Those of you who read A.C. Grayling’s arrogant and intellectually vacuous thrashing of Steve Fuller’s new book, Dissent Over Descent: Evolution’s 500-Year War on Intelligent Design, will want to know that Fuller now has a reply available at the New Humanist.
Grayling’s method is to simplify opponents’ arguments to the point of misrepresenting them. Just as bad, Grayling’s “review” reveals a woefully disappointing grasp of the the origins of modern science and the history of Christianity. One begins to wonder whether the days of truly intellectual atheists are over. Perhaps it is no longer possible for atheists, uneducated in the history of Christianity and its doctrines, to level serious, challenging criticisms of the faith. It seems they just have too little knowledge. And in this case, this theological miseducation leads Grayling to misunderstand the history of modern science and spew 19th century clichés about “religion” the way Matt Damon regurgitates Maureen Dowd’s anti-Palin talking points.
The review was so smug and flimsy that Fuller’s smack-down reply is warranted. Do have a look.