Author Archives: David Hume

Atheists are liberal, but liberals are not atheists

Posted on January 21, 2009 by David Hume

The Audacious Epigone explores the GSS in terms of the relationship between irreligion and politics.  He confirms what I’ve noted before, the data shows that the irreligious strongly tend to be liberal, but liberals only weakly tend to be irreligious. … Continue reading →

Posted in data | Tagged , | 44 Comments

On Judeo-Christian

Posted on January 15, 2009 by David Hume

I’ve recently triggered a round of discussion on several weblogs around the interwebs relating to the term “Judeo-Christianity,” especially when it comes to definiting the civilization of the West (as in, “our Judeo-Christian culture”).   I started the discussion here, … Continue reading →

Posted in Definition, history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 24 Comments

A secular perspective on politics?

Posted on January 14, 2009 by David Hume

I’ve been thinking of what it means to be of the “Secular Right” recently due to the comment threads where people asked us to weigh in on our specific political positions. Some people take the Secular Right to be libertarian … Continue reading →

Posted in Definition, philosophy, politics | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Brother can you spare a bit of Arminianism?

Posted on January 14, 2009 by David Hume

Somewhat related to Heather’s post, God’s Problem, see this fascinating New York Times Magazine piece on neo-Calvinism, Who Would Jesus Smack Down?: Mars Hill — with its conservative social teachings embedded in guitar solos and drum riffs, its megachurch presence … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Science & society

Posted on January 12, 2009 by David Hume

I have a piece up at Taki’s Magazine, The Limits of Certitude. It might be read along with a post at ScienceBlogs, Science is rational; scientists are not. I might as well have labeled it “An argument for conservatism.”

Posted in philosophy, science, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Orthodoxy vs. Conservatism

Posted on January 9, 2009 by David Hume

In light of Richard John Neuhaus’ comment about orthodoxy, I thought I would quote a bit from a piece I posted earlier from Jerry Muller on conservatism & orthodoxy: The orthodox theoretician defends existing institutions and practices because they are … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

God against the gods

Posted on January 8, 2009 by David Hume

In Children of the Revolution: The French, 1799-1914 the author notes that militant secularism during the 19th century in France was a feature of the Metropole. In contrast, the French Church was always the privileged handmaid of Empire no matter … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Way crazier than Creationism….

Posted on January 4, 2009 by David Hume

…is AIDS Denialism.  Christine Maggiore died before the New Year.  Those making excuses for the deaths in this particular family are not good Bayesians.

Posted in science | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Who is pro-science, the Left or the Right?

Posted on January 1, 2009 by David Hume

In the comments below I made an assertion to the effect that conservatives are more likely to notionally reject the authority of science, which is one reason that I sometimes focus on right-wing Denialism. On the Left the main analog … Continue reading →

Posted in data | Tagged , , | 126 Comments

Faith & George W. Bush

Posted on December 29, 2008 by David Hume

Austin Bramwell, He Still Believes: Bush’s admirers credit him with political courage on par with Lincoln’s. Lincoln, of course, hated the “terrible war” that he felt his duty to wage. “Fondly do we hope,” Lincoln intoned, “fervently do we pray, … Continue reading →

Posted in politics | Tagged , | 13 Comments