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Silly, Random & Fun
Jan 27, 2018Jan 2018

Posted by zblaze
The Comics Section: Pretending to Know The Answers - TheHumanist.com
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General & Hellos
May 15, 2019May 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKProsanta Chakrabarty: Four billion years of evolution in six minutes | TED Talk
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Health & Happiness
Dec 9, 2018Dec 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKEmily Levine: How I made friends with reality | TED Talk
From the video: With her signature wit and wisdom, Emily Levine meets her ultimate challenge as a comedian/philosopher: she makes dying funny. In this personal talk, she takes us on her journey to make friends with reality -- and peace with death. Life is an enormous gift, Levine says: "You enrich it as best you can, and then you give it back." "I really enjoyed this talk"
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Politics
May 1, 2018May 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKShrugging Off Trump Scandals, Evangelicals Look to Rescue G.O.P. – The New York Times
The message to energize Christian conservatives has twin purposes: to inspire them to celebrate their victories and to stoke enough grievance to prod them to vote. But in a midterm election, no singular political enemy will emerge the way Hillary Clinton did in 2016. Instead, leaders of the movement plan to lean hard into a message that fans fears and grudges: that the progressive movement and national media mock Christian life and threaten everything religious conservatives have achieved in ...
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General & Hellos
Feb 14, 2019Feb 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKPhotos of the Week: Hair Dress, Frosty Bison, Bajadasaurus Pronuspinax - The Atlantic
For your viewing pleasure.
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Religion & Spirituality
Dec 24, 2018Dec 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKWhat the Hail: Satanists Got Busy in 2018 - Rewire.News - Religion Dispatches
FTA: November: TST sued Netflix and Warner Bros. for $150 million in damages. The story was catnip to the media with news sites covering sci-fi, celebrity gossip, and corporate stocks all chiming in. On Twitter many accused TST of “selling out” by defending their copyright. Others claimed TST had no case since the image of Baphomet can be traced to an 1856 illustration by occultist Eliphas Levi. But attorneys for Netflix and Warner Bros. didn’t see it that way and decided to settle with ...
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General & Hellos
Apr 13, 2018Apr 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKPhotos of the Week: Great Bustard, Shinmoedake Volcano, Ghost Mushrooms - The Atlantic
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Sam Harris Fans
Oct 3, 2019Oct 2019

Posted by zblaze
In this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Andrew McAfee about the history of human progress and the modern uncoupling of our prosperity from resource consumption. They discuss the pitfalls and hidden virtues...
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Academic (e.g., Science)
Oct 14, 2018Oct 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKAsk Ethan: Could The Big Rip Lead To Another Big Bang?
FTA: If the Big Rip is true, it should simply tear all the matter apart, leading to a very empty Universe with a large amount of energy inherent to space itself. If we extrapolate this arbitrarily far, to the highest energies imaginable, space itself will tear apart, which is why it’s called the Big Rip. But perhaps there’s a cutoff, and perhaps there’s another transition in store. If this is what our Universe is headed towards, then the Big Rip might not be the last thing that ever ...
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Religion & Spirituality
Jan 25, 2018Jan 2018

Posted by zblaze
How Peaceful Religion Kills | Religion as a Placebo - YouTube
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Silly, Random & Fun
Mar 20, 2019Mar 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKThe Comics Section: Changing Norms & We'll Always Have (The) Paris (Accords) - TheHumanist.com
HA HA HA
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Religion & Spirituality
Dec 9, 2018Dec 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKThe Comics Section: Parts of Plans and Signs of Times - TheHumanist.com
True and funny....
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General & Hellos
Jun 28, 2019Jun 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKSohrab Ahmari and the Rise of America's Orbánists - The Atlantic
FTA: The rapidity of that cultural shift, though, should not obscure the contours of the society that the religious right still aspires to preserve: a world where women have no control over whether to carry a pregnancy to term, same-sex marriage is illegal, and gays and lesbians can be arrested and incarcerated for having sex in their own homes and be barred from raising children. The religious right showed no mercy and no charity toward these groups when it had the power to impose its will, but...
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Health & Happiness
Dec 22, 2017Dec 2017

