Comments on: Emptying the Haunted Air http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:25:52 +0000 By: spaceman spif http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-31017 spaceman spif Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:37:08 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-31017 When I read the title to this article, my first thought was it was about a trip to White Castle... Another excellent read, and even more excellent posts. I'm really enjoying this site for the content from both the author and the people who comment. I agree with Ebon as well as many others that knowledge enhances the beauty of the world around us. Understanding of scientific phenomena does not reduce the awe and inspiration of that phenomena one bit. When I read the title to this article, my first thought was it was about a trip to White Castle...

Another excellent read, and even more excellent posts. I'm really enjoying this site for the content from both the author and the people who comment.

I agree with Ebon as well as many others that knowledge enhances the beauty of the world around us. Understanding of scientific phenomena does not reduce the awe and inspiration of that phenomena one bit.

]]> By: Randall http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-30471 Randall Thu, 17 Jan 2008 06:58:38 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-30471 "I further heartily agree with Ebon's larger point that knowledge doesn't sap beauty, but enhances it. Once again he has explicated my view succintly." Ditto, as regards this specific point. "I further heartily agree with Ebon's larger point that knowledge doesn't sap beauty, but enhances it. Once again he has explicated my view succintly."

Ditto, as regards this specific point.

]]> By: Ebonmuse http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-28104 Ebonmuse Fri, 02 Nov 2007 02:21:05 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-28104 For OhioAtheist, whom I should have answered earlier: Yes, I have read <i>The Demon-Haunted World</i>, and it's probably my favorite of all Carl Sagan's books. I don't know how I've managed to overlook writing a recommendation for it - that's an unconscionable omission, and I'll have to correct it as soon as possible. For OhioAtheist, whom I should have answered earlier: Yes, I have read The Demon-Haunted World, and it's probably my favorite of all Carl Sagan's books. I don't know how I've managed to overlook writing a recommendation for it - that's an unconscionable omission, and I'll have to correct it as soon as possible.

]]> By: Thumpalumpacus http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-28101 Thumpalumpacus Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:10:13 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-28101 Eric: Put briefly, both souls and rainbows are emergent properties. I find myself in complete agreement with you, and indeed have said for years that I believe in souls as such a property of a complex brain. (Need I add "mortal" soul? Well, there it is). I further heartily agree with Ebon's larger point that knowledge doesn't sap beauty, but enhances it. Once again he has explicated my view succintly. Eric:

Put briefly, both souls and rainbows are emergent properties. I find myself in complete agreement with you, and indeed have said for years that I believe in souls as such a property of a complex brain. (Need I add "mortal" soul? Well, there it is).

I further heartily agree with Ebon's larger point that knowledge doesn't sap beauty, but enhances it. Once again he has explicated my view succintly.

]]> By: Greta Christina http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-28086 Greta Christina Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:34:16 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-28086 Actually, while it may not be technically correct in the strictest grammatical sense, I think this usage of "reclaim" is correct in the common general usage. Example: The queer community talks about "reclaiming" the word "queer," even though it was never anything but an insult (with the meaning of "homosexual," anyway) before we reclaimed it. Oh, BTW, Eric: I just put up a <a HREF="http://gretachristina.typepad.com/greta_christinas_weblog/2007/10/a-relationship-.html" rel="nofollow">blog post</A> about your comment and my thoughts on it. (Sorry for the self-linkage and the noise, everyone, but there's no URL here for Eric, and this was the only way I could think of to let him know.) Actually, while it may not be technically correct in the strictest grammatical sense, I think this usage of "reclaim" is correct in the common general usage. Example: The queer community talks about "reclaiming" the word "queer," even though it was never anything but an insult (with the meaning of "homosexual," anyway) before we reclaimed it.

Oh, BTW, Eric: I just put up a blog post about your comment and my thoughts on it. (Sorry for the self-linkage and the noise, everyone, but there's no URL here for Eric, and this was the only way I could think of to let him know.)

]]> By: Eric http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-28070 Eric Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:52:50 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-28070 G-C: Maybe you're right about claim vs. reclaim. But you can find materialistic treatments of the soul in ancient writings. I'm pretty sure that Lucretius sometimes uses the word "anima" in addition to "mens" to refer to a material substance responsible for mental events. G-C: Maybe you're right about claim vs. reclaim. But you can find materialistic treatments of the soul in ancient writings. I'm pretty sure that Lucretius sometimes uses the word "anima" in addition to "mens" to refer to a material substance responsible for mental events.

]]> By: Valhar2000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-28064 Valhar2000 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 09:53:16 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-28064 Eric, don't you mean "claim", rather than "reclaim"? As far as I know, the word soul has never been devoid of nonsense, except in relatively recent times, and then only once in a while. Eric, don't you mean "claim", rather than "reclaim"? As far as I know, the word soul has never been devoid of nonsense, except in relatively recent times, and then only once in a while.

]]> By: Eric http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-28056 Eric Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:04:54 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-28056 Greta Christina, I'm glad you like my point about the soul. I know people might not get what I'm trying to say when I use the word "soul". It was at least clear enough in this case that I do not believe there is some kind of mystical otherworldly soul-stuff. Souls are not "things out there" just like rainbows aren't. I think it's time to reclaim the word "soul", to untangle it from so much nonsense. BTW, I've come across your blog a few times. It's been pretty good. I liked the "angry" rant. Greta Christina, I'm glad you like my point about the soul. I know people might not get what I'm trying to say when I use the word "soul". It was at least clear enough in this case that I do not believe there is some kind of mystical otherworldly soul-stuff. Souls are not "things out there" just like rainbows aren't.

I think it's time to reclaim the word "soul", to untangle it from so much nonsense.

BTW, I've come across your blog a few times. It's been pretty good. I liked the "angry" rant.

]]> By: OMGF http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-28054 OMGF Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:50:25 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-28054 Thanks Terrence. I'm going to bookmark that one. Thanks Terrence. I'm going to bookmark that one.

]]> By: Greta Christina http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-28052 Greta Christina Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:10:00 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/10/emptying-the-haunted-air.html#comment-28052 "I think the soul is something like a rainbow. It is not a thing in itself, it is a relationship between physical things. The most important of these things is the body, and under all conditions we understand by evidence are possible, the soul dies with the body and sometimes expires before the body." Eric, that is gorgeous. Thank you. Lately I tend to call it "consciousness" or "identity" or "selfhood" rather than the soul, just because I think the world "soul" has strong metaphysical implications that I don't like. But I totally get your point, and it's crystallizing a lot of things for me. Plus it's just expressed really beautifully. Thank you. "I think the soul is something like a rainbow. It is not a thing in itself, it is a relationship between physical things. The most important of these things is the body, and under all conditions we understand by evidence are possible, the soul dies with the body and sometimes expires before the body."

Eric, that is gorgeous. Thank you.

Lately I tend to call it "consciousness" or "identity" or "selfhood" rather than the soul, just because I think the world "soul" has strong metaphysical implications that I don't like. But I totally get your point, and it's crystallizing a lot of things for me. Plus it's just expressed really beautifully. Thank you.

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