The 9/11 Sermon All Need To Read

"Whatever else may be wrong with our world, it remains a fact that some of the most terrifying instances of human conflict and stupidity would be unthinkable without religion. And the other ideologies that inspire people to behave like monsters—Stalinism, fascism, etc.—are dangerous precisely because they so resemble religions. Sacrifice for the Dear Leader, however secular, is an act of cultic conformity and worship. Whenever human obsession is channeled in these ways, we can see the ancient framework upon which every religion was built. In our ignorance, fear, and craving for order, we created the gods. And ignorance, fear, and craving keep them with us."

Yes, we must destroy al Qaeda. But humanity has a larger project—to become sane.

Meaning

One of the first questions many theists asks atheists is, "Then, how do you have meaning in your life if you don't believe in an afterlife?"  Simple: we live for reality as we understand it.  If one has the acceptance that THIS life is it, then one wants to make it as good as possible for him or her self, and all others (from empathy through evolution and socialization).  The problem atheists see in the theist's frame of mind is this:  you are really living for the unevidenced hereafter, not for the present reality.

Sometimes Crying Wolf May Be Beneficial

"OK, then, what's the takeaway here? At the very least, the obvious point is that sometimes, luckily and unpredictably, even when you lose, you really can win. But perhaps the bigger lesson is that while sometimes health experts sound alarms so loud that they seemingly stretch the boundaries of credulity, instead of covering our ears we might be better off fine tuning our hearing to extract the useful information from the high-pitched static."

Completely Wrong on Zika, But Alarm Likely Aided Global Health

Chickenpox Is Really A Big Deal

"According to the CDC, in 2014, 95% of children from 13 to 17 years old had received at least one dose of the Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. (Kids are supposed to receive two doses.) That's a good thing because, contrary to popular belief, chickenpox can be serious for some people. It killed roughly 100 to 150 and hospitalized more than 10,000 Americans every year in the early 1990s."

Obesity And Cancer

"A recent report by the organization known as Cancer Research UK presents some worrisome data describing the population's lack of awareness about links between overweight status or obesity and several types of cancer."

What People Don't Know About Obesity and Cancer Will Hurt Them

Belly Button Healing (No Joke)

"Belly Button Healing involves the 'regular and mindful stimulation of the entire abdomen using the navel as the point of contact to relieve pain in the body, release toxins, improve digestion, boost energy and elevate mood.'  It’s an 'internal workout!' Sounds simple, and it is. It’s just acupressure with a gimmicky focus similar to the kind we’ve seen before involving the ear or the feet. The key to BBH is the use of a specialized belly button stimulating wand known as the Healing Life Wand."

Science plus magic for $99

WebMD: Be Cautious

While much of its information is accurate, there also are frequent false or misleading "scares", for example:

WebDUMB Swallows Stupid Food Scares

Weather And Pain

"t is nearly 2,500 years since the Greek physician Hippocrates noticed a connection between pain and the weather, but scientists have shown that it may well be true."

Hippocrates' theory linking pain and weather could be right, say scientists

Early Science Education Needs Change

"We believe that a radically innovative approach to early science education could boost international test scores. And the best part is that it is fun and wouldn’t cost any additional money."

Let grad students teach science to kids

Football Decisions Are Not Science-Based

"Massey, Thaler, and Romer's works have been known for more than a decade, but NFL football coaches and owners still show near universal hesitance to adopt their advice. For all its high stakes, pro football is very much a conservative sport. Tradition trumps reason. Football is powerful, irrational, and instinctual, with an almost animal magnetism. Perhaps that's what keeps us watching."

If Football Teams Heeded Science and Reason, They Would Win a Lot More

Are Atheists Less Generous?

In this morning's local paper, the Charlotte Observer, there was a letter to the editor claiming that as the Nones grow, there will be a decline in generosity.  This was my response:

Detoxify Naturally

"There is no basis, rational or spiritual, for claims that shade tree grown food, free range, kosher, organic or any other process will detoxify you better than any other food. However, the weight of evidence has conclusively shown that there is one super detoxification technique that really works: having functional kidneys."

NOSH - Natural, Organic, Safe And Healthy Lets You Detox Common Sense Out Of Your Life