-
+11 +3
There Is No Ghost In The Brain
As long as the nature of consciousness will remain a mystery, we will be in the grip of anxiety. And that is because we are, all of us, haunted by that uniquely human question: what awaits us after death? Although the vast majority of Americans believe in some sort of afterlife, such beliefs are starkly at odds with what neuroscientists know, which is that consciousness is created by the brain and dies with the brain.
-
+10 +2
Probabilistic and Logical Errors in Arguments of “Fine-Tuning”
In 1802, when William Paley published Natural Theology, his famous “Watchmaker Argument” became a hallmark formulation of the “Argument from Design,” an argument which attempts to show that the universe must have had a designer.
-
+6 +1
Did a memory experiment really show evidence for psychic abilities?
A 2011 psychology study claimed to show evidence for precognition - but had more to say about the state of psychology research than anything paranormal. By Pete Etchells.
-
+17 +3
The Truth About Astrological Signs
Sometimes, when there is a slow news day, I think the mainstream media likes to recycle a story that previously caused some controversy in order to "stir the pot" again and get another rise from the general public... By Joe Rao.
-
+4 +1
Jack Chick has died
At least I think he has. This from his company Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/chicktracts/photos/a.437041710057.374027.436937560057/10157595360455058/?type=3&theater
-
+20 +2
The “432 Hz vs. 440 Hz” conspiracy theory
Would you believe that there is a conspiracy theory about the way we tune musical instruments? And that this theory even involves the Nazis, chakras, and whatnot? No? Then sit down and enjoy perhaps the most ridiculous conspiracy theory of all times.
-
+16 +4
Ancient atheism
I enjoy reading about the metaphysical beliefs of pre-modern peoples, especially those that are iconoclastic with regards to their time period and lay adjacent to the current scientific conception of reality. Roughly contemporary with the Pre-Socratics, a sect of philosophers in Vedic India espoused a view that is recognizably atheist from our modern perspective. I’m referring to the ancient Indian school of Charvaka. I did a search on FtB and it appears no one has written about it. What follows is a brief and very broad synopsis, though every subject briefly described is deserving of far more explication.
-
+13 +2
Project Veritas' Election 2016 'Rigging' Videos
James O'Keefe's Project Veritas released four 2016 election-related videos supposedly depicting rampant election fraud and misconduct on the part of Democrats.
-
+18 +2
From conspiracy theories to climate change denial, a cognitive psychologist explains
Stephan Lewandowsky, chair of cognitive psychology at the University of Bristol, answered questions posed by the public on Reddit. The Conversation has curated the highlights. (Apr. 16, 2016)
-
+8 +1
Atheist Debates - You're not an atheist, you're an agnostic
Do the labels matter? What if they get in the way? Weren't we having a great issue-based conversation before you decided to change the topic to the labels?
-
+10 +2
Atheist Debates - What does atheism offer?
I've frequently been asked "What does atheism have to offer?" - and it's come up so many times that it seemed like a good idea to offer a little more than the obvious answer.
-
+3 +1
Christian arguments are just as nebulous as their deity
You want to know what those New Atheists, who are the same as the Old Atheists, are all about? We actually have important questions.
-
+21 +7
Brian Cox: ‘It’s a book about how to think’
Professor Brian Cox is advanced fellow of particle physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester. He is about to embark on a nationwide tour to promote the ideas in his new book, Universal: A Guide to the Cosmos.
-
+2 +1
Excerpt of Sam Harris: God versus Elvis
American Jewish University presents best-selling authors Sam Harris and Rabbi David Wolpe in a debate about the existence of God and the role of religion and faith in society. Sam Harris is a renowned atheist and author of The End of Faith (2004) and Letter to a Christian Nation (2006). Rabbi David Wolpe, of Sinai Temple, is the author of Teaching Your Children About God (1995) and Why Be Jewish? (1995). This debate was moderated by Los Angeles Times religion editor Steve Padilla.
-
+21 +9
Catholic Church to hold worldwide day of prayer for sex abuse victims
The move was announced after the latest week-long meeting of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in Rome. Established in 2014, the panel suffered a setback earlier this year when one of its members, British abuse survivor Peter Saunders was sidelined after complaining that it was doing nothing to break down a culture of complacency and cover-ups within the Church. And its emphasis on prayer and education is unlikely to appease critics who say the Church remains reluctant to hand paedophile priests over to the judicial authorities.
-
+33 +5
A Less Lonely Way to Lose Your Faith
Where do nonreligious people go to find community? Some might join a sports league or a film society or attend a local atheist meet-up. Some might hang out online. But in certain parts of the country, some might join Oasis, a community of humanists, agnostics, atheists, self-identified freethinkers, and even questioning theists. Oasis members see their fellowship as guided by values that emphasize people’s common humanity, the first being that “people are more important than beliefs.”
-
+2 +1
Can Atheists Believe In A Valid Moral System?
One of my students took the staunch position that atheists could not possibly have any valid foundation for morality since they don't believe in a god or gods. This statement echoed in my head for quite a while. It wasn't the first time I had pondered the fascinating subject of morality, but this time, I was faced with just how arbitrary it seemed to claim that you have a "more valid" foundation for morality than anyone else.
-
+36 +9
The Transhumanist Future Has No Pope
Everywhere I look, Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Catholic Church, seems to be in the news—and he is being positively portrayed as a genuinely progressive leader. Frankly, this baffles me. Few major religions have as backwards a philosophical and moral platform as Catholicism. Therefore, no leader of it could actually be genuinely progressive. Yet, no one seems to pay attention to this—no one seems to be discussing that Catholicism remains highly oppressive.
-
+31 +3
Was Mother Teresa a saint? In city she made synonymous with suffering, a renewed debate over her legacy
As the Catholic Church prepares to canonize her as a saint, the city formerly known as Calcutta is poised for a rare moment in the spotlight. But not everyone is celebrating.
-
+12 +2
Sean Carroll, Catholicism, & Unfalsifiable Metaphysics
One of the most famous of Thomas Aquinas' arguments is one for a “prime mover” or an “unmoved mover”. The argument itself isn’t really important per-se, it’s actually air tight in terms of premises following to their conclusions. The issue is the Aristotelian metaphysics it assumes and is based on. Suffice it to say, if you’re using the kind of neo-Aristotelian metaphysics favored by modern day Thomists, the conclusion readily follows. What atheists disagree with in terms of the Thomists is the metaphysics they assume.
Submit a link
Start a discussion