Library:
If you would like to check-out a book or magazine, fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page - stating your name, email, Furman PMB if applicable, and the information for the book or magazine you would like to borrow.
Books
Science and Supernature
By James E. Alcock
"Is there more to our existence than modern science can measure? For more than a hundred years, parapsychology - the scientific study of paranormal phenomena - has tried to find the answer to this question. In Science and Supernature, psychologist James E. Alcock presents a critical evaluation of parapsychological research and reviews the current status of the evidence."
(Amazon.com)
By James E. Alcock
"Is there more to our existence than modern science can measure? For more than a hundred years, parapsychology - the scientific study of paranormal phenomena - has tried to find the answer to this question. In Science and Supernature, psychologist James E. Alcock presents a critical evaluation of parapsychological research and reviews the current status of the evidence."
(Amazon.com)
Intelligent Design: Science or Religion? Critical Perspectives
Edited by Robert M. Baird and Stuart E. Rosenbaum
"On December 20, 2005, Federal District Court Judge John E. Jones III ruled that Intelligent Design was not science but an unconstitutional intrusion of religion into the school curriculum. His decision upheld contentions by parents in the Dover, PA, school district that school board members substituted personal religious beliefs for science. The ruling came despite calls by President George W. Bush for Intelligent Design to be taught as a theory alongside the theory of evolution. This hotly contested issue continues to grip the nation and spark intense debate.
But what is Intelligent Design? Can Intelligent Design stand up to the rigors of scientific method? Or is it a nonscientific, faith-inspired interpretation of experience? This collection of essays addresses such questions and includes analyses from scientists, journalists, philosophers, and religious leaders and thinkers. This volume provides a variety of perspectives in the hope that readers will be better prepared to reach their own conclusions about the issues involved."
(Amazon.com)
Edited by Robert M. Baird and Stuart E. Rosenbaum
"On December 20, 2005, Federal District Court Judge John E. Jones III ruled that Intelligent Design was not science but an unconstitutional intrusion of religion into the school curriculum. His decision upheld contentions by parents in the Dover, PA, school district that school board members substituted personal religious beliefs for science. The ruling came despite calls by President George W. Bush for Intelligent Design to be taught as a theory alongside the theory of evolution. This hotly contested issue continues to grip the nation and spark intense debate.
But what is Intelligent Design? Can Intelligent Design stand up to the rigors of scientific method? Or is it a nonscientific, faith-inspired interpretation of experience? This collection of essays addresses such questions and includes analyses from scientists, journalists, philosophers, and religious leaders and thinkers. This volume provides a variety of perspectives in the hope that readers will be better prepared to reach their own conclusions about the issues involved."
(Amazon.com)
Interpreting Evolution
By H. James Birx
"Professor H. James Birx shows how the never-ending controversy of human evolution came to be. He details the events that caused thinkers like Charles Darwin to develop his theory of evolution, and what ideas caused some people to reconcile a somewhat mystical theology with a concrete model of the universe. He tells you how Darwin's work infuriated everybody from "God-fearing" Christians to the church heirarchies.
Birx explains how scientific advances and philosophical arguments have made beliefs about divine intervention as the origin of man a moot point. He shows how creationism ignores proven scientific facts, and how human evolution remains a much sounder truth. You'll read how some western religions are starting to accept evolution as the process which creates life on earth. You'll also learn why scientific evolution and creationism have not been accepted together and how bold attempts to merge the two ideas have failed miserably."
(Amazon.com)
By H. James Birx
"Professor H. James Birx shows how the never-ending controversy of human evolution came to be. He details the events that caused thinkers like Charles Darwin to develop his theory of evolution, and what ideas caused some people to reconcile a somewhat mystical theology with a concrete model of the universe. He tells you how Darwin's work infuriated everybody from "God-fearing" Christians to the church heirarchies.
Birx explains how scientific advances and philosophical arguments have made beliefs about divine intervention as the origin of man a moot point. He shows how creationism ignores proven scientific facts, and how human evolution remains a much sounder truth. You'll read how some western religions are starting to accept evolution as the process which creates life on earth. You'll also learn why scientific evolution and creationism have not been accepted together and how bold attempts to merge the two ideas have failed miserably."
(Amazon.com)
Close Encounters with the Religious Right: Journeys into the Twilight Zone of Religion and Politics
By Robert Boston
"What does Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition really want? What secret agenda lies behind radio counselor James Dobson's Focus on the Family? Who are the Promise Keepers and what are their ultimate goals? Why do so many leaders of the religious right engage in gay bashing? What would these groups do to our public school system, or to our government, if they were in power? Close Encounters with the Religious Right takes you behind the scenes to answer these questions and gives the reader a rare glimpse of a world the average American may not even realize exists... Close Encounters with the Religious Right is an eye-opening expose, revealing a sometimes funny but more often disturbing world of fanaticism and extremism."
