I just finished watching a copy of a three-part program that was broadcast in England three years ago — A Brief History of Disbelief, narrated by Jonathan Miller. All I can say is … wow. It’s less an advocacy of atheism than a kind of post-atheism, a historical and philosophical review of this strange, dying idea of “religion” that reveals the progressive growth of atheistic thought. It’s wonderfully dismissive. The real question isn’t how people can disbelieve, but how faith can survive and still linger on.
Here’s a brief summary of the programs:
A Brief History of Disbelief combines an exploration of the origins of Miller’s own lack of belief with historical perspective and interviews with leading authorities, including biologist Richard Dawkins, philosopher Daniel Dennett, recently deceased playwright Arthur Miller, and physicist Steven Weinberg.
“In making this series I have inevitably discovered that the history of faith and doubt is a great deal more complicated than it might seem,” Jonathan Miller declares. Among the program’s surprising revelations is that philosophy, not science as often assumed, played a larger role in the gradual erosion of belief. And contrary to what many Christian fundamentalists today consider America’s founding principles, the first presidents were actually skeptical of religion. A Brief History of Disbelief traces the history of the first “unbelievers” in ancient Greece through the role of disbelief in America’s founding to its flourishing today.
Part I: Shadows of Doubt
Miller visits the site of the absent Twin Towers to consider the religious implications of 9/11 and meets Arthur Miller and the philosopher Colin McGinn. He searches for evidence of the first “unbelievers” in ancient Greece and examines some of the modern theories around why people have always tended to believe in mythology and magic.Part II: Noughts and Crosses
With the domination of Christianity from 500 AD, Miller wonders how disbelief began to re-emerge in the 15th and 16th centuries. He discovers that division within the Church played a more powerful role than the scientific discoveries of the period. He also visits Paris, the home of the 18th century atheist Baron D’Holbach, and shows how politically dangerous it was to undermine the religious faith of the masses.Part III: The Final Hour
The history of disbelief continues with the ideas of self-taught philosopher Thomas Paine, the revolutionary studies of geology, and the evolutionary theories of Darwin. Miller looks at the Freudian view that religion is a “thought disorder.” He also examines his motivation behind making the series touching on the issues of death and the religious fanaticism of the 21st century.
Now for the shocking news: it’s going to be shown in the US. This is a series that atheists of all stripes should savor — it’s intelligent and literate and thought-provoking. Make sure you catch it on the evening of 4 May.
It should also infuriate and inspire angry denunciations from the religious, except for two things.
One: it’s intelligent and literate and thought-provoking. This is not flashy pap, there are no special effects — it’s a personable old fellow strolling around historic sites and explaining things and having conversations with people. It’s an entirely intellectual exercise, so you will need to be prepared for more thinking, less entertaining.
Two: it’s buried. Try searching the PBS site for any mention of the program; as of this moment, it’s not there! You can find an indirect mention of it under a short portrait of the philosopher Colin McGinn, but otherwise … shhhh. Let’s not stir up the reactionary religious element by making a big deal of their heretical programming. That may change; let’s hope PBS can get a little more aggressive about this fascinating jewel of a program.
For now, you can check the PBS schedule for 4 May, and look for Bill Moyers’ program—that’s where it’s supposed to be shown. We Morris residents will presumably get to see it at 10pm that day.
What took you so long? This particular show’s been available on BitTorrent for quite a while now. I happened to have watched it many months ago. ;-)
Search YouTube for “History of Disbelief”. Unfortunately, it is all in tiny (10 min) segments, but at least you’ll get the flavour.
Well of course it’s buried, I’m shocked it’s going to be shown at all.
Thanks to GeneMachine I’ll be downloading it and watching it. I love the internets.
I saw this on first broadcast. It’s one of the best documentary series I’ve seen, and I’m absolutely amazed that it’s going to be broadcast in the US at all.
PZ,
Did you also come across the series of interviews Miller did to accompany the programs. The were called The Atheism Tapes. In them there were extended interviews with several of the contributors the the main program. The people interviews were Colin McGinn, Steven Weinberg, Arthur Miller, Richard Dawkins, Denys Turner and Dan Dennett.
If you manage to find them they are well worth watching.
I was disappointed to learn that the BBC had no plans for a DVD release. At least this way, I can possibly get a better copy of it (oops, did I say that?).