Posted by zblaze
The Making of a Modern Pilgrim - TheHumanist.com
A primal need resides in us all to bear witness and talk to our fellow travelers on this pilgrimage of life that, though we may disagree on much of it, such as origin and destination, should serve as a means of rejoicing in our shared humanity with its wonderful and stirring muddle of contradictions and finer aspirations. The more I hiked on, the deeper this sank in—with a palpable result. My energy levels rocketed. Bitterness and regret evaporated. Two decades were knocked off leaving me ...
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General & Hellos
Apr 1, 2018Apr 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKHumanist Women in History: Eleanor Smeal - TheHumanist.com
In 1994 the Freedom From Religion Foundation honored her with its Freethought Heroine Award. “We went to church every Sunday,” she said in her acceptance speech, recalling her childhood. “And every Sunday my father’s habit was to count how many times they passed the hat. Frankly, I think I learned in that period the importance of separation of church and state. Discrimination on the basis of ethnicity and religion is a very serious quarrel with me.” The Feminist Caucus of the American ...
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Religion & Spirituality
May 1, 2018May 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKPakistan's top judge says he'll hear Asia Bibi's appeal personally - and 'soon' - World Watch Monitor
Blasphemy against Islam is an extremely sensitive issue in Pakistan. In November, protests against potential reform of the current laws brought life to a halt in the capital, Islamabad, and though international pressure increases for the government to change its legislation, conservative Muslim groups continue to vehemently refuse. As part of his decision to hear Noreen’s appeal, Justice Nisar ordered police protection for Malook restored. Two prominent Pakistani politicians were ...
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Religion & Spirituality
Feb 14, 2019Feb 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKOn secularism, conversion & nature of religion
FTA: Such an expanded debate could possibly shed light on why for most of the about to conclude millennium we were a conquered nation. It is over a thousand years since Mohammed bin Kasim conquered the Sind. Thus paving the way for a succession of Arabs, Persians, Turks, Uzbeks, Mongols, Portuguese, French and the English to invade and rule parts, if not all, of this country. In the process, we even became the only nation to be conquered by a private commercial enterprise — the East India ...
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Philosophy & Meaning
Mar 13, 2018Mar 2018

Posted by zblaze
119 - Hidden Motives A Conversation with Robin Hanson
Sam Harris
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General & Hellos
Jul 10, 2018Jul 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINK132 - Freeing the Hostages A Conversation with Chris Voss
In this episode of the Waking Up podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Chris Voss about his experience as a hostage negotiator for the FBI. They discuss different types of hostage crises, along with many of the lessons that apply to negotiating in normal life.
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General & Hellos
May 4, 2018May 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKPhotos of the Week: Diplomacy, Mud Madness, a Brand New Prince - The Atlantic
I hope you enjoy these.
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General & Hellos
Jun 21, 2019Jun 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKBBC - Future - How modern life is transforming the human skeleton
"Feeling that something might be up, Shahar decided to investigate. Together with his colleague, he analysed over a thousand X-rays of skulls from people ranging from 18 to 86 years old. They measured any spikes and noted what each participant’s posture was like. What the scientists found was striking. The spike was far more prevalent than they had expected, and also a lot more common in the youngest age group: one in four people aged 18-30 had the growth. Why could this be? And should we ...
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Academic (e.g., Science)
Aug 10, 2018Aug 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKAbiogenesis is not Spontaneous - YouTube
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General & Hellos
Aug 20, 2019Aug 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKShura interview: ‘God can’t hate the gays – I was blessed by the Pope’ | The Independent
FTA: God can’t hate the gays. Both me and my twin brother are raging homosexuals.” Ever since that holy encounter, the 28-year-old has been fascinated by religion. She even considered, despite being a “staunch atheist”, studying theology at university, “It’s all being interested in humans and how we f things up,” she shrugs. “Oh great, let’s create a perfect image of a woman who also happens to be a virgin and a mother, which is physically impossible, and then for all ...
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Politics
Oct 19, 2018Oct 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKHow to build an authoritarian regime — and how to stop one | Timothy Snyder - YouTube
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General & Hellos
Mar 9, 2018Mar 2018

Posted by zblaze
Chuck Nice: A funny look at the unintended consequences of technology | TED Talk
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Silly, Random & Fun
Mar 9, 2018Mar 2018

