This article explores the concept of truthiness, introduced by Stephen Colbert, and its implications in today’s discourse, where subjective truths often overshadow objective reality. It discusses the dangers of absolute certainty in beliefs, exemplified by a Young Earth creationist. Through Bayesian reasoning, it suggests adjusting beliefs based on evidence and introduces a model called Bayesian Balance, which helps in evaluating evidence without succumbing to absolute certainty.
If you give Christians a choice between Jesus and Darwin by telling them that the theory of evolution means you have to be an atheist, they’re going to pick Jesus every time. In this article, Larry Arnhart argues that Christians should accept the theory of evolution not only because it’s true but also that it does not mean they have to give up their religion.
Shermer and Prothero discuss: flat earth theories and how we know the earth is round • hollow earth theories and how we know it’s not hollow • the return of Ptolemy and an earth-centered solar system model (and how we know it’s wrong) • how science deals with anomalies and fringe claims • Were humans in the San Diego area 130,000 years ago? • flood myths • the age of the earth and how geologists determined it, and more…
We are pleased to announce Skeptic’s 100th issue (25.4) which focuses on QAnon in conspiratorial context. Instantly download the digital edition or order the print edition today. PLUS: In Science Salon podcast # 146, Michael Shermer speaks Donald Prothero about his new book Weird Earth: Debunking Strange Ideas About Our Planet.
In this week’s eSkeptic, Glenn Branch reviews Brook Wilensky-Lanford’s book Paradise Lust: Searching for the Garden of Eden.
In this week’s eSkeptic, Raymond A. Eve discusses an empirical study of the difference between the beliefs of wiccans versus those of creationists.
In this week’s eSkeptic, Michael Shermer visits the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, run by Answers in Genesis, and interviews Dr. Georgia Purdom, the museum’s “research scientist” who explains what type of research one can do at a young-earth creationist organization, and why she thinks Francis Collins is wrong in his evolutionary understanding of the human genome.
In this week’s eSkeptic, our colleague and correspondent Stephen Asma visits the new young-earth creationism museum in Kentucky.
In this week’s eSkeptic, Michael Shermer issues a correction to the Grand Canyon Story, Creationism in Our National Parks, that we ran in last week’s eSkeptic.
In this week’s eSkeptic, Jason Rosenhouse reports on the 2005 Creation Mega Conference — a young Earth creationist conference that took place in Lynchburg, Virginia, July 17th – 22nd, 2005.
In this week’s eSkeptic, the Sunday Times science editor Jonathan Leake writes about Percy Seymour’s new theory of astrology. David Hackett Fischer explores the origins of “Debunking.” Also, letters on Roman Catholic atheism and Freeman Dyson’s endorsement of the paranormal.
In this week’s eSkeptic, Michael Shermer recounts his evening debating Kent Hovind, a Young Earth Creationist and Defender of the Faith.
In this week’s eSkeptic, Tim Callahan reviews God Against the Gods: The History of War Between Monotheism and Ploytheism by Jonathan Kirsch. Brent Norman investigates the IRS’s investigation of Young Earth Creationist Kent Hovind.
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