One of my favorite programs–especially the “Atheism Tapes,” which were six uncut interviews broadcast later. If you haven’t seen them, too, you should.
There’s a link from Richard Dawkin’s site that goes to streaming video of the whole programs, not segments. Same for the atheism tapes.
PZ,
I work for the Institute for Humanist Studies (IHS). The IHS is one of several humanist organizations underwriting the broadcast of this program on public television stations throughout the U.S.
You are too hasty in your conspiracy against PBS. Here is language directly from the underwriters regarding this:
Special Note: “A Brief History of Disbelief” is not being aired exclusively by PBS, and it is not being carried on a national feed. Your local public television station may be airing the show on a different day and time than what is listed above. To find out when the show is airing in your area, please consult our broadcast calendar.
http://www.abriefhistoryofdisbelief.org/NewFiles/Disbelief%20Calendar.pdf
In other words, we marketed the program directly to public television stations, not to PBS. Many PBS member stations will be airing the program, however.
Bill Moyers will air an interview with Jonathan Miller on May 4. The program will air on public television stations after May 4.
Thank you.
…be prepared for more thinking, less entertaining.
Thinking is entertaining. Most fun thing there is.
Thanks for the info, HumanistPR. Is there a schedule for those of us who don’t live in Wichita, Roanoke, Muncie, or Tampa? That’s a pretty limited distribution.
“A Brief History of Disbelief combines an exploration of the origins of Miller’s own lack of belief with historical perspective and interviews with leading authorities, including biologist Richard Dawkins, philosopher Daniel Dennett, recently deceased playwright Arthur Miller, and physicist Steven Weinberg.”
He interviews recently deceased Arthur Miller ?
AHA! This clearly PROVES there must be an afterlife !
Was Marilyn there ?
Ohboy, ohboy, ohboy, ohboy!
Can’t wait. Thank you, IHS. Thank you, PBS (you are still not out of the doghouse, however, for broadcasting the Richard Perle Hour).
part 1 here:
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v290167nBNFCMmq
Parts 2 and 3 follow.
One of the best parts of this series is seeing King Theoden–I mean Bernard Hill–reading quotes from famous atheists from history.
Pts. 1, 2, 3 here:
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v290167nBNFCMmq
Thanks for this update, HumanistPR.
The PDF calendar lists only 8 showings, in Muncie, Roanoke and a few other locales.
I have the printed May schedules for both KQED (San Francisco) and KTEH (San Jose) here in silicon valley and there’s no obvious listing in either. The KQED online calendar for May 4th shows only an entry for Bill Moyers show, topic unstated.
Lots of schedule entries for programs on ‘The Other Mary’ and early Christian history, however.
>>>That’s a pretty limited distribution.
Curt Cameron,
You’re right. Those are only the stations that have confirmed their broadcast time at this moment. Rest assured public tv stations in every state in the U.S. have agreed to broadcast the program. You’ll have to keep checking this website for updates in your area:
http://www.abriefhistoryofdisbelief.org/
That’s the best we can do at this moment.
one of my favorite parts was towards the end when Miller visited the dying atheist; it was very touching and though I watched it a while ago, it’s the segment I remember clearest and will probably stick with me for a long time
Hmm I see Bill Moyers program that night at 8, but is this movie only an hour?
On a side note, David Bowie is going to be on PBS the same night at 9:30(WHOOO!), after a 30 minute program on ‘Islam in Oklahoma'(!).
All white men. Men, men, men. Don’t get me wrong, you know how male-identified I am, but geez, when people think of an atheist woman it seems they think of Madalyn Murray-O’Hair (and not even of her granddaughter). I think that a documentary on atheist women and African-Americans, former Muslims, etc., is in order, simply because it seems to be white men who are doing all the talking. Of course I’ll watch this, but I’m afraid that the white-male-ivory-tower stereotype gets reinforced. Someone could interview Ayaan Hirsi Ali, or Neil Degrasse Tyson to break it up a little.
If our local PBS station follows its usual pattern, it will actually show this documentary…and then immediately thereafter show a religious documentary of some sort. You know, to show both sides of the debate. Equal time and stuff.
Yeesh.
Will someone — PZ? — give us another “heads-up” a day or two before this is supposed to air? May 4 won’t be on the DVR schedule yet, and I will almost certainly forget without a reminder.
