But specks in the void
Francis Sedgemore, Wednesday 14 September 2011 at 12:40 UTC
A revolution in human consciousness was realised with the first pictures of Earth from space, including those taken from various Apollo spacecraft of a receding blue orb, and our planet rising above the lunar horizon.
Since then there have been many deep space missions, and yet more photos from afar of Earth. Despite their by definition lack of content, these pictures never cease to amaze and inspire me. Take the latest, of Earth and Moon, from NASA’s Jupiter-bound Juno spacecraft…
No more than a few white pixels on a deep black space, and they fire my imagination.
Talking of imagination, the Blessed Richard Dawkins has a new book to flog, and did so yesterday on Newsnight. I tend to be scathing about talking heads who pop up on public service television to hawk their literary wares, but that is partly out of jealousy, and I certainly don’t begrudge Dawkins, introduced by Jeremy Paxman as “the world’s most celebrated atheist”, his appearances on the devil’s lightbox. Especially when the project is one such as a book on the magic of reality…
“You can make up any number of stories that are comforting, but the truth has some value as well… Science is more exciting, and more poetic.”
I was glad to see Dawkins acknowledge and celebrate the positive power of literary myth. It was a good interview on Newsnight, but I would very much like to see Dawkins and other scientists debate the issue and form a fighting alliance for truth with writers, artists and teachers.
Feed the writer! 
Thursday 15 September 2011 at 09:38 UTC
It’s a potentially huge discussion, unfortunately reduced to a few bite-sized questions and answers. But, thanks for pointing it out, I am sure to check out his book.
I’d like to pick up on the aspect of ‘comfort’, which does make me wonder to what extent either man here has children or is involved in their upbringing. Children get comfort – never mind love – from their parents, extended family and community. To cut a long story short, there is not much need for a remote father-figure in the sky, when the immediate surroundings of the child are caring and nurturing.
On the contrary, try explaining to a child why Jesus had to die on the cross and why this is a good thing and why his father ordained this and you will be met with utter befuddlement and very upset questions. Not very comforting.
Same with heaven and the afterlife: why live this life if what supposedly comes next is so much cooler? Far better to point out how rare and precious this one life is for everybody than raise a child’s hopes of entering chocolate and candy heaven (no toothache there either!).
I am really simplifying and personalising matters here obviously. But my main point is that Dawkins’argument “but it’s the truth” doesn’t need to sound so stark and potentially cynical. Scientific truth is not only beautiful and poetic, it is also far less contorted, easier to grasp, more rooted in the reality the child sees and feels, and ultimately far more humane than the alternative. Etc.
It is impossible to squeeze all this into a comment box. I should really start a blog or something.
Thursday 15 September 2011 at 09:52 UTC
Dawkins has often come across as harsh and insensitive, but I’m not the only one who has detected a softening. This includes a greater acceptance of the value of storytelling and poetic beauty. Maybe it’s the influence of his wife Lalla Ward, a writer and illustrator by trade. Dawkins has one child – a daughter by his second wife, Eve Barham.
Thursday 15 September 2011 at 10:20 UTC
Write such a long comment and still manage to be unclear… I have never thought he comes across as harsh. Maybe it’s me being continental, but to me he’s always seemed like your archetypically reasonable and courteous British academic.
My main ‘worry’ with his argument here was just that his cautious words could be construed as being somewhat of a downer. I think I’d have just liked him be even more positive in his argument for the primacy of scientific fact over religious myth in a child’s upbringing.
Thursday 15 September 2011 at 11:35 UTC
Maybe, Ario, it was your mood when you viewed the video clip. :-)
I was in a bit go a grumpy mood during the broadcast, and was paying more attention to the web browser on my fondleslab than the telly. But then Paxman came out with his “most celebrated atheist” introduction, and that was that. The rest sounded to me very positive, even hopeful.
What’s happened to your blog? I’ve been missing your (continental) missives.
Tuesday 20 September 2011 at 09:15 UTC
That is nice of you to say so. I still maintain a blog of sorts, but just finding the time has been an issue this year, as this dragged out comment conversation illustrates…