(Amazon.com)
By Robert Boston
"What does Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition really want? What secret agenda lies behind radio counselor James Dobson's Focus on the Family? Who are the Promise Keepers and what are their ultimate goals? Why do so many leaders of the religious right engage in gay bashing? What would these groups do to our public school system, or to our government, if they were in power? Close Encounters with the Religious Right takes you behind the scenes to answer these questions and gives the reader a rare glimpse of a world the average American may not even realize exists... Close Encounters with the Religious Right is an eye-opening expose, revealing a sometimes funny but more often disturbing world of fanaticism and extremism."
(Amazon.com)
Science and Nonbelief
By Taner Edis
"Scientists have raised questions about religious belief since the earliest development of scientific thought. Over the centuries, as science has become ever more sophisticated and answered many of the questions previously in the domain of religion, more and more people have developed a skeptical point of view regarding religion. Today, many scientists are nonbelievers with a secular, science-based perspective.
In this wide-ranging overview, physicist and acclaimed science writer Taner Edis examines the relationship between today’s sciences and religious nonbelief. Beginning with a brief history of science and philosophical doubt, Edis goes on to describe those theories in contemporary science that challenge spiritual views by favoring a naturalistic conception of the world. He provides a very readable, nontechnical introduction to the leading scientific ideas that impinge upon religious belief in the areas of modern physics and cosmology, evolutionary biology, and cognitive and brain science. He also shows how science supplies naturalistic explanations for allegedly miraculous and paranormal phenomena and explains widespread belief in the supernatural. Finally, he addresses the political context of debates over science and nonbelief as well as questions about morality.
Complete with an historical chronology, an extensive annotated bibliography, and selections from primary sources, Science and Nonbelief is an indispensable and accessible reference work on the subject."
(Amazon.com)
By Taner Edis
"Scientists have raised questions about religious belief since the earliest development of scientific thought. Over the centuries, as science has become ever more sophisticated and answered many of the questions previously in the domain of religion, more and more people have developed a skeptical point of view regarding religion. Today, many scientists are nonbelievers with a secular, science-based perspective.
In this wide-ranging overview, physicist and acclaimed science writer Taner Edis examines the relationship between today’s sciences and religious nonbelief. Beginning with a brief history of science and philosophical doubt, Edis goes on to describe those theories in contemporary science that challenge spiritual views by favoring a naturalistic conception of the world. He provides a very readable, nontechnical introduction to the leading scientific ideas that impinge upon religious belief in the areas of modern physics and cosmology, evolutionary biology, and cognitive and brain science. He also shows how science supplies naturalistic explanations for allegedly miraculous and paranormal phenomena and explains widespread belief in the supernatural. Finally, he addresses the political context of debates over science and nonbelief as well as questions about morality.
Complete with an historical chronology, an extensive annotated bibliography, and selections from primary sources, Science and Nonbelief is an indispensable and accessible reference work on the subject."
(Amazon.com)
God and the Philosophers
By Paul Edwards
"This witty and learned exploration of critical views on the nature and existence of God, as expressed by major philosophers of the Western world from the medieval period to the present day, is the last work of noted philosopher Paul Edwards. In his unique trademark style, laced with erudition and acerbic humor, Edwards addresses how the concept of God has changed over the centuries, in large part due to the analyses of such skeptical thinkers as David Hume, Thomas Paine, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Bertrand Russell.
A longtime critic of theistic arguments, Edwards demonstrates a masterful understanding of the ways in which the scientific revolution of the 17th century, the Enlightenment of the 18th century, the evolutionary materialism of the 19th century, and the rise of analytic and existentialist philosophies in the 20th century prepared the way for the growing role of atheism in the 21st century.
This work is a tour de force – a master storyteller’s idiosyncratic evaluation of the views of dozens of Western thinkers on perennial topics in the philosophy of religion. Though not all of the philosophers discussed were nonbelievers or antireligious, they can be considered to be – like Edwards himself –"freethinkers." They pursued the cause of knowledge wherever their thinking led them, often to iconoclastic positions."
(Amazon.com)
By Paul Edwards
"This witty and learned exploration of critical views on the nature and existence of God, as expressed by major philosophers of the Western world from the medieval period to the present day, is the last work of noted philosopher Paul Edwards. In his unique trademark style, laced with erudition and acerbic humor, Edwards addresses how the concept of God has changed over the centuries, in large part due to the analyses of such skeptical thinkers as David Hume, Thomas Paine, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Bertrand Russell.
A longtime critic of theistic arguments, Edwards demonstrates a masterful understanding of the ways in which the scientific revolution of the 17th century, the Enlightenment of the 18th century, the evolutionary materialism of the 19th century, and the rise of analytic and existentialist philosophies in the 20th century prepared the way for the growing role of atheism in the 21st century.
This work is a tour de force – a master storyteller’s idiosyncratic evaluation of the views of dozens of Western thinkers on perennial topics in the philosophy of religion. Though not all of the philosophers discussed were nonbelievers or antireligious, they can be considered to be – like Edwards himself –"freethinkers." They pursued the cause of knowledge wherever their thinking led them, often to iconoclastic positions."
