Last night I went to a debate between my friend, Dr Zachary Moore and Dr Ray Bohlin, a creationist with Probe Ministries, which is connected to the Discovery Institute. The topic was “Is Intelligent Design Science”, so it was an easy win for Zach. This matter was settled in the 2005 case of Kitzmiller v […]
The Pro-Truth Pledge
On the 67th episode of the Ra-Men, I interviewed Prof Gleb Tsipursky PhD regarding a project he co-founded and which I find personally intriguing. I asked Dr Tsipursky to write a blurb for this podcast, and this is what he shared with me: We will talk about the Pro-Truth Pledge, whose purpose is to reverse the tide […]
Orwellian Legislative Duplicity on HB 1485
When my wife and I testified against HB 1485 before the House Education Committee at the State Capital, there were a number of other witnesses who’s comments need to be noted, addressed, and corrected. [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYPfh-dpsP4[/youtube] When the bill’s author, Representative Valoree Swanson says she wants to provide “academic freedom” for teachers, what she really means […]
Legislators want “academic freedom” to lie to students
As I explained in a previous post, the Texas State Board of Education recently considered including language in their science standards that would have allowed teachers to cite anti-science apologetics whenever they didn’t want to teach real science. So instead of teaching evolution, teachers could promote their own personal belief in creationism instead. The Republican […]
I’m testifying at the State Capitol
A couple weeks ago, my wife, Lilandra and I once again testified before the Texas State Board of Education. They were still considering including language in the science standards that was designed to undermine teaching of evolution. This language would have encouraged ignorant teachers to cite anti-science apologetics instead of teaching anyone what the theory […]
San Antonio’s Non-Christian Scapegoating Mayor is up for Re-election
Earlier this month at a candidate’s forum, San Antonio’s Mayor Ivy Taylor, may or may not have had atheists specifically in mind when she speculated on the roots of systemic poverty. Although she didn’t specifically mention atheists, she definitely linked poverty to a lack of relationship with the Christian god, specifically. Early voting for municipal […]
floresiensis not from erectus, just like I said
I think it’s funny that the media are just now announcing “breaking news” about Homo floresiensis that I had already explained exactly six years ago; from 5:38-7:04. [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzuKlZf1qXU&t=425s[/youtube]
Our shameless state board of education.
On April 18th, I was in Austin to testify once again before our infamous Texas State Board of Education. Lilandra and I felt alone in that crowd of creationists. It was disheartening to see so many people repeating such easily refutable falsehoods as fact. But it is even worse to see organizations determined to exploit […]
What if David Dao had given up his seat?
How would the situation have changed if David Dao had given up his seat for United crewmembers as he was ordered to? Let’s start with the obvious. Obviously, he wouldn’t have gotten manhandled by airport police. Though the violence used to remove an elderly man wasn’t justified. Yes. He wouldn’t now require surgery. In an hourlong news […]
Philosophistry
On March 3rd, “Street Epistemologist” Anthony Magnabosco invited me to join him at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary to see a debate between one of their apologists and the editor of Skeptic Magazine. Turns out this was the start of an apologetics conference called “Stand Firm”. Which of course, I interpret as “be unreasonable”. Because that’s what […]