Some people think atheists can’t grasp the transcendental sublimity of sacred art. Wrong. Some of us like it just fine; we just feel no compulsion to ascribe the response we feel to any supernatural explanation. What’s being “transcended” is the ordinariness of our typical emotional states, not the naturalistic laws that describe their origin or [...]

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Overheard as I was walking out of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s opening night concert last night:
“That’s not the sort of thing you pick if you want to get chosen for Fort Wayne.”
Context: This year the Philharmonic is auditioning eight candidates for the Music Director’s position, to replace Edvard Tchivzhel. Each gets to conduct two [...]

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