Thursday, November 3, 2016

Flip-Floping: It Can Be The Mark Of A Rational Person (Or Politician)

"One of the most damning bits of criticism we atheists have of religious believers is that many of them admit that there is no amount of evidence that would change their mind about the various gods in which they believe. When they ask us what would change our minds and persuade us to believe, we are generally able to provide answers; however, many religious believers say that there is nothing that could convince them that they are wrong about their gods. "My mind is made up," they say, "don't confuse me with the facts."

Of course, there are panderers in politics.  THAT type of flip-floping is NOT what I am talking about.  I am talking about what the article is about:  the science-based thinking that is SO counter to those who are SO locked into their party, or religion, or alternative to medicine, or any other pseudoscience ideology that they can't get away from it.

Changing Our Minds

False Equivalency In Politics

Yes, this period of political campaigning has been extraordinary in its polarity and vitriol.  To accept what the activist partisans from the right and left are saying, one may think both sides are equally to blame.  If you are one of these folks, please consider that there clearly is a "false equivalency" here: 

Measles: What's The Harm?

"In the case of measles we have a highly contagious virus that is a leading cause of death and disability in young children. Fortunately, it is also completely preventable with a simple and effective vaccine. As the WHO points out – this is one of the most cost effective and highest benefit-to-risk ratio health interventions that humans have devised. The world-wide vaccine campaign has saved an estimated 17.1 million children deaths from measles in the last 14 years.

"Denial of these facts, and fear-mongering about vaccines, directly results in the death of children."

Measles More Deadly than Previously Thought

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Aw, Dawkins Hurt Some Feelings

I normally do not re-post bad articles about scientists and science, but this one just begs for ridicule.   In essence, these scientists think that there should be a border around science that prevents scientists from applying scientific methods to the claims of religion.  Just give me a break.

Richard Dawkins Misrepresents Science, Say British Scientists

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

The History of Conservatism And Liberalism In the USA

As we close out one of the most divisive and negative elections in the history of the USA, I think it is important to take a deep breath and reflect on how the politics of the conservative and liberal forces have historically flip-floped within the two major parties.  For example, in the early 1850's, the Democrats were the conservatives and the new, upstart Republicans were the liberals.  From there, there has been a frequent and significant changing of ideology within both of these parties.  Enjoy the education within the three links below:

Conservatism

Liberalism

John Batchelor - To Make Men Free: The History of the Republican Party (search for the podcast on the link)

My humble opinion is that neither ideology or party has all the answers.  In fact, the extremes of both are very harmful, thus, I remain, as I have for several decades, a militant Independent.  Think about it.

"Pro-Life" Dogma Is Not Part of Primate Reality

"The males among these large, gray-haired monkeys were killing their own colony’s infants; at the time, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, researchers thought the pressures of overcrowding were the cause. What Hrdy found, however, was that these langurs’ infanticidal tendencies were actually adaptive behavior—behavior that, she argues, one can also see in humans."

Why Primates Kill Their Offspring

Monday, October 31, 2016

A Deeper Look Into Original Sin

I have made 3 prior posts on the dogma of Original Sin.  I have essentially falsified all Abrahamic religions by doing so.  However, in my interactions with Christians on their websites, I can't seem to break through their dogma.  In light of such, I have searched the internet for more in depth analysis of this topic.  Below is a summary of my result. If you still think that the literal interpretation of Genesis is relatively recent and only within Fundamentalist Christianity, please tell me why the Catholic Church (the MAIN Christian authority at the time) attacked Galileo for challenging Genesis' account of the relationship between the Earth and the Sun.  The writers, while using some metaphorical wording, were clearing writing history from their POV.

Note that even the pre-Abrahamic religions has stories of Original Sin and also assumed that they were literal.

This exposes the folly of religious apologists in attempting to explain away Original Sin as metaphorical.

Exposing the pretzel-twisting of Catholics (the best of Christians accepting science) on the subject, a perfect example of coming to a conclusion first, then struggling to support it.  This is not science, but apologetics.

