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Skeptical Science

It is hard to even keep track of all the confusing myths on global warming that circulate, let alone respond and point out errors. Result is that perpetrators of this fake news get away with misleading the public.

How many of us are exposed, even among friends and relatives, to information we know is wrong, but are not able to respond because we have not studied the problem deeply enough?

Recently a friend alerted me to a reference that helps n global warming. I highly recommend the on-line reference: Skeptical Science; Read more about Skeptical Science »

Why Are UU Humanists Overlooked?

Yesterday, I wrote a blog post about my reaction to Molly Worthen's NY Times article, "Wanted: A Theology of Atheism" for the UU Humanist Association's blog. It doesn't address her thesis (that I agree with), that the new "atheist churches" need to be aware of their philosophical heritage. (She calls this theology though she mostly talks about moral systems.) Instead, it points out how that the heritage of Humanism in UU congregations isn’t even mentioned and considers why that is. I would love comments from Concord Area Humanists. Read more about Why Are UU Humanists Overlooked? »

An Easter Prayer from a Non-Christian Humanist

An Easter Prayer from a Non-Christian Humanist

Let us hope we can rise from a death

From the Powerful where Might makes Right

To a new life of the Spirit: The Spirit of Peace.

Let us be filled with this Spirit of Peace.

And let us talk in tongues

So that people can understand us.

Let us lift up the downtrodden and fearful,

Heal those whose souls and bodies are afflicted,

And blind the oppressors with our light

Like Saul with his conversion to Paul Read more about An Easter Prayer from a Non-Christian Humanist »

World Peace Promoted Most by Non Religious

In today’s (January 6, 2015) The Guardian, there is an editorial entitled “If Peace On Earth is Our Goal, Atheism Might Be the Means to That End” by Adam Lee.  It is a great article revealing several results of various polls on religious societies and non-religious societies throughout the world.  The comments are sufficient themselves to press their points so I am just going to excerpt quotes from it. Read more about World Peace Promoted Most by Non Religious »

Humanism and the musical “Into the Woods”

A popular movie musical that has just come out is “Into the Woods” with lyrics by Steven Sondheim.  It is always good to see humanistic thoughts and values which are expressed by popular media that is outside the realm of the Humanist community. 

Part of the storyline tells of how a witch has taken a child, Rapunzel, and raised her as her own.  Rapunzel says to the witch who has raised her in isolation in her tower:

“I am no longer a child. I wish to see the world.” Read more about Humanism and the musical “Into the Woods” »

"Let It Go" – A Humanist’s Perspective

I don’t have children and so I only have heard “Let It Go”, from the movie “Frozen”, one time – when I saw the movie when it first came out.  However I have heard that others, especially parents, have heard the song so many times that they are actually sick of it.  I read an article the other day that the producer of the movie actually felt the need to apologize for the success of the song to the point where it has gone far beyond the amount of appreciable saturation by the normal adult. Read more about "Let It Go" – A Humanist’s Perspective »

Thoughts on what (progressive) religion might be doing to matter personally – and to meet the needs of future generations and our ailing planet

Where I am coming from

To be honest, I have become disenchanted with even modern progressive religion, including Unitarian Universlism. I hope the following provides some constructive perspective. These are my honest thoughts on the needed role of religion considering the state of my mind and of the planet. They might be considered radical or revolutionary. They might also be considered essential. Perhaps all three (my view). This is a shot at what it would take for religion to be a meaningful part of my life. Read more about Thoughts on what (progressive) religion might be doing to matter personally – and to meet the needs of future generations and our ailing planet »

Science of the Brain - Altruism

The Science of the Brain – the Amygdala

I have written in several blogs here about the amygdala – a part of the brain located in the experiential brain (as opposed to the rational brain in the frontal lobes).  The amygdala is the seat of certain emotions including what we have talked about for years as the “fight or flight” syndrome.  But with scientific tests of functional MRI’s (fMRIs), the amygdala is seen as the seat of many emotions and the function of empathy.  Read more about Science of the Brain - Altruism »

Global Interfaith and the United Nations

I received this post from the UU-UNO (United Nations Organization) which is affiliated with the UUA.  It brings out an important aspect in that often we have large prejudices with the whole concept of religion.  Often generalizations are made that do not include progressive religions nor even mainstream religions.  This also emphasizes my former blog that Secularism is NOT anti-religion.  Secularism is to rid governments of being influenced by religions.  But it is not designed to remove religion from various cultures.  For instance, the Indians in Mexico have Read more about Global Interfaith and the United Nations »