Archive for the ‘Wisdom & Wellness’ Category
Sam Harris: It’s not about atheism, it’s about reason and genuine respect for the well-being of others
Posted by: RB on: February 15, 2008
Having just watched the recent Sam Harris + Rabbi David Wolpe debate on the existence of God, I was reminded of Sam Harris’ very important and agreeable position that a big part of the cultural struggle being fought be secularists should not be about atheism specifically, but about reason generally. Now, the subject of religion [...]
Is one arrogant if they point out the irrationality in believing in leprechauns? What about God?
Posted by: RB on: February 6, 2008
A query to the rationalist community: Don’t you just love it how religious people believe that their beliefs are somehow special? And that to point out the irrationality in believing them and to refer to the beliefs as having all the tell-tale signs of a fairy tale until proven otherwise is arrogant?
Backlash: Proponents of Complementary & Alternative Medicine take issue with David Colquhoun
Posted by: RB on: February 5, 2008
During his recent visit to Toronto, Dr. David Colquhoun, Pharmacologist at University College London, appeared on CBC Radio’s Sunday Edition. As usual, he made many damning remarks about the validity of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). Notably, Colquhoun asserts that an appropriate means of categorizing the different types of medicine is not scientific versus CAM, [...]
New study indicates that marijuana smokers face rapid lung destruction
Posted by: RB on: January 30, 2008
Marijuana Smokers Face Rapid Lung Destruction
As Much As 20 Years Ahead Of Tobacco Smokershttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080123104017.htmScienceDaily (Jan. 27, 2008) — A new study finds that the development of bullous lung disease occurs in marijuana smokers approximately 20 years earlier than tobacco smokers.
Doubt in and faking of faith, and the need for secular alternatives to religious communities
Posted by: RB on: January 28, 2008
A reader, postthought, expressed curiosity regarding why so many Americans are religious despite their access to education. She also opined that many of the faithful are faking their faith. Here are some of my quick thoughts on these matters:
David Colquhoun at the University of Toronto
Posted by: RB on: January 26, 2008
As was advertised ad nauseum on TFP over the past few weeks, Royal Society member and noted skeptic David Colquhoun spoke at the University of Toronto last night. Colquhoun’s presentation was this year’s main event of the University of Toronto Secular Alliance, and it was a great success.
Interested in the scientific study of meditation, mindfulness and contemplative practices?
Posted by: RB on: January 21, 2008
Deric Bownds has provided a link to the Mind and Life Institute, which offers a quarterly bibliography with short descriptions of research done on the effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). I post these links here as well, for those interested in the science of meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative practices, as well as other bridges [...]
Big Brother 2.0: Microsoft’s Orwellian innovation
Posted by: RB on: January 17, 2008
Microsoft has submitted a patent application for a new Big Brotheresque software program capable of remotely monitoring a worker’s productivity, competence and physical wellbeing. This takes the monitoring of people at work to a new level, say civil liberties groups, privacy lawyers and the Information Commisioner.
Tom Cruise on Scientology: We are the way to happiness and the authorities on the mind.
Posted by: RB on: January 15, 2008
Here’s how Tom Cruise describes Scientology on a Church promotional video:
When you’re a Scientologist, and you drive by an accident, you know you have to do something about it, because you know you’re the only one who can really help. We are the authorities on getting people off drugs. We are the authorities on the [...]
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