An in-depth and surprisingly personal interview of Richard Dawkins by Riz Khan.

(5) comments

Russell Blackford stands up for the “new atheism”. Blackford explains why in his view the resurgence in atheist literature and the movement in general, are gaining traction and why open criticism of religion should not remain taboo.

(4) comments

In a succinct essay, Pinker argues that science is making religion obsolete because it answers questions once thought to be the sole domain of God, such as the origins of life and the universe, the nature of consciousness, and the nature of morality.

(11) comments

In science we may start with experimental results, data, observations, measurements, “facts.” We invent, if we can, a rich array of possible explanations and systematically confront each explanation with the facts. In the course of their training, scientists are equipped with a baloney detection kit. The kit is brought out as a matter of course whenever new ideas are offered for consideration. If the new idea survives examination by the tools in our kit, we grant it warm, although tentative, acceptance. If you’re so inclined, if you don’t want to buy baloney even when it’s reassuring to do so, there are precautions that can be taken; there’s a tried-and-true, consumer-tested method.

What’s in the kit? Tools for skeptical thinking.

What skeptical thinking boils down to is the means to construct, and to understand, a reasoned argument and—especially important—to recognize a fallacious or fraudulent argument. The question is not whether we like the conclusion that emerges out of a train of reasoning, but whether the conclusion follows from the premise or starting point and whether that premise is true.

(6) comments

“A band of intellectual brothers is mounting a crusade against belief in God. Are they winning converts, or merely preaching to the choir?”

Wired reporter Gary Wolf describes the New Atheist movement and his own personal move towards atheism… but away from “New Atheism”.

(5) comments

A remarkably clear video presentation of the logical fallacies underlying claims of faith.

(11) comments

A School marching band T-shirt design includes the image of primate evolution to man, each stage holding a trumpet. Teacher Sherry Melby says she’s disappointed and that she doesn’t “think evolution should be associated with our school.”

(9) comments

PZ Myers joins the Secular Student Alliance Trip to the Creation Museum.

(4) comments

A short and personal comment about the common question “What made you an athiest?” by Truth-Saves.com contributor David Stockin.

(18) comments

My recent op-ed in the New York Times, in which I questioned the appointment of Francis Collins as head of the NIH, inspired a fair amount of discussion in the media and on the Internet. As many of Collins’ defenders do not seem to be fully acquainted with his beliefs, or take it for granted that others won’t be, I have written a longer essay on the subject.

(301) comments

Humans naturally create stories and narratives, says British author and neurologist Oliver Sacks. As a “non-militant atheist”, Sacks believes that the human mind is s story-generating machine, but that this story generating propensity needn’t be focused on Theistic themes and that much can be gained by using this faculty in the context of nature.

A boundary where scientists face a choice: invoke a deity or continue the quest for knowledge

Science and religion both make claims about the fundamental workings of the universe. Although these claims are not a priori incompatible (we could imagine being brought to religious belief through scientific investigation), I will argue that in practice they diverge.

(6) comments

Sam Harris and Philip Ball discuss the conflict between religion and science. They do not agree…

(319) comments