JONATHAN HAIDT is a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia, where he does research on morality and emotion and how they vary across cultures. He is also the author of "The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom" and his most recent book, "The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion." A book signing will follow his Forum.
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This morning we took an in-depth look at atheism in America and its role in politics, global warming, and one pastor's new beliefs on God. Joining Chris were:
Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins), author of The God Delusionand The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True.
Steven Pinker (@sapinker), cognitive scientist, professor at Harvard University's Department of Psychology, and author of The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined.
Susan Jacoby, author of Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism.
Jamila Bey (@jbey), host of The Sex, Politics, and Religion Hour on the Voice of Russia Radio Network and contributor to the Washington Post blog "She the People".
Robert Wright, author of The Evolution of Godand senior editor at The Atlantic.
Jamie Kilstein (@jamiekilstein), comedian and co-host of Citizen Radio.
-Brett Brownell (@brettbrownell) was not a guest but is video and web producer for Up w/ Chris Hayes which airs Saturday and Sunday mornings on MSNBC.
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Richard Dawkins will be with us between 5.00pm and 6.00pm GMT.
Sean Faircloth is a former lawyer and member of the Maine House of Representatives between December 2002 and December 2008 is now the director for Strategy and Policy at the Richard Dawkins Foundation.
To appear on the show send a skype contact request to:
magicsandwichshow
Include in the contact request the gist of the topic or question you have.
Please DO NOT CALL US! We will add you to the call.
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Psychologist Jonathan Haidt asks a simple, but difficult question: why do we search for self-transcendence? Why do we attempt to lose ourselves? In a tour through the science of evolution by group selection, he proposes a provocative answer.
Jonathan Haidt studies how -- and why -- we evolved to be moral. By understanding more about our moral roots, his hope is that we can learn to be civil and open-minded. His new book is "The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion." Continue to TED
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In this talk, Dr. Peter Boghossian argues that faith-based processes are unreliable and unlikely to lead one to the truth. Since our goal as knowers is to have more true beliefs than false ones, faith, as a process for getting to the truth, should be abandoned in favor of other, more reliable processes. The talk was followed by a question and answer session from the audience. This presentation, sponsored by the Freethinkers of Portland State University and published by philosophynews.com, was given by Dr. Peter Boghossian of Portland State University on January 27, 2012.
Click the image below to watch the video on the Skeptic site
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A Short Film by David M. Beadle. Robert G. Ingersoll wrote this essay in 1887, it's message is as urgent today is it was 127 years ago.
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Forget about inclined planes and pulleys. In this series from the PBS program NOVA, physics is presented as an exotic, mind-bending realm.
The Fabric of the Cosmos, first broadcast in November, follows up on the 2003 Peabody Award-winning The Elegant Universe. Both series are adapted from the best-selling books of host Brian Greene, a mathematician and physicist at Columbia University.
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Astrophysicist Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson was asked by a reader of TIME magazine, "What is the most astounding fact you can share with us about the Universe?" This is his answer.
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A common goal of freethinkers, humanists, skeptics, and atheists is to preserve Thomas Jefferson's "wall of separation" between church and state. But we haven't always been successful in this area—help from the courts notwithstanding—or at beating back the steady advances of the religious right.
How can we do better? Our guest this week has a new book on the topic, and just as important, a new way of thinking.
His name is Sean Faircloth, the director of strategy and policy for the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science. Before that, Faircloth served five terms in the Maine Legislature and went on to serve as executive director for the Secular Coalition for America. He's author of the newly released book Attack of the Theocrats: How the Religious Right Harms Us All and What to Do About It.
Book Description Copies on sale at the RDFRS store which inlcude a free DVD and Amazon Kindle or Barnes and Noble Nook At no time in American history has the United States had such a high percentage of theocratic members of Congress-those who expressly endorse religious bias in law. Just as ominously, at no other time have religious fundamentalists effectively had veto power over one of the country's two major political parties. As Sean Faircloth argues, this has led to the crumbling of the country's most cherished founding principle-the wall separating church and state-and presages yet even more crumbling. Faircloth, a former politician and current executive director of the Secular Coalition for America, moves beyond the symbolism to explore the many ways federal and state legal codes privilege religion in law. He goes on to demonstrate how religious bias in law harms all Americans-financially, militarily, physically, socially, and educationally. Sounding a much-needed alarm for all who care about the future direction of the country, Faircloth offers an inspiring vision for returning America to its secular roots.