Posted by zblaze
Photos: The "Beast From the East" Freezes Europe - The Atlantic
Enjoy if you will.
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Philosophy & Meaning
Mar 7, 2019Mar 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKSmokers’ corner: Secularisation without secularism
FTA: “Secularity 2” is largely a social occurrence triggered by powerful intellectual currents and a shift from traditional modes of economics to modern ones. The most prominent example in this respect is the erosion of the power of the church in Europe during the Age of Enlightenment from the 18th century onwards. The period saw the advent of constitutional democracy, modern science, industrialisation and the separation of the church and the state. It saw reason as being the primary source ...
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General & Hellos
Dec 8, 2018Dec 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKPhotos of the Week: Foggy Skies, Wayward Boar, Mars Landing - The Atlantic
For your viewing pleasure....
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Politics
Jun 20, 2018Jun 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKTheocratic Mercenary Erik Prince and the Christian Right - TheHumanist.com
Just as with Donald Trump, Bush’s electoral victories were achieved in part due to the political wrangling of evangelical supporters. Known for their effectiveness in galvanizing the religious right, reverends Robertson and Falwell called upon their loyal minions to draw support from Christian voters to help elect Bush. Groups like Focus on the Family and the Council for National Policy were among the well-funded groups to rally evangelicals to their call. Bush’s campaigns helped pave an ...
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Silly, Random & Fun
Apr 1, 2018Apr 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKThe Comics Section: Praising Abraham and a Disgusting Trip Back in Time - TheHumanist.com
LOL
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Silly, Random & Fun
Mar 7, 2019Mar 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKThe Comics Section: Hypocrisy and Explosive Pardons - TheHumanist.com
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General & Hellos
Apr 28, 2018Apr 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKThe Loss of Anonymity and More? Mass Surveillance and Facial Recognition - TheHumanist.com
With a failed justice system that criminalizes class and race (disproportionately affecting people of color and low-income communities) and with a militarized police force that encourages abuse of power, should we invest in a mass surveillance system that has been found to misidentify people of color and women? Not only is this technology at risk of perpetuating racial biases, but there’s a strong chance that it can lead to false arrests. Ultimately, innocent people will need to spend time and...
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Silly, Random & Fun
Apr 28, 2018Apr 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKThe Comics Section: Positive Actions and False Idols - TheHumanist.com
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Silly, Random & Fun
Mar 1, 2018Mar 2018

Posted by zblaze
Hey Muslims, Let’s Join the NRA. We Could Help Solve Gun Violence.
To be clear: These are folks who are already suspicious of, and hostile toward, their unarmed and peaceful Muslim neighbors. Imagine how shocked they’d be at the prospect of legally armed Muslims living next door to them. With NRA membership cards and concealed-carry permits to boot. Oh, the horror! Think of how they’d react to the potential PR campaigns: glossy photos of hijab-clad women wielding AR-15 assault rifles at their local gun range; billboard ads claiming that “the only way ...
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Silly, Random & Fun
Jun 12, 2019Jun 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKCreationists Are Mocking Flat Earthers for Not Understanding Science | Hemant Mehta | Friendly Atheist | Patheos
FTA: Ham also says people now ask him if he believes in a Flat Earth “all the time!” He doesn’t seem to realize it’s because when you promote fiction as science, you’re bound to draw in an audience that’s susceptible to bad arguments and distorted facts. When real scientists give talks, I assure you people don’t waste their time inquiring about the dumbest possible conspiracy theories. If one sneaks through, they’re roundly mocked. It’s just not surprising that the Venn ...
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Silly, Random & Fun
Mar 18, 2018Mar 2018

Posted by zblaze
The Comics Section: The Intelligence of the House - TheHumanist.com
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Philosophy & Meaning
Mar 18, 2018Mar 2018

Posted by zblaze
Fighting Post-Truth - TheHumanist.com
If the word “schadenfreude” did not already exist, it is at this point that progressives probably would have had to invent it … except for the fact that we are all in the same boat—or soon will be—and cannot afford to indulge in the feeling of self-righteousness. Even if you are prepared to deny the facts, they have a way of asserting themselves. When the water creeps up on their $5 million houses or their businesses are affected, people will eventually listen. But does this mean that ...
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Silly, Random & Fun
Sep 21, 2019Sep 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKThe Comics Section: The Universe is Ours - TheHumanist.com
How arrogant can you be??? LOL
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Religion & Spirituality
Jan 14, 2018Jan 2018

Posted by zblaze
A Certain Uncertainty: Brookings Holds Discussion on Recent Iranian Protests - TheHumanist.com
Furthermore, the protests have highlighted the harm inflicted on religion by Iran’s total lack of church-state separation. “There is a sentiment among Iranians to reject everything this government stands for. That includes the Islamic Republic… they reject Islam itself,” Bahari warned, noting a cultural shift towards irreligiosity and Zoroastrian revival among Iranians fed up with the Islamist government. Iran’s increasing reliance on force to suppress dissent can only further damage ...
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Politics
Mar 18, 2019Mar 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKRoe v. Wade Is under Threat: What Will We Do About It? - TheHumanist.com
FTA: If (or when) the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision is overturned, the responsibility to regulate abortion care will fall to the states. And many states are already taking action in anticipation of that reversal. Last month Arkansas became the most recent state to pass a “trigger law”—a bill that automatically outlaws most abortions the moment Roe v. Wade is overturned. The bill, SB 149, passed the state House of Representatives 72 to 20.
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General & Hellos
Jun 15, 2019Jun 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKPhotos of the Week: Jupiter Vortex, Sika Deer, Big Air - The Atlantic
The first one was my favorite one this week.
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Health & Happiness
Mar 2, 2018Mar 2018

