[View the story "Alain de Botton: A Twitterscript" on Storify ]Alain de Botton: A Twitterscript
We've collected some highlights of Krista's interview with Alain deBotton. He is the author of "Religion for Atheists."
Storified by On Being · Wed, Sep 05 2012 10:00:03
We're tweeting Krista's interview with @alaindebotton for the next 60 minutes - he's a philosopher of everyday life.On Being
"Religion for all it's faults and excess has some high points that were incredibly fascinating, beautiful, inspiring." -Alain de BottonOn Being
"Most debates on religion center around the existence of God. They are boring because no one ever makes any headway."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"I'm arguing for a reverse colonization, nonbelievers today can do this with religion, just as religion did it with them."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"It is entirely possible to be good and kind and to believe in nothing."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"Religions recognize that if we are to be good and kind we need reminders that we have to do this."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"Religions are interested in training us to be observed. Having a public space colored by moral atmosphere can help."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"All religions start from the idea that we don't know how to live." ~@alaindebotton on the need for educating the whole of a personOn Being
"All religions start from the idea that we don't know how to live.This is all part of their core curriculum."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"Imagine trying to have a relationship with someone who thinks perfectibility is within the grasp."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
Does anybody have questions for @alaindebotton you'd like Krista Tippett to ask him?On Being
"Religions create a communal moment where you're given license, which would be hard if you were left to do it on your own."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"We're very suspicious of ritual, the idea is that you should do this in private."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"Religion is multimedia in a way that the secular world is still grappling with."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"Why should these nice maneuvers only be the preserve of religion? They're for all of us."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"Most of our lives are lived right against the present moment. We get so stressed."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"If I was different I would be a believer, I can only speak from a non-believing position."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"We're still very much at the beginning, working out how to live."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"We're still very much at the beginning, working out how to live."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"Do atheists have souls? In a strict religious sense, no. In the loose sense, yes."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"Do atheists have souls? In a strict religious sense, no. In the loose sense, yes."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"Atheists have amazing moments under the stars as well. It's how we choose to interpret it."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"There's so much more in common between believers and non-believers than we might think."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"I really don't feel that a belief in a divine being rings bells with me."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"I'm happyto being in the atheist box, but it's a much broader box than we've allowed for."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"Tolerance is right at the heart of many religions. Tolerance does not mean agreeing with people."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"How can we live with people whose views we don't like very much? It's about the stranger."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"Too often when we decide 'I don't believe' that can often mean complete withdrawal from all aspects of religiosity."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"One way through which evil reaches us is through (physical) ugliness."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
"I'm interested in the promotion of wisdom. It's a kind of life's mission."
-@alaindebottonOn Being
That concludes Krista's interview with @alaindebotton, thank you for following. And look for a show in the future.On Being
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