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the current issue of Skeptic magazine
Scientology
TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE INCLUDE: Is Scientology a Cult?; New Revelations on the History, Future, and Reformation of Scientology; 9/11 Controlled Demolition Conspiracy Debunked; Can Science Deliver Eternal Life?; Was the Resurrection a Grief Hallucination?; Body Language Baloney?; The Secret Behind Outstanding Teaching; A Biologist on the Meaning of Life…; Is Psychology a Science?; Do J. K. Rowling’s Novels Undermine Religion?; Junior Skeptic: Fossil Fakes Part 2; Reviews: “The Better Angels of Our Nature” by S. Pinker.
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created by Junior Skeptic Editor Daniel Loxton.
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Skepticality — the pioneering original skeptics podcast — is a top-rated audio talk show dedicated to skeptical topics and interviews.
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MonsterTalk critically examines the science behind cryptozoological (and legendary) creatures, such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, or werewolves.
upcoming lecture at Caltech
Why We Believe in God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith
lecture by Dr. Andy Thomson
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 2 pm
Baxter Lecture Hall
IN THIS LECTURE BASED ON HIS NEW BOOK, psychiatrist Andy Thomson examines the evolution, history, anthropology, sociology, and psychology of religious beliefs and provides a brief and accessible guide to the exciting new discoveries that allow us to finally understand why and how the human mind generates, accepts, and spreads religious faith and god beliefs. Dr. Thomson is a staff psychiatrist at the University of Virginia’s Student Health Center and the Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy, and maintains a private practice of adult and forensic psychiatry in Charlottesville, Virginia. He serves as a trustee of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science.
latest additions to SkepticBlog
SkepticBlog is a collaboration between eight of the most recognized names in the promotion of science, critical thinking & skepticism. It features the cast & producers of The Skeptologists, a pilot skeptical reality show.
Russell’s Hedgehogs and Hirst’s Shark
Daniel Loxton reflects on the practical challenges of accurate skeptical scholarship—and considers some issues of deeper philosophical ...
Morgellons – Creating a New Disease
Recently the Centers for Disease Control published the results of a fairly comprehensive study of what some call Morgellons disease (which Brian also ...
Morgellons Disease: The Results Are In
About a year and a half ago, I learned most of what I know about Morgellons Disease while spending a week researching a Skeptoid episode on the ...
skepticism 101
The Power of Belief
In this 14-minute introduction to skepticism, Dr. Michael Shermer (Executive Director of the Skeptics Society) discusses why people believe weird things and elaborates on the power of belief systems. This lecture was delivered at the 2006 TED conference (Technology, Entertainment, Design) in Monterey, California.
free music downloads
Skeptics Mix Tape 2009
Think the best skepticism is the kind you can rock to? We’re pleased to offer you this selection of songs of science and skepticism — completely free! Download these MP3 files for non-commercial use at home or in your classroom.
current issue of
Junior Skeptic
Fossil Fakes, Pt 2
In Part 1 we learned about some famous fossil hoaxes, accusations of hoaxes, and tricks for creating hoaxes. In this issue, we’ll look at more famous cases, and also ask: Why are fossils that are merely out of place also considered fossil fakes? And how much long-term mischief can fakery cause for the scientists who are working to understand the history of life? Let’s find out!
geology tours
Led by various guest geologists and paleontologists, our often multi-day excursions tour some of the best geologic wonders in the United States. Visit some of the richest dinosaur-bearing deposits in the world, and collect amazing trilobites. Decipher the geologic story behind the amazing scenery at Zion, Bryce, and Capitol Reef National Parks, Death Valley, Kelso Dunes, the Great Basin, Redrock Canyon and more.
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from the Doubtful Newsblog
The Doubtful Newsblog presents timely paranormal and pseudoscience news for skeptics (because people really believe this stuff). The content is produced by Sharon Hill & Torkel Ødegård. Got a timely news story to add? Send it in! Here are today’s top news stories that deserve a little skeptical attention:
Psychics torment families of missing loved ones
The Families of Holly Bobo, Samantha Koenig and Others on their Private Torment – ABC News. James Koenig’s 18-year-old daughter Samantha ...
Big black cat video captured: Called “Beast of Stroud”
Catcha!Six-foot Big Cat captured on video| The Sun . A LEOPARD-like creature 6ft from nose to tail is caught on video bounding across a field ...
