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BoobQuake Promises a Shake-Up on April 26!


The BoobQuake event which started as a joke by skeptic atheist feminist blogger, Blah Hag, has taken hold with nearly 130,000 Facebook participants and thousands of tweets on Twitter, as of this moment. (Yes Skeptic Feminists *do* have a sense of humor!).

"In the name of science, I offer my boobs" says she :-) who is also a Biology/Evolution major.

Blag Hag has proposed that women around the world dress immodestly (show cleavage, etc.) on Monday April 26, 2010 to determine if Iranian cleric Sedighi's claims that feminine immodesty causes earthquakes (yes he actually said that!).

"Many women who do not dress modestly ... lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which (consequently) increases earthquakes," Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi was quoted as saying by Iranian media. Sedighi is Tehran's acting Friday prayer leader."

One tweet on Twitter commented that this was a win-win event for women because if there wasn't an earthquake we have dispelled a very silly superstition and if there was an earthquake we will have established boobs as Lethal Weapons of the WMD (weapons of mass distraction) variety :-).

It works for me either way.

The media has become quite entranced with the event being reported everywhere from the US, Canada, Australia, India, et al.

Vancouver has decided to have a rally on April 26 called BoobQuake in front of the Art Gallery. Immodestly (but legally) dressed women will parade their immodesty from 4PM to 8PM.

The organizer of the Vancouver rally will have a computer with a geiger counter to test for any shaking in the area.

Blag Hag was quoted by CNN as saying:

“It’s not supposed to be serious activism that is going to revolutionize women’s rights, but just a bit of fun juvenile humor,” she wrote. “I’m a firm believer that when someone says something so stupid and hateful, serious discourse isn't going to accomplish anything - sometimes light-hearted mockery is worthwhile.”

And I couldn't agree more.

Participate and Enjoy!



BoobQuake Promises a Shake-Up on April 26!


The BoobQuake event which started as a joke by skeptic atheist feminist blogger, Blah Hag, has taken hold with nearly 130,000 Facebook participants and thousands of tweets on Twitter, as of this moment. (Yes Skeptic Feminists *do* have a sense of humor!).

"In the name of science, I offer my boobs" says she :-) who is also a Biology/Evolution major.

Blag Hag has proposed that women around the world dress immodestly (show cleavage, etc.) on Monday April 26, 2010 to determine if Iranian cleric Sedighi's claims that feminine immodesty causes earthquakes (yes he actually said that!).

"Many women who do not dress modestly ... lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which (consequently) increases earthquakes," Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi was quoted as saying by Iranian media. Sedighi is Tehran's acting Friday prayer leader."

One tweet on Twitter commented that this was a win-win event for women because if there wasn't an earthquake we have dispelled a very silly superstition and if there was an earthquake we will have established boobs as Lethal Weapons of the WMD (weapons of mass distraction) variety :-).

It works for me either way.

The media has become quite entranced with the event being reported everywhere from the US, Canada, Australia, India, et al.

Vancouver has decided to have a rally on April 26 called BoobQuake in front of the Art Gallery. Immodestly (but legally) dressed women will parade their immodesty from 4PM to 8PM.

The organizer of the Vancouver rally will have a computer with a geiger counter to test for any shaking in the area.

Blag Hag was quoted by CNN as saying:

“It’s not supposed to be serious activism that is going to revolutionize women’s rights, but just a bit of fun juvenile humor,” she wrote. “I’m a firm believer that when someone says something so stupid and hateful, serious discourse isn't going to accomplish anything - sometimes light-hearted mockery is worthwhile.”

And I couldn't agree more.

Participate and Enjoy!



Indian Freethought On The Move


The Indian Freethought Community is getting busy organizing and building the Freethought movement in India.

At the forefront of this movement is a group called Nirmukta, many of whom are members on various atheist sites like Atheist Nexus, alt.atheism, Atheism versus Christianity (theism), etc.

One member has actively organized campaigns to go into the countryside and teach the villagers science in order to educate them on superstitious beliefs and the damage they do.

