In the spirit of generosity and love for our fellow humans that even a lowly, hellbound atheist like me can appreciate and aspire to at this time of year, I’d like to share something very special with you.
When I was a wee boy, Christmas was about three things — family, presents (well I was a kid!) and the Royal Institution Christmas lectures. For those of you unfamiliar with the latter, these were accessible (but not dumbed-down beyond recogntition) science lectures, aimed principally at children and shown over the holiday period on the BBC. There were so informative, frightfully British and inspiring that I watched them well into adulthood — and this from 1991 is one of my favourites.
Enjoy!
You’re right, I did enjoy that
Aww, a young(ish) Richie D, cute. Seriously though I doubt many of the children were following all his arguments/analogies, I know I would have had trouble at 11 or whatever they were. I definitely think he should stick with adult audiences, it just suits him better.
Well, I dunno about cute — but that shirt! Wow!
Yes, I’ve often wondered in general how much kids take away from the RI Christmas lectures. I remember early ones, when I was a kid myself, that held my interest but which I didn’t fully grasp. Dawkins did a decent enough job, but I know what you mean. Must be tough getting the right balance.
This is wonderful and totally unfamiliar to me. I’ll have to share it with my kids, a good homeschool tool. The value of science and logic can’t be overestimated. I loved science growing up. Started college to become a biologist. Despite my drift into subjects you’d probably consider mythology and metaphysics
, I’m still a scientist at heart.
Great to hear you’ll be sharing it with your kids, Teresa. I’ll be interested in hearing how they receive it.
Incidentally, the full series of Dawkins RI Christmas lectures (about five, in all) are available here.
Ah, well, we all drift on occasion
An enquiry into the alternatives isn’t necessarily a bad thing — especially when balanced with your obvious love of (and skill with) science. 