Speaking of DVR’s…I DVR’ed Dawkins on THE FACTOR. Why, exactly, did I think there might be anything other than O’Reilly yammering virtually the whole time? Piling up as much BS as quickly as possible and giving no time to respond is a wonderful debate tactic!
I sent an email to WNET NYC requesting this be placed on their schedule. I hope that other New Yorkers will do the same.
I also saw this via bit torrent. The Atheism tapes interviews are great too, it’s one of the first Dawkins TV interviews that I saw. All guests but one are atheists, and all are excellent, except for one (I won’t say which), whose ideas I found very muddy and abstract, and unintelligible. Maybe I’m too dumb to understand the mysteries.
Anyway, I always enjoy a lot to hear Weinberg speak, that’s somebody who speaks with calm power. I like his old aunt analogy.
My hope of seeing this on either KET or CET in Conservinnati are slim at best.
West Side Story and That’s Entertainment here in the land where sheep are scared. Why am I not surprised.
OEJ
I’ve never even seen him, but I know
I trusted him back then (in my own way)…
PhaWRONGula: A Lifelong Faith
For anyone interested in watching this, the educational torrent site MVGroup.org has an existing torrent for this show. So go register, search for it, and there should be at least a couple of seeders. I have copies of all 3 programs, including the Atheism tapes, and will be sure to seed them all tonight.
Kristine-
To break up the cavalcade of white men a bit, have you seen this guy in action?
He’s good.
As the instigator of this post (I sent the DVD to PZ), I should chime in about the concerns of actually seeing the thing on-air. Airdates as confirmed nationwide will be regularly posted at http://www.abriefhistoryofdisbelief.org.
In the meantime, please contact your local station(s) and tell them you’d like to see it (as RichVR did in NYC)! Mention the program is being offered to public TV stations everywhere by Executive Program Services.
A problem for much of science, technology and stuff. Think of the legacy of math, and how it is presented.
It is, uh, an example of bad, or lack of proper, framing. [Ducks PZ’s thrown curses.]
A problem for much of science, technology and stuff. Think of the legacy of math, and how it is presented.
It is, uh, an example of bad, or lack of proper, framing. [Ducks PZ’s thrown curses.]
Just posted a comment to the TPT (Twin Cities Public Television) website inquiring if and when they are planning to air the series.
I just asked our local PBS station in Kansas City, KCPT, if they were planning to broadcast this show. The response was:
“At this time, KCPT will show it starting June 11 at 10 p.m., then two more Mondays at 10 p.m.”
I’ll be looking forward to it.
I just wrote to ask the local PBS station here (WFYI, Indianapolis). If I hear back, I’ll post the reply!
This may seem off topic, but it isn’t.
Spider-Man 3 opens that day, and it’s tracking numbers are phenominal. Any airplays of -History- on Friday, Saturday or Sunday are going to take a big hit.
It may sound silly, but part of the “sell” for -History- needs to take that into account, mentioning to people to record the show if they can’t watch it that weekend.
:( Bummer for me – I’ll have to look into the online offerings.
“Thanks for contacting WFYI.
We have no plans to broadcast A Brief History of Disbelief at this time.
Our programming department plans our TV schedule out about six weeks in
advance. So far, we only have plans through June. I would advise you
to keep an eye on the WFYI schedule at http://www.wfyi.org to see if the
program may be broadcast by us in the future.”
The local PBS station (KNME, Albuquerque, NM) didn’t have it listed, so I emailed them. Their reply was
We are recording this program and holding it for a later broadcast, yet to be determined. Please check back with us in a month or two.
That doesn’t sound too certain, so if you’re local, please email them requesting the show.
Really looking forward to seeing this. I hope our PBS affliate carries it.
Does anyone know if the PBS series “Secrets of the Dead” was taken over by fundamentalist christians? First they did a crackpot validation of the Turin shroud, then the did Jesus’ tomb, and this week was another Jesus episode.
I’m curious why no one has argued (in this thread at least) that religion is actually a part of our genetic makeup, that faith and belief are survival mechanisms. The God Gene and all that, right? If this theory holds much weight it goes right to the heart of consciousness and answers PZ’s question about the life of faith pretty well, I would think.
It’s a great series, even better are the series of 6 extended interviews that were added to the run of the three shows in the UK.
I hope you can see these too, they are exceptionally good.
