Skeptical Science – Page 610 – Promoting Science and Critical Thinking

Famous Psychics and the $1 Million challenge

May 31, 2020September 6, 2011 by Dave

Not too long ago, the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) appeared on ABC’s Primetime Nightline where some famous psychics put their trickery up on display. It was obvious to most what was going on, the psychics knew before the show who they were doing a reading on, and … gasp … came back with information readily available via google, yet when asked to do a reading for others, declined with some excuse.

Encyclopedia of Life catalogues more than one-third of Earth’s species

June 23, 2024September 6, 2011 by Dave

Now this is cool, more than one-third of all the known species of life on the planet have now been cataloged … the total they have (as I write this) is 753,315. Just before we launch into the article lets clarify those numbers. It is estimated that there are probably around 8.7 million species in total. That is just a finger in the air, so it is within a couple of million either side of that. OK, just so that you understand that number, what in actually means is that an astonishing 86% of all plants and animals on land and 91% of those in the seas have yet to be named and catalogued. Ah but hang on a moment, those sums don’t add up, one-third of 8.7 million is not 753,315, so what is the story here? Easy, we only know about 1.9 species, the rest have yet to be discovered, so it now has more than one third of the known species cataloged.

Vatican Responds to Irish Criticism: 25-Pages of “Nope, not our fault”

November 15, 2020September 5, 2011 by Dave

The Vatican has finally responded to the scathing criticism directed at them by the Irish Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. A few months ago the findings of the Cloyne report revealed on-going abuse and cover-up, so caused considerable anger. In response the Taoiseach (the head of the Irish government) stood up in the Dail (the Irish Parliment) and gave a speech in which he described “the dysfunction, disconnection and elitism” in the Vatican and accused them of interferring by blocking the reporting of abuse to the Irish Authorities.

A 25 page reply from the Vatican has now been issued in which they state:

“… significant reservations that the speech made by Enda Kenny… in particular, the accusation that the Holy See attempted to frustrate an inquiry in a sovereign democratic republic, is unfounded.”

Atheists and Sex Offenders

September 4, 2011September 4, 2011 by Dave

Many of you might have already seen the video by the Thinking Atheist that is a response to Florida “pastor” Michael Stahl’s blog suggestion that a national register of Atheists should be compiled. Least you missed the fuss about his crazy suggestion, I blogged about it here, but fret not, he is a complete kook and is pastor of nothing at all except a web site. In reply, he was flooded with so many objections that he has closed his Facebook page and locked down his blog.

Anyway, here is the Thinking Atheist’s great video that lists some very famous Atheists who would be on any such list. The point of course is to highlight that non believers include some of the most influential folks and highly respected people on the planet …

Irish Religion vs Irish Law

August 2, 2021September 3, 2011 by Dave

This one is of specific interest to me because I was born and educated in Ireland. OK, so here is what has happened so far. Cardinal Sean Brady, Ireland’s most senior Catholic cleric voiced vehement opposition to Irish government’s plans to criminalize priests who do not report sex abuse admitted in the confessional. In other … Read more

Catholic Loon – Another daft “One Truth” claim

September 13, 2020September 2, 2011 by Dave

Not too long ago I blogged about a truly silly rant within the National Catholic Register by Catholic convert Frank Cronin. Well that was only part 1, and so today we have part 2 to laugh at and mock. Last time it was all about the “Blind Irrational Faith” of Atheism, a title that was highly ironic and laughable when you consider that this was coming from a Catholic apologist. As for actual evidence or a logically reasoned argument – none, it was just a collection of straw men arguments. So is this latest article the same? lets see. It opens with …

In the Church of the One Truth there are no ceremonies, no sacraments, no saints. There are no cathedrals, no worship, no mass. There are no sacred books, sacred music, sacred creeds. There is no morality, no accountability …