Comment

Comment by Shamar Hawkins on November 22, 2009 at 5:51pm

The Earth is Flat! And Other False Beliefs Based on Dogma and Pseudoscience that Stress the Need for Critical Thinking
http://bit.ly/RuUcx

Comment by Henry Ruddle on October 22, 2009 at 7:19pm

Chiropractic is a great example of where my conflict over "nonoverlapping magisteria" comes into play. What do you say to someone who swears by it? What about when someone pushes it on you? Normally I demur, "no thanks," or "it's not for me." and that usually ends it. But naturally if I give them my opinion that chiropractic is a load of BS similar to homeopathy, they will have two comebacks: "It works for me." and "Where did you get such bad information?" If I don't have my citations ready (and even if I do), the discussion will end there anyway.

Comment by Cara Coleen on October 22, 2009 at 5:31pm

Everyone should subscribe to http://www.skeptic.com/ and receive their weekly e-newsletter. Today, I got an email from them highlighting the risk of chiropractic practices; I posted a blog featuring the article. I think these newsletters would be great for discussions here!

Comment by Reggie on October 21, 2009 at 1:13pm

It sounds like you're implying that neurology is really explaining emotions.

Certain sciences are young due to the difficulties in obtaining objective data. FMRI's have certainly changed neuroscience greatly even if some applications of the FMRI are still in debate regarding their interpretations and explanatory power. Same with evolutionary psychology.

Between neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and other fields of study, I'd bet we'll obtain a more comprehensive understanding of these things sooner rather than later.

Comment by Dave G on October 21, 2009 at 12:04am

It is reasonable to have a method to evaluate things like emotions, etc. Neurological studies are coming along nicely with that. And if you don't count neurochemistry, etc, there's always philosophy and psychology as well.

As far as the third hand option, it depends largely on how those fantastical myths and false histories encourage the people who believe in them to behave. If they behave ethically (and I am not in the least saying that current religions do encourage that, if anything they encourage the opposite) in every way, except that they try to force t heir system on everyone, regardless, then it is not worth it.

For me, I prefer the truth to pretty lies, even useful lies.

Comment by Henry Ruddle on October 20, 2009 at 11:23pm

I vacillate regarding Stephen Jay Gould's concept of Nonoverlapping Magisteria (he must have Catholic roots if he uses a word like "magisteria"). On the one hand, I agree that it is reasonable to have some method for evaluating non-material things like feelings, concepts and aspirations. But on the other hand, I wonder if religion has too much baggage and makes too many unprovable or unproven claims about the material world to deserve respect even as a "meaning maker." On the third hand (just for aliens I guess), every philosophical system has baggage and makes unnecessary claims ... even skepticism (if you include it's entire historical pedigree). So I usually ignore the grand schemes and just focus on behavior. If an ideology encourages you to behave ethically, is it really so bad if it also includes belief in fantastical myths and false histories?

Comment by Reggie on October 20, 2009 at 7:22pm

I also get to use bad puns like, "it's going to get ruff for people spreading woof! I mean woo!"

Comment by Skycomet the Fallen Angel on October 20, 2009 at 3:03pm

Whooo-hooo! Battling "Bad Science" is my past-time! lol

Comment by Reggie on October 18, 2009 at 10:31am

A great article on skepticism in Scientific American by Michael Shermer.

An excerpt: "What I want to believe based on emotions and what I should believe based on evidence does not always coincide. And after 99 monthly columns of exploring such topics (this is Opus 100), I conclude that I’m a skeptic not because I do not want to believe but because I want to know. I believe that the truth is out there. But how can we tell the difference between what we would like to be true and what is actually true? The answer is science."

Thanks Johnny for the heads up in your valuableSunday Morning Service!

Comment by Reggie on October 17, 2009 at 2:24pm

Now that is a cute doggy. Is she single?

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