religion in the west is nothing but self-indulgence, according to martin amis
Martin Amis, in conversation with Philip Dodd on Nightwaves (BBC3), describes Islam as lacking curiosity and religion as simply self-indulgence. When Dodd counters with the example of Messiaen, a devout Catholic and one of the greatest composers of the 20th century, Amis doesn't back down, describing his belief as a quirk and not deserving of respect.
That sort of hardline on religion had its time and place but in this postmodern world it seems clunky, ugly and irrelevant. I can't help but think that Eagleton was on to something when attacking Amis as being close to a bigot. When anyone displays such strong feelings about another's personal belief, as Amis does, it seems to bely their own insecurities and warped ideas about their sense of power. Otherwise, why would they care?