Posted by zblaze
The NRA is being supported by these companies – ThinkProgress
After the shooting in Parkland, Florida, the NRA has been the focus of renewed national attention, as the group continues to successfully block any legislation to curb gun violence on the national level. Dallas’ mayor pro tem told the NRA February 19 that the group will be “met with opposition” if it holds its scheduled May conference in his city. And over the weekend, hundreds of people gathered outside the group’s Virginia headquarters to hold a vigil and protest.
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General & Hellos
Apr 18, 2018Apr 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKBlack atheists matter: how women freethinkers take on religion | Big Think
As the black atheist Sincere Kirabo posits of BLM: ‘There’s a social activist movement underway continuing the unfinished business of the Civil Rights movement era. Want to make a difference? What we need is grit and involvement in the struggle, not a tribe satisfied with the empty promises of scriptural white noise. Please, for the sake and love of our own futures: abandon your fabled white messiah. Wake up. We are our own salvation.’
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Academic (e.g., Science)
Jan 14, 2018Jan 2018

Posted by zblaze
How to Celebrate Darwin Day in 2018 - TheHumanist.com
What are your plans to celebrate the originator of the biological theory of evolution? Not much is listed for the West Coast, guess I'll have to hold my own celebration. YAHOOOOOO!
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Politics
Jan 14, 2018Jan 2018

Posted by zblaze
On the Hill: How Arcane Senate Rules Saved the Johnson Amendment (For Now) - TheHumanist.com
MacDonough ultimately ruled that the language within last month’s tax reform bill, which would have weakened the Johnson Amendment, did not comply with the rules of reconciliation, which is the process by which a bill can be approved by a simple majority without the threat of a filibuster. As the language weakening the Johnson Amendment did not have a budgetary impact, which is required for any bill to be considered under the reconciliation process, MacDonough advised that the language be ...
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Politics
Mar 13, 2018Mar 2018

Posted by zblaze
Airman, husband hire attorney after wedding picture used in poli - WSMV News 4
Morgan said that's why he was shocked to see a political attack ad mailer featuring a wedding picture of the couple with Gayle Jordan, who's running for State Senate District 14. Jordan officiated the wedding. The mailer features the picture. Above it, it says, "Liberal Gayle Jordan will 'destroy the fabric of American society.' Take her word for it." The picture was lifted from Jordan's Facebook page without permission. Both of the men's faces are blurred, but Morgan said their faces can...
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Health & Happiness
Apr 18, 2018Apr 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKAnti-vaccine reviewers target children’s books on Amazon - The Washington Post
“All of a sudden,” she said, “I had one-star reviews.” Anti-vaccination reviewers tried to sink the book's rating in a coordinated, 48-hour campaign a month before Hanukkah. Reviewers called her story “extremely disturbing and franky inaccurate” and repeated falsehoods about “vaccines that are not at all safe.” Years of careful scientific study have thoroughly disproved any link between autism and vaccines, including the one for measles, mumps and rubella. The 1998 ...
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Academic (e.g., Science)
Oct 20, 2018Oct 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKSystematic Classification of Life - ep35 Euarchontoglires - YouTube
AronRa Published on Oct 20, 2018 My wife, Lilandra asked me to do this series, based on our first interaction--back when she was a creationist. I often say that phylogenetic taxonomy is the strongest argument for evolution. After we talked about a couple dozen clades, she was convinced, and suggested I do something similar for the public.
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Love & Relationships
Jan 8, 2018Jan 2018

Posted by zblaze
The Humanist Dilemma: How to Drop out of Religion but Stay in a Marriage - TheHumanist.com
I’ve been doing the same thing throughout my marriage (over two decades) and with our kids since their births. One key difference is that I was clear about my nonbelief before we married and agreed that I would raise the kids in the family faith. I was also clear that I would not make any pretense about my views. So there was no sense that I had unilaterally changed the rules after the wedding vows, which could be an issue in your situation. But the fact is that individuals grow in different ...
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Philosophy & Meaning
May 24, 2019May 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKDr. Christian List — Why Free Will is Real: Response to Harris, Coyne, and Other Determinists - YouTube
FTV: Philosophers have argued about the nature and the very existence of free will for centuries. Today, many scientists and scientifically minded commentators are skeptical that it exists, especially when it is understood to require the ability to choose between alternative possibilities. If the laws of physics govern everything that happens, they argue, then how can our choices be free? Believers in free will must be misled by habit, sentiment, or religious doctrine. Why Free Will is Real ...
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Philosophy & Meaning
Nov 25, 2018Nov 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINK143 - The Keys to the Mind
In this episode of the Waking Up podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Derren Brown about his work as a “psychological illusionist.” They discuss the power of hypnosis, the power of expectations, the usefulness of Stoic philosophy, and other topics.
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Religion & Spirituality
Jan 15, 2018Jan 2018