They've started a website and Forum which some of you might be interested in reading or joining.

I don't think there's any requirement that you be Indian to join the Forums.

They are located here:

Forum
http://nirmukta.net/index.php

Website
http://nirmukta.com/

One of the Nirmukta articles was picked up and Tweeted by Richard Dawkins recently.
http://twitter.com/RIchardDawkins

And posted on Dawkins.net
http://richarddawkins.net/articles/5414

India is a land entrenched in superstitious belief but it is also a land which gave rise to the earliest known atheistic, materialist, naturalist and secular belief system known to humanity, Carvaka.

Best wishes to the Indian Atheists and may they enjoy the same successes that have occurred with other atheistic groups around the world in recent years.

Trance Gemini of Atheist Nexus, Atheism vs Christianity, alt.atheism, Nirmukta, et al :-)

--
"Love is friendship on fire" --Anonymous

"Faith may not move mountains, but you should see what it does to skyscrapers" --Panama Floyd, aa#2015

Indian Freethought On The Move


The Indian Freethought Community is getting busy organizing and building the Freethought movement in India.

At the forefront of this movement is a group called Nirmukta, many of whom are members on various atheist sites like Atheist Nexus, alt.atheism, Atheism versus Christianity (theism), etc.

One member has actively organized campaigns to go into the countryside and teach the villagers science in order to educate them on superstitious beliefs and the damage they do.

They've started a website and Forum which some of you might be interested in reading or joining.

I don't think there's any requirement that you be Indian to join the Forums.

They are located here:

Forum
http://nirmukta.net/index.php

Website
http://nirmukta.com/

One of the Nirmukta articles was picked up and Tweeted by Richard Dawkins recently.
http://twitter.com/RIchardDawkins

And posted on Dawkins.net
http://richarddawkins.net/articles/5414

India is a land entrenched in superstitious belief but it is also a land which gave rise to the earliest known atheistic, materialist, naturalist and secular belief system known to humanity, Carvaka.

Best wishes to the Indian Atheists and may they enjoy the same successes that have occurred with other atheistic groups around the world in recent years.

Trance Gemini of Atheist Nexus, Atheism vs Christianity, alt.atheism, Nirmukta, et al :-)

--
"Love is friendship on fire" --Anonymous

"Faith may not move mountains, but you should see what it does to skyscrapers" --Panama Floyd, aa#2015

Christopher Maloney Is A Quack


From Pharyngula:

"Maloney is a naturopath in the state of Maine, where quacks like him get to call themselves "doctors". These so-called "doctors" get to make recommendations like this, in which he disparages standard flu vaccines and suggests these useless prescriptions:

 Parents waiting for vaccinations can provide their children with black elderberry, which blocks the H1N1 virus. A single garlic capsule daily cuts in half the incidence and the severity of a flu episode for children.

There's another way you can tell he's a quack. When a student, Michael Hawkins, dared to criticize him, pointing out that "Naturopathic medicine is pure bull" and stating that naturopaths are underqualified and do not deserve the title of "doctor," Maloney took action to silence him. After all, we can't have people questioning quacks — that just makes them look even more ridiculous, which could lead to a loss of business.

So Maloney complained to Wordpress, where Hawkins blog was located, and got them to shut it down. This does not speak well of craven Wordpress; if you're using Wordpress hosting, you might want to reconsider it and move elsewhere. You know, to someplace that respects reality.

Now not only is Maloney a quack, but he's a stupid quack. Shutting down blogs that criticize him? That never, ever works. In fact, it tends to backfire rather severely — because now a much bigger blog is going to spread the word that Christopher Maloney is a quack. I'm also going to ask all of you out there who reads this to echo the message: Christopher Maloney is a quack. Won't that be fun? Poke the net, and the net pushes back.

Share the message. Let the whole world know that Christopher Maloney is a cowardly quack.

He's also tasteless. This is possibly the ugliest youtube video ever."


