TFF, you write
Generally atheists consider religion-peddlers to be obscurantists.
I am no fan of obscurant religionists, or theologies. This is why I am not a tradional theist.
You mention, "Some very worthwhile things do take effort to understand, but they can be understood to those who are willing to invest the time - thermodynamics, etc...."
I accept this to be so. For example, I do not understand calculus, or the physics ot television. However, I know and have some confidence in the fact that there are those who do. Television manufacturers do make TV's. Engineers do build bridges and other marvellous structures with the help of maths.
I have a theological concept which I think of as transparent. I call this concept G?D. I am testing this concept, on a daily basis, For me, it works. I do not pray in the traditional way, because it does not work.
BTW, I find the kind of dialogue offered above, quite stimulating, and civilized, even where I disagree, which is not all that often. I always try to look for points of agreement.
BACK TO ECONOMICS: Terry you mention my question:
"What are some of the best books and studies on what our eating so much animal protein is doing to our health and the ecology?"
Have you heard of DIET FOR A SMALL PLANET By Frances Moore Lappe? (1979)
WHO HAS HEARD OF THE ECONOMIST BERNARD LIETAER?
http://www.odemagazine.com/article.php?aID=4147Also check out
http://www.transaction.netand
http://www.torontodollar.combacked by the Mayor of Toronto
