Comments on: Barbaric wisdom http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/30/barbaric-wisdom/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:12:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: David Dvorkin http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/30/barbaric-wisdom/comment-page-1/#comment-24041 David Dvorkin Wed, 02 May 2007 12:35:33 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/30/barbaric-wisdom/#comment-24041 Howard wrote once that it's easier for an atheist writer to create convincing gods than for a theist, by which I think he meant a monotheist. The latter can't let himself go; his beliefs interfere. An interesting claim, and I think it's true. Presumably, a polytheist wouldn't have the same problem. Yes, Howard must have had a rich fantasy life, probably trying to compensate for the reality. Conan certainly didn't kill himself when his mother died. Howard wrote once that it’s easier for an atheist writer to create convincing gods than for a theist, by which I think he meant a monotheist. The latter can’t let himself go; his beliefs interfere.

An interesting claim, and I think it’s true. Presumably, a polytheist wouldn’t have the same problem.

Yes, Howard must have had a rich fantasy life, probably trying to compensate for the reality. Conan certainly didn’t kill himself when his mother died.

]]> By: Pedro Timóteo http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/30/barbaric-wisdom/comment-page-1/#comment-24036 Pedro Timóteo Wed, 02 May 2007 10:49:22 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/30/barbaric-wisdom/#comment-24036 It's the wisdom of his fictional barbarian character. I don't think Howard acted like this in real life (though he might have wished he could). Incidentally, Howard might have been an atheist, but in his fictional world the gods are real, though it's probably best not to attract their attention. It’s the wisdom of his fictional barbarian character. I don’t think Howard acted like this in real life (though he might have wished he could).

Incidentally, Howard might have been an atheist, but in his fictional world the gods are real, though it’s probably best not to attract their attention.

]]> By: David Dvorkin http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/30/barbaric-wisdom/comment-page-1/#comment-24017 David Dvorkin Wed, 02 May 2007 00:24:33 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2007/04/30/barbaric-wisdom/#comment-24017 But it's not barbaric wisdom. It's the wisdom of writer Robert E. Howard, who was an atheist. But it’s not barbaric wisdom. It’s the wisdom of writer Robert E. Howard, who was an atheist.

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