Christopher Maloney Is A Quack


From Pharyngula:

"Maloney is a naturopath in the state of Maine, where quacks like him get to call themselves "doctors". These so-called "doctors" get to make recommendations like this, in which he disparages standard flu vaccines and suggests these useless prescriptions:

 Parents waiting for vaccinations can provide their children with black elderberry, which blocks the H1N1 virus. A single garlic capsule daily cuts in half the incidence and the severity of a flu episode for children.

There's another way you can tell he's a quack. When a student, Michael Hawkins, dared to criticize him, pointing out that "Naturopathic medicine is pure bull" and stating that naturopaths are underqualified and do not deserve the title of "doctor," Maloney took action to silence him. After all, we can't have people questioning quacks — that just makes them look even more ridiculous, which could lead to a loss of business.

So Maloney complained to Wordpress, where Hawkins blog was located, and got them to shut it down. This does not speak well of craven Wordpress; if you're using Wordpress hosting, you might want to reconsider it and move elsewhere. You know, to someplace that respects reality.

Now not only is Maloney a quack, but he's a stupid quack. Shutting down blogs that criticize him? That never, ever works. In fact, it tends to backfire rather severely — because now a much bigger blog is going to spread the word that Christopher Maloney is a quack. I'm also going to ask all of you out there who reads this to echo the message: Christopher Maloney is a quack. Won't that be fun? Poke the net, and the net pushes back.

Share the message. Let the whole world know that Christopher Maloney is a cowardly quack.

He's also tasteless. This is possibly the ugliest youtube video ever."


The Biblical God Concept : A Logical Disproof


The logical disproof of the Biblical god concept to be presented involves malice toward none, is not an attack on particular religions nor a statement against religion in general, and is soley in the interest of enlightenment to the good.

It involves only three definitions, each of which is self-evident. One is of a being, a second is of worship and the third is of a Biblical type god.

The definition of a being is that of a perceiver who cannot know whether its perceptions have anything to do with an external reality. Of course Descartes defined himself as this type of entity on the basis of obviousness.  Very exactly, in that we have no way to test whether our perceptions have anything to do with an external reality we cannot know whether they do.  Additionally, however, our experiences suggest that when we dream or hallucinate we internally generate perceptions that seem very real but have nothing to do with an external reality.  Accordingly, especially with empirical suggestions that we sometimes internally generate perceptions that seem very real but have nothing to do with an external reality, we cannot rule out that it is our nature to do so all of the time. Therefore, our definition of a being is self-evident.

The definition of worship is veneration to the extent that its object is assumed to exist.  In that one cannot worship something without acknowledging its existence this definition of worship is entirely consistent with the actual meaning of the word.

The definition of a Biblical type god is that of a perfect (in goodness) being who holds that it is right for others to worship it. This is entirely consistent with the Biblical god concept.

We shall proceed with a logical technique that involves reductio ad absurdum.  That is, we shall first assume that a Biblical type god exists and from this using only logic arrive at a self-contradictory (absurd) proposition.  This will leave only that a Biblical type god does not exist and the disproof will be complete.  As such, assume that a Biblical type god exists.

By definition it holds that it is right for others to worship it.  By the definition of worship they must acknowledge its existence to do so.  Accordingly, the Biblical type god holds that it is right for others to acknowledge its existence.  However, they are beings.  By definition it is impossible for them to acknowledge the existence of anything more than perceptions.  Therefore, the Biblical type god holds that it is right for them to do something that is impossible. At the same time, by definition it is perfect.  In this it does not hold that it is right for others to do something that is impossible. Consequently, we have both that the Biblical type god does and does not hold that it is right for others to do something that is impossible.

This is the absurdity.  Our only alternative is that a Biblical type god does not exist.

Quod Erat Demonstrandum

It is incidental that the Biblical type god would not know whether others existed.  Notwithstanding, in its perfection it would not decide that they did much less that they did as perceived.  Moreover, in that it would not decide that any who might exist would exist as perceived it would not decide that any who might exist were imperfect.  That is, it would not decide that any who might exist were its subordinate.  In this, a perfect being would not hold that it was right for others to worship it and the Biblical god concept is again self-contradictory.

