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Welcome to INSIGHT at Skeptic.com

Sep. 17, 2014 by | Comments (17)

Hello! I’d like to welcome you to the Skeptics Society’s new group blog dedicated to science and skepticism, INSIGHT at Skeptic.com. This brand new platform will feature news, commentary, and informed perspective regarding fringe claims, paranormal mysteries, mainstream science, and the ethos and history of skepticism itself.

Joining me in this new venture are some of the most passionate and knowledgable voices to speak within the tradition of scientific skepticism today:

Some of you know me as the Editor of Junior Skeptic, the kids’ section bound inside Skeptic magazine, or know my books, or perhaps have read some of my pieces at the now-retired Skepticblog, where I’ve blogged since 2009. As I return to blogging here at this new venue, I will also have the opportunity to serve in a new role: Blog Editor.

No doubt this is largely a support role given the caliber of the people who have joined the crew, but I find myself with the considerable honor of introducing them here today—and with the even greater honor of helping to set the tone and direction for this new blog.

INSIGHT at Skeptic.com is inspired by the optimism and even beauty of the skeptical tradition. It is founded on the beliefs that knowledge can help people, that mysteries can be solved, that it’s worthwhile to give voice to our least conventional questions—and then to seek answers. INSIGHT is meant to celebrate and further that journey of discovery.

Curiosity, scholarship, and investigation—these are wider, human values. They belong to everyone.
“Evidence” Is Common Ground

Our bloggers and readers all come to this blog with our own personal values, beliefs, styles, and diverging perspectives. But we meet here together on the common playing field of evidence and inquiry. As we explain in our “About the Blog” statement,

While there are are many excellent blogs devoted to the topics of faith, humanism, atheism, political viewpoints, and wider kinds of rationalism and philosophical doubt, those are not our focus here. Our approach is firmly grounded in another tradition: “scientific skepticism,” or critical, evidence-based investigation and analysis of “testable” paranormal and fringe science claims through the lens of science and scholarship.

People Want to Know

We do that work because it is useful. In all walks of life, people have questions we need answered, experiences we cannot explain, fears we need to address. We are bombarded by claims. Our lives are full of mysteries—mysteries we cannot always solve without help. What was that thing I saw in the woods? How could this psychic have known my secrets? Who should I believe about childhood immunization? Some mysteries “merely” excite our curiosity, or stir us to wonder. Others call us to action as parents or citizens. A few cut to the core of our innermost lives.

Yet when we turn to mainstream sources for answers, we do not always find reliable guides. Scientists have better things to do than grapple with fringe claims. Media serve up tales of the paranormal with snickering disregard for their truth. All too often our questions are left unanswered—or worse, are answered poorly.

Skepticism is for everyone

“So who needs science and critical thinking?” asks former National Center for Science Education Executive Director Eugenie Scott in INSIGHT’s first guest editorial. She answers, “Obviously everyone.”

The skeptical literature offers (if I may) insights that are of use to people across all kinds of political and ideological divides in their day to day lives. The process of seeking reliable evidence-based assessments of controversial claims is not and should not be limited to any particular class of people.

It’s true that agnostics and atheists have long been strongly represented within the skeptical community. Together, in fact, these groups comprise a sizable (though not overwhelming) majority among skeptics. We can see that demographic reality reflected here at this blog. Most of the bloggers here are atheists or agnostics, so far as I know.

But curiosity, scholarship, and investigation—these are wider, human values. They belong to everyone. This blog will also reflect (in miniature) an ideal that shines at the heart of secular society, a truth which in wider society gives church-state separation its urgency: majority believers are not the only people in the room. So I would especially like to welcome science-minded people of faith to this blog—not because skepticism belongs to you any more than to anyone else, but because it belongs to you no less.

Everyone motivated by curiosity and committed to evidence is invited here—seekers, proponents, and believers included. I’m not saying it may always be comfortable. In our founding internal guidelines for this blog, we spell this out explicitly.

Rigorous, evidence-based scholarship and science may always be discussed in a serious, scholarly, fair-minded, objective manner, even when that research could be interpreted as having important or even upsetting theological or political implications. Demonstrable, verifiable scientific facts are always in scope.

