http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/simon-smart/ Simon Smart is a Director of the Centre for Public Christianity. He is the author of Bright Lights Dark Nights – the enduring faith of 13 remarkable Australians and the Editor of A Spectator’s Guide to Worldviews. A former History and English teacher, he studied theology in Vancouver, Canada, where the skiing is better than just about anywhere. Simon is an inept but enthusiastic surfer and lives on Sydney’s northern beaches. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/ignorance-is-more-concerning-than-religion-in-public-life/ I was once at a dinner party when a friend, who I think had read a Robert Fisk article that morning, began explaining an aspect of Middle Eastern politics. Unbeknown to her, one of the guests was something of an expert in the field, and was nodding politely at my friend’s newfound wisdom. I felt the need to jump in and save her from embarrassment. I have something of a similar response to Brendan Brown’s appeals to rationality (Why an Atheist Prime Minister is better The Punch Nov 10). The article, picking up on the now familiar New Atheist shtick makes me want to point out some realities of history and philosophy that the writer seems unaware of.  There are some bold claims here. We read for instance that, “even the most devout of Jesus’ disciples would admit that the Bible makes an underwhelming historical document.” feedback@thepunch.com.au (Simon Smart) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/ignorance-is-more-concerning-than-religion-in-public-life/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/ignorance-is-more-concerning-than-religion-in-public-life/#item4459 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:50:38 +0000 Simon Smart | Author bios | The Punch