Analogously, of course, the Jesus concept is self-contradictory.

As set forth at the beginning there is no vindictiveness in this writing.  It is soley in the interest of enlightenment to the good. As it pertains to enlightenment to the good it is meant to convey that our ability to know an external reality (if there is one) is scientifically precluded by our perceiver nature and, in this, meaningful development as the entities we are may only be realized in the form of internal rewards.  That is, it may only be realized through decisions that challenge the self in goodness of motive.  Only these afford fulfillment in effort independently from certainty of result.

John Jubinsky, MA–Mathematics, CPA, Atheism vs Christianity

The Biblical God Concept : A Logical Disproof


The logical disproof of the Biblical god concept to be presented involves malice toward none, is not an attack on particular religions nor a statement against religion in general, and is soley in the interest of enlightenment to the good.

It involves only three definitions, each of which is self-evident. One is of a being, a second is of worship and the third is of a Biblical type god.

The definition of a being is that of a perceiver who cannot know whether its perceptions have anything to do with an external reality. Of course Descartes defined himself as this type of entity on the basis of obviousness.  Very exactly, in that we have no way to test whether our perceptions have anything to do with an external reality we cannot know whether they do.  Additionally, however, our experiences suggest that when we dream or hallucinate we internally generate perceptions that seem very real but have nothing to do with an external reality.  Accordingly, especially with empirical suggestions that we sometimes internally generate perceptions that seem very real but have nothing to do with an external reality, we cannot rule out that it is our nature to do so all of the time. Therefore, our definition of a being is self-evident.

The definition of worship is veneration to the extent that its object is assumed to exist.  In that one cannot worship something without acknowledging its existence this definition of worship is entirely consistent with the actual meaning of the word.

The definition of a Biblical type god is that of a perfect (in goodness) being who holds that it is right for others to worship it. This is entirely consistent with the Biblical god concept.

We shall proceed with a logical technique that involves reductio ad absurdum.  That is, we shall first assume that a Biblical type god exists and from this using only logic arrive at a self-contradictory (absurd) proposition.  This will leave only that a Biblical type god does not exist and the disproof will be complete.  As such, assume that a Biblical type god exists.

By definition it holds that it is right for others to worship it.  By the definition of worship they must acknowledge its existence to do so.  Accordingly, the Biblical type god holds that it is right for others to acknowledge its existence.  However, they are beings.  By definition it is impossible for them to acknowledge the existence of anything more than perceptions.  Therefore, the Biblical type god holds that it is right for them to do something that is impossible. At the same time, by definition it is perfect.  In this it does not hold that it is right for others to do something that is impossible. Consequently, we have both that the Biblical type god does and does not hold that it is right for others to do something that is impossible.

This is the absurdity.  Our only alternative is that a Biblical type god does not exist.

Quod Erat Demonstrandum

It is incidental that the Biblical type god would not know whether others existed.  Notwithstanding, in its perfection it would not decide that they did much less that they did as perceived.  Moreover, in that it would not decide that any who might exist would exist as perceived it would not decide that any who might exist were imperfect.  That is, it would not decide that any who might exist were its subordinate.  In this, a perfect being would not hold that it was right for others to worship it and the Biblical god concept is again self-contradictory.

Analogously, of course, the Jesus concept is self-contradictory.

As set forth at the beginning there is no vindictiveness in this writing.  It is soley in the interest of enlightenment to the good. As it pertains to enlightenment to the good it is meant to convey that our ability to know an external reality (if there is one) is scientifically precluded by our perceiver nature and, in this, meaningful development as the entities we are may only be realized in the form of internal rewards.  That is, it may only be realized through decisions that challenge the self in goodness of motive.  Only these afford fulfillment in effort independently from certainty of result.

John Jubinsky, MA–Mathematics, CPA, Atheism vs Christianity

Happy New Years 2010, or, Happy Monkey ;-)


Best wishes and a Happy New Year / Happy Monkey to all of my atheist friends :-).


My wish for this year is that all of our atheist communities around the world continue their steady consolidation and growth.