(Amazon.com)
Science Under Siege: Defending Science, Exposing Pseudoscience
Edited by Kendrick Frazier
"For more than thirty years, The Skeptical Inquirer has steadfastly championed science and reason and been the leading voice for reliable scientific examination of the paranormal and other questionable claims popularized by the media and mass culture. In this new collection of outstanding recent articles, editor Kendrick Frazier has selected some of the best writing on topics of current interest. Among the highlights are:
"A Skeptical Look at September 11th" which prompted a drove of responses (many angry) and was selected by Richard Dawkins for the Best Science and Nature Writing of 2003. Carl Sagan’s final question-and-answer piece on the topic of science and skeptical inquiry. Ann Druyan’s beautifully expressed "Science, Religion, Wonder, and Awe." NASA scientist Stuart Jordan’s excellent appraisal of the scientific evidence for global warming, which prompted much critical response and led to another follow up article. Five articles on the evolution vs. intelligent design controversy Two physicians’ articles that strongly defend the value of vaccinations and critique the anti-vaccination movement Other distinguished contributors include Mario Bunge, Martin Gardner, Ray Hyman, Paul Kurtz, Chris Mooney, Joe Nickell, Stephen Pinker, and many others. This excellent collection of stimulating articles exploring science and skeptical inquiry, public controversies, and investigating pseudoscientific claims is a must for scientists, educators, skeptics, and everyone concerned about scientific literacy."
(Amazon.com)
Edited by Kendrick Frazier
"For more than thirty years, The Skeptical Inquirer has steadfastly championed science and reason and been the leading voice for reliable scientific examination of the paranormal and other questionable claims popularized by the media and mass culture. In this new collection of outstanding recent articles, editor Kendrick Frazier has selected some of the best writing on topics of current interest. Among the highlights are:
"A Skeptical Look at September 11th" which prompted a drove of responses (many angry) and was selected by Richard Dawkins for the Best Science and Nature Writing of 2003. Carl Sagan’s final question-and-answer piece on the topic of science and skeptical inquiry. Ann Druyan’s beautifully expressed "Science, Religion, Wonder, and Awe." NASA scientist Stuart Jordan’s excellent appraisal of the scientific evidence for global warming, which prompted much critical response and led to another follow up article. Five articles on the evolution vs. intelligent design controversy Two physicians’ articles that strongly defend the value of vaccinations and critique the anti-vaccination movement Other distinguished contributors include Mario Bunge, Martin Gardner, Ray Hyman, Paul Kurtz, Chris Mooney, Joe Nickell, Stephen Pinker, and many others. This excellent collection of stimulating articles exploring science and skeptical inquiry, public controversies, and investigating pseudoscientific claims is a must for scientists, educators, skeptics, and everyone concerned about scientific literacy."
(Amazon.com)
The Crisis in Afro-American Leadership
By Ethelbert W. Haskins
"What can black leaders offer African Americans who lack worthy values and are often willfully illiterate?
Haskins emphasizes empowerment rather than despair."
(Amazon.com)
By Ethelbert W. Haskins
"What can black leaders offer African Americans who lack worthy values and are often willfully illiterate?
Haskins emphasizes empowerment rather than despair."
(Amazon.com)
God: Hit or Myth
By Robert Green Ingersoll and Ian Tarquin Hume
"Robert Green Ingersoll's summation of the evidence surrounding the question of God's existence deserves to be heard in the ongoing debate between Rational Secularists and Evangelical Christians.
Of particular interest is the striking contemporaneity of Robert Green Ingersoll's observations and arguments in the context of the ideological struggles occurring in the United States and, indeed, worldwide in the first decades of the twenty-first century.
Ingersoll offers an opening, a place to begin, in the process of reasoned investigation and the rational evaluation of belief."
(Amazon.com)
By Robert Green Ingersoll and Ian Tarquin Hume
"Robert Green Ingersoll's summation of the evidence surrounding the question of God's existence deserves to be heard in the ongoing debate between Rational Secularists and Evangelical Christians.
Of particular interest is the striking contemporaneity of Robert Green Ingersoll's observations and arguments in the context of the ideological struggles occurring in the United States and, indeed, worldwide in the first decades of the twenty-first century.
Ingersoll offers an opening, a place to begin, in the process of reasoned investigation and the rational evaluation of belief."
(Amazon.com)
Religion & Gods
By Robert Green Ingersoll and Ian Tarquin Hume
"Amid the 21st century's escalating religious tensions, Robert Green Ingersoll's views on the substance of religion and gods offer a firm foundation of logic and independent thought leading to a life examined and a life of happiness free of the shackles of religion. Whether the present-day enslavement of the human spirit is called Intelligent Design, Evangelical Christianity, Islam, Catholicism, or any other mythologic label, Ingersoll's fact-based philosophy remains intact: Reason, Observation Experience and Nature teach us that happiness is the only good; that the time to be happy is now; and the way to be happy is to make others so. If you doubt the existence of God and gods; if you question the purpose of organized religions; if you have difficulty with the terror and cruelty of the Bible and the teachings of the church, this is the author and the book to read to find alternative answers and a happier life without guilt."
