Saturday.

The rain and the gloom came, and I watched.

The gloom stayed, so I read.

I interacted.

And finally I deactivated.

These are the bits and pieces of life, slipping along, day after day, always forward.

Comments

[Charles Frith]

Hey Paul,

I doubt Hitchens talk about being on the "same side as the neoconservatives" in that book. I say that because those jackals secured their power base through an unholy alliance with the fundamentalist Christians in the last two US elections? In an inconvenient truth if you like.

Hitchens talks about religion being "violent, irrational and intolerant" but I can't say there's much sunlight between them and the neocons.

Theres a good podcast from Poptech that talks about two constants that will never disappear. Religion and technology. I'll fish it out for you if you like, but the main point is that bad things wont go away by ridding the world of religion. A bit like getting rid of the Witches at Salem didn't.

Anyway you don't have to answer that on your blog, but you can always collar me over a pint on this one. Politics and religion are a fave banter of mine.

[Will]

Not a fan of either of the Hitchens', I have to be honest.

As for your Saturday; it reminds me a lot of mine.

[Paul H. Colman]

Couple of points;

1. It's quite possible to agree with somebody on one topic, and not on another (as Hitchens' himself does). Therefore I see no inconsistency with his agreement with the Neoconservatives re Iraq, but not on other matters.

2. Just because we can't completely rid the world of religion (and actually who says we can't), it doesn't mean that we don't benefit from trying - look what happened during Enlightenment.

Please do dig out the podcast you mention Charles, sounds interesting.

(Finally, I'd like to point out that I'm not promoting the book - I'm only on page 43.)

[Charles]

Howdy Paul

All the Poptech podcasts (and videocasts) are available here:

http://www.poptech.org/popcasts/

Here's the mp3 link for the Martin Marty one I talked about.

http://wmarc001.bcst.yahoo.com/yahoo/Martin_Marty_audio.mp3

I also highly recommend the Brian Eno and Thomas Barnett along with many more.

I'm just as angry with religion's misjusctices and hypocrisy as the next chap but some days I think we need less religion and more Gods. Right now I'm thinking of saying a prayer to the God of English Breakfasts and hoping there's some mushrooms in the fridge!

[Paul H. Colman]

Thanks Charles.

[Mark Vane]

Hi, Found a cool news widget for our blogs at http://www.widgetmate.com/news . Now I can show the latest news on my blog. Worked like a breeze.

[Lebowski]

I'm a big fan of Hitchens, but think that the review of the book in Saturday's Guardian merits a reading. Just to give a counterpoint to what is yet another diatribe against religion.

[Ben]

Glad to have you back Lebowski. The quality of this blog declines significantly when you don't comment.

[Lebowski]

Really? Jesus Christ.

(Seems approrpiate)

[Paul H. Colman]

Yeah - thank God.

[Lebowski]

Well, Mohammed be damned, I wasn't expecting that support Paul.

(Just thought I'd broaden it out. They're all as bad as each other)

[Harry C]

Well Holy Mother of God, I just thought I'd check in and let you know thst I'm back from my pilgrimage to the Island of Saints and Scholars !!

[Paul H. Colman]

Welcome home Harry. I'll see you tomorrow, in the AM.

[biscuitware]

Orange mobile bill - £72 (check)
Orange Nokia N73 (check)
Macbook (check)

Are you sure you're not my alter ego?
If you live near Northfields I'll be very freaked out.

Oh, and we both seem to know Hannah from Yakult ;)

[Paul H. Colman]

I live in South Ealing, so yes - very near.

I used to work with Hannah, how do you know her?

[biscuitware]

She's my girl ;)

[Paul H. Colman]

Splendid.

I worked at Yakult with her (she sat about 3 meters from where I was seated).