This is a huge achievement for a community which holds no beliefs in common and is simply getting together on the grounds that we lack a belief in gods.


We're not sheep and so our biggest challenge will be to learn to not only accept and tolerate our differences but embrace them and respect each other for them, where we can and for the most part.



Dogmatism is our biggest enemy whether it be the dogmatism of authoritarianism, religiosity or political correctness. Extremism and terrorism are partners in crime with dogmatism.


An awareness and understanding of dogmatism and how it works will hopefully enlighten us so that we can overcome the challenges we face in uniting disparity and can work together to shine the light of reason on the world.


Wishing everyone a wonderful and successful new year!


Trance Gemini

Happy New Years 2010, or, Happy Monkey ;-)


Best wishes and a Happy New Year / Happy Monkey to all of my atheist friends :-).


My wish for this year is that all of our atheist communities around the world continue their steady consolidation and growth.


This is a huge achievement for a community which holds no beliefs in common and is simply getting together on the grounds that we lack a belief in gods.


We're not sheep and so our biggest challenge will be to learn to not only accept and tolerate our differences but embrace them and respect each other for them, where we can and for the most part.



Dogmatism is our biggest enemy whether it be the dogmatism of authoritarianism, religiosity or political correctness. Extremism and terrorism are partners in crime with dogmatism.


An awareness and understanding of dogmatism and how it works will hopefully enlighten us so that we can overcome the challenges we face in uniting disparity and can work together to shine the light of reason on the world.


Wishing everyone a wonderful and successful new year!


Trance Gemini

God and Amateurs Interpreting Science


What always amuses me is that a great many theists (even those that seem rational) are taken with the notion that current models of physics and cosmology justify their beliefs. Mostly these are founded upon misinterpretations of these models, actually.


This is the "layman's" interpretation of the current state of cosmology: - There was an event (the big bang) that caused the universe.


The theists in question here then make the (completely unfounded) statement that god is the first cause (by no means demonstrated, and certainly doesn't favor a personal god over a nonpersonal god).


The actual situation is a terribly difficult one, and this layman's interpretation is a vast oversimplification.


1. Let's take the word "caused" to begin with. "Cause" implies that there is a sequential nature to events. That is, they are time-ordered. However, if there is no time, then there can be no causality (this is self-evident if you think about it). Asking what came "before" the big bang, or what "caused" the big bang, is like asking "what is north of the north pole"? (Thanks to Hawking for this wonderful analogy). As soon as you start going "more north" than the north pole, you start moving south again because you're constrained to the surface of the sphere. So the question is a nonsensical one from the get-go.


2. A proper theory of gravity (incorporating quantum mechanics) will necessarily be acausal below some time scale, unless general relativity is wrong altogether (which I don't see evidence of). Despite the protestations of certain people, this is the current consensus (and this is also a self-evident conclusion if one takes the merger of general relativity and quantum mechanics seriously).


3. The current models of "the big bang" actually only say that the observable universe, at some point around 13.7 billion years ago, was a very hot, dense entity which rapidly expanded and then cooled. It actually says absolutely nothing about what happened "before" this event (if such a concept is valid to begin with). There is absolutely nothing in the observable universe that currently states that the universe had a beginning. The current state of the art is that this question is, at present, unknown. An eternal universe that had a portion rapidly expand is completely adequate to explain everything we see in nature. There are a plethora of models that do not rely upon a "beginning" to the universe at all, ranging from cyclic universes in string theory involving brane collisions in higher dimensions, to a multiverse hypothesis. At present none are particularly preferred, but there are actually experiments that can be created to test these hypotheses (for instance, the LISA experiment will look for standing gravity waves to probe the structure of the early universe).




Because of 1 + 2 above, philosophizing about the nature of the origins of our universe is pretty difficult. Philosophy already assumes a causal relation of events. As I've argued, when dealing with the early universe, this may not be (and probably IS not) a good assumption.