This is happening with alarming frequency: Garage door openers stop working
Garage Door Openers Stop Working On Entire Missouri Block « CBS St. Louis. It’s a puzzling phenomenon: On one street in St. Charles County, garage ...
Shermer on YouTube
debate with Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra
v. Michael Shermer:
The Afterlife
Deepak and Shermer debate the question of life after death.
this week’s eSkeptic
Can Hallucination Account for the Post-Crucifixion Appearances of Jesus?
In this week’s eSkeptic, Gary J. Whittenberger applies the hallucination hypothesis to the alleged post-crucifixion appearance of Jesus summarized in three Gospel stories. Based on careful examination of the Gospels and our current knowledge of the human mind, is the hallucination hypothesis far superior to a resurrection hypothesis in accounting for the “facts” of the post-crucifixion story?
last week’s eSkeptic
People Like to be Fooled
In last week’s eSkeptic, we present Peter Moon’s interview with Michael Shermer on why people believe weird things. This interview first appeared in Portuguese in the magazine ÉPOCA on January 16, 2012. Thank you to Michael Silva for translating the interview.
Facts About 9/11
9/11 and the Science of Controlled Demolitions
Is there any scientific validity to the claims of 9/11 controlled demolition conspiracists about the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings? This Sunday marks the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center Buildings. 9/11 conspiracists such as Richard Gage (a member of the American Institute of Architects and founder of Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth) continue to assert that WTC7 was brought down by controlled demolition. In this eSkeptic, we present Chris Mohr’s thorough analysis of the controlled demolition theory, based on his debate with Richard Gage earlier this year.
latest additions to
the reading room
As pessoas gostam de ser enganadas
This interview with Michael Shermer appeared in the magazine ÉPOCA in January 2012. The following is in Portuguese. An English translation will be posted soon.
My Dinner (and Drinks) with Christopher (Hitchens that is)
An essay tribute by Michael Shermer, written upon hearing of Hitchens’ cancer diagnosis in 2010.
Skeptic’s Science Symposium Q&A
In this discussion panel with audience Q&A, five leading skeptics (Bill Nye, James Randi, Donald Prothero, Brian Dalton, and Michael Shermer) discussed their experiences communicating science to the public. Young audience members took advantage of these experts to ask excellent questions.
Fix Wikipedia
Make the People’s Encyclopedia a Science-Based Resource
Daniel Loxton, Editor of Junior Skeptic (and the organizer behind What Do I Do Next? 105 Practical Ways to Promote Skepticism and Advance Science) addresses the importance of Wikipedia. Find out how grassroots skeptics can help ensure that Wikipedia is a science-based public resource.
Science Symposium 2011
Missed the 2011 Science Symposium? Get it on DVD!
Dr. Michael Shermer presented his “greatest hits” from 20 years of adventures in science and pseudoscience, skepticism and critical thinking.
Topics included: science and pseudoscience • the psychology and neuroscience of belief • evolution and intelligent design • science and religion • the evolutionary origins of morality • how to be good without God • the Baloney Detection Kit • how beliefs can be changed • how to get people to stop believing weird things.
The event also featured special appearances and presentations by James “The Amazing” Randi, Bill Nye the Science Guy, and a unique appearance of Mr. Deity who at long last answered Stephen Hawking’s question of why the universe goes to all the bother of existing.
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FREE PDF Download
Top 10 Myths About Evolution (and how we know it really happened)
This concise pamphlet provides answers to common objections to evolution, such as: If humans came from apes, why aren’t apes evolving into humans?; Only an intelligent designer could have made something as complex as an eye; The second law of thermo-dynamics proves that evolution is impossible; Evolution can’t account for morality; and more…
FREE PDF Download
Top 10 Things You Should Know About Alternative Medicine
Harriet Hall, MD (aka the SkepDoc), shares her wit and wisdom about alternative medicine including: chiropractic, the placebo effect, homeopathy, acupuncture, and the questionable benefits of organic food, detoxification, and ‘natural’ remedies.
FREE PDF Download
Learn to be a Psychic in 10
Easy Lessons
Psychic readings and fortunetelling are an ancient art — a combination of acting and psychological manipulation. While some psychics are known to cheat and acquire information ahead of time, these ten tips focus on what is known as “cold reading” — reading someone “cold” without any prior knowledge about them.