Category Archives: Critical Thinking
Circling the Wagons: A Dialogue Challenge
I have had a recent encounter with two different bloggers (one Christian and one Buddhist) that reflect a common obstacle to dialogue. Let’s call it “Circling the Wagons”. When someone outside a group makes a critical statement about some key … Continue reading
Filed under Blogging, Critical Thinking
How Unique is Your Religion?
In my post entitled “We aren’t a religion“, I tried to illustrate how this phrase is used by some folks to, somewhat deceptively, declare themselves to be unique. A Christian commentor then claimed just that: “Christianity is unique.” I started … Continue reading
Filed under Christianity, Cognitive Science, Critical Thinking, Philosophy, Religion
“Why I” Delusions
We all have dozens of “Why I …” stories which we use to repeatedly explain who we are. We become secure in these stories as people have nodded to them in agreement over the years. Here are just a few … Continue reading
Filed under Cognitive Science, Critical Thinking
The Obstacle of Common Sense
Common sense is often our enemy. Our intuitions often blind us. Yes, I am aware of recent popular books pointing out the values of these unconscious heuristics in terms of their speed, and their uncanny accuracy, but intuition also has … Continue reading
Filed under Critical Thinking, Philosophy, Politics, Uncategorized
Comparative Studies Insights
The Mahābhārata is written in Sanskrit. For millennium, Hindus have claimed that Sanskrit is a unique, sacred, and magically powerful language. I heard this claim over and over again in India and in Ashrams in this country. But is Sanskrit … Continue reading
Filed under Critical Thinking, Hindu, Linquistics, Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Religion, Religious Dialogue
Traffic Light Epistemology
I want to use this post to playfully illustrate one way I think about beliefs. At times, I like to think of each our beliefs as having four different levels of commitment. I visualize each belief as having 4-colored traffic … Continue reading
Filed under Critical Thinking, Philosophy, Religion
The Evangelism Cure
I just read an excellent article by Peter Rollins called “Evangelism will change the world“. Where Pete challenges his Christian readers (and others) to be evangelized instead of the normal call to go out and evangelize. Peter is a … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Christianity, Critical Thinking, Philosophy, Religion
Changing your beliefs
The Edge.org posed the question: What have you changed your mind about? And why? Self-introspection and confessions of change are very useful. Before listing some of confessions of the great thinkers at The Edge, let me confess some of my … Continue reading
Filed under Critical Thinking, Philosophy
Sympathetic Atheists
71% of my readers (as of 1/2010) are Sympathetic Atheists Sympathy: Greek etymology: “syn” = together + “pathos” = feeling. “Sympathetic Atheists” are Atheists who value of community, moral culture, and reflective living just like Theists do. Further, Sympathetic Atheists acknowledge … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Critical Thinking, Philosophy, Religion, Religious Dialogue
Superstitious Atheists
http://brucemhood.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/do-i-sound-like-robin-williams-or-on-speed/ Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Critical Thinking, Philosophy, Religion
The Real Reason Christians Believe
Christians may give all sorts of arguments for why they believe in Christianity but that is only how they “show” us nonbelievers why they belief. Actually, the real reason they know Christianity is true is because that of what quite … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Christianity, Critical Thinking, Philosophy, Religion
Brown Eggs & Baby Carrots
We were driving in the country and I saw a sign advertising “Brown Eggs”. Later that day, I decided to take an informal poll and asked many of the people at our July 4th gathering what they thought of “Brown … Continue reading
Filed under Cognitive Science, Critical Thinking, Humor
Christian Culpability
I realize the following post is very dry, but it is intended for the philosophically inclined who wish to discuss ethics. Atheists rightly criticize Christians of many wrong doings. But should Atheists criticize Christians as a whole based on the … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Christianity, Critical Thinking, Ethics, Philosophy, Religion
Over Confidence: Human Blindness
Ask 100 people your age, your sex and roughly your background to estimate on a scale of 0 to 100, where they think they fall on sense of humor or driving skills? It ends up that about 95% will put … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Christianity, Critical Thinking, Philosophy, Religion
Trust vs Truth
Let me share my reply to Christian on another site. 98 – 99% of all Humans who believe in a religion, they believe in the religion of their parents. They believe it because they trust their parents and their community. … Continue reading
Skepticism & Atheism
Below are my posts concerning Atheists, Agnostics, Skeptics … Last updated August 2011 post Theist-Atheist Relations Sympathetic Atheists : The Atheist approach which does not totally condemn all religions Christian Culpability : I think many Atheists are, at times, too broad in … Continue reading
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Filed under Atheism, Christianity, Critical Thinking, Philosophy, Religion, Science
My Worldview
Below are my posts written to explain my personal philosophy, values or worldview. Updated to and including my December 2010 posts My odd traits and stories Though I am an atheist, I have religious and superstitious tendencies. Atheists come in … Continue reading
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Filed under Atheism, Buddhism, Christianity, Cognitive Science, Consciousness, Critical Thinking, Ethics, Evolution, Mysticism, Philosophy, Religion, Religious Dialogue, Science
What makes Humans Unique?
