What is Religion Actually for? Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury on Religion

A rational atheist, Isaac Asimov, and a religious, Ray Bradbury on religion.

Source:

1. Isaac Asimov with Charlie Rose, 1985
2. Ray Bradbury, Day at NightRay 1974
3. Asimov at 39, Richard D. Heffner, The Open Mind, 1988
4. A Conversation with Ray Bradbury, UCTV, 2001

[dukeon]

I could listen to Asimov all day. Thanks for this.

[plztnboy]

Asimov's clarity of mind and paucity with words is so inspiring.

[scottalpert]

Ray was my neighbor growing up and friend. I love this recording of him, it shows who he was, how he looked at the world, and what I knew - his excitement for life. I miss him. I was with him a few months before he died. He knew the inevitable was coming soon, but still was as sharp as a tack and always preached to love the people in your life as much as you could.

[Spiritof_]

I've read every piece of fiction these 2 have written that I could get my hands on. Asimov wrote more from extrapolative science, Bradbury wrote more fantasy. I've loved their novels and stories since learning to read, and highly recommend the experience. Their writings reveal so much about the psychology and sociology of our species.

[TerryUniGeezerPeterson]

Bradbury made many irrational claims and remarks. Asimov, on the other hand, was clear, concise and factual. Stark difference.

[FGP_Pro]

Bradbury is a great writer. But, I'll follow Asimov on the science.

[mattdonna]

A quote from Omni magazine, decades ago ; Religion sells people comfort from the fear of their own mortality.

[wrdguy]

Both of these writers' works had a great influence on me, in my youth. It's a great privilege to hear them, in their own words.

[bluestrife]

That was a breath of fresh air. To hear such an intelligent and prolific man like Asimov speak how I feel about religion. Such a cool guy.

[alphabravo]

While I am an atheist, I still enjoy Bradbury a lot. Although it wasn't sci-fi, "Sun and Shadow" was my favorite story.

[Poignant_Ritual]

Bradbury seems to argue that since knowlege is approximate, all competing theories can be married under their own ignorance. Im sure we will never know or understand all the intricacies of life or how earth came be as it is, but we undoubtedly have a more robust explanation in an empirical explanation through science than we ever have gotten from anyone's interpretation of the first few chapters of Genesis.

[jensonee]

i used to read these author's books when i was a teen. now i'm 79 and things, knowledge, have progressed way beyond that time.

[billstrat]

There's no one like Isaac Asimov. I, thankfully, discovered his non-fiction writing 30 years ago and I'm blown away by his directness, clarity, honesty, knowledge and singular purpose of educating. Read his guides to Shakespeare, the bible and anything you can find of his non-fiction writing. I can't speak to his fiction writing, as I haven't read that, but his bridge from the scientific world to the layman's world is eye-opening. I owe my escape from religious thought to Carl Sagan, but most of my education of reality is because of Isaac Asimov's beautifully "simple" factual writings. He's also one of the most prolific writers of all time, so there's a lot to read.

[bobs]

They didn't answer the question "what is religion for". Fundamentally religion functions as a tribal group identity.

[hrh]

Religion began when the first conman met the first fool -- Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

[jaimealfaro]

What a pair of hugemongous, gigantic writers, philosopher's! We have been so lucky to be alive while these two fabulous writers were on the planet.

[bobbyperry-us]

Two great sci-fi writers. Enjoyed their storys as a kid & as an adult!!

[jameslaguardia]

The ABCs of science fiction are Asimov, Bradbury, and Clarke. I've read dozens of books from each, and appreciate each author for their own unique style. Asimov dealt with huge ideas and tied stories that span millennia together with great characters. Bradbury told smaller, more fantastic tales that were really entertaining and memorable. But for the hardest of hard sci-fi, nobody beats Clarke. Would have liked to see pieces of some of his interviews in this collection, too.

[chasjacks]

Excellent 6 minutes of discussion. Enjoyable to hear reasonable people conversing.

[philb]

Anybody who says "It's only a theory" about what science has discovered doesn't understand what "theory" means in a scientific context.