by William Whyte Religion – let’s face it – is, as much as anything, about control. Just look through the books of the Bible, or the verses of the Koran, or even the precepts of Buddhism. To be sure, religion is not just about control. It’s about the transcendent, the numinous, the divine. It’s about encountering God. But, when … [Read more...] about Religion and Control
My Life Among the Secular Fundamentalists.
Why is Richard Dawkins So Cross?
by William Whyte Why is Richard Dawkins so cross? Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford; author of the Selfish Gene: surely he has everything to smile about? He has a lovely job, a lovely life, and lovely hair. There’s even a new Festschrift for him, a volume in his honour that proclaims him one of the most significant thinkers of the modern … [Read more...] about Why is Richard Dawkins So Cross?
Sikhism: A Tribal Tragedy
Sikhism: a tribal tragedy by Devinderjit Singh Having dining rights on High Table at an Oxbridge College is a great privilege. It provides an ideal opportunity to learn from one's colleagues, about a wide array of disparate subjects, in the pleasant and informal setting of an evening meal; likewise, conversations with … [Read more...] about Sikhism: A Tribal Tragedy