Interesting question, Kevin. Personally, I would say I agree with Johnson in that I have empathy for people and would find it difficult to harm another for that reason. Also, I just plain don't want to. Why should I WANT to kill another person? I guess that works with the empathy response - I would ...

Nietzsche's philosophy is like the Twilight series. If you don't like it, you don't "get" it. ;) @Anderson : I've not heard that story. @Grim : I don't think Anderson was really pushing the Übermensch concept. Regardless, I don't think the fact that it appears in one book makes it irreleva...

Why would it not be worth it?

He got pneumonia and in his weakened state died of a stroke. Whether or not his madness was caused by syphilis cannot really be said. Labeling such a thing syphilis was common in his time, but some people challenge the diagnosis now. Syphilis may still be the culprit for his insanity, but it may not...

I would love to read Tin Drum - from your description Suzanne, it sounds like it would be a great book to put forth as the next pick. I don't know about an "additional pick", I think that idea is kind of weird, and more for people who find the main pick too complex or challenging. It seems...

Hey Kiwi - you might like "Bridge of Birds" by Barry Hughart. It is set in a made up version of Ancient China, and has a lot of magical themes mingling with the light story. The characters also end up exploring some ruins and other lost or mysterious places. I found it to be a very enchant...

Yes, the book and show have a lot of differences. Changes were made to a lot of the characters - even the main character is quite different. In the book she is blonde is kind of a jerk, but eventually becomes a better person due to her experiences with the vampire brothers. I hope you enjoy it, if y...

I'm glad you liked it! Watts is a marine biologist so he has a pretty excellent knowledge base to draw from. He wrote a more "critically acclaimed" novel called Blindsight that was in space, and while I found it enjoyable, it didn't have the depth and realism that Starfish had. As to writi...

If your question is why Dawkins or some other scientist personally has rejected God due to science, you'll have to ask them. Maybe their answers are in their books, as Whimsy suggests. As I said, the only reason I have in regards to science being contradictory to God (my personal explanation as requ...

What I am looking for is your personal explanation as to why science makes God unnecessary. I would like one paragraph. I am with Interbane. I think the question is backward (burden of proof, etc etc). Why is God necessary? I have no answer to that, and thus, he is unnecessary. This "Necessary...