Yup. We need more rational thinking, and more critical thinking.
50 Renowned Academics Speaking About God
Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2011
Jul 272011
The greatest threat to Christianity…
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Jul 202011
…is the Internet! LOL!
- Guess what makes Josh McDowell cry?
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/07/guess_what_makes_josh_mcdowell.php
The Internet is certainly a place where a lot of garbage can be found. But it is also a place where there is much valuable information. Access to this information, the knowledge gained, the application of critical thinking, these are the things that are leading people to discover the irrationality of religions and the realisation that a better life is experienced without religion’s cursed dogmatic and soul-destroying controls. The correct title of this article should really be “The greatest threat to Christianity is knowledge”. This is relevant http://www.jesusandmo.net/2011/07/20/books/
Josh’s arguments on sex and pornography are a red-herring; people, especially adolescents, are always interested in sex which is a pretty natural think to do if you think about it, and getting an education about it is pretty essential to help through the pangs of growing up. And there is always legislation and policing to ensure that unlawful content is made inaccessible…this has nothing to do with Christianity or religions but rather in our inherent morals. Yes, think of the children.
Anyway. Dump religion. Live free. Live happy.
Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2011
Jul 042011
- Apologists for Andrew Wakefield at Southampton University: a Russell group university teaching some dangerous nonsense
http://www.dcscience.net/?p=4582
Please, please, please, please, please, Southampton University. Quality courses and critical thinking skills go a long way. Let’s keep the garbage out.
Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2011
Jul 142010
Over at npr:
New research suggests that misinformed people rarely change their minds when presented with the facts — and often become even more attached to their beliefs. The finding raises questions about a key principle of a strong democracy: that a well-informed electorate is best.
Full article is here:
- In Politics, Sometimes The Facts Don’t Matter
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128490874
In many ways this isn’t a surprise. I’ve seen this behaviour in creationist / IDers, practitioners in pseudo-sciences (eg homeopaths), dowsers, etc.
There is some overlap here with my article Religion’s special privileges at http://www.metalvortex.com/blog/2010/05/30/397.html
Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2010
Homeopathy
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Jul 122010
Unfortunately stupidity can be richly reward by society especially when the skills of critical thinking are not widely taught.
Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2010
Blair Witch
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Sep 142009
Thanks to http://skeptico.blogs.com/skeptico/2009/09/tony-blair-on-faith.html, we see yet more evidence of the warped logic of the ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He’s eagerness to jump into the clutches of the religious, and his condemnation of atheism both indicate that he is a person who has taken a path in which religious dogmas will sustain and prosper his delusions at the expense of critical thinking. He now only hears what he wants to hear.
It’s rather sad as I once admired him. As well as the disappointment that I feel for all his lost potential, I also believe that he is a dangerous individual. He has already condemned atheism. He will soon start talking about carrying out God’s will…the God in this case is that imagined by the superstitions of Roman Catholicism and, despite what religious accommodationists may say, is not compatible with other other religions such as Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism. They are not all different paths to some common truth. They are fundamentally different. Blair’s failure to see this is one of his greatest weaknesses and is an indication that there are other things that he does not recognise. He therefore cannot be relied upon and should keep out of the issues afflicting this world. He should sort his own mind out first!
Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2009
Being open-minded
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Apr 022009
"defamation of religion"
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Mar 262009
Good. James Randi’s article http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/487-a-u-n-victory-for-reason.html states that the silly proposal brought to the United Nations to "…forbid critical, insulting or defamatory statements about religion…" has been rejected. Excellent news.
I will criticise religion. I will make fun of it. Because clear and critical thinking demands it. Religions have, for far too long, abused their powers and used their influences and dogma to persecute people, and lead others into a world where "the word" is absolute and people are not allowed to think for themselves. So I absolutely will be critical of religion where warranted.
Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – 2009
Oct 252008
Another interesting DC’s Improbable Science article, this time highlighting the woo-ness of certain “degrees” at Thames Valley University and the lack of critical thinking that is leading to the increase of dumb and dumber “degrees” at a number of universities.
The trouble with most folks isn’t so much their ignorance, as knowing so many things that ain’t so. – Josh Billings
Copyright © 2008 Kulvinder Singh Matharu – All Rights Reserved
The New Witch Doctors
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Jul 132008
I recently received some comments from a reader regarding my articles on homeopathy and my criticism of this pseudoscience. The reader asked if I had ever met anyone who had been treated using homeopathy and that I also should temper my vehemence; the implication being that homeopathy provided a valuable service which delivered positive results and comforted patients. My immediate reaction was that any perceived vehemence was misplaced especially in comparison to someone like PZ Myers! But the questions being raised on the value of homeopathy deserved debate.
After much consideration, I can only reinforce my opposition to the pseudoscience that is homeopathy and my exasperation at the idiocy of homeopathy’s support. Despite the claims made by the practitioners of homeopathy, there is no evidence that there is anything but a placebo at work. As a placebo, homeopathy will provide improvements for some patients within a very narrow band of illnesses. Simplistically, the benefits of positive thought. It certainly wouldn’t be able to successfully treat illnesses such as malaria for example.
The statements made by homeopaths explaining the mechanisms of how homeopathy is allegedly claimed to work have been shown to be incorrect. Yet homeopaths are unable to accept this. They have abandoned critical thinking and have deluded themselves into accepting the extraordinary when all credible evidence shows that their claims are without foundation.
So why should I care? Why should we all care? After all, the placebo effect certainly provides some benefits to some people. I’ll tell you why.
By accepting homeopathy we make it difficult to demonstrate to society the benefits of critical thinking. Without critical thinking we are saying that it’s OK to accept extraordinary claims without evidence; that it’s OK to accept pseudoscience, to accept astrology, to accept perpetual-motion machines. In short, that it’s OK to be bamboozled.
Our enlightenment, our knowledge, striving to seek the truth; this is what advances us. And critical thinking is the most powerful tool to achieve that. Without it we will be burdened by superstition and witch doctors.
Copyright © 2008 Kulvinder Singh Matharu – All Rights Reserved