February 2012
24 posts
7 tags
5 tags
“Whenever we propose a solution to a problem, we ought to try as hard as we can...”
– Karl Popper - philosopher of science on the nature of rational discussion that we should try to live up to from his book The Logic of Scientific Discovery
7 tags
5 tags
We All Make Assumptions Part 2
*Part 1 - an explanation of my epistemology
Is there a real difference between the assumptions made by atheists like myself and Christians who accept Van Tillian presuppositionalism? One might argue that ultimately all epistemologies have to start with some assumptions so one is just as circular as another. This, I believe, could hardly be more incorrect. Suppose I begin my search for knowledge...
4 tags
Daniel Loxton - Tribal Skepticism? →
…The truth is that self-identified skeptics are not so terribly good at critical or scientific thinking. There’s little shame in that; nobody is all that good at those things. Nor, on the other hand, are paranormal “believers” all that terribly bad. Regardless of our intellectual commitments, regardless of our investments in this or that ideology or belief, humans everywhere are...
5 tags
We All Make Assumptions Part 1
How do we know what’s real? What counts as evidence? Philosophers have been asking these questions for thousands of years and since none were available I’ve been asked to explain how I answer these questions. There are certain assumptions that underlie my epistemology, as they are with all epistemologies, but I was particularly asked how mine differ or are less circular than the...
4 tags
“You may believe through faith [a] completely beneficial thing but if it’s...”
– JT Eberhard - on the problem of justifying beliefs through faith
7 tags
5 tags
“When I read the bible I found that God in His infinite wisdom couldn’t...”
– Robert G. Ingersoll - from his speech The Religion of Our Day
4 tags
Don't Hide the Children or Hug Some Kittens
We all know the false dichotomy between being an intentionally offensive anti-theist and a pushover accommodationalist is as cliche as the skeptic who asks “Do you know what they call alternative medicine that works?” and I won’t rehash that tired story here. However a few recent discussions about tone from skeptics and believers alike have me thinking that again we are going...
7 tags
“If there is anything that defines alternative, complementary, integrative...”
– Steven Novella - clinical neurologist, co-founder of the New England Skeptical Society and host of The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe on alternative medicine
6 tags
Anonymous asked: Many are confused about what the mandate actually states. Religiously affliliated organizations would not be forced to directly give contraceptives/bith control. They would just have to cover it in the insurance plans of their employees. Employees can go to other places to receive assistance. It doesn't make sense that women don't have control of their reproductive health rights due to...
7 tags
4 tags
7 tags
Anonymous asked: It's very simple. It's called the 1st amendment. Non-negotiable. FREEDOM OF RELIGION. and Separation of Church and State. We have a Constitution for a reason. This is not a Totalitarian dictatorship although the floppy eared jackass thinks he can make it that way. He can't. This will cost him 2012. No potus has been elected without Catholic Swing voters. This is exactly why the...
5 tags
10 tags
6 tags
7 tags
When is One Theology Superior to Others?
Every so often, amidst political correctness and legitimate concerns about religious freedom, everyone can fail to even acknowledge what should be at the heart of the public debate. If you follow U.S. politics you have no doubt heard the public dispute over the Obama administration’s decision to make religious affiliated employers cover contraception. This has caused an uproar about Catholic...
2 tags
6 tags
Anonymous asked: Is astral projection possible?
3 tags
Anonymous asked: What do you say to people when they say that atheists must have no purpose in life, as they see no reason to be moral and see life as meaningless? Generally, I'm just so annoyed that I walk away.
6 tags
“The heavy-lidded satisfaction that marks the graduate of seminary, madrassa, or...”
– Michael and Ellen Kaplan - on theology as motivated reasoning from their book Bozo Sapiens
2 tags
Coming Out Atheist... Again & Again
Like any cliche story this one begins with running into a childhood friend. Let’s call him James. James and I were very close friends as children and eventually ended up attending the same college despite falling out of touch many years ago. Short story long I run into him yesterday and not surprisingly he mentions music he is making, which I already know happens to be gospel, and mentions...
January 2012
11 posts
7 tags
5 tags
Anonymous asked: Have you heard of the book, The Science of God? What are your thoughts about it? How do you feel when someone says that science and religion are completely compatible and most people who don't understand that simply have a misunderstanding of scripture?
4 tags
Long Time, No Blog
It feels like I’ve done this a hundred times now but among other things during this layoff I started a new job and began to train for the training of the marathon (I’m in pretty bad shape). I also attended and spoke at Skepticamp Chicago this past Saturday and it a lot of fun. I was intrigued by the talks, met many new people and my presentation was received very well. I’ll...
