File 028939
Email Chain: Lawrence Krauss, Noam Chomsky, and Jeffrey E. Discussing Atheism and Religious Fanaticism (File 028939)
Email exchange from September 2015 between Lawrence Krauss, Noam Chomsky, and Jeffrey E. discussing an article about militant atheism, religious fanaticism, and rational discourse.
Summary
Lawrence Krauss shares a New Yorker article titled 'All Scientists Should Be Militant Atheists' with Noam Chomsky and Jeffrey E. The exchange explores the tension between confronting religious and secular dogma through rational argument versus ridicule. Chomsky argues that secular fanaticism (nationalism, exceptionalism) is more dangerous than religious dogma, and advocates for evidence-based refutation without ridicule. Jeffrey E. expresses concern about fanaticism on both sides while acknowledging religion's positive role in many lives.
From: Lawrence Krauss______________________________Sent: 9/10/2015 8:10:36 PMTo: jeffrey E. [jeeyacation@gmail.com]Subject: Re: an article you may both hate. or like.Attachments: DA866543-7401-4A5A-8E50-FD32E33A5OEC.pngImportance: HighPs. My piece argued against fanaticism.Lawrence M. KraussDirector, The Origins Project at ASUFoundation ProfessorSchool of Earth & Space Exploration and Physics DepartmentArizona State University, P.O. Box 871404, Tempe, AZ 85287-1404Research Office: AssistantOrigins Officekraussgasu.eduorigins.asu.edu I twitter.com/Ikraussl I krauss.faculty.asu.eduSent from my iPhoneOn Sep 10, 2015, at 12:02 PM, jeffrey E. <jeevacation@gmail.com> wrote:I think religion plays a major positive role in many lives. . i dont like fanaticism on either side. . sorryOn Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 7:52 PM, Noam Chomsky < > wrote:Thanks for sending. A wide area of agreement, but not total.On confronting dogma, I of course agree — though in my opinion the secular religions — nationalist fanaticism, etc. — aremuch more dangerous. And if some find rational discussion offensive — as, for example, mainstream academics finddismantling myths of "American exceptionalism" or "Israeli self-defense" or Obama's mass murder campaign, etc.,offensive — so be it.But I don't see why that should extend to ridicule. That includes astrologists. Astronomers can refute astrology, whilerecognizing that perfectly honest and deluded people may believe it and should be treated with respect, while theirbeliefs are confronted with evidence. I also don't see why we should ridicule religious dogma, just as I don't think weshould ridicule the much more pernicious secular dogmas. Rather, we should respond to irrational belief withargument and evidence, while recognizing that their advocates (like most of the intellectual world in the case of seculardogma) are people who we should be responding to but without ridiculing them. It may be hard sometimes. Forexample, when the icon and founding father of sober non-sentimental Realism in International Affairs informs us thatthe US, unlike other countries, has a "transcendental purpose," and the fact that it constantly acts in contradiction toits purpose doesn't matter because the facts are just "abuse of history" while real history is "the evidence of history asour minds reflect it," then it's hard to avoid ridicule. But we should. There's no point ridiculing virtually the entire IRprofession and the major journals, even though such extraordinary irrationality leads to major human disasters.HOUSE OVERSIGHT 028939On Davis, I frankly think that's a non-issue. If she decides she cannot do her job as the conditions of employmentrequire (including following the law), then she can quit and look for another job. As in any other such case.NoamFrom: Lawrence Krauss [mailto___________________________Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 1:51 AMTo: Noam Chomsky jeffrey E. <jeevacation@gmail.com>Subject: an article you may both hate. or like.hope all is well.Lawrencehttp://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/all-scientists-should-be-militant-atheistsLawrence M. KraussDirector, The Origins Project at ASUCo-Director, Cosmology InitiativeFoundation ProfessorSchool of Earth & Space Exploration and Physics DepartmentArizona State University, P.O. Box 871404, Tempe, AZ 85287-1404Research Office: AssistantOrigins Officekrauss@asu.eduorigins.asu.edu I twitter.corn/Ikraussl I krauss.faculty.asu.eduplease noteThe information contained in this communication isconfidential, may be attorney-client privileged, mayconstitute inside information, and is intended only forthe use of the addressee. It is the property ofJEEUnauthorized use, disclosure or copying of thiscommunication or any part thereof is strictly prohibitedand may be unlawful. If you have received thisHOUSE OVERSIGHT 028940communication in error, please notify us immediately byreturn e-mail or by e-mail to jeevacation@gmail.com, anddestroy this communication and all copies thereof,including all attachments. copyright -all rights reservedHOUSE OVERSIGHT 028941