Apparently my last post to you got stuck in the queue. Luckily I was able to retrieve it.

Just how do you make a living, however small, being an atheist? Is it perhaps more lucrative than being an agnostic or a logical positivist? I’m certain it’s not as lucrative as faith healing, astrology and fortune telling. These practitioners seem to get so much for doing so little.
Because it has not reached any appreciable level of sophistication, nor can it be expected to, the general public rests content with the dull, tedious and desultory and even puts a premium on them in the form of higher income coupled with low to moderate intelligence. This explains (but does not justify) the hefty salaries “earned” by trash men, plumbers, lawyers, talk show hosts, newscasters and “general” celebrities. In all, you have nothing to be sorry about for having earned more than your keep.
Again, I’m curious. How will your anti-establishment site differ from those anti-establishment (even atheist) sites already out there? And speaking of anti-establishment, I also thought of “Hell for Idiots.” That way I could take a more ecumenical approach. I also came up with “A Beginners Guide to Damnation.” If I can’t get people to read it, perhaps I can sell the movie rights to some reality TV show as a starring vehicle for Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian.
To answer your question re Grabbe, I quote from the antihero, “What kinds of crazy conditions are these?”
Politics in any country is disgraceful. Talleyrand whom I admire if only for entertainment had the right idea—appearance, appearance, appearance, which, as we know, was as original with him as it was with Machiavelli. “The Prince” = Real Life.
For fear of blathering on, I will put off any discussion of the monetary system and principles of taxation. I am still waiting to hear your anecdote, for a good (or even not so good) anecdote can drive a point home more forcefully than a philosophic dissertation.

Have not heard from you for a while. How’s the atheism coming?

Have you started, “Misquoting Jesus?”

Spinoza and Leibniz met. Not much is known about the meeting but Spinoza died just a few months later aged only 44. I feel sure you know what happened to Leibniz. My love of philosophy is strictly amateur and I don’t feel I know enough to utilise it for income. My militant antitheism (I don’t know if this counts as an interest) provides a small income.

I worked for many years in sales and management for two global corporations. The last one (now owned by Kraft) I resigned from, even though promotions to the top positions in the UK seemed assured. Some of my family and friends thought I was crazy and put it down to a mid life crisis. I was 44 after all. Those that knew me well though, knew that it was inevitable. I didn’t despise my job at all, not only did it pay well; the perks were of the highest order too, I just felt embarrassed that that I was being so well rewarded for doing something of such little value in the world. I saw it all much like Wittgenstein described language, as a game. I didn’t want to play anymore. You were right; I had no respect for the people around me or what the company was doing. I knew I was capable of something more meaningful and satisfying.

Now I make living working for myself. A little bit of business consultancy and project management. I am currently working on a new website that will encompass a lot more than atheism and will have a distinctly anti establishment look about it. I’m going to call it “Unkeep the Faith”

I am delighted to hear of your thoughts on writing a book. I like the title but I suggest …“A Brief History of Hell” … for added zing and linked search enquires. Attach the strapline “An Enquiry into Eternal Damnation” or “An Enquiry into Unfair Damnation” and you’re on to a winner! I’d buy it. Have you published anything previously? I’ve read Faust and seen it performed but not Grabbe. I did like the expensive furniture on the fire thing, but of course, he dictates the value of things so why not. Why does the devil require the son study philosophy? And why such exclamation? A brief answer would be much appreciated. I feel fairly sure I know the answer already though! Would you also humour me in summing up “The Prince” in just two words? I’ll explain later.

I’m sorry I didn’t respond to comments on taxation of churches and other organizations. I could offer a little hot air like all religious institutions should pay tax like any business because that’s what they are, the business of mind control. And that Scientific Foundations like Dr. Dawkins’ get all the breaks possible because they’re worthy of it. This however would not address more fundamental problems such as the nature of that mythical beast “The Economy”. On a deeper level I feel the whole monetary system needs to be junked. I’m in favour of radical reform (they say it runs in the family) and ideas like “The Venus Project” and the “Zeitgeist Movement” of which I am a member. Politics in my country is a disgraceful and corrupt game that I want no part of.

Please forgive my late reply, I have so much on the go at the moment, I think I’m suffering from a bit of burnout. I’ve slept through almost all the last two days. Still no sign of jesus or the holy grail! I laughed heartily at your recommendations. Keeping on the philosophical trail, I have a recommendation for you “An Introduction to Metaphysics” by Henri Bergson. It’s short, very well written and easily understood. Please don’t give up on philosophy just yet. I will get to my anecdote soon but I’ve blathered on too long already today.
Regards

Noble Spinoza, I can’t help but admire him. There is so much about him that I find interesting. (Perhaps more so than his philosophy.) Again the historical significance and his background details are vital. He became a hero to me when I researched the details of his excommunication. A damning document if ever there was one. (I have an anecdote about this which reminds of me your observations regarding Professors, Philosophy and their presentations. It would need an awful lot of explaining so I’ll save it for another time perhaps.)