Posted by zblaze
The Museum of the Bible Is a Safe Space for Christian Nationalists
Given the theologico-political goals of its founders and patrons, it isn’t hard to see that the location of this museum was an act of symbolic and practical genius. If you’re going to build a Christian nation, this is where you start. That’s why Cindy Jacobs, a leading figure in the fast-growing world of charismatic Christianity, and a featured speaker at the Revolution 2017 event in December, described the museum as “God’s base camp.” There, in the auditorium of the museum, Ms. ...
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Sam Harris Fans
Sep 21, 2019Sep 2019

Posted by zblaze
In this episode of the Making Sense podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Kathleen Belew about the white power movement in the United States. They discuss white supremacy, white nationalism, white separatism, the militia movement, “The ...
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Academic (e.g., Science)
Jan 8, 2018Jan 2018

Posted by zblaze
How the Loss of Critical Reasoning is Harming America - TheHumanist.com
It bled over into the idea that as an American I am absolutely free to ignore science, expertise, and reason to believe what I feel to be true. That happened over hundreds of years. Then another part of it, certainly relevant to the election and presidency of Donald Trump, is the degree to which a more benign blurring between fiction and reality—entertainment—has affected us. Entertainment values and show business have seeped more and more into American life, whether it’s in the press, ...
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Sam Harris Fans
Aug 29, 2019Aug 2019

Posted by zblaze
167 - A Few Thoughts on White Supremacy
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General & Hellos
Jul 7, 2019Jul 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKPhotos of the Week: Mermaid Parade, Scarlet Sails, Moss Man - The Atlantic
Some more photos from around the globe.
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General & Hellos
Oct 14, 2018Oct 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKPhotos of the Week: Dairy Show, Beached Giant, Jet Suit - The Atlantic
I liked 38, a dog and a goose lying down togethere
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General & Hellos
Sep 29, 2018Sep 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKFighting a God - Dark Matter 2525
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Philosophy & Meaning
Jan 17, 2019Jan 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINK146 - Digital Capitalism A Conversation with Douglas Rushkoff
anuary 16, 2019 In this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Douglas Rushkoff about the state of the digital economy. Douglas Rushkoff is the host of the Team Human podcast and author of Team Human as well as a dozen other bestselling books on media, technology, and culture.
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General & Hellos
Mar 23, 2019Mar 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKPhotos of the Week: Hudson Yards, Birdman Rally, Cat Yoga - The Atlantic
Please enjoy
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General & Hellos
May 4, 2019May 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKPhotos: Climate-Change Protests Around the World - The Atlantic
Protesters look the same the world over.
0 comments
Politics
Feb 7, 2018Feb 2018

Posted by zblaze
FFRF corrects Eric Trump’s mistaken beliefs - Freedom From Religion Foundation
When my father mentioned "In God We Trust," the guiding principle of this country — no one stood. ... I think it's sad. There are things as Americans we should be united on and if we can't be united on God ... Trump didn't complete this thought, which is perhaps just as well. Americans are not now, nor have we even been, "united on God." Religion is divisive. It may unite believers of the same stripe, but it deliberately excludes all others — and often calls for worse. An early Wisconsin...
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Silly, Random & Fun
Aug 15, 2018Aug 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKThe Comics Section: Apophatic Theology & Caustic Agents - TheHumanist.com
0 comments
General & Hellos
Feb 20, 2018Feb 2018

Posted by zblaze
How US death penalty capital changed its mind - BBC News
"The death penalty wouldn't have survived in America if it weren't for evangelical Christians," notes Shane Claiborne, a prominent Christian activist and best-selling author. "Where evangelical Christians are most concentrated is where the death penalty survives." But, Mr Claiborne notes, younger evangelicals in states like Texas are increasingly embracing a pro-life interpretation that goes beyond the confines of the abortion debate to also include the likes of the Black Lives Matter ...
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Health & Happiness
Oct 14, 2018Oct 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKReflexology Hand And Foot Charts (Free) - Herbs Info
0 comments
Silly, Random & Fun
Mar 5, 2018Mar 2018

Posted by zblaze
Photos of the Week: Dancing Noses, Olympic Jumps, Analog Astronauts - The Atlantic
0 comments
Silly, Random & Fun
Aug 20, 2018Aug 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKThe Comics Section: Letterboxes & Blue Waves - TheHumanist.com
0 comments
General & Hellos
Feb 24, 2018Feb 2018

