Archive for April, 2007
I’ve been asked, when discussing with theists, to read their various holy books (usually the Bible) with an open mind. The implication is that, if I gave their book an honest and open minded look, I’d become convinced and start believing, as they do. Further it’s implied that I’m not as open minded as I [...]
Filed under: atheism, religion, theism | 8 Comments
Thoughts on Planets and Absence
The first planet habitable to life outside our solar system has been discovered. I’d really like to see the look on the faces of the ID movement if/when we discover extraterrestrial life.
Also, in a poetic moment, I think I’ve solved the problem of absence, the question of how God can be so conspicuously absent from [...]
Filed under: atheism, evolution, intelligent design, religion, science, theism | 8 Comments
Science has been accused of being biased towards naturalism. That’s a fair accusation. The question one should ask, however, is not whether science has a naturalistic bias, but rather whether such a bias is justified. Is there really any good reason to suppose that the world is naturalistic and that supernatural forces are nothing but [...]
Filed under: religion, science, superstition | 1 Comment
Overgeneralization
What can you say about people who like chocolate ice cream? Not much, I think you’ll agree. We can infer from the fact that they like chocolate ice cream that they like ice cream, at least one sort, but not much more. What about people with dark skin? Not much. We know that they have [...]
Filed under: atheism, philosophy, religion, theism | 4 Comments
Apparently, Dinesh D’Souza, a man I hadn’t heard about until today (which shows that he’s accomplished his mission), finds it appropriate to use the Virginia Tech Massacre as an attack on atheists. First, he wrote a blog post about how atheists are nowhere to be found in the aftermath (they are), and now he’s written [...]
Filed under: atheism, bullshit arguments, christianity, religion, superstition, theism | 17 Comments
Discussing Tragedies
Predictably, the Virginia Tech shootings have sparked a new debate on gun legislation. People both within the US and outsiders (such as me) discuss it. Some people, however, feel that it’s inappropriate to discuss such relevant matters before the bodies are even put in the ground. It’s disrespectful, they say, to turn a tragedy such [...]
Filed under: ethics, politics | 1 Comment
Atheism Is the Final Word
Via Friendly Atheist I found this: Atheism isn’t the final word, by Don Feder. Let’s pick it apart, shall we?
Oh, for the days when one could safely stroll into a bookstore without tripping over the latest atheist title. Ironically, by writing their tracts, in the long run atheists might boost belief.
The amount religious literature, I’m [...]
Filed under: atheism, christianity, ethics, religion, superstition, theism | 2 Comments
At a School for the Poor, a Mysterious Illness:
After batteries of tests, doctors now believe that the illness that has struck 600 of the 3,600 girls at this charity-run school is psychological.
In medical terms, Mexico’s public health authorities have concluded that the girls at the Children’s Village School are suffering from a mass psychogenic disorder. [...]
Filed under: christianity, religion, superstition, theism | Closed
In The “God” Part of the Brain, Matthew Alper presents his explanation for the abundance of religious beliefs in the world today and in history. The topic is fascinating, and so are the studies cited, but the conclusion is weak and alternative hypotheses aren’t explored. Short version: interesting and thought provoking, but supported by weak [...]
Filed under: atheism, book review, religion, theism | 4 Comments
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