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skepticism

Contradictory Sparkleponies

my-little-pony-copy

Consistency is King

This past week I attended a meeting of godless heathens, the main topic being the trouble with sparkleponies. Specifically, we discussed the pros and cons of a not-so-new book by former NFL punter Chris Kluwe entitled Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies: On Myths, Morons, Free Speech,  Football, and Assorted Absurdities. In the midst of our discussions (mostly negative) and off-hand reviews of the book (thumbs down), the idea for this article occurred to me. This is not a book review. Instead, I’m going to use this book as an example of what NOT to do when trying to present a skeptical, rational or critical point of view.Read More »Contradictory Sparkleponies

Why Cosmos Matters

Cosmos

“Our species needs, and deserves, a citizenry with minds wide awake and a basic understanding of how the world works.” – Carl Sagan

The new Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, is airing tomorrow on Fox. I am waiting with baited breath, anticipating great things from its creators and its very intelligent host/narrator, Neil deGrasse Tyson. This show is receiving a great deal of buzz, and rightfully so. It is perhaps the most important “television event” in the last thirty years.Read More »Why Cosmos Matters

Let’s Agree to Disagree

Keynes Change

They say that change is the one constant in the universe. I think life is all about change.

Most people are open to change of one kind or another, but don’t stop and give themselves the opportunity to do so. It’s so much easier, it seems, to do what we’ve always done and think how we’ve always thought.Read More »Let’s Agree to Disagree

Converting the Converted

religionsalesmen

Change is Possible

There’s this funny idea that I’ve heard, usually spoken in a cynical tone, that people can’t or don’t ever change.

This is patently ridiculous as people make important life changes every day. I recently hit the reset button on my life after it was revealed to me that certain religious beliefs I held onto for years were, in fact, totally false. My world view shifted almost 180 degrees to what it used to be. I would have sworn that I would never have given up those beliefs and would never be argued out of them. Yet I changed. And so can anyone else.Read More »Converting the Converted

You Can Handle the Truth!

You Can Handle the Truth

Why Skepticism?

What is the purpose of critical thinking and skepticism? Why bother to engage in all this mental exercise and hard work?

“If everyone is thinking alike, then no one is thinking.” -Benjamin Franklin

The purpose is not to get you and everyone else to think the same way. There are very few “absolute truths”. Variety is not only the spice of life, it is also the thing that drives life forward and makes it interesting.

Read More »You Can Handle the Truth!

Logic is Fascinating

spock_logic2Critical thinking is all about being rational and logical. But for some people, these words make them think that critical thinking is boring, lifeless or dull. Or that you can’t be emotional or passionate or really care about what you are talking about. Yet scientists can be some of the most passionate and caring people you’ll ever meet.

Being a critical thinker isn’t some dry, unemotional approach to life. Unfortunately, it’s gotten kind of a bad rap in some popular shows because people like Mr. Spock on Star Trek (a show which I love, by the way) seem so cold-hearted and unattached. He’s always says that he finds things fascinating, but frankly he’s not exactly the life of the party.Read More »Logic is Fascinating