The religious apply science and evidence when it helps their claims, but ignore it when it doesn't, such as regarding human origins and sex/gender realities.

A final piece of reality:  religious people do not act better than the non-religious.  Therefore, "Original Sin", and the need for a "Redeemer" to be "Saved", does not make sense.

Chiropractors Use Halloween For Bogus Marketing

"Just when you thought that chiropractors focus on back pain, think again! Didn't you know that their degree makes them experts on everything - even nutrition AND vaccinations?!?!"

How Chiropractors Take the Fun out of Halloween

What Science And Technology Has Produced

"Technology is a core component of the human experience. We have been creating tools to help us tame the physical world since the early days of our species.

"Any attempt to count down the most important technological inventions is certainly debatable, but here are some major advancements that should probably be on any such list (in chronological order):"

Top 20 Greatest Inventions of All Time

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Trump Is The Symptom, Lying Is The Disease

"As we head into the final days of a presidential election in which Trump is concocting deliberate lies about the electoral system’s integrity, possibly to incite his followers into insurrection, truth has never been more important."

We as a nation must insist that the truth matters

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/op-ed/article111167667.html#storylink=cpy"

The Southern Poverty Law Center Has Devolved

"The upshot: the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), increasingly a refuge for Social Justice Warriors, has published a list and analysis of critics of Islam called “A field guide to anti-Muslim activists” (pdf of the full report is here). The SPLC named 15 people who, in their view, “fuel the hatred of Muslims” in America. Among those named are those who are marginal bigots, like Pamela Geller as well as seemingly real bigots like Frank Gaffney; but two names also appear who are familiar Muslim or ex-Muslim reformers: Maajid Nawaz and Ayaan Hirsi Ali."

Maajid Nawaz and Ayaan Hirsi Ali named a “anti-Muslim extremists” by the Southern Poverty Law Center

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Was Jesus A Real Person?

This was a recent debate between two prominent people in the debate over whether Jesus was a real person. Personally, I take the mythicist position.  Why?  As Jerry McGuire said, "Show me the money."

Matt Dillahunty on mythicism

Atheists Responding To "You're Blessed", "Praying For You", Etc

Some uncomfortable situations for atheists are when well-meaning friends and acquaintances use religiously-tinged phrases such as "You're Blessed" or "Praying for you" towards them.  Following is an article that addresses these situations pretty well in my opinion.  BTW, regarding the sneeze "Bless you", If I respond, I usually give a "gesundheit", which means, "To your health."

Atheists: Responding To The Christian Phrase “I’ll Pray For You”

Placebo Effect Updates

"'Given the enormous societal toll of chronic pain, being able to predict placebo responders in a chronic pain population could both help the design of personalized medicine and enhance the success of clinical trials,' said Marwan Baliki, PhD,  a research scientist at RIC and an assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine."

Placebo Effect is All in Our Heads  

"In a sense both Pauletich and Mödl participated in a performance, one that we humans have been engaging in for thousands of years, every time we go to healers with the hope that they can make us feel better. And just as a good performance in a theater can draw us in until we feel we’re watching something real, the theater of healing is designed to draw us in by creating powerful expectations in our brains. These expectations drive the so-called placebo effect, which can affect what happens in our bodies as well. Scientists have known about the placebo effect for decades and have used it as a control in drug trials. Now they are seeing placebos as a window into the neurochemical mechanisms that connect the mind with the body, belief with experience."

Unlocking the Healing Power of You 

Why do Placebos Work?

Friday, October 28, 2016

Functional Medicine: Another Label For Alternatives To Medicine

"Hall shows us that FM, like much in the world of alt-med and pseudoscience, sounds a lot like sectarianism. There is a glaring lack of evidence for any of the practice’s claims, and it’s riddled with 'indecipherable babble and word salad' in order to explain any of those claims."

