New Symphony of Science: A Wave of Reason

John Boswell from symphonyofscience has posted a new music video promoting reason, skepticism and science.  This could be the best one yet.  Watch, listen and enjoy.  Be sure to visit his site!

New Humanism Ad Campaign

Richard Dawkins appears in this tv spot that will be appearing on several networks very soon.  There are currently two other spots available to watch on considerhumanism.org.  The campaign features readings from holy books about various issues such as women's rights, violence, slavery, intelligence and homosexuality, and contrasts it with what humanists think.  You will find that what the humanists think is very much in line with what most thinking people think about morality and values.  The contrast between the ancient world's ideas and today's values is a stark one.

The ads are designed to make people consider the source of these holy books.  Do the values contained in the Bible or Koran seem like they were breathed from a perfectly moral god?  I think most will find that the ideas and morals found in holy books clash with our moral intuitions.  Apologists no doubt deal with these "problem verses" in effort to make them sound less repugnant, but the honest thinker should wonder why, if god himself inspired the entire thing, would he have the authors write down such dated thoughts in the first place?  It seems more likely that ancient people wrote what is contained in holy books, and their prejudices and morals of the day inspired them - not god.

The official site also has various ads that can be printed and distributed by the inspired free-thinker.  Print some out, work with the humanist club at your school or in your community to spread the word.

Large Hadron Collider Creates "Mini Big Bang"

via richarddawkins.net & BBC News:

Lead ion collision inside the LHC

CERN scientists have recently collided lead ions which have created some beautiful and curious reactions.  Scientists hope these experiments will help us understand the processes at work at the very beginning of the universe.  Temperatures reached upwards of 10 trillion degrees, which are the highest ever reproduced in an experiment. Still no word on when the LHC will destroy the world.  Read the full article here.

Happy Carl Sagan Day!

Today is Carl Sagan Day.  A day we remember a great mind and popularizer of science.  Carl has been a major influence on my life and my interest in science, and I never knew much of him until he had already passed.  I urge you all to watch his PBS series, Cosmos.  Search youtube for Carl Sagan, and enjoy.  Celebrate his life with me.  We miss you, Carl.

Bionic Eye Success in Sight

via Atheist Media Blog:



Man, science is amazing.

Bacteria Can Drive the Evolution of New Species

via richarddawkins.net:

Lactobacillus plantarum

A recent study shows that bacteria can influence the sexual selection of fruit flies.  Read the full article here.

I Want Your Input!

I thought it would be an interesting task to make a comprehensive list of what Christianity asks its believers to accept, but seem incoherent and backward to people not raised in it.  A couple examples of what it would be:

Christianity asks us to accept:

• Our ancient ancestors were told to not eat a fruit, but did it anyway, and now every person who has ever lived since then is sinful and fallen from God.
• Everything, including humans with our many defects (and vulnerabilities) were created by a perfectly all-powerful, all-knowing, and infinitely far-reaching being, and he said it was "good."
• This same being, being infinitely powerful and knowing, cares about what job we get.

I am still compiling and will soon be lining up scriptural citations for the applicable ideas.  Let's see if I still remember my Bible!

This is where I need your help.  Can you think of some interesting things that Christianity (or just the Bible) asks its believers to accept?  I am looking for doctrines, historical and scientific claims, moral imperatives, etc.  Please list them in the comments section of this post or email me at doubtingeric(at)gmail.com.  Thanks!