Tagged: superstition

Theories about Conspiracy theories - The Dismal Science

Eric Crampton • Apr 29, 2015 •

• ignorance,
• superstition,
• voters,
• voting

Four nationally representative survey samples collected in 2006, 2010, and 2011 indicate that over half of the American population consistently endorse some kind of conspiratorial narrative about a current political event or phenomenon and that these attitudes are predicted by supernatural, paranormal, and Manichean sentiments. These findings suggest that conspiracism is not only an important element in American political culture, … Read More

So you think science has a problem? - Open Parachute

Ken Perrott • Jul 15, 2012 •

• belief,
• Catholic Church,
• Gallup,
• religion,
• Sciblogs,
• supernatural,
• superstition,
• United States

There are a number of opinion piece writers, usually  philosophers of religion or accomadationist atheist philosophers who really hate  today’s vocal atheists. Particularly if those atheists are also scientists. They often pretend to be concerned about the reputation of science. … Continue reading → … Read More

Historians of science sometimes miss the wood for the trees - Open Parachute

Ken Perrott • Oct 14, 2011 •

• Epistemology,
• Galileo,
• Galileo affair,
• history of science,
• Imre Lakatos,
• philosophy,
• Philosophy of Science,
• religion,
• Sciblogs,
• supernatural,
• superstition,
• Thomas Kuhn

I came across this nice little quote recently:* Philosophy of science without history of science is empty; history of science without philosophy of science is blind. It’s attributed to  Imre Lakatos, the Hungarian philosopher of mathematics and science. This really … Continue reading → … Read More

Approaching morality scientifically - Open Parachute

Ken Perrott • Oct 12, 2011 •

• agnostic,
• agnosticism,
• atheism,
• belief,
• Coyne,
• evolution,
• god,
• Jerry Coyne,
• morality,
• philosophy,
• religion,
• Richard Dawkins,
• Sam Harris,
• Sciblogs,
• science of morality,
• supernatural,
• superstition,
• theology

In his recent criticism of Jerry Coyne’s* USA Today article As atheists know, you can be good without God, local theologian Matt Flannagan repeats his rather tiresome warning that scientists should not try to understand morality – “leave that to us … Continue reading → … Read More

Ethicists have problems with ethics! - Open Parachute

Ken Perrott • Oct 11, 2011 •

• Christianity,
• Ethicist,
• ethics,
• evolution,
• morality,
• morals,
• philosophy,
• politics,
• Professor,
• religion,
• Religion and Spirituality,
• Sciblogs,
• science of morality,
• supernatural,
• superstition

I picked up this article recently – The Self-Reported Moral Behavior of Ethics Professors. So I couldn’t help laughing when I came across this other one – When Scientists Make Bad Ethicists. A title like “When Scientists Make Bad Scientists” … Continue reading → … Read More

How do you know that? - Open Parachute

Ken Perrott • Oct 06, 2011 •

• answers in genesis,
• creationism,
• Dawkins,
• evolution,
• Ken Ham,
• Pharyngula,
• PZ Myers,
• religion,
• Richard Dawkins,
• Sciblogs,
• supernatural,
• superstition

PZ Myer at Pharyngula has produced another of his gems. A letter to a nine-year old girl who had been fooled by the creationist Ken Ham to think the question “Were you there?” is a clever response to scientific information … Continue reading → … Read More

Compulsory payments for advancement of religion — let’s get rid of that. - Open Parachute

Ken Perrott • Sep 29, 2011 •

• advancement of religion,
• Christianity,
• freedom,
• human rights,
• hypocisy,
• Jennifer Michael Hecht,
• New Zealand,
• politics,
• religion,
• Sciblogs,
• supernatural,
• supernatural belief,
• superstition,
• tax,
• tax exemption,
• Trade union,
• tradition

I read  recently how cynically humans use the word “freedom.” (I think it was in Jennifer Michael Hecht‘s Doubt: A History)  How often do you see a fascist or otherwise undemocratic organisation with freedom in its name or slogans? This … Continue reading → … Read More

William Lane Craig’s ’logic’ - Open Parachute

Ken Perrott • Sep 21, 2011 •

• agnostic,
• agnosticism,
• atheism,
• belief,
• Christianity,
• debate,
• Existence of God,
• faith,
• faulty logic,
• god,
• philosophy,
• religion,
• Sciblogs,
• supernatural,
• superstition,
• William Lane Craig

I don’t know how long this video will survive on YouTube. It’s a takeoff of William Lane Craig and his “logic.” Apparently Craig has made several attempts to remove it. Personally, I think there is room for many more of … Continue reading → … Read More

Science and the ’supernatural’ - Open Parachute

Ken Perrott • Sep 19, 2011 •

• Barbara Forrest,
• Christianity,
• creationism,
• culture,
• diversity,
• evolution,
• faith,
• Homeopathy,
• intelligent design,
• Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District,
• Non-overlapping magisteria,
• philosophy,
• Philosophy of Science,
• Relationship between religion and science,
• religion,
• Rocks of Ages,
• Sciblogs,
• Science in Society,
• scientific method,
• Stephen Jay Gould,
• supernatural,
• superstition,
• The Wedge,
• United States National Academy of Sciences

I have discussed the issue of “supernaturalism” and science before but return to it having just read  Can Science Test Supernatural Worldviews?  by Dr  Yonatan I. Fishman. It’s an excellent paper which I recommend you read as it may challenge … Continue reading → … Read More

Approaching a Middle East peace - Open Parachute

Ken Perrott • Sep 14, 2011 •

• Activism and Peace Work,
• Bible,
• faith,
• humour,
• interfaith,
• Islam,
• Jewish,
• Middle East,
• peace,
• religion,
• Rock and roll,
• Sciblogs,
• supernatural,
• superstition,
• Tim Minchin

Came across this song of Tim Minchen’s Peace Anthem For Palestine. Actually think he might be on to something … Read More