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The Enemies of Reason

By BlackSun / August 16th, 2007 / Science, Television / 948CommentsThe+Enemies+of+Reason2007-08-16+16%3A35%3A14BlackSun

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It’s hard to imagine there are any atheists or humanists who don’t know about Richard Dawkins’ new series. But it’s so powerful and well put together, I am compelled to offer my kudos to the professor, and post the links here as they become available. If you or anyone you know is still hanging on to vestigial new age beliefs, whether astrology, dowsing, spiritualism or mysticism, I urge you to watch or encourage them to watch this program.

Part 1 “Slaves to Superstition” - August 13, 2007:

Part 2 - August 20, 2007:

Last Modified : August 16th, 2007
Filed under : Science, Television
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Comments (948CommentsThe+Enemies+of+Reason2007-08-16+16%3A35%3A14BlackSun)

Doris Tracey / August 16th, 2007, 1:32 pm / #1

Kudos Sean,

I know that Richard Dawkins is a very fine man and should be highly respected. This man seems very happy to live in the here and now and has not been looking beyond what he sees. Many people in this film are looking beyond the here and now because they sense there is something beyond ,even though they may end up in a world of delusion, they know from within there is something else. The mundane is fine for humanist, but not for other people because they have a different psychology that is not of this world. I believe human reason is very important and most people are living in the clouds. People must learn to live in two worlds simaltaneously and that is where science and religion can be wedded together. Maybe I am wrong, I am trying to live in reality to the best of my ability. The psychic world to me is a world of delusion, but then I had searched for many years and left that behind, it is a dead end. People must learn through trial and error
and the whole mundane world is a scientific experiment of chemistry. Learning to mix different chemicals without blowing the whole world up.

BlackSun / August 16th, 2007, 1:40 pm / #2

Many people in this film are looking beyond the here and now because they sense there is something beyond ,even though they may end up in a world of delusion, they know from within there is something else.

How do they ‘know?’ It seems like this so-called ‘knowing’ is what gets them into the very trouble Dawkins describes. (Did you hear Satish Kumar trying to explain “tree-ness” and “rock-ness” to Dawkins? Hilarious.) This was the whole point of the series, I’m surprised you seem to have missed it.

People must learn to live in two worlds simaltaneously and that is where science and religion can be wedded together. Maybe I am wrong, I am trying to live in reality to the best of my ability.

No, science and religion will not be wedded together. Again, I don’t know how you could be reading this journal for years and not understand that. But I’ll keep trying to explain it best I can, Doris.

How about just living in reality, period?

Jeff / August 16th, 2007, 5:51 pm / #3

Thanks for sharing Sean. However, I was a little insulted by your assertion that “it’s hard to imagine that there are any atheists or humanists who don’t know about Richard Dawkins’ new series.”

I stopped watching TV once “Touched by an Angel” was canceled. Okay, that’s not true, but I don’t watch much TV. What channel is he on?

BlackSun / August 16th, 2007, 6:00 pm / #4

Sorry, Jeff!

It’s only on in the UK, which is why all us Americans have to watch it on Google. It has been posted by numerous other blogs–hence my disclaimer.

Doris Tracey / August 16th, 2007, 7:52 pm / #5

Sean,

I did hear Satish Kumar trying to explain “tree-ness and “rock-ness” to Dawkins and it was hilarious, but he believes life is in everything! Thanks for the input.

BlackSun / August 16th, 2007, 8:23 pm / #6

he believes life is in everything!

Right, and it’s this very vagueness and lack of nuance that Dawkins is addressing. It fosters ignorance and jumbles meaning. Worse, it gets gullible people to believe people like Kumar are founts of profundity.

John P / August 17th, 2007, 7:49 pm / #7

Wonderful! I just watched this. I look forward to the next installments.

Thanks, Sean.

SI

Engineer-Poet / August 18th, 2007, 3:20 pm / #8

Looks like Mr. Woo-woo unleashed the rock-ness monster!

BlackSun / August 18th, 2007, 6:43 pm / #9

LOL! Hi E-P, welcome back!

Charles Fox / August 19th, 2007, 7:21 am / #10

Thanks for linking this! I had despaired of seeing the series and just never thought to check Google Video. That’ll show me.

Kanaio / August 19th, 2007, 3:19 pm / #11

Sean,

Thank you for your search for the truth. I was taught science by a Catholic nun in 8th grade, who impressed me with her ability to reconcile the two different polarities. I think Einstien said it best. “There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.”

I have a few questions for you: Religious dogma aside, do you think meditation holds any value for humanity? And do you discount all extrasensory perception? Are you familiar, as I feel you must be, with the collaborative effort of some of the Tibetain Buddhist Lamas and western scientists and psych ologists now going on?

My personal belief is that “god” is a state of consciousness, and my “spiritual visions” are simply the workings of my mind as it passes into and out of different states. I am working toward seeing more perfectly the truth around me and realizing full compassion for all. I find stilling the mind allows me greater clarity. I am not sure this is a path that can be charted by any intellectual reasoning, but I do think it is important not to get caught up in mystical experiences, which can’t be validated. I am often saying to myself after a spiritual experience, “What the hell was that?!!” I am probably one of the few people who get old reruns of I Love Lucy during visual meditations of unknown lamas and golden lights.

I find humor and love work miracles everyday.
Best wishes, K.

BlackSun / August 19th, 2007, 3:38 pm / #12

Kanaio,

Yes, meditation holds value for the mind in the same way that physical exercise (more like stretching, maybe) holds value for the body.

To me the danger of meditation is that it fools people into thinking that the sense of unity and calmness they feel is something other than a state of mind. (Temporary shutdown of the OAA.) A lot of people become convinced they are experiencing what Andrew Newberg calls Absolute Unitary Being.

Which of course, is all taking place inside their brains.

Sounds like you are on the right track. Watch out for calling things miracles, though.

Spanish Inquisitor / August 19th, 2007, 9:46 pm / #13

Slightly Old News…

Richard Dawkins unveiled a new documentary recently on British TV, titled The Enemies of Reason. The first installment was shown last week, with the next later this evening (in the UK). Unfortunately, as with The Root of All Evil, we interested viewe…

Channelling Dawkins » Why Dont You Blog? / August 20th, 2007, 1:44 pm / #14

[...] If you live outside the UK, you can probably watch the new series on YouTube until it comes to a cable channel near you. Black Sun Journal has a link to the last episode. Sphere: Related Content [...]

Reinis / August 22nd, 2007, 7:33 am / #15

The part two is out now.

BlackSun / August 22nd, 2007, 7:39 am / #16

Thanks, Reinis,

Engineer-Poet / August 22nd, 2007, 8:24 pm / #17

Danke schön, Reinis!

Aaron Kinney / August 30th, 2007, 10:30 am / #18

Great. The UK Gets Enemies of Reason, and we get American Idol.

Challenge Religion - Today’s Top Blog Posts on Atheism - Powered by SocialRank / October 1st, 2007, 3:06 am / #19

[...] Black Sun Journal » Archives » The Enemies of Reason [...]

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