Wednesday 17 October 2012

Dear Religion...

The following tweet has been doing the rounds. I've no idea who the original came from, but here's one possible source:

"Dear Religion, This week I safely dropped a man from space while you shot a child in the head for wanting to go to school. Yours, Science."

In many ways, of course, the perfect tweet. Quite witty, very topical and fits in 140 characters.

A few thoughts strike me. One is that dragging poor Malala into this argument is a bit rotten.

Another is, of course, that it sets up one of those false dichotomies so beloved of fundies on both sides of every argument. Science or Religion? I have to choose? Who decided that? Was it the same person that decided that the use of a gun isn't "Science" but jumping out of the edge of space is? I was planning both to carry out X-ray crystallography on my cake, and eat it. As the great man said, I want it all and I want it now (and I do want to live forever, since you asked).*

Finally, if we're in a world of false dichotomies for satirical intent, we can all play that game. Can I suggest:

"Dear Science, while you whinged about your cut grants I dropped a man out of space for publicity. In your face! Love Corporate Sponsorship"

* Before anyone tells me there's no point in carrying out crystallography on a cake - I know. It's NMR for cakes. Crystallography for crackers.

6 comments :

  1. I'm suspicious of anyone who talks about science and religion in the same breath.

    Are you sure you're not Richard Dawkins?

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    1. I've just checked, and I can confirm I'm not married to any timelords.

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  2. AE, you of all people should know that this is an example of one of those "allegorical" sayings, it's not meant to be taken *literally*... :)

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  3. I understood that this had originated with Ricky Gervais

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  4. I seem to recall the guy in the balloon prayed before he jumped. As would most people!

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