It’s only natural for us to try to find certainty and protection from our fears. Pseudoscientists take advantage of this yearning.
Critical thinking
Understanding critical thinking—what it is, why it’s important—from a secular point of view.
Posted inCritical thinking, Healthcare, Law, Psychology, Sociology
What we don’t talk about when we talk about the Satanic Panic
Imagine yourself for a moment in a painfully far-too-common scenario. A loved one, suffering from a growing sense of insecurity and deepening depression, begins seeking a destructive and delusive sense of purpose in wildly improbable conspiracy theories. Day by day, this person that you once felt a strong common rapport with drifts further and further […]
Posted inCritical thinking
Conspiracy theories and poor thinking without facts, oh my!
A conservative article sees a scary Leftist hiding in every closet and under every bed. I’m not used to reading this level of rage. Let’s try to understand the argument.
Posted inCritical thinking, Deep Dive, Politics
Resisting the new F-word
There is a South Park episode in which the kids use an “f-word” to mock a bunch of obnoxious bikers. The word is obviously offensive, which is why the kids use it. A violent struggle erupts. In the end, the bikers embrace the epithet and admit that they are f@gs. But at that point, the […]
Posted inArts, Books, Critical thinking, Fiction, Science
Let’s talk humanist science fiction: An interview with writer Ray Nayler
In North American literature, strict boundaries are often propped up between fiction and nonfiction, along with “literary” and “genre” prose. These are useful for commercial purposes, but out of step with our history. Speculative fiction might even be considered our oldest literary form: a realm of play and exploration, and a way of reaching deeper […]
Posted inCritical thinking, Science
A tale of two vaccines: How tribalism fuels science denial
HPV, or the human papilloma virus, can be a huge bummer for both women and men. More so for women. When I was 18, precancerous cervical cells were detected during a routine cancer screening. I had the cells removed and was informed that the issue was likely caused by the HPV virus. It wasn’t a […]
Posted inCritical thinking, Culture, Deep Dive, Religion, Spirituality & Ritual
Weaponized rosaries: Humanist lessons from The Atlantic’s latest misfire
There is a long and storied history of religion being weaponized to spread fear and rally followers into violence. The KKK burned crosses. The Wehrmacht, like preceding German military forces, wore belts with buckles that read “Gott mit uns”, “God with us”. In India today, saffron, a color strongly associated with Hinduism, is used by […]
Posted inCritical thinking, Parenting & Family
My son’s Ben Shapiro phase: How critical thinking saved his life
I have been a fan of the First Amendment for my entire adult life. When I became a stripper at 18, I learned very quickly how important freedom of speech and expression was to my job and independence. As I got older, the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment became even more important as I […]
Posted inCritical thinking
How to tell if you’re in a bubble
All worldviews aren’t created equal. How do you tell from the inside if yours is in accord with reality?
Posted inCritical thinking, Politics
The danger of dumb: The long con of ‘stupid’ politicians
As a stripper, people often assumed I was dumb. Outside of the club, I loved proving that assumption wrong. That stereotype and others are one of the reasons I started writing in the first place. It’s not that I’m a MENSA member, but I don’t think I’m nearly as dumb as some people have thought […]