Louis
Jonathan Miller is a highly intelligent and accomplished individual, and his TV series was fascinating. Unusually for a TV programme, I learnt a lot, and it’s fair to say that it encouraged me to become a more vocal atheist.
Now to the really important point:
I hate to be picky, but it was also broadcast in Scotland and Wales. I know because I was living in Glasgow when I watched it in 2004. The word you needed was ‘Britain’. It’s entirely up to you whether you think the qualifier ‘Great’ is appropriate. Probably not when Brits leave comments like this on your blog!
If the BBC was brave enough to show it in overtly religious Northern Ireland as well, then the political region is called the ‘United-though-increasingly politically-divergent-and-never-really-natural functionally-presidential-Kingdom-cum-secular-state-with-established-church’.
Lets hope this type of programming helps loosen the stigma attributed to non-theists. One should never be condemned for thinking in a democracy.
Yes I seen this show. Last year I think I watched it.
My first exposure to Dr Johnathan Miller (he’s a physician, which should make Orac happy after dealing with Micheal Egnor) was the BBC series, “The Body In Question”, a history of our understanding of anatomy (1978). The entire last segment was an autopsy, on camera, no bits pixellated… I doubt it could be shown on broadcast TV today in the US, but it caused only a minor stir in the UK then. He’s very good.
“you will need to be prepared for more thinking, less entertaining.”
See, the thing nobody knows is that the entertainment is already contained within the thinking. And when one thought collides with another and a jillion daughter thoughts spew out causing more collisions and more fleeting glimpses, that’s when you start having more fun than you can have without laughing!
Thanks for the heads up, PZ. I’ll be glued to the tube.
I’d really love to see that program. I just e-mailed Pioneer Public Television (Appleton, MN) about it.
I’m angry that good programming like this is not getting wider airplay.
This would have been front and center on PBS 20 years ago. Wouldn’t it? What the hell is wrong with them?
It’s really good! Jonathan Miller is terrific. It made me realize how completely out of whack it is for atheists to be a defensive minority today in a world awash in religion.
What the hell happened to all the intellectual progress that was made over the last five centuries?
CalGeorge:
I believe that vital topic is under discussion here .
I think this is it?
A brief history of disbelief 1
A brief history of disbelief 2
A brief history of disbelief 3
A brief history of disbelief 4
A brief history of disbelief 5
A brief history of disbelief 6
A brief history of disbelief 7
You can also find the program here.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13868.htm
This is the BBC website for the program with some good links.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/features/atheism.shtml
______
The calendar is pretty much useless. You might be able to find airtimes if you search your local PBS affiliate’s web site for the program. Oregon Public Broadcasting is going to be airing all three episodes consecutively, starting at 2:00 am June 25. Oooh, how brave of them. Glad I’m no longer an OPB member.
Thanks Marcia and CalGeorge for the http://www.veoh.com streams.
It was a great documentary series, highly recommended.
I hate to be picky, but it was also broadcast in Scotland and Wales. I know because I was living in Glasgow when I watched it in 2004. The word you needed was ‘Britain’.
Damn straight.
Hi
Thanks for pointing out this series.
You can watch all episodes on Online Video.
Here is Episode 1
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v290167nBNFCMmq?searchId=5245188267834173422&rank=3
This may surprise you, but there are plenty of believing Christians who enjoy this kind of program, and who hate (and are embarrassed by) the typical and predictable reactions from the religiously intolerant.
For those in the Philadelphia area, this program will be broadcast on WHYY (TV 12) on Sundays at 7:00 PM starting on May 6.
–This may surprise you, but there are plenty of believing Christians who enjoy this kind of program, and who hate (and are embarrassed by) the typical and predictable reactions from the religiously intolerant.–
Why am I not surprised, then, that this post is signed “anon”?
I don’t see how this documentary is so different from what athiests have been doing for generations. Judging from the description given here, the “old chap” is going to visit a few houses of a few individuals to challenged the structure of religion in society. But for every intellectual who was athiest or deist from centuries ago, there were certainly many who were fervent about their religious belief. What athiests don’t address, usually, is why the vast majority of societies have religious beliefs and why the only manufactured athiest state in history, the Soviet Union, failed so miserably. Let’s see a documentary on that.
Denying evolution because it didn’t fit the party line didn’t help any, that’s for sure.