(Amazon.com)
By Robert Green Ingersoll and Ian Tarquin Hume
"Amid the 21st century's escalating religious tensions, Robert Green Ingersoll's views on the substance of religion and gods offer a firm foundation of logic and independent thought leading to a life examined and a life of happiness free of the shackles of religion. Whether the present-day enslavement of the human spirit is called Intelligent Design, Evangelical Christianity, Islam, Catholicism, or any other mythologic label, Ingersoll's fact-based philosophy remains intact: Reason, Observation Experience and Nature teach us that happiness is the only good; that the time to be happy is now; and the way to be happy is to make others so. If you doubt the existence of God and gods; if you question the purpose of organized religions; if you have difficulty with the terror and cruelty of the Bible and the teachings of the church, this is the author and the book to read to find alternative answers and a happier life without guilt."
(Amazon.com)
The Original Atheists: First Thoughts on Nonbelief
Edited by S. T. Joshi
"Editor S. T. Joshi has compiled notable essays by writers from Germany, France, England, and early America. The contributors include Denis Diderot (a principal author of the multivolume French Encyclopédie), Baron d'Holbach (System of Nature, 1770), Voltaire (Philosophical Dictionary), David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Ethan Allen, Thomas Paine, and other lesser-known thinkers.
With a comprehensive introduction providing the intellectual and cultural context of the essays, this outstanding compilation will be of interest to students of philosophy, religious studies, and eighteenth-century intellectual history."
(Amazon.com)
Edited by S. T. Joshi
"Editor S. T. Joshi has compiled notable essays by writers from Germany, France, England, and early America. The contributors include Denis Diderot (a principal author of the multivolume French Encyclopédie), Baron d'Holbach (System of Nature, 1770), Voltaire (Philosophical Dictionary), David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Ethan Allen, Thomas Paine, and other lesser-known thinkers.
With a comprehensive introduction providing the intellectual and cultural context of the essays, this outstanding compilation will be of interest to students of philosophy, religious studies, and eighteenth-century intellectual history."
(Amazon.com)
Why I Became an Atheist: A Former Preacher Rejects Christianity
By John W. Loftus
"For about two decades John W. Loftus was a devout evangelical Christian, an ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and an ardent apologist for Christianity. With three degrees--in philosophy, theology, and philosophy of religion--he was adept at using rational argumentation to defend the faith. But over the years, doubts about the credibility of key Christian tenets began to creep into his thinking. By the late 1990s he experienced a full-blown crisis of faith.
In this honest appraisal of his journey from believer to atheist, the author carefully explains the experiences and the reasoning process that led him to reject religious belief. The original edition of this book was published in 2006 and reissued in 2008. Since that time, Loftus has received a good deal of critical feedback from Christians and skeptics alike. In this revised and expanded edition, the author addresses criticisms of the original, adds new argumentation and references, and refines his presentation. For every issue he succinctly summarizes the various points of view and provides references for further reading. In conclusion, he describes the implications of life without belief in God, some liberating, some sobering.
This frank critique of Christian belief from a former insider will interest freethinkers as well as anyone with doubts about the claims of religion."
(Amazon.com)
By John W. Loftus
"For about two decades John W. Loftus was a devout evangelical Christian, an ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and an ardent apologist for Christianity. With three degrees--in philosophy, theology, and philosophy of religion--he was adept at using rational argumentation to defend the faith. But over the years, doubts about the credibility of key Christian tenets began to creep into his thinking. By the late 1990s he experienced a full-blown crisis of faith.
In this honest appraisal of his journey from believer to atheist, the author carefully explains the experiences and the reasoning process that led him to reject religious belief. The original edition of this book was published in 2006 and reissued in 2008. Since that time, Loftus has received a good deal of critical feedback from Christians and skeptics alike. In this revised and expanded edition, the author addresses criticisms of the original, adds new argumentation and references, and refines his presentation. For every issue he succinctly summarizes the various points of view and provides references for further reading. In conclusion, he describes the implications of life without belief in God, some liberating, some sobering.
This frank critique of Christian belief from a former insider will interest freethinkers as well as anyone with doubts about the claims of religion."
(Amazon.com)
Mysterious Realms
By Joe Nickell
"Investigative writer Joe Nickell and forensic analyst John F. Fischer probe ten tantalizing mysteries that, for decades, have defied rational analysis and convinced many people that supernatural events really do happen. Using their skills and experience in historic document examination and forensic research, Nickell and Fischer carefully scrutinize the evidence for a variety of strange historical, paranormal, and forensic phenomena.
- Is a historic Kentucky home really haunted by the "gray lady's ghost"?
- Did Lee Harvey Oswald assassinate J.F.K., or was the killer a Soviet look-alike?
- Has the U.S. government concealed evidence of UFO visitations to Earth?
- Is a miracle taking place in a Naples cathedral where the congealed blood of a
martyred saint periodically liquefies?