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If you ever saw a sawfish, you might wonder if someone had taped a chainsaw to the body of a shark. The seven species of sawfish are some of the wackier results of evolution. They all wield a distinctive saw or ‘rostrum’, lined with two rows of sharp, outward-pointing ‘teeth’. But what’s the saw for?
Barbara Wueringer has an answer: the saws are both trackers and weapons. They’re studded with small pores that allow the sawfish to sense the minute electrical fields produced by living things. Even in murky water, their prey cannot hide. Once the sawfish has found its target, it uses the ‘saw’ like a swordsman. It slashes at its victim with fast sideways swipes, either stunning it or impaling it upon the teeth. Sometimes, the slashes are powerful enough to cut a fish in half. Even less dramatic blows can knock a fish to the sea floor, and the sawfish pins it in place with its saw.
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In this historic event, Stephen Fry and other friends of Christopher Hitchens came together to celebrate the life and work of this great writer, iconoclast and debater. Fry was joined on stage at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall by Richard Dawkins and the two discussed Hitch's unflinching commitment to the truth. Hollywood actor Sean Penn was beamed in from LA by Google+ and, between cigarette puffs, read from Hitch's acclaimed work, The Trial of Henry Kissinger. Five friends of Hitch spoke via satellite in New York: satirist Christopher Buckley and editor Lewis Lapham mused on Hitch's prowess as a journalist. 'Like a pot of gold', said Lapham. Martin Amis, Salman Rushdie and James Fenton delighted the audience with stories of Hitchens as a young man. Rushdie drew roars of laughter when he recounted a word game invented by Amis and Hitchens where the word 'love' is replaced with 'hysterical sex'. Particular favourites included Hysterical Sex in the Time of Cholera and Hysterical Sex Is All You Need.
Watching the event with Hitch at his bedside in Texas, Hitch's wife Carol and novelist Ian McEwan provided an email commentary. 'His Rolls Royce mind is still purring beautifully', typed McEwan.
The event was watched live by 2500 at the venue, and by thousands more in UK cinemas and online.
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A group of men with no real background in law or medicine, but blessed with a strong personal interest in women’s bodies, have quietly influenced all of the major anti-abortion legislation over the past several years. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops may be one of the quietest, yet most powerful lobbies on Capitol Hill, with political allies that have enabled them to roll back decades of law and precedent.
Over the past two years the GOP-controlled House of Representatives has launched one of the most extreme assaults on women's choice the U.S. has seen in decades. Republicans voted twice to slash federal family planning funds for low-income women, moved to prevent women from using their own money to buy insurance plans that cover abortion, introduced legislation that would force women to have ultrasounds before receiving an abortion and, most recently, passed a bill that will allow hospitals to refuse to perform emergency abortions for women with life-threatening pregnancy complications.Read more
Note that this is only viewable by those in the UK on the BBC iPlayer click on the large image or link below to go to the iPlayer site.
On Sunday February 19th Nicky Campbell presents The Big Questions live from The Perse School in Cambridge. Professor Richard Dawkins is amongst those taking part in the first debate: Is Britain a Christian country? Also, should it be easier to "harvest" human organs for transplant? Taking part will be people on the transplant list, donor families, doctors and medical ethicists.
If there's one thing Jon Stewart can't stand, it's public figures making unfair comparisons to Hitler. Unfortunately, during his week off from "The Daily Show" last week, he was presented with yet another Nazi analogy courtesy of Fox News -- this time in reference to President Obama's birth control policy. Read more
In this video essay, Bill Moyers addresses the question of how to honor religious liberty without it becoming the liberty to impose on others moral beliefs they don’t share. The recent debate over contraception coverage in Catholic hospitals and other faith-based institutions brought this question to the forefront, but then something surprising happened — a reasonable, practical, and equitable solution from President Obama that took the political steam out of what some saw as a holy war. Read more
Updated: Monday, 13 Feb 2012, 9:53 PM MST Published : Monday, 13 Feb 2012, 9:53 PM MST
PHOENIX - He spent 20 years as a radio talk show host, appearing on Oprah, Larry King, and the O'Reilly Factor among others.
His name is Reverend Bob Larson and now he's moved on to his new career -- a self proclaimed exorcist for the Spiritual Freedom Church, based in Phoenix.
And believe it or not, people here in the valley are keeping him busy, exorcising what they believe to be demons inside them.
