the evolving mind

If there is a culture war today, the weapons of that war are not swords, spears, and arrows, but keyboards and video cameras. This is a much more civilized way to battle opposing forces.

Speaking of civilized, is it just my personal experience, or do the vitriolic comments and emails from individuals expressing opposition to theism have less violent comment and threat of bodily harm than those from individuals expressing opposition to atheism? Seems to be the case to me. I could be wrong, but in the culture wars those armed with religion seem a more threatening lot. A less civil lot.

For more words by individuals on THIS side of the current culture war, I recommend checking out the new editions of these two blog carnivals:

1) Carnival of the Godless #131

2) Humanist Symposium 47

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The above photo was taken in a Sicilian place of worship. At times “church” has readily embraced and utilized the forces of “state.” And even glorified those forces. This is a huge reason to keep church and state separate.

Technorati Links: atheism, culture war, humanism

A new blog carnival was posted yesterday: the 126th edition of the Skeptics’ Circle.

If we held a skeptics’ pride parade in NY city, would all participants head off in different directions?

Maybe.

One trend I applaud in contemporary culture is that it seems squareness is becoming more hip. Or at least less square. If that’s possible.

Technorati Links: skepticism

What do you “make of” the above photo? As to why you make of it what you do (or don’t) — the reasons likely include genetic predisposition, experience/learning, and even your current mental state/mood.

As for what you make of the entries in the two blog carnivals listed below — should you choose to check them out — the same might be true.

1) Carnival of the Godless #130

2) Scientia Pro Publica #16: Us, Friends, and Society

Enjoy. At least as far as your disposition/personality, experience, and mood allows.

Technorati Links: nature photo, psychology

Damn. There you were with all your beliefs in a row neater than ducklings following their mother. And “Boom!” New information hits you.

My advise: Don’t invest too heavily in any idea. And stay informed. That way you won’t be blind-sided.

If reading 200-proof science is a bit much for you, perhaps you can keep abreast of new developments by letting others sweeten up the hard-core jargon and numbers for you. Read science books and magazines written for the lay person.

And maybe check out the recent edition of the blog carnival, Scientia Pro Publica: #16 Us, Friends and Society.

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Photo thanks to NASA.

Technorati Links: education, science

To call secular humanism just another religion is akin to calling a bicycle just another automobile. Oh sure, the two may have some common elements. But the most crucial, defining element is missing.

In the case of the bicycle — yes, it, too, has wheels. But without an engine you can’t call it an automobile.

In the case of secular humanism — yes, there are shared beliefs and values among humanists, however loosely so. And they sometimes gather together as a community. But lacking a supernatural element you can’t really call it a religion.

And speaking of humanism, the 45th Edition of the Humanist Symposium has been posted. I wonder — when I read the round-up of posts, will I find evidence of anything more than wheels?

Technorati Links: blogs, humanism

I like blog carnivals. They are the blog equivalent of speed dating. You drop by the host’s place, spend a half a minute, or ten, checking out many or all of the entrants. And if you like . . . you ask for phone numbers. Or RSS feeds.

Here’s one that came out recently – The 123rd Congregation of the Skeptics’ Circle, hosted by Blue Genes – Science news.

Think I’ll stop on by. I wonder if I’ll “hit it off” with any of the entrants.

Technorati Links: blog carnivals

We Americans tend to feel an affinity for Aussies. Maybe it relates to the whole Wild West thing. Sure, sometimes we wonder what type of glue keeps their boots secured to the underside of our globe. But you’ve got to love those tans!

Was that a stereotype?

When I lived in the U.S. Southwest, one of the things I loved about it was the general lack of pretense in people. Didn’t matter if you were rich or poor, a rancher, farmhand, store owner or none-of-the-above. People are just people, and those who believe they are getting somewhere fast are fooling themselves. So why not kick up your feet, have a beer, and relax a bit?

It seems to me that the above attitude could describe what we Americans know and feel about Aussies. With such an attitude — one stripped relatively bare of pretension — it seems to me that a healthy skepticism would be as natural as tumbleweeds rolling in the wind.

I wonder if the Young Australian Skeptics would agree. They have recently hosted and posted the The 122nd Skeptics’ Circle. Their committee meeting theme was so well done, I’m inclined to buy them a beer. But I can’t find anything in Robert’s Rules of Order covering the protocol for that.

Technorati Links: skepticism

Imagine that you wake up floating in outer space — like the above NASA photo of an astronaut relatively distant from his home shuttle. Sure, initially you may consider it a treat. So beautiful. So awe-inspiringly grand.

But unlike the photo, in my hypothetical scenario you have no shuttle-based peers to collect you or a jet-pack to propel you toward. No, you are all alone. Sure, it is pretty cool out there. But how long will your oxygen last? Your water? Your cool?

When does awe turn to foreboding and then to fear?

Fortunately, you are now here on Earth. No such fate awaits you. At least not yet. On your deathbed you may have a different perspective.

Some believers assert that the existential condition of the atheist is that of a person floating in space — untethered to anything absolute. There may be some truth to that. But most atheists I know would prefer that condition to that of floating in space clutching a flimsy chain of Biblical-page paper rings floating lifelessly nowhere. Bothering to hold Linus’ blanket would make as much sense.

How do you perceive your own condition? Is it a treat to be a human being on planet Earth? A trick? A hair-raising experience (at least during those October-31st type moments when you really thing about it)?

For more words by untethered atheists, I recommend checking out Carnival of the Godless #128 – Not Quite Halloween Edition.

Don’t worry. The collection of writings is free of real razor blades. Though you might get a bit existentially nauseous if you read them all at once.

Technorati Links: atheism, existentialism

It is established science fiction that “you are what you eat.” (Yesterday I was a whole lot of tortilla and green chile. What will I be today?)

Would the saying, “you are what you blog” be any more true? If it is, I guess that would make me an atheistic, scientifically-minded, philosophizing, humanistic liberal. Or something. What about you?

If you care to be more of any of the following, follow the link:

Humanistic (Humanist Symposium #43).

Philosophical (Philosophers’ Blog Carnival).

Liberal (Carnival of the Liberals #97).

Enjoy! I will. Because that’s who I am. (Maybe.)

Technorati Links: blog carnivals

Care to graze from a sampling of skeptical blog posts? Why not check out the 120th edition of the Skeptics’ Circle, hosted by Pro-Science. You just might run into something tasty.