NOTHING ! Unique vs. Superior Well, sure, we are unique, if by “unique” you mean that which puts any living thing in its own place on the shrub of life ! But then every creature is unique ! But that … Continue reading
Filed under Critical Thinking, Evolution, Philosophy, Religion, Science
Truth & Beauty: Deceptive Abstractions
I love this playful, yellow stylization of the Chinese character for “Truth” — it is on wheels and has measuring devices and all that is grounded (The top “T” shaped symbol means “ground”). But “Truth” we should always remember, Truth … Continue reading
Filed under Critical Thinking, Philosophy
Tenacious Inerrancy
People get attached to words because words are packed with much more than just one dictionary definition — words are packed with history, community, values, feelings and memories. And though people’s positions on a concept or issue may change, they … Continue reading
Filed under Christianity, Critical Thinking, Linquistics, Philosophy, Religion, Religious Dialogue
Sacrificing Rationality: The Tooth Fairy
My 6-old-son, “Soren”, lost his first tooth. When the tooth first became loose, he told my wife, “You know Mom, I don’t believe in the tooth fairy.” Soren has long prided himself in his insights (don’t know where he gets … Continue reading
Filed under Critical Thinking, Myth, Personal, Philosophy
Atheist Theology
Epistemology: What counts as knowledge? How do you decide what is true? Ethics: What are your meta-ethic positions? What are your ethical standards? Hermeneutics: How do you approach Biblical texts, Muslim texts and the like? Goyology: What are your beliefs, … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Christianity, Critical Thinking, Ethics, Philosophy, Religion, Religious Dialogue
Curriculum of Understanding
Imagine an acquaintance … who is a non-believer but who is interested in examining your beliefs1 but who is only mildly interested and doesn’t want a large commitment they want to understand your faith from your perspective Consider developing a … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Buddhism, Christianity, Critical Thinking, Islam, Judaism, Philosophy, Religion, Religious Dialogue, Taoism, Theology
Atheist Taxonomy: Aggression
OK, this is totally experimental and done late at night. It is meant to be controversial and to stir comments. It is inspired by conversations I have seen on Atheist blogs about how Atheists ought to behave. So I made … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Christianity, Critical Thinking, Philosophy, Religion
Atheism as a Worldview
Worldviews are Individualistic Although I disagree with his definitions, I’d like to tip my hat to my excellent fellow blogger, Luke at Common Sense Atheism, who brought up the discussion of “Is Atheism a Worldview?” . For though Atheism seems … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Christianity, Critical Thinking, Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Religion
The Debator’s Golden Rule
In debate, do not nitpick the little stuff in your opponent’s argument. Instead, help make your opponent’s argument as strong as you can. Correct his weak spots for him. Then offer counters to what you consider the strong version of … Continue reading
Filed under Critical Thinking, Philosophy, Religion, Religious Dialogue
PC Atheism
“PC Atheism” consists of any or all of the following three beliefs. Though most Atheist fall into none of these, nonetheless I write about them, because they are out there. Atheists are all economic liberals: Though perhaps most atheist are … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Critical Thinking, Philosophy, Religion, Religious Dialogue
The Sanctification Cloak
My largest problem with religious thinking is not its superstitious element, but its use of the ”Sanctification Cloak“. Religious people do not monopolize cognitive errors — even atheists, skeptics, freethinkers, and scientists indulge in them. Yet many skeptic sites accuse … Continue reading
Filed under Christianity, Critical Thinking, Linquistics, Religious Dialogue
12 Virtues of Rationality
Curiosity Relinquishment Lightness Evenness Argument Empiricism Simplicity Humility Perfectionism Precision Scholarship The Void Virtues must be cultivated ! For more, see the source: Eliezer Yudkowsky — a most interesting site ! And here’s a link for an explanation of the … Continue reading
Filed under Critical Thinking
