December 10, 2006

Class Consciousness

Richard Dawkins on Elvis:

I should have known better because of course practically all Americans of that class are religious maniacs. But when I discovered that Elvis was religious I went back on to religion for a bit.
(via Norm.) Posted by Dr. Frank at December 10, 2006 04:43 PM | TrackBack
Comments

I thought South Park was a little tough on Dawkins, but maybe he deserved it.

Posted by: Bill Weitze at December 10, 2006 10:06 PM

That's a tough one. Dawkins is anti-religion, but no more so than preachers are pro-religion. On that episode of South Park, Dawkings really wasn't made to seem crazy or overly evangelical, Mr. Garrison was used toward that end. I was dissapointed in the episode, though. It didn't seem to have a point. It's not as if Dawkins has ever said that there would be peace on earth if there was no religion.

Posted by: josh at December 11, 2006 12:35 AM

I have enjoyed the presence of The God Delusion in my recent media consumption. It's one of those cultural markers that lets you know instantly where people stand. Where TGD appears, muddy thinking usually follows. Like today, I was reading the Salon best books of 2006, and I was patiently going along, wondering when I would hit on King Dork, trying to ignore Greil "the Dominick Dunne of Rock" Marcus chosing HIS OWN BOOK. When I saw TGD on there, I knew it was no use, and I moved on dot org. The review of TGD in the New Republic was one of the first pieces of arts/letters criticism in there that I have found too annoying to finish. Basically, I am pro-TGD because I am anti-TGD, and I appreciate cultural bread crumb trails which allow me to pass judgement and look down on things without reading them.

Posted by: Tristin Aaron at December 11, 2006 10:53 PM