Monthly Archives: November 2009

Goodness!

Posted on November 5, 2009 by Bradlaugh

Some readers have asked me to comment on the extracts from Dinesh D’Souza’s new book, Life After Death: The Evidence currently appearing on National Review Online. The first one’s here, the second here. I confess I can’t find much to … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy, Science & Faith | 49 Comments

New Majority → FrumForum

Posted on November 4, 2009 by David Hume

Here’s the explanation for the change in name. When I saw a page notifying of the change last night on NewMajority I thought someone had hacked the site and placed the note up as a joke. I guess that says … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs | Tagged | 3 Comments

Spirituality, real and imagined

Posted on November 3, 2009 by Heather Mac Donald

The sweat lodge deaths have focused scrutiny on the New Age community in Sedona, which over three decades has become a magnet for spiritual seekers thanks to spectacular scenery and links to Native American rituals. The Angel Valley retreat center, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 24 Comments

The necessity of the non-answer

Posted on November 1, 2009 by David Hume

Clark of Mormon Metaphysics points to this screed by Peter Lawler over at Postmodern Conservative by way of praising Atheist Delusions: The Christian Revolution and Its Fashionable Enemies. Lawler asserts: … It begins as a criticism of the naive stupidity … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, culture | Tagged | 74 Comments

White men can’t be progressive?

Posted on November 1, 2009 by David Hume

Matt Yglesias says, White Men Are Not Very Progressive: I would say that another message is that progressive politics is badly disadvantaged by a situation in which the overwhelming majorities of political leaders and prominent media figures are white men. … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, data | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Magical thinking watch: “Education innovations”

Posted on November 1, 2009 by Heather Mac Donald

The Obama Administration has created a $650 million Investing in Innovation Fund (i3)— its snappy nickname undoubtedly intended to invoke the excitement of a Silicon Valley start-up.   “We’re making an unprecedented investment in cutting-edge ideas that will produce the next … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Rationality & culture

Posted on November 1, 2009 by David Hume

At ScienceBlogs, where most of my readers are liberal, Katherine says: This is why I think rightism is absurd: because it seems to be so uncomfortable with letting others simply go about their lives in whatever way they themselves wish. … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | 5 Comments

The Pagans are Coming!

Posted on November 1, 2009 by Andrew Stuttaford

How’s that whole Enlightenment thing going? Not so well, it seems: click here for Saturday’s New York Times story on the rise of paganism. Predictable, uncritical pap for the most part, although I noted this section with, well, I don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Catholics somewhat less conservative even if observant

Posted on November 1, 2009 by David Hume

Are Catholic Republicans More Liberal Than Protestant Republicans?, a comment: A lot of people call themselves “Catholic” who really don’t even go to Church and who deny many Catholic Church teachings…ergo… the author’s conclusion is VERY flawed. This is a … Continue reading →

Posted in data | Tagged , | Comments Off on Catholics somewhat less conservative even if observant

Religious diversity & its discontents

Posted on November 1, 2009 by David Hume

Over at ScienceBlogs I’ve put a comment up about tensions in New York City between a mosque & an establishment across the street which serves alcohol. The issues around public displays of religion, and the norms which are enforced around … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged , , | 32 Comments