Harriet Hall on Functional Medicine: Redundant and Full of Babble

Abortion: Not A Biblical Or Moral Issue, But A Political Issue

"In continuing to support Donald Trump simply because he says he will outlaw abortion (as if he even could), evangelical Christians have effectively given up their right to speak to moral issues in American life. Five decades of well-coordinated political action has programmed them to draw a line in the sand over issues about which the Bible says virtually nothing, even while turning a deaf ear to the cries of the less fortunate, the marginalized poor and the socially disadvantaged in our country (something Bible speaks about voluminously).

What Does the Bible Say About Abortion?

The Hypocrisy Of "Pro-Life" Proponents

The following article highlights the incongruity of those religious dogmatists who rail against abortion but are insensitive to actual persons.  The fact is that there is a direct relationship between those who call themselves "pro-life" and those who actively work against providing life-saving healthcare for the poor.

If you are reading this with criticism, please consider the following points:
  • The growing uterine life does not have all the features of a human person from the moment of conception, thus, is really a potential person throughout most of its uterine existence.
  • The pregnant women has the right of bodily autonomy.
  • There is no evidence for an un-embodied "soul", much less its presence at the moment of conception.
  • The vast majority of fertilized eggs are flushed down the toilet.  If you believe the dogma of the religious conservatives, God is the greatest abortionist.
Poor die without N.C. Medicaid expansion

An honest look at abortion statistics

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Naturopathy: Time To Shut All Of The Doors On This Quackery

"At the very least, the California legislature no longer has any excuse for accepting at face value naturopathic representations about the quality of their education or its ability to produce health care practitioners competent to diagnose and treat all comers, especially children. In fact, I have Britt to thank for originally proposing the idea of using the upcoming repeal to advocate for changes to the licensing law. I hope she’ll write on the subject herself, with her insider’s vast knowledge of naturopathic education and practice."

California legislature should repeal naturopathic licensing

Body Sculpting to Reduce Body Fat

One on the newer treatments in the effort to get rid of unwanted fat deposits from localized areas, CoolSculpting may reduce a small amount of fat deposits.  However, the treatments are expensive and requires attention to the causes of the fat deposits.  In addition, there is a small risk of fat cells returning after the procedure.

You Can Freeze Your Fat and Poop It Out

You can also heat it and vibrate it.

The effect of Heat, and Other Measures




Feminism: Overtaken By Pseudoscience?

"Few in a modern, liberal society would doubt the historical benefit of feminism. For a society to be prosperous and just, respectful treatment and equality of opportunity must be extended to all. But modern feminism has advanced well beyond its laudable origins to encapsulate an ideology that is increasingly detached from reality."

* Click on the link below for details:

Is Modern Feminism Incompatible with Science?

* Caution: the link is to a website that is at least mildly conservative with the possibility of bias against feminism (link)

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Houston: Science Has A Problem

"A special issue explores how the research enterprise keeps early-career scientists from pursuing the most important work, and what can be done to help."

The plight of young scientists

Lack Of Understanding Of Reality In One Area Transfers

"The scientists compared religious believers to people with autism, saying both struggle to distinguish between the mental and the physical, although autistic people are at the opposite end of the spectrum because they often see the world as entirely physical and struggle to understand the mental state of others."

Believers tend to accept other forms of woo, like the consciousness of inanimate objects like rocks.

A Two-Hour Response To An Attack On Atheism

"Fellow atheist blogger Jeffery Jay Lowder of Secular Outpost blog here at Patheos has a new video that responds to Frank Turek’s recent book, Stealing From God: Why Atheists Need God to Make Their Case."

Evolution And Religion: Ya, What's The Harm?

"Until religion is gone, we’ll still face a formidable problem of getting evolution accepted despite its palpable truth. And when religion is gone, there will be almost no problem with acceptance."

Evolution rejection in the American South: It’s the religion, stupid!

Whether It's Baking A Cake Or Saving A Life, If You Can't Provide The Service, GET OUT OF THE BUSINESS!!!

The spread of Catholic hospitals has created an evil within the US healthcare system.

The expanding Catholic healthcare system in America, and the invidious restrictions that places on women’s healthcare.

Labels


Click on image

Choose how you look at reality wisely. Yes, it is a binary choice.

Choose how you look at reality wisely. Yes, it is a binary choice.
Click on image