05-21-2007, 11:26 AM
Mint, I was referring specifically to the comments Dr. Miller made in the last minutes of the third, and concluding, episode of the documentary under discussion.
The people to whom he was referring in those remarks were described as being "uncouth and shortsighted" in addition to being religious.
His argument was that religion is not a harmless affectation, and that disbelievers ought to mount political opposition to the aims of the religious.
As for my own coinage "thoughtful disbeliever" I intended it to be taken as a distinct category from atheist, since Dr, Miller rejects the latter on the -- eminently reasonable -- grounds that "...we don't have a special name for people who don't believe in ghosts or witches...", so a special name for those who don't believe in gods is unnecessary.
The modifier "thoughtful" indicates that the disbeliever in question came to his or her disbelief through a careful examination and consideration of the notion of the supernatural.
The people to whom he was referring in those remarks were described as being "uncouth and shortsighted" in addition to being religious.
His argument was that religion is not a harmless affectation, and that disbelievers ought to mount political opposition to the aims of the religious.
As for my own coinage "thoughtful disbeliever" I intended it to be taken as a distinct category from atheist, since Dr, Miller rejects the latter on the -- eminently reasonable -- grounds that "...we don't have a special name for people who don't believe in ghosts or witches...", so a special name for those who don't believe in gods is unnecessary.
The modifier "thoughtful" indicates that the disbeliever in question came to his or her disbelief through a careful examination and consideration of the notion of the supernatural.