Taking neither a credulous nor close-minded approach, the authors search for answers to these questions and other mysterious conundrums. Their deductions and proposed solutions (which make use of blood chemistry, forensic analysis, document examination, and a knowledge of stage magic) are truly worthy of Sherlock Holmes and will keep readers turning the pages to find out the rest of the story."
(Amazon.com)
By Joe Nickell
"Investigative writer Joe Nickell and forensic analyst John F. Fischer probe ten tantalizing mysteries that, for decades, have defied rational analysis and convinced many people that supernatural events really do happen. Using their skills and experience in historic document examination and forensic research, Nickell and Fischer carefully scrutinize the evidence for a variety of strange historical, paranormal, and forensic phenomena.
- Is a historic Kentucky home really haunted by the "gray lady's ghost"?
- Did Lee Harvey Oswald assassinate J.F.K., or was the killer a Soviet look-alike?
- Has the U.S. government concealed evidence of UFO visitations to Earth?
- Is a miracle taking place in a Naples cathedral where the congealed blood of a
martyred saint periodically liquefies?
Taking neither a credulous nor close-minded approach, the authors search for answers to these questions and other mysterious conundrums. Their deductions and proposed solutions (which make use of blood chemistry, forensic analysis, document examination, and a knowledge of stage magic) are truly worthy of Sherlock Holmes and will keep readers turning the pages to find out the rest of the story."
(Amazon.com)
Secrets of the Supernatural
By Joe Nickell
"Mysterious happenings. Famous apparitions. Things that go bump in the night. Since earliest times, public fascination and popular imagination have focused on phenomena known as "supernatural." But extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. When mysteries and coincidences seem too remarkable to be true, reason demands careful investigation and analysis of the facts rather than the invocation of "unknown forces."
Utilizing their experience as professional crime-solvers, authors Joe Nickell and John F. Fischer delve into the labyrinth of the unknown armed with open minds and the remarkable array of information sources and scientific methods available to the modern investigator.
Examined are such classic enigmas as the haunting of Mackenzie House (Toronto's rebel statesman is said to tread noisily upon the stairs of his historic home); the question of the "Crystal Skull" (the "grand-daddy of all crystal balls"); the case of "The Two Will Wests" (two prison inmates with the same name, identical features, and similar fingerprints); plus bleeding doors, phantom pictures, restless coffins, disappearing footprints, human fireballs, and miraculous portraits - a fascinating panoply of mind-bogglers, riddles, and ambiguities.
The methods, procedures, and sources used by Nickell and Fischer to solve these "mysteries" included forensic and microchemical analysis, controlled testing, archaeology, instrumental analyses, iconographic studies, genetics, deductive logic, photography, art history, pathology, engineering, genealogy, police records, and plain common sense.
Neither a mere collection of stories nor a categorical debunking, this book goes beyond the spine-tingling to focus on details of available evidence, appropriate investigative strategies, and convincing explanations for these intriguing "occult" mysteries. The answers provided may disappoint the determined believer in the supernatural - but the solutions, and the fascinating methodology used by the authors, are as unique and interesting as the perplexing cases on which they are based."
(Amazon.com)
By Joe Nickell
"Mysterious happenings. Famous apparitions. Things that go bump in the night. Since earliest times, public fascination and popular imagination have focused on phenomena known as "supernatural." But extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. When mysteries and coincidences seem too remarkable to be true, reason demands careful investigation and analysis of the facts rather than the invocation of "unknown forces."
Utilizing their experience as professional crime-solvers, authors Joe Nickell and John F. Fischer delve into the labyrinth of the unknown armed with open minds and the remarkable array of information sources and scientific methods available to the modern investigator.
Examined are such classic enigmas as the haunting of Mackenzie House (Toronto's rebel statesman is said to tread noisily upon the stairs of his historic home); the question of the "Crystal Skull" (the "grand-daddy of all crystal balls"); the case of "The Two Will Wests" (two prison inmates with the same name, identical features, and similar fingerprints); plus bleeding doors, phantom pictures, restless coffins, disappearing footprints, human fireballs, and miraculous portraits - a fascinating panoply of mind-bogglers, riddles, and ambiguities.
The methods, procedures, and sources used by Nickell and Fischer to solve these "mysteries" included forensic and microchemical analysis, controlled testing, archaeology, instrumental analyses, iconographic studies, genetics, deductive logic, photography, art history, pathology, engineering, genealogy, police records, and plain common sense.
Neither a mere collection of stories nor a categorical debunking, this book goes beyond the spine-tingling to focus on details of available evidence, appropriate investigative strategies, and convincing explanations for these intriguing "occult" mysteries. The answers provided may disappoint the determined believer in the supernatural - but the solutions, and the fascinating methodology used by the authors, are as unique and interesting as the perplexing cases on which they are based."
