How Religion will rewire your brain

Lets first of all start with a few words from George Dvorsky’s blog – Sentient Developments, where he wrote this great description of Diane’s TED talk (above)  … In this TED talk from 2009, cognitive deprogrammer Diane Benscoter talks about her efforts to help people leave cults. At the age of 17, Benscoter joined The … Read more

Going Monty Python

“One out of four people is mentally unbalanced. Think of your three best friends. If they seem all right then you’re the one.” – Slappy White Lurking out there are people who hold some very extreme and completely insane views. This ranges right across the diversity of belief; some specific example includes weirdness such as: … Read more

Comments on “No God needed for Big bang”

As I’m sure you are aware by now, the world famous scientist, Prof. Stephen Hawking, has a new book coming out in which he explains that we don’t need God to explain the Big Bang. Our current understanding of modern physics is now sufficient and leaves no room left for the “God did it” hypothesis. … Read more

I don’t like the Manhattan mosque, but they’ve got the right — as long as I’ve got the right to point and laugh : Pharyngula

Some snippets from a great article by PZ on the Mosque and freedom … …, we have not made thinking ugly thoughts about creating a theocracy illegal — if we did, we ought to simply arrest the Imam for promoting undemocratic ideals. We don’t and we won’t, I hope, because then we’re voluntarily setting ourselves … Read more

Oregon City couple plead not guilty in faith-healing death of their infant son

You would think that people would learn, but they don’t … OREGON CITY – Two members of a church that preaches faith-healing pleaded not guilty Monday to manslaughter charges for failing to provide medical care to their infant son, who died shortly after his premature birth. OK, so what happened? Attorneys for Dale R. Hickman … Read more

Ghosts, UFO’s, Monsters – In the Mind’s eye

There is a fascinating article that has just been published in “New Scientist”. It motivates me to blog and make a few observations regarding Ghosts, UFO’s, monsters and other similar claims. But before I go there, lets first take a quick scan of the article … The mind’s eye: How the brain sorts out what … Read more