Culture

A collection of 292 posts

psychology

Study Calling Out Psychology Studies Is Itself Called Out!

You may remember recently that the world of academic psychology was called properly into question. One of the main findings dealt with was whether many psych studies are repeatable. A study that is reproduced (called replications) to get the same or similar results is more robust. Single studies may just

Happiness

The Psychological Need For Certainty = Goddidit

Psychologically speaking, humans really struggle with a lack of certainty, with ambiguity and the unknown. If you think back to your own behaviour and pasts, I am sure that you can find anecdotal evidence for this. This is compounded by the desire for a just world, one that is fair,

atheism

Earliest evidence for atheism predates Jesus by at least 500 years, Cambridge professor argues

Quite often, one hears that atheism is a late arriver on the scene, that religion in some form or another prevailed universally back to the times of early animism. However, Professor Tim Whitmarsh, a leading Cambridge classicist, claims that the belief that there were indeed no gods was quite common

equality

Denmark Opens Its First Women-led Mosque

In an interesting development in Denmark, the first women-led mosque has opened. This can only be a good sign for those who want Islam to adopt modern, progressive attitudes. As the Guardian reports: Scandinavia’s first female-led mosque has opened in Copenhagen in a bid to challenge “patriarchal structures” and

Caleb Lack

Dr Caleb Lack, Director of Secular Therapy Project, Interviewed

Caleb Lack is a good friend of mine. I have edited and published a number of his books on psychology. He has taken on a new role recently within the secular world, involving his sphere of expertise. Read this fascinating interview to find out more. 1)      First of all, can

Culture

Pompeii and Vesuvius excellently animated

I love this animation. Just a bit of random recreated history. There's something about Pompeii which endlessly fascinates. No reason to show other than to share something pretty cool. [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY_3ggKg0Bc[/youtube]

Church

Anti-LGBT pastor resigns after Grindr photos, hook-up conversations exposed

This always seems to happen. It is far too frequent to be a coincidence, and cognitive dissonance must play a part. Or just a very bad attempt to bluff. Anywho, here is an example from a few months back. This is LGBTQ Nation: MIDLAND, Mich. — An anti-gay pastor in Michigan

immigration

Liberals and Germany’s Mass Sex Assaults

I am  a liberal philosopher. However, I am also aware of when fellow liberals can be paralysed by not wishing to upset people, particularly minorities or the oppressed, even when said groups might have certain issues that need dealing with. Recently, huge numbers sexual assaults and perpetrators have hit the

equality

My letter to Goldsmiths in support of Maryam Namazie

For what it's worth, I wrote a letter to the Goldsmiths Student Union and University Communications team in support of Maryam Namazie. If you are unaware of what has recently been going on, Namazie, an atheist ex-Muslim secularist was asked to speak to the Goldsmiths Uni Atheists and Humanists. Howe

determinism

Parenting - why it might not much matter. Nature vs nurture!

I want you to consider the possibility that your parents did not shape you as a person. Despite how it feels, your mother and father (or whoever raised you) likely imprinted almost nothing on your personality that has persisted into adulthood. Pause for a minute and let that heresy wash across your

Aaron Adair

Star of Bethlehem: Methodological Difficulties

Aaron Adair wrote a superb book which I edited called The Star of Bethlehem: A Skeptical View. It is well worth reading, and you will learn a number of gems. I thought I would give you a taste with part of the second chapter detailing methodological difficulties involved with the Gospel of Matthew a

Islam

'Oldest' Koran fragments found in Birmingham University

Imagine rifling through your old crud to find some old booky thing and thinking, "Hey, that looks old. I wonder how old". And then getting it dated and finding out it's the oldest, arguably mots important book in the world!

equality

Are you a gay ex-Muslim?

I am interested in the conflict within Islam between being gay and believing in the Qu'ran and the Hadith. I would like to know if you have a story to tell about this that you could write for me and post here. I have had many arguments with

Consciousness

Consciousness has less control than believed, according to new theory

Consciousness -- the internal dialogue that seems to govern one's thoughts and actions -- is far less powerful than people believe, serving as a passive conduit rather than an active force that exerts control, according to a new theory proposed by an SF State researcher.

equality

Petition for Jenner to give back medals...

Is it a poe? That's the question. It is written in such a way that it reads to me as a poe. Here is the chang.org petition description which comes in light of Olympic athlete and medal-winner Bruce Jenner's recent announcement of being trans and having a transition to Caitlyn Jenner. There has be

death

Death and Religion

Religion is a highly psychological affair. In fact, I would argue that the entirety of that which religion really is, to humanity, is psychological. Everything that religion is and does for its adherents is psychological in nature. One of the strongest dimensions of religion is its dealings with dea

Epistemology

Religious revelations never disagree with you

I did a podcast segment for the Skepticule podcast (my regular counter-apologetics segment called Pearced Off) on the self-authenticating inner witness of the Holy Spirit. Something that William Lane Craig often uses to argue for God from a personal point of view that has the handy characteristic of

Biblical Exegesis

Easter: The Resurrection Round-up

Being that time of year, let me remind you of some things that I have written on the Resurrection (and death and burial) of Jesus: On the Skepticism of the Resurrection On the Skepticism of the Resurrection (part 2) On the Skepticism of the Resurrection (part 3) On the Skepticism

Epistemology

Quote of the Day by Mary on eyewitnesses

This was an interesting albeit anecdotal comment, whilst talking about the Resurrection and the power of eyewitnesses: I was part of an experiment at University years ago. A man came in and by pre-arrangement, started to shout threateningly at the instructor. When he left, the prof asked us to form

Biblical Exegesis

Quote of the Day, epicurus on Herod

In my post on Herod, epicurus brought up a great point with regard to the news of the Messianic prophecy which shook Jerusalem at the arrival of the MAgi: In the same way that the resurrection story tosses out a verse that should cause a revolution, then moves on as if no big deal (the dead comin

Featured ATP

Does Mythicism Matter?

I was reading Kaveh Mousavi's blog today and came across this short piece: Basically, if you’re not a historian, how much does it matter that Jesus and other prophets existed or not? If you’re already an atheist, you already know it’s mostly a myth, so

crucifixion

Jesus: burial practices and crucifixion

I am having a massive debate on my facebook page at the moment with someone from the Unbelievable forum, which I have now left (tiring of the time-wasting silliness of some of the posters) about the Roman/Jewish burial practices after crucifixion with regard to Jesus' death. Here is my latest comme

God's characteristics

Valerie Tarico on God's emotions in context

I love this quote from Valerie Tarico in her chapter "God's Emotions" in John Loftus' book The End of Christianity. To say that the descriptions of God in the Bible are metaphors does not make the situation any better. A metaphor about something as deep as the human relationship to ultimate reality

atheism

Scientists discover that atheists might not exist, and that’s not a joke (plus rebuttal)

Metaphysical thought processes are more deeply wired than hitherto suspected WHILE MILITANT ATHEISTS like Richard Dawkins may be convinced God doesn’t exist, God, if he is around, may be amused to find that atheists might not exist. Cognitive scientists are becoming increasingly aware that

equality

Scott Lively and Ruining Uganda

Genius, as ever, though sad, enraging and just unfair. http://youtu.be/G2W41pvvZs0