Why Evolution is True is a blog written by Jerry Coyne, centered on evolution and biology but also dealing with diverse topics like politics, culture, and cats.
UPDATE: Adam Rutherford reminded me that it was the now-demonized Francis Galton who did statistical tests on the efficacy of prayer. His most famous is finding out that British Royals, who are prayed for constantly, didn’t live any longer than non-royals at a similar level of well being. Galton did related studies of the success … Continue reading Does the ubiquity of prayer prove the existence of God?
A while back I was asked to appear on Robert Lawrence Kuhn’s Closer to Truth videos, but I had some issues over Templeton funding (there appears to be none), and the fact that the show always seems to be pushing goddiness. Given that Kuhn has now interviewed atheist Dan Dennett (see the 8-minute video below), perhaps … Continue reading “Religions aren’t growing: they’re just growing louder”: Dennett on God and religiosity
A certain philosopher who could be mistaken for Santa Claus called my attention to this article in the Daily Nous, a website devoted to the profession of philosophy—and by “profession” I mean “job”. Below you can read yesterday’s announcement of a big new John Templeton Foundation (JTF) grant by clicking on the screenshot, but I’ve … Continue reading Another big Templeton grant for philosophy (religious philosophy, of course), and a note on Templeton’s corruption of the field
While Bret Weinstein is a stalwart champion of free speech and progressivism because of his brave behavior at Evergreen State, his views on evolution often seem to me to be pretty wonky. And not just biology: look at these tweets he exchanged with Sam Harris: I’m a “New Atheist,” and I don’t know what you’re … Continue reading Bret Weinstein unfairly disses evolutionary biology (and New Atheism)
Does the ubiquity and supposed beneficial effect of religion constitute evidence for God? Well, at least one intellectual (and I use the term loosely) thinks so. Reader Michael sent me a link to Nick Spencer’s favorable review in Prospect of Stephen Asma’s 2018 book Why We Need Religion (click on screenshot below). Michael added this: “Maybe … Continue reading Nick Spencer returns to defend religion in Prospect magazine
Everyone knows about the “thoughts and prayers” sent out after tragedies as a quotidian feature of the daily news. And all of us nonbelivers disparage not only the use of prayers (shown in a Templeton-funded study to not have any effect on healing after surgery), but also the uselessness of thoughts—unless conveyed directly to the … Continue reading Thoughts and prayers: what are they worth?
Here we go again: a Sophisticated Thinker decides that it doesn’t matter whether the truth claims of religion are really true, and argues that most believers don’t think that they are. Instead, religion is important because it makes us feel good. The three problems with this are, of course, that it does matter to most people (if there’s … Continue reading Who cares if religion is true if it makes us feel good?
The PuffHo “Religion” section is an endless source of fun, for it’s really a combination of religion, “spirituality,” and self-help, usually with a generous dose of Isalamophilia. Here, for instance, is some of today’s page: The “How to Live Life Fully” video has virtually nothing to do with religion, but includes these old chestnuts, promoted for centuries. Don’t hold … Continue reading Invent a religion that transcends but unifies existing faiths—and win $5000!