And of course it was because of atheism that this occured. it had nothing to do with a myriad of other reasons- just the fact that the populace wasn’t superstitous.
Kristine,
unfortunately most active athiests ARE white men. If we took a poll of regular readers on this site for instance, I think it would be clear.
Now can you explain to me why women are more religious than men? You could be the answer, start recruiting now!
Calling Jonathan Miller a physician falls far short of describing his full accomplishments. In addition to his work as a medical researcher, he’s an opera and theatre director and producer; a writer of books, operas, and television programs; and has presented many, many television documentaries on science, philosophy, and the arts.
The BBC has a nice overview.
The world could use a lot more Jonathan Millers.
I’ve just watched the first episode on veoh.com (thanks folks for pointing it out!), and I thought one interesting point he made was that he doesn’t think of himself as an atheist because he feels that that’s sectarian. I suspect that this relates to the endless discussions about uppity and Chamberlain atheists: perhaps it’s as simple as Chamberlain atheists just wanting to get on with life.
On a historical note, Jonathan Miller first came to prominence as part of Beyond The Fringe, along with Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Alan Bennett.
Bob
…why the only manufactured athiest state in history, the Soviet Union, failed so miserably.
In Soviet Russia, atheist makes a strawman of YOU!
Update:
“Thank you for writing regarding our programming.
The current programming schedule for Thirteen does
not have a broadcast date for BRIEF HISTORY OF
DISBELIEF.
The current schedule is set through the end of July.
It is possible that the three-part series will be shown
on Thirteen later in 2007.
Periodically you may wish to check on schedule on-line at
http://www.thirteen.org/watch/index.php
Sincerely,
Scott McClintock
Member and Viewer Services
Thirteen WNET New York
[email protected]
(212) 560-2888″
LOL! (Although I think it should be: “In Soviet Russia, strawman makes YOU!”)
Or we could do a documentary on all manufactured states and how well they do. Or maybe all states that came about as a result of a bloody revolution and see how well they do. Or maybe we could do a documentary on societies that have naturally become more and more atheist like Japan and many in Europe and focus on how terrible and woeful and bloody and tyrannical and… Oh, wait. That wouldn’t play nice with YOUR carefully erected strawman, now, would it?
BTW, what atheists (and others) address, usually, is why the vast majority of societies have religious beliefs. Don’t blame others for your not paying attention. Try not waiting for someone to walk right up to Random J. Person (that’s you) and carefully and patiently explain to them what they’ve been publishing with regards to belief and human nature.
Shaggy Maniac – I also contacted Twin Cities Public Television (tpt) in the hope that if enough of us contacted them it might make a difference. This is their response:
Thanks for contacting member supported tpt, we appreciate hearing from you.
A Brief History of Disbelief is not currently in our broadcast schedule, however we will let our Programming Department know of your interest in seeing it on tpt and let you know if it is scheduled in the future.
If you’d like to get the inside scoop of what’s happening at tpt, and receive email updates about special programs, schedules, events, online features, and more sign- up for our bi-monthly e-newsletter tpt -e at:
http://tpt.blogs.com/newsletter/
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Erica Nelson
Member Services
P.S. If you’re not currently a member please consider supporting. Membership is our single largest source of revenue. Without our members support we would not be able to bring you the quality programs you have come to expect on Twin Cities Public Television. As a Member, you will receive a full year of our program guide tpt Magazine, as well as discounts to Hotels, Car Rental Companies, and much more. Of course your membership is also tax deductible, and the best part is you will be supporting the programs you enjoy! You can join online at: https://www.tpt.org/support/pledge/
I thought you might like to know that full versions of ‘A Brief History of Disbelief’ and the follow-up ‘Atheism Tapes’ interviews can be found here
By complete coincidence, I saw this series on YouTube 3-4 weeks ago. I can’t recommend it highly enough. One of the best docos I have ever seen. (Anything by Jonathan Miller is a must watch. He also did a 2 or 3 part series some years back on the history and treatment of madness, which was superb.)
It’s been airing on PBS channel 13 in NYC in July. It was on at 10 or 11.
I had watched it alread online but it was nice to see it on broadcast on my big tv.
This was re-broadcast — 3/26/08. Saw it last night on PBS Channel 13 WNET New York. Excellent series. It came on really late, but it was worth the wait.