Posted by zblaze
Photos of the Week: Skiing Robots, a Bichon Frise Wins Best in Show - The Atlantic
Some more for ya.
0 comments
General & Hellos
Jan 3, 2019Jan 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKWaking Up Podcast 145 - The Information War | Sam Harris
N this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Renée DiResta about Russia’s “Internet Research Agency” and its efforts to amplify conspiracy thinking and partisan conflict in the United States. Renée DiResta is the Director of Research at New Knowledge and Head of Policy at the nonprofit organization Data for Democracy where she investigates the spread of malign narratives across social networks. She regularly writes and speaks about the role that tech platforms and curatorial ...
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Religion & Spirituality
Mar 29, 2018Mar 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKThe death of Christianity in the U.S. – Baptist News Global
The beauty of the gospel message — of love, of peace and of fraternity — has been murdered by the ambitions of Trumpish flimflammers who have sold their souls for expediency. No greater proof is needed of the death of Christianity than the rush to defend a child molester in order to maintain a majority in the U.S. Senate. Evangelicals have constructed an exclusive interpretation which fuses and confuses white supremacy with salvation. Only those from the dominant culture, along with their...
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Health & Happiness
Mar 21, 2018Mar 2018

Posted by zblaze
NHS homeopathy ending in London - BBC News
The Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine has a long history with homeopathy. It was founded as the London Homoeopathic Hospital in 1849 by one of the first doctors to practise homeopathy in Britain. But now patient leaflets say: "From 3 April 2018, the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine (RLHIM) will no longer be providing NHS-funded homeopathic remedies for any patients as part of their routine care." The hospital is run by University College London Hospitals NHS Trust....
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General & Hellos
Mar 5, 2019Mar 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKNigeria’s undercover atheists - Vanguard News Nigeria
"There are several stories from folks living in fear for their lives because they don't believe in some deity. This is just one of them." FTA: Bala attracted media attention in 2014 after being admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Kano by his parents when they found out he was atheist. He says his father and uncles held him down for 30 minutes and forced him to take medications given by the psychiatrist, who told him “everyone needs God”.
0 comments
Religion & Spirituality
Jan 16, 2019Jan 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKDogged by a Stupid question - YouTube
AronRa Published on Jan 15, 2019 It was a stupid question, one which denotes the depth of ignorance throughout creationism, but I still thought it deserved an answer.
0 comments
General & Hellos
May 19, 2019May 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKSystematic Classification of Life - ep40 Catarrhini - YouTube
AronRa Published on May 12, 2019 Here is the link to the full playlist: [goo.gl] My wife, Lilandra asked me to do this series, based on our first interaction--back when she was a creationist. I often say that phylogenetic taxonomy is the strongest argument for evolution. After we talked about a couple dozen clades, she was convinced, and suggested I do something similar for the public.
0 comments
Silly, Random & Fun
Aug 12, 2018Aug 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKXTC-Dear God Lyrics - YouTube
0 comments
Religion & Spirituality
Apr 23, 2018Apr 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKChurches Fight Atheist Lawsuit that Could Result in $1B in Taxes on Church Leaders | CBN News
For nearly six decades, religious leaders have enjoyed a housing tax exemption from the IRS. But one atheist organization says no more. The Freedom From Religion Foundation is fighting to strip that tax break in a move that would mean churches across the country would be socked with almost $1 billion in new taxes. Supporters say the provision, known as the "parsonage exemption," allows pastors, rabbis and others to live in the communities they serve.
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General & Hellos
Apr 14, 2019Apr 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKHarvey Fineberg: Are we ready for neo-evolution? | TED Talk
From The Video: Medical ethicist Harvey Fineberg shows us three paths forward for the ever-evolving human species: to stop evolving completely, to evolve naturally -- or to control the next steps of human evolution, using genetic modification, to make ourselves smarter, faster, better. Neo-evolution is within our grasp. What will we do with it?
0 comments
General & Hellos
Nov 24, 2018Nov 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKThat's Just How It Was Back Then - YouTube
DarkMatter2525 Published on Nov 23, 2018 Jeffery and God argue about a speech made by Ben Shapiro. Like many apologists, Shapiro tries to reconcile a timeless god's uncanny resemblance to an ancient culture. Is it because an all-powerful God needed to accommodate His own creation, or simply because the culture created the god?
0 comments
Sam Harris Fans
Sep 12, 2019Sep 2019

Posted by zblaze
168 - Mind, Space, & Motion A Conversation with Barbara Tversky
0 comments
General & Hellos
Feb 20, 2018Feb 2018