4 tags
4 tags
the Truth about conspiracy theories: either i'm...
either i’m right or i’m right but i can’t be wrong
If ever there was a case in which a conspiracy theory should have been once and for all put to rest in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary it is none other than the infamous fabrication The Protocols of the Elders of Zion which was exposed as having plagiarized, often directly, from the satirical work Dialogues in...
5 tags
6 tags
“It’s pointless inventing supernatural powers and beings: once you admit...”
– Michael and Ellen Kaplan - from their book Bozo Sapiens
4 tags
the Truth about conspiracy theories: everyone's...
if you don’t agree you’re sheeple
I don’t mean to insult you but are you aware you are a simpleton? Don’t worry, apparently I am as well because everyone who doesn’t see what’s going on is a simpleton or just blind to what’s really going on. Once someone has consciously accepted a conspiracy theory, which is frequently after investing considerable time,...
6 tags
Close Elections: Recounts Don't Help
The 2012 U.S. presidential race is only one official caucus in and already my skeptic sense is tingling. For any who haven’t heard the news Mitt Romney won yesterday’s Republican Iowa caucuses by a mere 8 votes over Rick Santorum which got me thinking about how we react to close elections.
—Stand back I’m going to try math—
With over 120,000 votes cast and a...
5 tags
“Astrology is the belief that—contrary to every single thing we know about...”
– Phil Plait - from Bad Astronomy with my new favorite definition of astrology
3 tags
Friendly Atheist: Christian Billboard Pins... →
This just in: Ignorance now comes in billboard format.
It seemed inevitable that people who failed history and who have never heard of Scandinavia would eventually buy a billboard to commemorate these facts and that day has come. What makes this particularly interesting is that I don’t like the (in)famous picture with “Imagine No Religion” imprinted over silhouettes of the...
December 2011
26 posts
7 tags
4 tags
the Truth about conspiracy theories: intro
what is a conspiracy theory
Classifying what exactly it is when we refer to “conspiracy theories” is harder than one might imagine. Why is it that belief in Watergate, which was undoubtedly a secret immoral plot involving many people, isn’t generally referred to as a conspiracy theory but something more nefarious but far less complicated like believing Princess Diana was...
3 tags
fantasticlies asked: Have you ever read "Who created God?" on Christian Answers? I'd love to hear your opinion on it. The webpage seems to make somewhat decent points. To me though, it's a bit of an argument out of ignorance. "The universe had a beginning, therefor it must have a creator and that creator (God) is eternal and does not require it's own creator." Who's to say it...
8 tags
The Infinite Monkey Cage - The Science of...
5 tags
Anonymous asked: What are your thoughts about Lee Strobel and the credibility of his books? And also about the fact that he claims to be a former atheist? Would it be too much if I asked you to read and critique a few of them (they are about 200-300 pages each)? Honestly, I am tired of my Christian friends claiming that if this atheist can find "overwhelming support" for the validity of Christianity,...
4 tags
Christmas FTW
There’s not much skeptical about the shrines to commercialism which often happen around this time of the year but I always enjoy it anyway. So here’s to hoping you skeptics are having a happy winter festival be it Christmas or the Festivus feats of strength.
4 tags
4 tags
e^(i * pi) Years Ago
I started this blog one year ago today but I am mentally much more distant from where I was when I began. Though a part of me wants to detail that story I’ll keep this relatively short.
It’s been an interesting year as I’ve learned plenty and changed more. Accordingly this blog has gone through numerous phases as my interests have changed and it will undoubtedly continue to...
6 tags
7 tags
What Are You Listening To?
With all the podcasts out on the interwebs I haven’t found the time to give all of them a listen. This is not to say I haven’t shopped around as I’m a big fan of both The Infinite Monkey Cage and Skeptically Speaking and on occasion have listened to The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe, Skeptoid, Skepticality, The Partially Examined Life and The Philosophy Zone. Even with...
6 tags
6 tags
6 tags
Mistakes Were Made By Me: Errata and Apologies
*Sorry for the length but I didn’t want to hide my errors behind a ‘read more’ link
A lot can and has changed in the past year and as my recent post about the Horsemen would suggest I probably wouldn’t post some videos and quotes by them today. However changing one’s mind as the evidence comes in isn’t an error unless you made a premature or incorrect...
3 tags
5 tags
“Religion is not the problem. Religion is merely a symptom, the true underlying...”
– AntiCitizenX - on explaining religion