Over the next few weeks the site will feature a quick summary of one chapter for those who want more detail, such as the chapter now featured at the top of the home page. By mid-December all chapter summaries will be available for viewing on this site.
Oct 31 Chapter 1 - Children Harmed by Religious Laws
Nov 4 - Chapter 2 - Jefferson Making the Religious Right Mad
Nov 8 - Chapter 3- Sean Faircloth on Religious Laws that Hurt You
Nov 28 - Chapter 4 - Sean Faircloth on Sex: Notes from Attack of the Theocrats
Dec 3 - Chapter 5 - Sean Faircloth on Steve Jobs vs. Religious Con Artists: Notes from Attack of the Theocrats
Dec 19 - Chapter 6 - Sean Faircloth on Scary Politicians: The Fundamentalist Fifty!
Feb 10 - Chapter 7 - Sean Faircloth on Brad Pitt: Notes from Attack of the Theocrats
. . .additional chapters will be posted in the coming weeks
Book Description Advance copies at the RDFRS store and Amazon Kindle or Barnes and Noble Nook At no time in American history has the United States had such a high percentage of theocratic members of Congress-those who expressly endorse religious bias in law. Just as ominously, at no other time have religious fundamentalists effectively had veto power over one of the country's two major political parties. As Sean Faircloth argues, this has led to the crumbling of the country's most cherished founding principle-the wall separating church and state-and presages yet even more crumbling. Faircloth, a former politician and current executive director of the Secular Coalition for America, moves beyond the symbolism to explore the many ways federal and state legal codes privilege religion in law. He goes on to demonstrate how religious bias in law harms all Americans-financially, militarily, physically, socially, and educationally. Sounding a much-needed alarm for all who care about the future direction of the country, Faircloth offers an inspiring vision for returning America to its secular roots.
Editorial Reviews
Shocking! Will keep you on the edge of your seat! Sean Faircloth is doing such important work. There's not a doubt in my mind that if he was (suddenly, inexplicably) zapped back in time to meet Thomas Jefferson, that the Founding Father would clap him on the shoulder and say ‘Thanks.'" -Adam Savage, MythBusters co-host and executive producer.
"Faircloth paints a sobering picture, but fortunately, as anyone who has heard his speeches knows, he also has an inspiring and invigorating vision to offer. . . . Readers will finish the book exercised, energized, and eager to join Faircloth in a bold rediscovery of the secular dream of the European Enlightenment and America's enlightened Fathers." -- Richard Dawkins, from the foreword to Attack of the Theocrats!
"I've devoted the last twenty years of my professional life to pointing out unscientific assertions that harm or swindle innocent people. It becomes particularly insidious when unsound reasoning is used to justify and apply unjust laws. This book describes this very real problem in American today, then offers a bold plan to do something about it." -James Randi, founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation
"What does the erosion of America's noble separation of church and state-the basis of the first secular government in the world-have to do with your everyday life? In this lively and historically grounded survey of the way we live now, the author explains why the thirty-year-old assault on church-state separation affects all of us-from children who are not getting a world-class education in science because of fundamentalist interference with the teaching of biology to soldiers subjected to evangelical proselytizing on military bases. Nothing could be more timely than this reminder that the founders left God out of the Constitution to provide citizens of every faith and no faith the freedom to act on their consciences. We ignore this historic liberty, the gift of America's founding generation, at our peril." -Susan Jacoby, author of Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism and The Age of American Unreason
Sean Faircloth, is the Director of Strategy and Policy RDFRS U,S.. He is author of the upcoming book Attack of the Theocrats: How the Religious Right Harms Us All and What We Can Do About It. Advance copies are available in the RDFRS store in the link above. Faircloth served ten years in the Maine legislature. In his final term he was elected Majority Whip by his caucus colleagues. At the Secular Coalition for America Faircloth devised and led the Secular Decade strategic plan. Faircloth speaks widely on separation of church and state, the Constitution, and secular strategy.
Faircloth served as opening speaker for Richard Dawkins Fall 2011 tour of the United States, and he will do so again in spring 2012.
On March 24th at the National Mall in Washington D.C., the largest gathering of secular men, women and youth will take place. It's free, and people are traveling from across the nation (and even overseas) to attend. Featured speakers include Richard Dawkins, PZ Myers, James Randi, Taslima Nasrin, Adam Savage of Mythbusters. Greta Christina, music by Bad Religion and an incredible day that will make history.
For those that missed our world premier Book Launch of Freedom of Religion and The Secular State with Russell Blackford the other day, here’s the in store video of the evening.