(Amazon.com)
Common Sense
By Thomas Paine
"Enormously popular and widely read pamphlet, first published in January of 1776, clearly and persuasively argues for American separation from Great Britain and paves the way for the Declaration of Independence. This highly influential landmark document attacks the monarchy, cites the evils of government and combines idealism with practical economic concerns. A selection of the Common Core State Standards Initiative."
(Amazon.com)
By Thomas Paine
"Enormously popular and widely read pamphlet, first published in January of 1776, clearly and persuasively argues for American separation from Great Britain and paves the way for the Declaration of Independence. This highly influential landmark document attacks the monarchy, cites the evils of government and combines idealism with practical economic concerns. A selection of the Common Core State Standards Initiative."
(Amazon.com)
The Science Wars: Debating Scientific Knowledge and Technology
Edited by Keith Parsons
"Is science our most precious possession or has our culture elevated science into a false idol? Is technology a useful servant or a malign genie? These questions are at the center of the "science wars" currently being waged over the role and future of science and technology in our society.
This anthology presents the best debates on this important issue. Divided into two major sections, the first part deals with challenges to scientific knowledge, in particular its claims to objectivity and impartiality. Some conservative thinkers charge that many scientists follow a dogmatic naturalistic philosophy rather than truly objective standards of inquiry. Sociologists of knowledge claim that scientists "construct" scientific facts rather than "discover" them. And some feminists see patriarchal bias in traditional scientific ideals of method and rationality. Each of these claims will be presented and challenged by leading thinkers.
The second part considers current controversies over technology and the applications of science. Have computers changed the world for the better? Is high-tech medicine the answer to our health needs? Will the biotechnology revolution feed billions and cure disease or lead us into the Brave New World? Do the electronic media offer harmless entertainment or subtle enslavement?
This balanced selection of a variety of perspectives on the hotly contested role of science and technology in contemporary society will clarify this vital debate for both specialists and nonspecialists."
(Amazon.com)
Edited by Keith Parsons
"Is science our most precious possession or has our culture elevated science into a false idol? Is technology a useful servant or a malign genie? These questions are at the center of the "science wars" currently being waged over the role and future of science and technology in our society.
This anthology presents the best debates on this important issue. Divided into two major sections, the first part deals with challenges to scientific knowledge, in particular its claims to objectivity and impartiality. Some conservative thinkers charge that many scientists follow a dogmatic naturalistic philosophy rather than truly objective standards of inquiry. Sociologists of knowledge claim that scientists "construct" scientific facts rather than "discover" them. And some feminists see patriarchal bias in traditional scientific ideals of method and rationality. Each of these claims will be presented and challenged by leading thinkers.
The second part considers current controversies over technology and the applications of science. Have computers changed the world for the better? Is high-tech medicine the answer to our health needs? Will the biotechnology revolution feed billions and cure disease or lead us into the Brave New World? Do the electronic media offer harmless entertainment or subtle enslavement?
This balanced selection of a variety of perspectives on the hotly contested role of science and technology in contemporary society will clarify this vital debate for both specialists and nonspecialists."
(Amazon.com)
But is it Science? The Philosophical Question in the Creation/Evolution Controversy
Edited by Robert T. Pennock and Michael Ruse
"On December 20, 2005, a U.S. district court in Dover, Pennsylvania, ruled in Kitzmiller et al. v. Dover Area School Board that teaching Intelligent Design in public school biology classes violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The judge explained that Intelligent Design is not science and "cannot uncouple itself from its creationist, and thus religious, antecedents." This case was just the latest attempt by proponents of Intelligent Design or Creationism to undermine the teaching of evolution in high school biology classes. The emotionally charged controversy, which has been going on since the publication of Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species, shows no sign of letting up.
This excellent collection, now fully updated, will inform readers about the history of the debate and bring philosophical clarity to the complex arguments on both sides. The editors, both of whom served as expert witnesses in two different court cases, start by chronicling the heated discussion that surrounded the publication of Darwin’s famous work. In the next part, they present articles that explicate modern evolutionary theory, including philosophical critiques by Karl Popper and others. The selections that follow discuss so-called Creation Science, focusing in particular on the 1981 McLean court case in Arkansas. In the final section, the philosophical issues surrounding the distinction between religion and science in the most recent Kitzmiller case are considered. This outstanding overview of an important contemporary debate shows that philosophy has a vital role to play in major decisions affecting education and interpretations of science and religion."
(Amazon.com)
Edited by Robert T. Pennock and Michael Ruse
"On December 20, 2005, a U.S. district court in Dover, Pennsylvania, ruled in Kitzmiller et al. v. Dover Area School Board that teaching Intelligent Design in public school biology classes violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The judge explained that Intelligent Design is not science and "cannot uncouple itself from its creationist, and thus religious, antecedents." This case was just the latest attempt by proponents of Intelligent Design or Creationism to undermine the teaching of evolution in high school biology classes. The emotionally charged controversy, which has been going on since the publication of Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species, shows no sign of letting up.
