The other day at work, I was again reminded of the need for skepticism. Breaking a taboo, I discussed politics with a few coworkers. Two coworkers told me that Obama was doing many of the things that Hitler did, and that the end times are fast-approaching. One hinted that Obama’s actions are precipitating the Second Coming, and the other believed that the world would end in 2012, as per the Mayan Calendar. I knew these beliefs were out there, of course. It’s just unsettling to hear them casually espoused by otherwise intelligent people.
The 2010 UN Human Development report found that world has made significant, albeit uneven, progress in income, education and health over the past 40 years. So enough with the apocalyptic doomsaying, please. The study also ranked Norway the best place to live for the 8th consecutive year.
Pure Mormonism reviews Daymon Smith’s The Book of Mammon, agreeing with its thesis that corporatism has overtaken the LDS Church.
Richard Dawkins demonstrates why the giraffe is evidence of stupid design.
The Secular Student Association reports that atheist groups on college campuses are on the rise. The SSA had 225 affiliate groups (of which SHAFT is one) this year, compared to 159 last year—a 42% increase.
The most popular baby boy name in the UK is now Mohammed.
Oxford’s Lisa Furberg argues that Bertrand Russell’s teapot and the Flying Spaghetti Monster aren’t really analogous to god. I agree that not all gods are as absurd as the FSM (like those of the more deistic variety), but some are.
A Salt Lake Tribune poll found that a plurality of Utahns and a majority of Utah Mormons believe that homosexual orientations can be changed. This is precisely why I thought Packer’s conference talk was harmful. Even if he didn’t mean to suggest that homosexuality is choice, that is nonetheless how many members interpreted his remarks.
Here is an epic taxonomy of logical fallacies.
Can atheism (theoretically) be proven wrong? Several prominent atheist bloggers weigh in on the question. I side with Greta Christina and Jerry Coyne, and against PZ Myers and Steve Zara. Andrew S. of Irresistible Disgrace has a nice write-up of the debate.
A survey released by the First Amendment Center highlights Americans’ conflicted views about the separation of church and state. Fifty-three percent believe that the U.S. Constitution established a Christian nation, while 66% say the document requires a clear separation of church of state.
Ten strange things about the universe.
According to a recent Gallup poll, religious Americans are happier than non-religious ones. I don’t doubt this (“a drunken man is happier than a sober one”), but don’t read too much into this and similar findings.
A Central Michigan University professor invites the homophobic Westboro Baptist Church to speak in his class as an illustration of our First Amendment protections.
I have often bemoaned the fact that women are sorely underrepresented among atheists, but Jen “Blag Hag” McCreight has compiled an impressively long list of female atheists.
Mormon boy struggling to overcome masturbation and homosexual ‘feelings’. A friend of mine also had a ‘problem’ with masturbation (like virtually all boys), so he and I entered into a pact to help each other. Inspired by the Seinfeld episode “The Contest”, we competed for who could abstain the longest.
