Original Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Skepticcom/~3/vE6nG4zcg0A/ New Issue Available Now: Skeptic Magazine 23.3: Science & Moral Values Science Salon # 36: Dr. Jonathan Haidt — The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting Up a Generation for Failure MonsterTalk # 167: Werewolves and Change SCIENCE & MORAL…

Original Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Skepticcom/~3/ugGFlqzqJxs/ http://traffic.libsyn.com/sciencesalon/ss036_Jonathan_Haidt_2018_08_27.mp3 Download MP3 [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE5qXeb2U5c?controls=0&w=560&h=315] In this fascinating dialogue Dr. Haidt and Dr. Shermer discuss what has been going wrong on many college campuses in the last few years. Speakers are shouted down. Students and professors say they are walking on eggshells and are afraid to speak…

Original Source: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thethinkingatheist/2018/09/04/our-400th-show Another show, another milestone. Join Seth Andrews for the 400th episode of The Thinking Atheist podcast. Support our sponsor and get a free trial: The Great Courses Plus http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/seth GHOST STORIES audiobook free with Audible 30-day trial at https://adbl.co/2PCp2na.  To get the book without an Audible trial or…

Original Source: https://www.richardcarrier.info/archives/14539 I’ve been asked about it a lot. So here’s a handy guide to all the tricks pulled by the Jehovah’s Witnesses on their website (JW.org) aimed at fooling people into being sure some Jesus behind the Gospels really existed. I didn’t dive into the whole rabbit hole,…

Original Source: https://www.richardcarrier.info/archives/14524 A few years ago Strange Notions published a strange editorial by statistics professor William Briggs, called Bayes Theorem Proves Jesus Existed (And That He Didn’t). I say strange, because it’s weirdly dishonest, incompetent, and irrational coming from someone who teaches probability theory for a living, and has…

Original Source: https://www.richardcarrier.info/archives/14486 I’ve argued before that if we presume there was once absolutely nothing, we actually end up with an infinite multiverse (Ex Nihilo Onus Merdae Fit). Which eliminates the fine tuning argument, by statistically guaranteeing any universe will randomly exist, no matter how improbable its arrangement of fundamental…

Original Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Skepticcom/~3/BQ6E1yHnWaE/ Science Salon # 35: Dr. Tali Sharot — The Influential Mind: What the Brain Reveals About Our Power to Change Others Shermer vs. Turek Debate: What Better Explains Reality: Atheism or Theism? MonsterTalk # 166: Chained Heir: Gothic Horror in Glamis Castle SCIENCE SALON # 35 Dr.…

Original Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Skepticcom/~3/0CXp5ef9NNc/ http://traffic.libsyn.com/sciencesalon/ss035_Tali_Sharot_2018_08_17.mp3 Download MP3 [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLO7Mng3YLo?controls=0&w=560&h=315] In her new book, The Influential Mind, neuroscientist Tali Sharot takes readers on a thrilling exploration of the nature of influence, so she and Shermer start the conversation by discussing how we can influence, for example, climate deniers to accept climate science,…

Original Source: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thethinkingatheist/2018/08/26/its-time-to-quit-the-catholic-church Another child abuse scandal rocks the Catholic Church. We explore the reports coming out of Pennsylvania, and the Church's long, ugly track record of abuse and coverup. Freedom From Religion Foundation's Andrew Seidel joins the conversation. Articles: CNN ARTICLE: https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/21/world/catholic-church-abuse-scandal-timeline/index.html ANDREW SEIDEL'S ARTICLE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/freethoughtnow/pa-abuse-report FRIENDLY ATHEIST'S ARTICLE: http://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2018/08/15/here-are-the-worst-abuses-by-catholic-priests-from-the-pa-grand-jurys-report/ PENNSYLVANIA GRAND…

Original Source: https://www.richardcarrier.info/archives/14482 I’ll be teaching critical thinking next month (September). Learn some easy tools of Bayesian reasoning, how to spot and correct for cognitive biases, how to reason logically and avoid and detect fallacies, and how to better question your decisions and beliefs in constructive ways. Skills everyone should…