Comments on: Fellwell http://www.newsstandsophisticate.com/2007/05/17/fellwell/ The Weblog of Julien Noah Devereux Sat, 10 Sep 2011 20:34:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: admin http://www.newsstandsophisticate.com/2007/05/17/fellwell/comment-page-1/#comment-61 admin Fri, 18 May 2007 23:24:33 +0000 http://www.newsstandsophisticate.com/?p=12#comment-61 I'm sure some people are put off by his style, or tone, but there may be other people who wouldn't pay attention to a more polite presentation of the issues, such as the recent books by Daniel Dennett and Richard Dawkins. The only way to tell would be some sort of survey. Hitchens comes from the old-fashioned journalistic tradition of "afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted," so perhaps he's not really that concerned with changing people's minds. (This is the man whose working title for a book on Mother Theresa was "Sacred Cow," before settling on "The Missionary Position"). Maybe that's a fault, but he's such an entertaining writer I believe people who don't agree with him will read him anyway. If he were the only one talking about religion critically, I would be more concerned about his tone, but there's been a boom in atheist books lately, so there's a godless tome out there to fit every taste. Glad to know you're reading my blog again! PS: E-mail me your address so I can send you those Yabby You CDs. I’m sure some people are put off by his style, or tone, but there may be other people who wouldn’t pay attention to a more polite presentation of the issues, such as the recent books by Daniel Dennett and Richard Dawkins. The only way to tell would be some sort of survey.

Hitchens comes from the old-fashioned journalistic tradition of “afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted,” so perhaps he’s not really that concerned with changing people’s minds. (This is the man whose working title for a book on Mother Theresa was “Sacred Cow,” before settling on “The Missionary Position”). Maybe that’s a fault, but he’s such an entertaining writer I believe people who don’t agree with him will read him anyway. If he were the only one talking about religion critically, I would be more concerned about his tone, but there’s been a boom in atheist books lately, so there’s a godless tome out there to fit every taste.

Glad to know you’re reading my blog again!

PS: E-mail me your address so I can send you those Yabby You CDs.

]]> By: Brian Crowley http://www.newsstandsophisticate.com/2007/05/17/fellwell/comment-page-1/#comment-58 Brian Crowley Fri, 18 May 2007 05:54:32 +0000 http://www.newsstandsophisticate.com/?p=12#comment-58 Indeed, I've toasted tonight to this occasion. Good news, perhaps. Regarding Hitchens, it is not the combination of abrasiveness and atheism that I find problematic; it is the combination of abrasiveness and any attempts to change minds (however implicit these may be). Minds need to be changed, for sure, and to do so Hitchens must pay attention to not just the content of his considerations but also their form. Those whose minds need changing are, I suspect, at least as put off by the manner of presentation as by what is presented. Also, I'm glad to see you blogging again. I've always enjoyed both its form and content. Indeed, I’ve toasted tonight to this occasion. Good news, perhaps.

Regarding Hitchens, it is not the combination of abrasiveness and atheism that I find problematic; it is the combination of abrasiveness and any attempts to change minds (however implicit these may be). Minds need to be changed, for sure, and to do so Hitchens must pay attention to not just the content of his considerations but also their form. Those whose minds need changing are, I suspect, at least as put off by the manner of presentation as by what is presented.

Also, I’m glad to see you blogging again. I’ve always enjoyed both its form and content.

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