This excellent collection, now fully updated, will inform readers about the history of the debate and bring philosophical clarity to the complex arguments on both sides. The editors, both of whom served as expert witnesses in two different court cases, start by chronicling the heated discussion that surrounded the publication of Darwin’s famous work. In the next part, they present articles that explicate modern evolutionary theory, including philosophical critiques by Karl Popper and others. The selections that follow discuss so-called Creation Science, focusing in particular on the 1981 McLean court case in Arkansas. In the final section, the philosophical issues surrounding the distinction between religion and science in the most recent Kitzmiller case are considered. This outstanding overview of an important contemporary debate shows that philosophy has a vital role to play in major decisions affecting education and interpretations of science and religion."
(Amazon.com)
Atheism: The Case Against God
By George H. Smith
"'Does a god exist? This question has undoubtedly been asked, in one form or another, since man has had the ability to communicate. . . Thousands of volumes have been written on the subject of a god, and the vast majority have answered the questions with a resounding 'Yes!''
'You are about to read a minority viewpoint.'
With this intriguing introduction, George H. Smith sets out to demolish what he considers the most widespread and destructive of all the myths devised by man - the concept of a supreme being. With painstaking scholarship and rigorous arguments, Mr. Smith examines, dissects, and refutes the myriad "proofs" offered by theists - the defenses of sophisticated, professional theologians, as well as the average religious layman. He explores the historical and psychological havoc wrought by religion in general - and concludes that religious belief cannot have any place in the life of modern, rational man.
'It is not my purpose to convert people to atheism . . . (but to) demonstrate that the belief in God is irrational to the point of absurdity. If a person wishes to continue believing in a god, that is his prerogative, but he can no longer excuse his belief in the name of reason and moral necessity.'"
(Amazon.com)
By George H. Smith
"'Does a god exist? This question has undoubtedly been asked, in one form or another, since man has had the ability to communicate. . . Thousands of volumes have been written on the subject of a god, and the vast majority have answered the questions with a resounding 'Yes!''
'You are about to read a minority viewpoint.'
With this intriguing introduction, George H. Smith sets out to demolish what he considers the most widespread and destructive of all the myths devised by man - the concept of a supreme being. With painstaking scholarship and rigorous arguments, Mr. Smith examines, dissects, and refutes the myriad "proofs" offered by theists - the defenses of sophisticated, professional theologians, as well as the average religious layman. He explores the historical and psychological havoc wrought by religion in general - and concludes that religious belief cannot have any place in the life of modern, rational man.
'It is not my purpose to convert people to atheism . . . (but to) demonstrate that the belief in God is irrational to the point of absurdity. If a person wishes to continue believing in a god, that is his prerogative, but he can no longer excuse his belief in the name of reason and moral necessity.'"
(Amazon.com)
Ethics (including the Improvement of the Understanding)
By Benedict de Spinoza
"Ethics Including the Improvement of the Understanding, written by legendary author Benedictus de Spinoza, is widely considered to be one of the greatest classic texts of all time. This great classic will surely attract a whole new generation of readers. For many, Ethics Including the Improvement of the Understanding is required reading for various courses and curriculums. And for others who simply enjoy reading timeless pieces of classic literature, this gem by Benedictus de Spinoza is highly recommended. Published by Classic Books International and beautifully produced, Ethics Including the Improvement of the Understanding would make an ideal gift and it should be a part of everyone's personal library."
(Amazon.com)
By Benedict de Spinoza
"Ethics Including the Improvement of the Understanding, written by legendary author Benedictus de Spinoza, is widely considered to be one of the greatest classic texts of all time. This great classic will surely attract a whole new generation of readers. For many, Ethics Including the Improvement of the Understanding is required reading for various courses and curriculums. And for others who simply enjoy reading timeless pieces of classic literature, this gem by Benedictus de Spinoza is highly recommended. Published by Classic Books International and beautifully produced, Ethics Including the Improvement of the Understanding would make an ideal gift and it should be a part of everyone's personal library."
(Amazon.com)
Beach Blanket Atheism: The Beginner's Guide for the Non-Believer
By Edward P. Tolley, Jr.
"Atheism hasn't exactly been the topic of a lot of laughs. That is, until now. Beach Blanket Atheism uses laugh-out-loud humor, razor-sharp logic and compelling arguments to dispel myths and clarify a lot of the questions about this most misunderstood of doctrines. Consisting mainly of quotations and quips from a host of famous scholars, philosophers, celebrities and politicians, this witty work delves deep into skepticism, agnosticism, rationalism and other topics relating to atheism. A unique, informative and entertaining book for those with an open mind, a love of science or a passion for rational thought."
(Amazon.com)
By Edward P. Tolley, Jr.
"Atheism hasn't exactly been the topic of a lot of laughs. That is, until now. Beach Blanket Atheism uses laugh-out-loud humor, razor-sharp logic and compelling arguments to dispel myths and clarify a lot of the questions about this most misunderstood of doctrines. Consisting mainly of quotations and quips from a host of famous scholars, philosophers, celebrities and politicians, this witty work delves deep into skepticism, agnosticism, rationalism and other topics relating to atheism. A unique, informative and entertaining book for those with an open mind, a love of science or a passion for rational thought."