It’s the nature of discovery to push boundaries, of knowledge to challenge our assumptions. Every new candle allows us to see further, better shows us the shape of things. Today, as we help each other to peer deeper into the shadows, I ask you to give us your fairness. Share in the spirit of curiosity. And together, we’ll see where evidence can take us.

Daniel Loxton

Daniel Loxton is the Editor of INSIGHT at Skeptic.com and of Junior Skeptic, the 10-page kids’ science section bound within Skeptic magazine. Daniel has been an avid follower of the paranormal literature since childhood, and of the skeptical literature since his youth. He is also an award-winning author. Read Daniel’s full bio or his other posts on this blog.

17 responses to “Welcome to INSIGHT at Skeptic.com”

  1. Ron says:

    I thank for the warm welcome to this society. I am a devout Christian and I am fully aware that being an avid reader of the stuff here and a part of this community that things can become “uncomfortable”.

    However, I always welcome challenge. For if one does not welcome challenge then one is most likely standing on shaky ground.

    I have long ago reconciled my faith, through skepticism as a matter of fact.

    • Daniel Loxton says:

      Thanks for the comment, Ron. I’m very excited about our line-up here, and feel deeply that our subject matter is an inherently interesting and useful area for inquiry. I hope you enjoy our coverage.

  2. John Greg says:

    I have been a longtime reader of sceptic blogs, and miss its passing; however, I like the lineup of contributors at this new site. I am particularly looking forward to reading more from Loxton, Drescher (who never seems to write enough), and Prothero. […]

  3. Anthony R says:

    I’ll read any blog where Prothero is a contributor. I’ve become a big fan of his through his weekly blog posts and hope he and the other writers gain more exposure on this new blog.

    With so many bloggers, what will the schedule be for posts?

    Also, love the insight logo, very colorful! Gives the opposite idea of “drab stuffy skeptics” that some people have in their head.

    • Daniel Loxton says:

      With so many bloggers, what will the schedule be for posts?

      We’ll feel that one out as we go. Some bloggers will contribute more frequently than others, and we’ve left the schedule flexible to allow for responses to breaking stories. Each Wednesday issue of eSkeptic (subscribe free) will carry links the previous week’s INSIGHT stories.

      Also, love the insight logo, very colorful! Gives the opposite idea of “drab stuffy skeptics” that some people have in their head.

      Thank you. We’re thrilled with the logo, which was designed by Skeptic‘s own William Bull.

  4. Adrian Morgan says:

    I read SkepticBlog almost every day since it started, and right now I feel that the single most pressing thing I want to say about Insight is …

    … that I am really annoyed by the obnoxious blue “Get eSkeptic” banner on the bottom of the page.

    • John Scanlon says:

      You can make the banner disappear by clicking the symbol faintly visible in the top right corner. Might as well subscribe first, then get it out of the way…

  5. John Wagner says:

    Great concept. I love it:-)

  6. Cube3 says:

    But who will speak for the chuppaccabra? ;) skeptics need better comedy writers. Just saying.)

  7. Vandy Beth Glenn says:

    That lineup is a real murderers’ row! I look forward to this!

  8. allison says:

    Congratulations, a very impressive line-up[…]! I, too, am delighted to see Barbara Drescher’s name included, as well as Michael Shermer’s.

  9. MosesZD says:

    Just last week a certain free-from-reading-comprehension polemic was blogging his joy at Skeptiblog closing. But I actually read the post and clearly saw you were working on something bigger and better.

    So I just let the haters hate and kept checking there and here for news.

    Today I was rewarded for my patience. And more than rewarded as here you are bigger than ever.

    And, best yet, (no insult meant to you or anyone else) I’m a big fan of Barbara Drescher and so glad she is here. She has been one of my favorite skeptic bloggers and while she’s not what I’d call a ‘high volume’ blogger, I really appreciate her well thought-out and well-reasoned posts.

  10. Fallacist says:

    Good luck! I like your mission statement and will be reading.

  11. John Grant says:

    Sounds like a great new venture! Can we sign up for e-mailed updates?

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