Posted by zblaze
Salon Retracts Article Criticizing Bible; It Didn’t Meet “Editorial Standards” – Friendly Atheist
Do you guys remember when I posted this article??? From this article; She talked about how having multiple authors (because “God” didn’t write it) led to “two different creation myths, three sets of Ten Commandments, and four contradictory versions of the Easter story.” She explained the possible forgeries, the mixing of literary genres, the possible mis-translations, and the numerous examples of “inside baseball” that made sense to the writers but not necessarily to people ...
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General & Hellos
Sep 16, 2018Sep 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKGraphic Novel Review: Altered Boys Vol. 1: The Book of Billy - TheHumanist.com
FTA: Altered Boys frames the ongoing ecclesiastical abuse scandals in such a highly personal way that the reader can feel the passions of its characters seeping through the pages. Like the best of the genre, it invites us to question ourselves as moral agents and challenges our notions of justice.
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General & Hellos
Apr 11, 2019Apr 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKUS atheists up in arms over ‘In God We Trust’ license plates — RT USA News
FTA: “Mississippi’s law violates the First Amendment rights of atheists in accordance with firmly settled Supreme Court precedent,” American Humanist Association attorney Monica Miller said in a press release. The group has demanded the state either create a new standard license plate design that doesn’t include the “God” reference, or offer Mississippi residents the option of getting a different design without having to pay. If the state doesn’t offer the nonbelievers an ...
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General & Hellos
Apr 24, 2018Apr 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKA Life of Pretending: Being Egyptian and Atheist - Quillette
Apostates towards the latter end of this spectrum have severed ties with religion completely. There are also “mild” and “transformative” forms of apostasy. While apostates towards the mild end are more or less indifferent towards the topic, most having never been particularly religious to begin with, those towards the transformative end have most often been raised to be religious. For them, the process of apostasy has often involved “massive psychological reorientation from a ...
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Politics
Mar 12, 2018Mar 2018

Posted by zblaze
Pro-Trump Pastor: ‘Thou Shalt Not Have Sex With A Porn Star’ Doesn’t Apply Here | HuffPost
Jeffress, who has been a guest in the Trump White House, has a history of inflammatory comments. Last year, he said NFL players who kneel to protest racial injustice should “be thanking God” they haven’t been “shot in the head.” He also said Trump has God’s support if he wants to “take out” North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. He’s also directed intolerant rants against gays, Muslims, Catholics, Mormons and more. He is the head pastor of the First Baptist Dallas megachurch.
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Silly, Random & Fun
Sep 6, 2018Sep 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKThe Comics Section: Revisiting Commandments and Laugh to Keep from Crying - TheHumanist.com
LOL
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Religion & Spirituality
Mar 13, 2019Mar 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKThe Beast in the Shadows Behind Religion | James Haught
FTA: Human sacrifice. Jihad holy wars. Torturing and burning women as “witches.” Massacring religious minorities such as Jews, Anabaptists and Baha’is. Castrating small boys to keep their voices golden for castrati cathedral singing. Suicide bombing to murder “infidels” of rival faiths or no faith. Killing “blasphemers” who question supernatural dogmas. Torturing “heretics” to make them admit deviant beliefs, then burning them at the stake. Civil wars between opposing ...
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Religion & Spirituality
Feb 20, 2018Feb 2018

Posted by zblaze
Cardinal George Pell's barrister: loud, socially progressive and an avowed atheist
Pell and Richter certainly make an odd couple. Richter is a Jew, Pell is a Catholic: Richter is loudly leftwing and socially progressive. Pell is a mirthless arch-conservative who once claimed that homosexuality was more dangerous than smoking. An early campaigner for reproductive rights and drug law reform, Richter has built a career around confronting power and challenging authority. Pell is authority incarnate, a high priest in one of the most powerful institutions in the world; one, ...
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General & Hellos
Sep 12, 2019Sep 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKHouse Democrat calls it 'unconstitutional' to cite God in hearing oaths | TheHill
FTA: Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) said this week that requiring witnesses testifying before Congress to affirm an oath to God is “unconstitutional.” “It’s unconstitutional to require a witness in congressional testimony to affirm an oath to a deity they may not even believe in or to affirm an oath to a singular deity when you might be a polytheistic Hindu for example,” Huffman said during an interview on The Freedom From Religion Foundation’s “Freethought Matters” ...
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Silly, Random & Fun
Mar 29, 2018Mar 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKWill convert for evidence.
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General & Hellos
Jan 26, 2019Jan 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINKPhotos of the Week: Ice Disk, Pet Blessings, Presidential Burgers - The Atlantic
Please enjoy.
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Politics
Feb 18, 2018Feb 2018