Because of 3 above, in any case, even assuming a causal nature of events in *some* sense, the beginnings of the universe are still very much an open question with no resolution (CERTAINLY none that support the Christian ideas of a creator deity that takes a personal interest in day-to-day life and morality).


Subsequently, it always amuses me when theists oversimplify the situation and select the portions of it that support their presupposed "conclusion" (this should start ringing bells in any scientific mind).


I hope this sets the record straight and I've convinced the amateurs that they're really barking up the wrong tree. I have a feeling it won't, because human beings are necessarily terrible at intuitively grasping things outside of macroscopic physics, since they have no direct experience with the consequences of any other type of reality. Suffice to say that reality is a great deal more complicated than that, and one must abandon intuition to make any headway at all. But at least I gave it a shot.


by Rappoccio of AvC



God and Amateurs Interpreting Science


What always amuses me is that a great many theists (even those that seem rational) are taken with the notion that current models of physics and cosmology justify their beliefs. Mostly these are founded upon misinterpretations of these models, actually.


This is the "layman's" interpretation of the current state of cosmology: - There was an event (the big bang) that caused the universe.


The theists in question here then make the (completely unfounded) statement that god is the first cause (by no means demonstrated, and certainly doesn't favor a personal god over a nonpersonal god).


The actual situation is a terribly difficult one, and this layman's interpretation is a vast oversimplification.


1. Let's take the word "caused" to begin with. "Cause" implies that there is a sequential nature to events. That is, they are time-ordered. However, if there is no time, then there can be no causality (this is self-evident if you think about it). Asking what came "before" the big bang, or what "caused" the big bang, is like asking "what is north of the north pole"? (Thanks to Hawking for this wonderful analogy). As soon as you start going "more north" than the north pole, you start moving south again because you're constrained to the surface of the sphere. So the question is a nonsensical one from the get-go.


2. A proper theory of gravity (incorporating quantum mechanics) will necessarily be acausal below some time scale, unless general relativity is wrong altogether (which I don't see evidence of). Despite the protestations of certain people, this is the current consensus (and this is also a self-evident conclusion if one takes the merger of general relativity and quantum mechanics seriously).


3. The current models of "the big bang" actually only say that the observable universe, at some point around 13.7 billion years ago, was a very hot, dense entity which rapidly expanded and then cooled. It actually says absolutely nothing about what happened "before" this event (if such a concept is valid to begin with). There is absolutely nothing in the observable universe that currently states that the universe had a beginning. The current state of the art is that this question is, at present, unknown. An eternal universe that had a portion rapidly expand is completely adequate to explain everything we see in nature. There are a plethora of models that do not rely upon a "beginning" to the universe at all, ranging from cyclic universes in string theory involving brane collisions in higher dimensions, to a multiverse hypothesis. At present none are particularly preferred, but there are actually experiments that can be created to test these hypotheses (for instance, the LISA experiment will look for standing gravity waves to probe the structure of the early universe).




Because of 1 + 2 above, philosophizing about the nature of the origins of our universe is pretty difficult. Philosophy already assumes a causal relation of events. As I've argued, when dealing with the early universe, this may not be (and probably IS not) a good assumption.


Because of 3 above, in any case, even assuming a causal nature of events in *some* sense, the beginnings of the universe are still very much an open question with no resolution (CERTAINLY none that support the Christian ideas of a creator deity that takes a personal interest in day-to-day life and morality).


Subsequently, it always amuses me when theists oversimplify the situation and select the portions of it that support their presupposed "conclusion" (this should start ringing bells in any scientific mind).


I hope this sets the record straight and I've convinced the amateurs that they're really barking up the wrong tree. I have a feeling it won't, because human beings are necessarily terrible at intuitively grasping things outside of macroscopic physics, since they have no direct experience with the consequences of any other type of reality. Suffice to say that reality is a great deal more complicated than that, and one must abandon intuition to make any headway at all. But at least I gave it a shot.


by Rappoccio of AvC



SkepChick At Skepticon




















SkepChick At Skepticon




















Aggressive Atheism by Pat Condell



Aggressive Atheism by Pat Condell