The Skeptics Society & Skeptic magazine

This course was taught at Portland State University.

Excerpt from Syllabus

This course is a systematic examination and analysis of atheism. It is primarily focused upon understanding contemporary secular arguments regarding religion and faith-based belief systems. It is secondarily focused upon exploring what secularism means for metaphysics, epistemology, morality, politics, aesthetics, etc.

Learning Goals

After successfully completing this course students should be able to:

• Use critical thinking skills to analyze arguments for God’s existence
• Examine and evaluate counterarguments
• Understand secular responses to faith-based morality, epistemology and metaphysics
• Investigate the role evidence ought to play in belief formation
• Examine basic logical fallacies and their application
• Explore writings and lectures of contemporary atheist thinkers
• Research 1) A specific argument for God’s existence, and 2) The counter to that argument
• Evaluate, Present and Defend findings to the class
• Address questions of textual exegesis and interpretation and their relevance to religious doctrine and belief
• Explore the controversy surrounding “the new atheists”
• Engage debates from leading religious and secular thinkers regarding God’s existence
• Explore different faith traditions by visiting local religious services and then sharing your experiences with classmates
• Examine Christian epistemology and warrant through writings of Christian thinkers
• Reflect on learning experience and articulate those experiences to peers
• Develop teamwork skills by working with fellow classmates to analyze complicated epistemological problems
• Engage controversial ideas and attempt to come to a consensus
• Empower themselves with the tools to navigate questions about faith, God and the meaning of life

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(252 kb PDF)

This PowerPoint presentation emphasizes the need to counteract false stereotypes about atheists and provides reasons why atheists and liberal religious persons should work together for the common-good. It contains demographics of religion and unbelief in America and encourages religious persons to reevaluate how they understand atheism. This PowerPoint was used for an in-class presentation (in TEDTalk format) to promote inter-faith and atheist dialogue. This presentation was created by Kile Jones for Dr. Michael Shermer’s course, “Evolution, Economics & the Brain” taught at Claremont Graduate University during the spring 2012 semester.

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(1.8 MB Powerpoint Presentation)

This is a student-made video created for Dr. Michael Shermer’s course, Skepticism 101: How to Think Like a Scientist (Without Being a Geek) at Chapman University during the fall 2011 semester. In the style of Brian Dalton’s Mr. Deity, students show the audience the types of difficulties God may experience in answering his mail.

In this lecture, arguably his most controversial subject that is based on his highly-acclaimed book, “How We Believe”, Dr. Shermer addresses a very old question in religion with the newest data from science, namely: why do people believe in God?

As Dr. Shermer attempts to answer the question using the best theories and data from anthropology, psychology, sociology, and evolutionary biology, Dr. Shermer also addresses the important role of religion in society, the historical roots of religion and why it arose around 5000 years ago as a co-equal partner to governments and states, the origin of myths and the importance of myth-making in human cultures, and what belief in God means for individuals and society. In his always conciliatory and friendly approach to deep and controversial subjects, Dr. Shermer nevertheless is not afraid to face head-on, and courageously confront our most meaningful questions that we all have about God, the universe, and the meaning of life.

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(28 MB Powerpoint Presentation)

This course was taught at St. Edwards University in spring 2012.

Excerpt from Syllabus

American mythology claims the United States is a Christian nation, increasingly accepting of all denominations and faiths. What about non-belief? Should atheism be written into, and become part of the American story? Has it already? From a rhetorical perspective this course will address a variety of related questions:

• What are the narratives of atheism? Whose voices tell the stories and what are their interests?
• What are the arguments for atheism?
• How is atheism framed, both positively and negatively?
• Why has “New Atheism” appeared recently as a social movement? What are the aspirations of the movement, the strategies used for altering perspectives, and who are their audiences?

This course will examine four different perspectives from which to view these issues:

1. The personal perspective of “Letting Go of God”
2. The critical perspective taking religion as its object
3. The social perspective examining secularism in a free society
4. The ethical perspective addressing the tenets of secular humanism.

There is an alternative American myth claiming the United States is a beacon of Liberty, carrying the torch of progressive values, scientific endeavor, and human rights ignited by the Enlightenment. Which American myth appeals to us? This overarching question will guide our journey.

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(420 kb PDF)