http://www.bornagainskeptic.net choice understanding perspective Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:43:37 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en From Skepchick: I love that most everyone here is willing to be wrong about everything. Through disagreements, we are able to see our views reflected back at us and change them if necessary. Or, even if they don’t change, we may gain insight into just why we hold a particular view. That's how ... http://www.bornagainskeptic.net/2008/07/06/willing-to-be-wrong/ There are many confirmation biases and magical thinking tendencies that fuel testimonial and anecdotal evidence for the efficacy of woo, from acupuncture and chiropractic all the way up to the giant woo umbrella of “complementary and alternative” medicine (CAM) or “integrative” medicine. But that's not why these things are a threat ... http://www.bornagainskeptic.net/2008/07/02/dangerous-faith-based-mechanics/ Jesus died for our sins.  Lamb of God takes away the sins of the world.  As much as that was repeated to me growing up, and as innocently as I believed it, I never really comprehended how it could work.  Why should killing God produce any positive effect at all?  ... http://www.bornagainskeptic.net/2008/06/30/turns-out-god-doesnt-want-dead-animals/ The blag got listed by erv ! OMGOMG etc ;) http://www.bornagainskeptic.net/2008/06/30/squee/ Another quick redirect; I love this writeup of how we are stupid at risk assessment . I wish a few of the people close to me would learn up on this a bit. The precautionary principle can so easily be abused to the point that it becomes a zero ... http://www.bornagainskeptic.net/2008/05/30/risk-assessment-bias/ This is a TED video from 2006, but I just now watched it. Michael Shermer talks about cognitive bias, pareidolia, and other interesting ways we fool ourselves. Michael Shermer at TED.com: Why people believe strange things It's a delightful 12 minute refutation of stupidity. http://www.bornagainskeptic.net/2008/05/25/why-we-believe-strange-things/ Stolen from the blinkenlights box : Science is not--I repeat, not--a method for finding out the "truth" about anything. Without going into a great deal of detail, I would characterize science as a methodology that allows us to test our beliefs about how nature behaves with how nature actually behaves and ... http://www.bornagainskeptic.net/2008/05/05/what-science-isnt/ As we learn more about how brains work, traditional views can be called into question. Recent research indicates that (at least some) decision-making processes are "prepared" by the brain unconsciously several seconds before there is an awareness of having come to a decision. "In the study, participants could freely decide ... http://www.bornagainskeptic.net/2008/04/17/hearts-and-minds/ The willful manipulation of an audience in propaganda and debate is a depressing fact of life to me. I am interested in full understanding of an issue; best gained by rational discourse, scientific inquiry, and criticism. I am also a fairly rabid supporter of freedom of expression. I am most strongly an advocate ... http://www.bornagainskeptic.net/2008/04/04/a-strong-influence-on-the-weak-mind/ (Photo credit: RaeA) I was reading an analysis at the Oil Drum about nuclear power use and scaling in France. As usual on TOD, the comments are brimming with insight and impassioned discourse. As a rebuttal to the modest conclusion of the article, one commenter linked to ... http://www.bornagainskeptic.net/2008/03/26/limits-to-growth-fallacy/ Photo credit: Phil Moore Everyone writes their own story of life. A staggering number of people choose to create a story where meaning comes from an external governor, a deus ex machina. A common conclusion of these folk is that non-theists, lacking this (arbitrary) anchor, must be adrift in ... http://www.bornagainskeptic.net/2008/03/22/purpose/ The title of my first post was meant to sound profound and then be answered in a strictly literal sense about why we are "here" as in "on this web site". Having slighted you so soon in our readership relationship, I feel I should at least give the profound ... http://www.bornagainskeptic.net/2008/03/18/no-really-why-are-we-here/ In my previous post I made brief mention of limitations on freedom of expression for hate speech. Today I found this interesting item on topic via Infidel Guy. Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore and attorneys with the Foundation for Moral Law, representing several Pennsylvania Christians, argued ... http://www.bornagainskeptic.net/2008/03/18/strange-speech-bedfellows-legislative-legerdemain/ (Photo credit: Steffe) Growing up I learned about the (US) Constitution and particularly the Bill of Rights. There may even have been some limp discussion about why certain rights were added and what they're good for. But we never talked about what I now understand to be the most ... http://www.bornagainskeptic.net/2008/03/15/democratically-disenfranchised/ (Photo credit: the gordons) I spent rather a long time contemplating the creation of this site. There seem to be many good reasons not to bother, including but not limited to: What do I have to say that merits reading; hasn't everything of value been expressed before, by my intellectual and ... http://www.bornagainskeptic.net/2008/03/10/why-are-we-here/