Skid

Larry Wall, the creator of the Perl language, recently responded to some questions from Slashdot readers:

<a href="http://interviews.slashdot.org/interviews/02/09/06/1343222.shtml?tid=145" target="_blank">Larry Wall on Perl, Religion</a>

In question #7 (you'll need to scroll down quite a bit), he addresses the "role of religion", and details some of his religious views.

For you non-software geeks, Larry is kind of a hero and legend among many people in the field.

I've read his response a few times, and it still isn't making much sense to me. I see various statements that I don't agree with -- for example:

I'm very interested in any opinions (both pro and con) that anyone may have.

Thanks!

Mark

P.S. I'd love to see Koy disect this. How about one more for the road??

<img src="graemlins/notworthy.gif" border="0" alt="[Not Worthy]" />

phlebas

Yes, I often turn to computer experts for my information about comparitive morality

I would go into more detail, but the local TV weather man has just posted his dissertation on the thematic similarities among the novels of Tolstoy and Hugo, and the poetry of Emily Dickinson. It's going to be the most informative article since National Football League commissioner Paul Tagliabue wrote on how bone marrow diseases can be prevented with irradiated electrolyte injections.

Skid

I should probably clarify a bit -- it's not as much his take on morality, but his arguments for the existence of the christian god that interests me.

Does he have anything new or unique to say, or is it just the same old arguments in disguse?

Incidentally, I have a few colleagues that *do* turn to people like him to defend their faith. After all - if he's such a genius in computer languages and software, then *of course* he can't be wrong on religion. Right??

sandlewood

I found that section somewhat interesting reading since I’m also a computer programmer. I guess it just goes to show you that being the inventor of a computer language is no cure for irrational thinking.
And yet, unless I missed it, he does not follow this by defining his god.
What basis does he have for making this claim? None. I think agnostics know what they want more than he knows want they want. Perhaps he wants to believe that agnostics don’t want to know.
Hehehehe. I guess he didn’t get this on tape, though, did he? How did God talk to him? How did he know it wasn’t his own thoughts and conscience he was hearing? How can he argue against another person who claims that God talks to him and say something completely opposite? Computer science isn’t like real science. It doesn’t require it’s scientists to follow empirical and scientific methods based on evidence.
I love how theists claim that most other theists have it wrong. They essentially are saying, “Yes, most other Christians don’t have it right. But I do. Because I say I do. Because I think I’m smarter than other people and I have a special ability to see what the correct understanding is. And I don’t have to prove it.”

Here’s more of that:
Sounds like something he made up in his own mind. Where does it say that believers must be creative? All they must be is obedient.

There’s plenty more wrong there, but no sense in bending anyone’s ear any more.

[ September 06, 2002: Message edited by: sandlewood ]</p>

phlebas

I guess it's closer to being the latter, although he's not really giving any arguments. He's really just asserting that God exists, and the closest thing he gives to an argument is that God told him so.

Oh, I know. That's also why we keep asking movie stars about political issues

"Hey, I like how Martin Sheen looks as President on The West Wing! I bet he'd be a good one is real life!" (The people who believe that should see him as a presidential candidate in The Dead Zone and recall that his drinking habits once make the young GWB look like a cloistered monk.)

Skid

I've never thought about it this way -- you're right. I think my devoted colleagues assume his extensive computer and "technical" knowledge means that he applies scientific methods to all aspects of his life.

Here's my personal favorite:

Of course, it's quite easy to demonstrate that God is good to those looking for him, but *not* good to those who aren't.

K

The story of Santa is so simple a child can understand it, and so complicated that physicists can't. I guess that must make it true.

Ut

Perl scripts are so simple a child can write them, and so complicated a programmer can't read them.

Autonemesis

Tcl/Tk is the true scripting language. When will Slashdot interview Dr. John Ousterhout? I feel persecuted.

wade-w

lol... Expect rules!