Book Day!

Who says news is only in the news media?

Amazon customer, Robert "Rob" Richards from San Antonio, Texas was one of many frustratingly dangerous half-apes who loved the book, A Jealous God. His review on Amazon drew my response. You have it here:

Fella, the fuss is generated by people who don't understand the science and never will, like you and your author.

I grew up surrounded by many religions and cultures - and was offended by this book's characterization. If you need to demonize the only positive social force in the last 200 years to justify your religious beliefs, then they probably weren't based on the most solid ground.

"Finally, a book filled with fact and measured analysis, not empty rhetoric."

Yes... I'd hate to make a religious argument based on empty rhetoric and ritual symbolism.

People can be bad, yes. And with science they can certainly take advantage of naive people, yes. But if you can't understand the difference between science and religion, you'd be forgiven for mistaking a weapon for a soldier. One is a tool - the other is a self-righteous person who would kill anyone who is not on their 'side'. Clear things up?

Religion is under attack - from within. For centuries, this con was run by the most cutthroat, ambitious leaders in the world - and it held up. Now that there are greater profits in business and the non-denominational public world, is it really such a surprise that the business of organized religions is crumbling under it's own incompetence?

PS. Why do this book's author, and all its readers insist on labeling everything a crusade? Is is to sell tickets for the big fight?

Download A Jealous God on the kindle today for $14.29.
Or have it shipped for $2.98 new, and $0.14 used.

Commenting is Closed

Comment on: The Big Lie About the 'Life of the Mind' on 2/8/2010

The Chronicle of Higher Education may have closed the door on commenting after 202 lengthy additions - but if you're anything like me, that won't stop you from further discussing this controversial article. We're talking about advanced study in the humanities - one of the more attractive fields to idealistic youth. We're also talking about the Dream, the American Dream, and what it means to sacrifice for it.

The New York Times

Comment on: Seeing Red Over R-Rated Trailers on 3/26/2010

It's been over a year since the Halicarnassian has seen daylight long enough to get a message out - but a new epoch has arrived, knowledge is still power, and the future still needs us to channel our history.

Today's commentary is on a bit of filler news: the debate over mainstream movie trailer on the internet. A self-regulated industry, arguing over Hollywood decency standards is irrelevant at best - but telling in this case.

The man at the forefront of the argument for increased controls (supposedly for viewer age) is John Aristotle Phillips. The kind soul who forwarded the article my way was able to dig up more relevant facts that the paper of record did not see 'fit to print' - about the man who's company (Aristotle, Inc.) stands to gain most.

The casual reader would assume that as CEO, Mr. Phillips is a business-minded purveyor of social technology, albeit technology that restricts access to information and media. But Aristotle, Inc.'s core business is political data, and perhaps because it is decidedly non-partisan it does not seem to be choosy about its clients or mission. Can web viewers at regulated sites like MySpace really expect the company to put aside the interests of the politicos in pushing solutions on internet distributors? Do MySpace and others have any reason to believe that more invasive age verification will benefit their audience and the business model?

I cannot definitively say more. But consider that behind closed doors, high profile content providers will ask Mr. Phillips more about who wants tough age verification and why. If the MySpaces of the United States do move to tighten the reins, we can expect that they found allies worth the insult to visitors.