My friend John Derbyshire chronicles his spiritual devolution over the past few years....
More like this
I recently [some time back now - this being a repost] received this question in email. I hope the correspondent doesn't mind my posting it anonymously.
Too many scientific meetings, not enough Mad Biologist. Still enough though for some links. Science:
In 2002 William Brookfield (our favorite "pleasurian" and "ID scientist") published his paper "In Search of a Cosmic Super-Law: The Supreme "Second Law" of Devolution" in Dembski’s vanity
I think it's interesting that he cites age and parenthood as two factors contributing to lack of belief. I wouldn't have imagined that. (Except for the simple case of someone being raised in a religious environment, then dropping their faith when they manage to step outside the box for a while)
Except for the simple case of someone being raised in a religious environment
to be clear, john's dad was a militant atheist. his religion was absorbed from his schooling years.
I remember when Derbyshire was NR's resident entertaining reactionary crank. His gradual evolution into resident entertaining anti-social conservative crank has been interesting to watch. I wonder if he will ever drop his anti-gay stance? It's such a key part of his persona, but it sits so uncomfortably now with all his other social issue positions.
His gradual evolution into resident entertaining anti-social conservative crank has been interesting to watch. I wonder if he will ever drop his anti-gay stance?
the anti-gay stance is one of intuitive personal aversion, so prolly not. unlike other social conservatives it is less from socially conditioned conviction that pure disgust and aversion.
Razib, read this rant from your friend. Weird.
hey, john doesn't play to the audience, does he? :-) and the corner is in my RSS, so i saw it, and if you read his comments re: b. hussein obama it isn't so weird.