The book "Attack of the Theocrats: How the Religious Right Harms Us All and What We Can Do About It" is available February 2012. Sean Faircloth served ten years in elected office before lobbying for secular government in Washington DC.
Sean Faircloth, is the Director of Strategy and Policy RDFRS U,S.. He is author of the upcoming book Attack of the Theocrats: How the Religious Right Harms Us All and What We Can Do About It. Advance copies are available in the RDFRS store in the link above. Faircloth served ten years in the Maine legislature. In his final term he was elected Majority Whip by his caucus colleagues. At the Secular Coalition for America Faircloth devised and led the Secular Decade strategic plan. Faircloth speaks widely on separation of church and state, the Constitution, and secular strategy.
Faircloth served as opening speaker for Richard Dawkins Fall 2011 tour of the United States, and he will do so again in spring 2012.
There is one project that I did solve the problem of creating random, brownian motion not look directed: My Apoptosis and Signal Transduction.
YouTube video:
This was an exploration of what a signal transduction would 'look like' if you were to follow the chain of molecular events along a pathway. I published that animation in Science Journal's STKE ( (Molecular Animation of Cell Death Mediated by the Fas Pathway, Sci. STKE 2007 (380).
The technique I used to make it work was difficult and very slow to pull off. The whole 4 min sequence took me around 12 months to research, construct and generate the imagery. I think visually it is my most successful piece at showing the mechanisms that emerge from randomly wandering, cytoplasmic molecules and membrane bound receptors.
Jake Barnett is one in 10 million. The Indianapolis 13-year-old has been acing college math and science courses since he was eight years old. Now Jake is a college sophomore taking honors classes in math and physics, while also doing scientific research and tutoring fellow students. No one could have predicted that Jake would even make it to college. At age two, Jake began to regress - he stopped speaking and making eye contact. The diagnosis: autism. Jake is proud of his autism. "That, I believe, is the reason why I am in college and I am so successful," he tells Morley Safer.
The following script is from "Jake" which aired on Jan. 15, 2012. Morley Safer is the correspondent. Katy Textor, producer.
Child prodigies have long been a source of great fascination. We wonder, "How can so much talent reside in such a young body, so much genius?" In a moment you'll meet Jake a 13-year-old math and science prodigy who is confident he may one day challenge some of the established theories of physics.
I'm thinking a lot about species concepts as applied to humans, about the "Out of Africa" model, and also looking back into Africa itself. I think the idea that modern humans originated in Africa is still a sound concept. Behaviorally and physically, we began our story there, but I've come around to thinking that it wasn't a simple origin. Twenty years ago, I would have argued that our species evolved in one place, maybe in East Africa or South Africa. There was a period of time in just one place where a small population of humans became modern, physically and behaviourally. Isolated and perhaps stressed by climate change, this drove a rapid and punctuational origin for our species. Now I don’t think it was that simple, either within or outside of Africa.
CHRISTOPHER STRINGER is one of the world's foremost paleoanthropologists. He is a founder and most powerful advocate of the leading theory concerning our evolution: Recent African Origin or "Out of Africa". He has worked at The Natural History Museum, London since 1973, is a Fellow of the Royal Society, and currently leads the large and successful Ancient Human Occupation of Britain project (AHOB), His most recent book is TheOrigin of Our Species (titled Lone Survivors in the US).
Forget gods and goblins, here is the real story of how we know the extent of our universe in time and space. Throw away all those religious books and look at some hard evidence.
Showing how our universe, solar system and planet Earth formed through natural and predictable processes.
Part of a series of videos exposing the funny stupidity of creationists and why they deserve to be laughed at. In each case the creationist statements are shown to be outrageously stupid by even the most rudimentary knowledge of science.
In this episode it is shown how little respect creationists have for the western value of free speech. Repeatedly caught either censoring comments with zeal, or simply not allowing them. This trend goes across the board from the scientifically illiterate creationists, to the hub of the intelligent design movement, The Discovery Institute. Its further found that many of the earlier 'Why do people laugh at creationists' videos (particularly parts 3, 4 and 5, mainly containing material from the convicted fraudster and Young Earth Creationist, Kent Hovind), despite having an open comments section, have been targeted by creationist flagging campaigns.
Yup that's right, they had the latitude to present whatever argument they wanted, and what did they do? Embark on a flagging campaign. Evidently this is what some creationists think the strongest argument for creationism is.
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