Your subtle allusion to damnation was not lost on me and seems even more apt when I mention my appreciation of “Paradise Lost” as a young atheist. Just his condemnation of the rhyming couplet made me think I’m in for something special here. It seemed like a lot of hard work at the time but it was sure was worth it. He broke all the rules and made the Devil a hero, anything was possible.
I haven’t read the “Ancestors Tale” but have read “The Selfish Gene”, “The Extended Phenotype” and “The God Delusion”. In the latter (as I’m sure you’re aware) Dawkins destroys the ontological proof for what it is, an infantile argument. I love his “Nur Nurny Nur Nur, all atheists are fools” line. When checking, I came across this a few pages further on.

”I mean it as a compliment when I say you could almost define a philosopher as someone who won’t take common sense for an answer.”

On my first reading of the selfish gene, I marvelled at everything, even his referencing skills. That all came to an abrupt halt at chapter 11, (I think, it’s out on loan again) Memes, the new replicators. I felt sure his suggestion was incorrect and that I would find a flaw in it somewhere. Over the years I gradually became more accepting and nowadays refer to it often. When I think of it I’m reminded of a JFK quote that goes,

“A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on”

Your horror story about the Cedars is very interesting. I used to have my own atheist website and was making a film for it about the power of religious buildings in the town I live. An embarrassing trailer for it still exists on “You Tube”. Sadly I closed the website down shortly after and the film was never finished. Maybe one day….

Did you know that it is fabled that the Holy Grail is buried close to where I live? A family fable says we are related to W.T. Stead.
I’ll let you know soon as MJ arrives. The order confirmation says 7-28 days, it had better be damn good!

I simply cannot be interested in everything. For example, I’ve never hankered to learn anything about chemistry although I realize that it plays a vital part in our existence—I wish I could say the same thing about philosophy.

I have already viewed the episode on philosophy in the Middle Ages which was somewhat more palatable, as it was basically historical. Perhaps you can help. I do not understand the difficulty in refuting the ontological argument—just deny the premise by affirming the maximum. Archimedes used this affirmation to prove the number of primes to be infinite—and as a side note, Cantor discovered maxima (or the infinitely large) inside maxima., e.g., there are an infinite number of fractions and there are an infinite number of whole numbers, yet whole numbers comprise a subgroup of the fractions which leads to the puzzling, if not absurd, notion of infinities within infinities, of prime concern in group theory. This is as purely logical an argument as the ontological and at least relies on the definition of maximum rather than a shakey premise.

Scientology, what a misleading name!, I am reminded of another anecdote. I was born at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital ten years after George Gershwin died there. You can imagine my surprise when in the 70’s, shortly after I had moved three blocks from my birthplace, I discovered that it had been desecrated: the building had been painted a ghastly purple shade and transmogrified into one the headquarters of the “Church” of Scientology. For three years, this greeted me every morning upon my awakening.

But speaking of Scientology (and I hate dignifying it by spelling it with a capital S), to answer your question, I don’t know how it’s regarded in this country from a legal perspective. I believe the issue you are leading to is the non-taxation of churches. Deep down, I believe that churches should have to pay taxes just like any other business; however, if we required this, organizations such as Dr. Dawkins’ would probably have to as well. So it’s damned if you do and damned if you don’t (I know you will appreciate the appositeness of the predicate adjective).

As long as we’re on Dr. Dawkins, have you read his book “The Ancestor’s Tale?” If so, your thoughts.

I hope, bank holidays and all, your post office gets back on the ball, for I am dying to hear your opinion of “Misquoting Jesus.”

Once again, very well done for carrying on with something that is obviously not to your taste. You need not go any further; I already consider your end of the bargain fulfilled. I will read “Misquoting Jesus” and give my opinion regardless. This is a documentary for those who really want to seek out the views of the interviewees and can put up with the stuffy and uninspiring presentation.

The lack of energy you describe is typical of many philosophical debates presented by the media and is another reason for its bad reputation. There are other docs here that might be better suited if you’re interested. An appreciation of Philosophy may not come soon but in my humble opinion, given enough attention, it will surely come. Don’t take my word for it though; I’m sure you must have friends or acquaintances who can extol its virtues.

I enjoyed your anecdotes immensely and they explain much. I know you think I overrate you, but what you described confirms my opinion that your writing skills and command of the English language are excellent. I don’t expect “Misquoting Jesus” to arrive for a few days yet, our slow postal service is even worse after Bank Holidays.

On a bit of a tangent, when I was in the bookstore my eye was drawn to this title “Bare-faced Messiah” by Russell Miller. A quick glance told me it was about L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology, I put it straight back. Scientology is virtually nonexistent in this country. They call it a church but is it classed as a religion in the U.S.? Something must have stuck in my mind though because I decided to look it up online. It’s available free in pdf for download or just browse as a web page. Wikipedia has an article on it, which is where I got this from.

“Martin Gardner’s review in Nature called Bare-faced Messiah an “admirable, meticulously documented biography”.”

I thought it might interest you.