Posted by zblaze
Atheist Kicked Out of MO Town Meeting After Criticizing “In God We Trust” Sign – Friendly Atheist
This one pissed me right off!! From the article; She explained the history of the phrase. She told them why it excluded the non-religious people in the community. And she also pointed out that she’s heard these complaints from several people in the area but that they were fearful of speaking out in public — that’s why she was doing it on their behalf. Mayor Nick Guccione responded by essentially dismissing her criticism because she was the only person they had ever heard speaking out ...
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Academic (e.g., Science)
Dec 17, 2017Dec 2017

Posted by zblaze
Is Psychology a "Self-Correcting" Science?
Why is this important? One of science’s great claims to special status and credibility is that it is “self-correcting” – i.e., that when new data comes in showing something that conflicts with scientific conclusions, scientists supposedly change their conclusions. Except that, too often, they do not, at least not very easily. The accepted scientific wisdom does change, but usually because new scholars take up the correction, not because the old guard “self-corrects.” Think I am ...
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Politics
Jan 29, 2018Jan 2018

Posted by zblaze
Trump's HHS Rule Allows Religious Doctors to Refuse Care - The Atlantic
There isn’t a good count of either how many doctors harbor religious objections they’re not able to act on, or of how many patients get denied services by religiously objecting doctors. The most typical way medicine and religion tend to collide, these experts say, was for the sixth of all U.S. patients who are treated by Catholic health systems. Some of these hospitals don’t provide certain types of contraception, abortion, or assisted suicide. But those are hospitals, not the individual ...
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Silly, Random & Fun
Nov 26, 2018Nov 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKJesus at The Polls | I Love You, America on Hulu - YouTube
"I Love You, America," a Hulu Original Series. From inciting treason to telling poop jokes, Sarah Silverman♥ has created her fair share of online chatter. With "I Love You, America," she's looking to connect with people who may not agree with her personal opinions through honesty, humor, genuine interest in others, and not taking herself too seriously. While it's great to connect with like-minded people, Silverman feels it's crucial, now more than ever, to connect with un-like-minded people.
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Religion & Spirituality
Mar 12, 2018Mar 2018

Posted by zblaze
Kevin Swanson Warns That God May Destroy America Over 'The Shape Of Water' | Right Wing Watch
Earlier this year, extremist anti-LGBTQ pastor Kevin Swanson voiced his disgust over the existence of the film “The Shape Of Water,” fuming that it represented “the end of civilization as we know it” because it promoted “cross-species mating” in direct defiance of the Bible. Now that the film has won Oscars for best picture and best director, Swanson has returned to warn that God may destroy America because of it.
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Philosophy & Meaning
Feb 7, 2019Feb 2019

Posted by zblaze
LINK148 - Jack Dorsey
In this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Jack Dorsey about how he manages his dual CEO roles at Square and Twitter, the role that Twitter plays in journalism, how it’s different from other social media, what makes a conversation healthy, the logic by which Twitter suspends people, the argument for kicking Trump off the platform, Jack’s practice of meditation, and other topics.
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Politics
Jan 29, 2018Jan 2018

Posted by zblaze
Roy Moore goes back to supporters asking for money to battle sexual abuse accuser in court | WHNT.com
Roy Moore previously had a legal defense fund while refusing to move a monument of the Ten Commandments from the Alabama Judicial Building in Montgomery, despite a court order demanding he do so. That legal defense fund was later converted to the Foundation for Moral Law, which provided him more than a million dollars in compensation while the foundation employed multiple members of his family, including his wife as director. LMAAO
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General & Hellos
Mar 12, 2018Mar 2018

Posted by zblaze
Feminists have slowly shifted power. There’s no going back | Rebecca Solnit | Opinion | The Guardian
It happened because the test case in California went before what appeared to be a conservative judge – federal judge Vaughn Walker, appointed by George Herbert Walker Bush – who had been in the closet himself at the time of his appointment, but was gay, and whose own attitudes toward his orientation must have evolved as the culture around him evolved. He found in favor of marriage equality and set up the case to be clear and thorough when it reached the supreme court. When judges rule on ...
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General & Hellos
Sep 7, 2018Sep 2018

Posted by zblaze
LINKChina and Europe stand out on world map of atheism
FTA: The relatively low scores for atheism don’t necessarily mean that religion has an unassailable position - far from it. Many places have very high scores of 'non-religious' people. However, that category is broad enough to encompass both believers who think of themselves as non-fundamentalist, non-believers who feel the need to obfuscate their disbelief, and anyone in between.
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Religion & Spirituality
Dec 17, 2017Dec 2017

Posted by zblaze
PROOF Religion Compromises Moral Judgement (Dan Barker) - YouTube
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