tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006149227755828619.post5474074381107592398..comments2024-02-28T07:39:18.803+00:00Comments on Clay Testament: My Small Gripe with Gabriel Gudding; My Larger Gripe with Sam HarrisEric Maderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10612913626447216776noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006149227755828619.post-80421844832996629632016-11-03T15:54:29.104+00:002016-11-03T15:54:29.104+00:00Thanks for the good word, Joanie. I do think your ...Thanks for the good word, Joanie. I do think your advice re: Facebook worth taking into consideration. I've gotten involved in many a good discussion there, but that accounts for what percentage of the time I spend reading and following links? <br /><br />As for Gudding's poetry, his most recent work doesn't much interest me, but much of the early work I find brilliant. Eric Maderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10612913626447216776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006149227755828619.post-60407687736557146382016-11-02T03:48:51.287+00:002016-11-02T03:48:51.287+00:00wandered over here quite by accident. Revealing. A...wandered over here quite by accident. Revealing. A reason not yet mentioned for deleting EM's comments: they're too intelligent for facebook-- but then again I've as much respect for facebook as Harris and Pinker have for Christianity. (Stay away from facebook, EM, it will rot your brain and soul!) I've never warmed to the poetry: all trick, no mirrors. Thanks, EM, and good luck.Joanie Mackowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07567635203995936774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006149227755828619.post-86015775071269100572014-01-06T16:09:17.812+00:002014-01-06T16:09:17.812+00:00Gudding's deletions and arguments here make hi...Gudding's deletions and arguments here make him look pretty bad.<br /><br />I'll admit to a particular bias (I am a Christian), but it is possible to remain objective when reading through the entire interaction here. This I have done my best to do. <br /><br />My comments here are now written to support and encouragement Eric, whom I have never met or known, and whose blog I have discovered only upon doing some basic internet research into Gabriel Gudding and his poetry. That, long after these facebook interactions seem to have taken place.<br /><br />In these interactions, Gudding has consistently denigrated a specific set of beliefs held by others in these interactions, as he asserts they are indeed foolish and (this next statement presumes the logic behind his arguments) are therefore deserving of ridicule and condescension. Gudding maintains this argumentative stance throughout the discussion, but his deletions are more deleterious to the discussion, as Eric and John point out. They also have the effect of disrespect both for their belief system and for them as individuals. <br /><br />This is unfortunate for Gudding and is, frankly, poor form. He looks really bad.<br /><br />It's also overtly aggressive and offensive. For Gudding to do so (in the context of facebook, or anywhere else for that matter) effectively makes him appear as though he's attempting an intelligent tantrum. Perhaps that's the nature of all debate.<br /><br />It's unfortunate too that the effect of Gudding's argument is one of intolerance and absolutism. I'm not fully familiar with his tradition of meditation practices, but I've long thought that one central tenet to practicing meditation was to remain "open," thereby increasing tolerance and acceptance of differences. Here, Gudding appears neither "open" and certainly not tolerant. He comes off as juvenile.<br /><br />Which is maybe appropriate. His own writing bears the earmarks of juvenilia, and his own facebook interactions (as reported here) hypocritically bear the earmarks of intolerance and overt condescension, aggression, and offense. <br /><br />They're ridiculous.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5006149227755828619.post-29487863550242888132012-02-26T23:11:13.408+00:002012-02-26T23:11:13.408+00:00I have moved from conservative Christianity to agn...I have moved from conservative Christianity to agnosticism over a lifetime, and I am somewhat familiar with Christian theology, history, and the issues discussed in this Mader-Gudding interaction. After reading Mader's introductory remarks my initial reaction was: much too strong and likely quite counterproductive. After reading it all and trying to see this interaction fairly, my vote goes to Gudding, but I would have been better off not reading any of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com