60 people attended. 45 have tested positive for the virus and 2 have died. They are interviewing everyone trying to see if the 15 people who aren't sick were all together. The result will be very interesting.
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The trouble with thinking one is safe because there aren't any reported cases is that a lack of reports does not mean a lack of virus. No state in the Union has enough tests and testing supplies. What we are living with is false negatives. There is only one case confirmed in my county. Sounds good, right? Well only 37 people have been tested and most of those are employees of the hospital where the original patient is being treated. There are 41,000 people in my county. I assume that anyone I meet is infected.
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Ananda8, that is the only safe assumption.
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The ridiculous Gov Abbott of Texas has announced that - yes - schools will be closed until May 4th. But guess what? He has over-ruled county & city rules and said churches are OK to re-open. I guess God will protect them. But who protects us when they come streaming out of their churches?
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Maybe his dumb ass needs to be arrested like that idiot preacher in FL.
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Its a matter of time till it's a national stay home order. The arrogance!! The POPE is doing virtual masses!!!!
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Good grief, Texas makes our idiot governor in Missouri almost look reasonable. Nah, they're both dumb shits who should be held responsible for deaths that occur due to their inaction. As should the Grand FUBAR in the White House.
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As Mississippi says, "Hey, hold my beer."
https://www.mississippifreepress.com/mississippi-governor-overrides-mayors-covid-19.html
"I just think this is complete foolishness and foolery, and it's embarrassing," King said today. "I am embarrassed not just as a mayor, but as a citizen of Mississippi. We are the laughingstock of the country because our governor has enacted an order that not only doesn't protect the safety and welfare of the people, but puts Mississippians in harm's way." - Moss Point, MS Mayor Mario King
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Unbelievable! How can the governor be such an idiot? This is a recipe for disaster. I hope some individuals can avoid all this contact, although if your job demands you return to work and you really need that money it makes it very difficult to stay away.
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The dipstick pastor who got himself arrested here in Florida has closed his church. Gee, not enough people well enough to lay hands and pray over the sick ones
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All these people are afflicted with the Trump virus. No, they truly do not care about anything other than their re-election. Unfortunately, their supporters actually believe they are looking out for them. Even when their loved ones die from the poor handling of covid19, they will buy into the bs that it was the fault of the dems. DT says he inherited a broken system.....he disbanded the epidemiology section of the CDC put in place by Obama. Then they want to use the impeachment hearings as the great distraction. I hate to say it, but I fear we are becoming a dumber and dumber society. All these governors need to be arrested like the “preacher”. What arrogance to deliberately put others at risk. My niece is a contractor with the CDC and is appalled by the handling of this and is terrified about how this is going to play out in this country
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I keep telling my husband that I am seriously going to look at moving to another country if Trump wins again. He and his big business, small government buddies will dismantle all good working social safety net programs and anything else that helps the poor and middle class. And that's just what they'll do the first few months of a 2nd term.
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DogMom, my extended family are in Sweden and a cousin has been telling me for 20yrs that I need to move there b/c my world view is more Swede than American. She is right and my hesitancy has always been those winters w limited daylight. If I was 20 yrs younger I would seriously consider it now, despite the weather issues. My sister works for Volvo and they have closed all business in Sweden b/c the country will take care of their people during this crisis. The American side of the business has been scaled down significantly but are trying to keep people employed by working from home b/c they will not be taken care of by our government. Sister says many American employees are outraged that Volvo is expecting them to keep working but don’t get that Volvo knows our country will not take care of them.
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Our county health department has a Facebook page they update every day and they give good information. The county population is about 65,000. There are 13 positive cases as of today. The health dept says, “Do not let the small number of positives give you a false sense of security. Only the more severe cases are getting tested. Others who have the virus with less severe symptoms are simply self quarantining at home.” They also said assume everyone has the virus and take all necessary precautions. And, of course, stay at home.
I think this is probably what’s going on across the U.S.
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