Garrison’s (deluded) World Pt. 2
I'm barely through the introduction to part 2 "Reason and the New Philosophy of the Non-Rational" of Garrison's The Irrelevance of Rational Atheism and the New Philosophy of the Non-Rational, and already he's making me want to head-desk.
His first argument today is that everyone uses faith - the rational atheist has faith he/she will discover everything with science (we don't, I'm okay with not knowing everything), the irrational-nihilist has faith there is no purpose in the universe (figure that out, having faith in nothing), and obviously the theists have faith.
Sex sells atheism?
There's a new [tag]book[/tag] out by lawyer [tag]Geoff Henley[/tag] entitled "[tag]Beyond Reasonable Doubt[/tag]: A Lawyers Case for Disbelief in God" and rather than resort to traditional advertising means, he's created a series of sexed-up [tag]YouTube[/tag] [tag]videos[/tag] to help him sell.
The first I came across was the [tag]bikini[/tag] girls [tag]cat fight[/tag] over [tag]atheism[/tag]:
The sequel to the cat fight features the [tag]girls kissing[/tag] and making up:
Finally, there's the sexy woman in a towel arguing about the [tag]Bible[/tag]:
Check out his website for more on the book.
Should we just let people believe?
At the [tag]Rogues Gallery[/tag] today (the blog of the [tag]Skeptic's Guide to the Universe[/tag]), there's a familiar question brought up that most [tag]skeptics[/tag] usually have to think about. The question is whether there are some harmless beliefs thats its okay to just let people hold.
In their post Mike Lacelle discusses how his friend was hoping to have her baby on the full moon (due to the [tag]lunar effect[/tag]). Mike decided that he should inform his friend that despite her doctors information (her doctor told her about the lunar effect!), many studies have refuted the idea. He did wrestle as to whether or not he should discuss it though.
Garrison’s (deluded) World Pt. 1
After going through the five-part Cosmic Fingerprints series and all its shortcomings, I have stumbled across the semi-intellectual (sounding) Garrison's World at enewschannels.com.
Rather than a confused old-Earth creationist who doesn't get what information is we come across a blithering theologian who seems to write for the pure intellectual masturbation of it (I won't confirm nor deny whether that's my reasons for writing, but I'm sure he's attempting to "reach" people).
His series is entitled "The Irrelevance of Rational Atheism and the New Philosophy of the Non-Rational" and part I is called "The Two Brands of Atheism." I'll also say I found some odd irony with an add for The God Who Wasn't There on the top and an add for the Scientology Video Channel on the sidebar.
Don’t like whats on, change the channel
Canada's getting into porn! Even better, the company launching a new Canadian porn-network is based out of Sherwood Park, just on the outskirts of Edmonton here. Not suprisingly though, some people aren't getting off on this news.
The Canada Family Action Coalition wants the Conservatives to quash last week's decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to grant a licence to adult film network Northern Peaks.
Since this is Canada, it's not a simple "the Christians don't want smut on TV" argument,
McVety [president of the Canadian Family Action Coalition] says by setting such a high Canadian content requirement, the CRTC is effectively stimulating the growth of the domestic porn industry. "If private companies want to engage in such activity, it's not criminal in this nation, and they're free to do so. But for the government to use to public resource to promote such degradation shows how detached the bureaucracy is from the Canadian people."
Gay Jesus?
At Ohio's Lorain County Community College, an atheist group has made a lot of enenmies over a new questioning whether Jesus had homosexual relations.
I think that poster just about speaks for itself. Also, check out the longer, original article.
My group at the University of Alberta was recently made office-mates with Outreach, the LGBTQ group on campus, we might have to hang some of these on our door.
Edger Launches!
Over the past week and a bit I have been filling in posts and helping complete what looks to be an awesome source for news and commentary on atheism, secularism and scepticism.
The place is a new blog called Edger which is an initiative by the Centre for Inquiry. The mission statement summarizes it nicely:
Edger presents hard-hitting and reasoned news, views, and event promotion on issues pertaining to secularism, atheism, science, humanism, and the cosmos, and actively promotes and celebrates international freethought activism. Written in a youthful tone, but mature in content, Edger is sure to be a driving force in the new intellectual enlightenment.
Mission
To create an outlet for prominent young freethought leaders to express their views and get them heard. Blogs are becoming very commonplace, and alone many blogs fail, but together, with the proper direction and an engaging and professional site, these blogging leaders can come together to make an impact far beyond what they could have achieved on their own.
Affiliation
Edger is a Center for Inquiry student initiative.
So subscribe to Edger and watch for future posts there coming from me (I will still be posting here, Edger will just provide extra commentary).
Americans tired of religion in politics
Finally some good news starts coming from our sometimes backwards neighbours to the South: over half of American Conservatives want politicians to speak less about religion.
This is up 20 percent from 2004. Although it's not quite at Canadian levels of 66% who think it's inappropriate for politicians to talk religion and 82% don't want church leaders endorsing candidates.
The definition of secularism is simple, the church doesn't interfere with the state and the state doesn't (generally) interfere with the church (except to protect universal human rights).
Churches, like secular organizations, are able to take stances on issues, however they should not be endorsing candidates. I think extending this you find it kind of ridiculous that unions and corporations are still allowed to make donations to political campaigns, something the Alberta NDP wanted to do away with last provincial election.
Theist proof list
Chris at the Teapot Atheist has compiled an excellent list of things to be shown before any theism will be considered. This is especially amazing since he sounds exceptionally busy. Check his site out for the full explanations but here's the gist:
- The deity must be clearly defined.
- Criteria must be rigorously established for determining what could even in principle qualify as evidence for the existence of at least one deity.
- How exactly the deity intervenes must be both defined and evidenced.
- Is this being necessary or contingent?
- Dualism must first be evidenced, and then shown to be evidence for theism.
- Provide criteria by which theism might be falsified.
- Provide criteria by which the evidence for theism might be distinguished from evidence for polytheism.
- Describe a means by which we might verify a predicate whose contents are in principle wholly unfamiliar from any of our verifiable experience by an order of infinity.
Chris and I also write for Edger, which is still in pre-launch mode (hence why I haven't plugged it fully yet), but check it out if you're looking for some more atheist, humanist and sceptical writings.
Atheists in church
I have many religious friends, ranging from the most evangelical Christians to the parted with the church atheists.
But something surprised me recently with a couple of my semi-regular church attending friends. It turns out that they basically don't buy it.
On the supernatural stuff, they agree with me almost completely in that its all made up. Yet they still go to church.
So I had to ask why.
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