(Amazon.com)
Imagine No Superstition: The Power to Enjoy Life with No Guilt, No Shame, No Blame
By Stephen Frederick Uhl
"Imagine No Superstition is for modern doubters of ancient truths. The book first reveals how a priest found true love without guilt. Then it shows the modern questioner how s/he can enjoy shucking guilt and doubt. The humor is earthy at times, but it makes the points. This book is not for the likes of Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Tim LeHaye, nor James Dobson; they are already sure of their answers to life's important questions.After dealing briefly with the author's personal journey from faithful priest to rational atheist, the book shows the modern doubter how to enjoy his or her own exciting journey from childlike credulity to secure maturity.
After the reader gets free of the shackles of traditional superstition based guilt, shame, and blame, he can stand on the shoulders of giant scientific thinkers and see much farther then grandma and grandpa could see. This leads to truly enlightened selfishness that looks like selfless generosity. Richer family life and better neighbor relations result without customary sectarian divisions. The book makes clear how the reader can make himself happy and generous without supernatural help.
The book literally sparkles with humor. It shows the pragmatism of the farmer's son, the organized thinking of the former philosopher and the deep insights of the experienced psychologist. The book shows the questioning reader how to help significant others progress and how they are then more likely to help the reader look good. So a truly virtuous cycle of neighborly caring expands to make the world a more joyful place to live a naturally exuberant life. This happy situation is much more likely when there are no supernatural or sectarian axes to grind. For the questioning reader this book will be a true delight!"
(Amazon.com)
By Stephen Frederick Uhl
"Imagine No Superstition is for modern doubters of ancient truths. The book first reveals how a priest found true love without guilt. Then it shows the modern questioner how s/he can enjoy shucking guilt and doubt. The humor is earthy at times, but it makes the points. This book is not for the likes of Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Tim LeHaye, nor James Dobson; they are already sure of their answers to life's important questions.After dealing briefly with the author's personal journey from faithful priest to rational atheist, the book shows the modern doubter how to enjoy his or her own exciting journey from childlike credulity to secure maturity.
After the reader gets free of the shackles of traditional superstition based guilt, shame, and blame, he can stand on the shoulders of giant scientific thinkers and see much farther then grandma and grandpa could see. This leads to truly enlightened selfishness that looks like selfless generosity. Richer family life and better neighbor relations result without customary sectarian divisions. The book makes clear how the reader can make himself happy and generous without supernatural help.
The book literally sparkles with humor. It shows the pragmatism of the farmer's son, the organized thinking of the former philosopher and the deep insights of the experienced psychologist. The book shows the questioning reader how to help significant others progress and how they are then more likely to help the reader look good. So a truly virtuous cycle of neighborly caring expands to make the world a more joyful place to live a naturally exuberant life. This happy situation is much more likely when there are no supernatural or sectarian axes to grind. For the questioning reader this book will be a true delight!"
(Amazon.com)
Magazines
Free Inquiry
August/September 2011 Vol. 31 No. 5
Stephen Law: Intellectual Black Holes
George A. Wells: Jesus: What's the Evidence?
Also: Christopher Hitchens, Wendy Kaminer, Arthur Caplan, Ophelia Benson, David Tribe, Ronald A. Lindsay
August/September 2011 Vol. 31 No. 5
Stephen Law: Intellectual Black Holes
George A. Wells: Jesus: What's the Evidence?
Also: Christopher Hitchens, Wendy Kaminer, Arthur Caplan, Ophelia Benson, David Tribe, Ronald A. Lindsay
Skeptical Inquirer
November/December 2011 Vol. 35 No. 6
Did Shakespeare write 'Shakespeare'?
Paranormal Misinterpretations of Vision Phenomena
Fabricating History, Part 2: False Messages in Stone
Exeter UFO Incident Solved
9/11 from a Decade Later
November/December 2011 Vol. 35 No. 6
Did Shakespeare write 'Shakespeare'?
Paranormal Misinterpretations of Vision Phenomena
Fabricating History, Part 2: False Messages in Stone
Exeter UFO Incident Solved
9/11 from a Decade Later
Free Inquiry
August/Septeember 2012 Vol. 32 No. 5
Ronald A. Lindsay: Humanism and Politics
Tom Flynn: Are LGBT's Saving Marriage?
Also: Secular Humanism with a Pulse: The New Activism - from confrontation to community service, finding ways to engage
Chris Mooney, Arthur Caplan, Katrina Voss, P Z Myers, Sikivu Hutchinson
August/Septeember 2012 Vol. 32 No. 5
Ronald A. Lindsay: Humanism and Politics
Tom Flynn: Are LGBT's Saving Marriage?
Also: Secular Humanism with a Pulse: The New Activism - from confrontation to community service, finding ways to engage
Chris Mooney, Arthur Caplan, Katrina Voss, P Z Myers, Sikivu Hutchinson
Free Inquiry
October/November 2012 Vol. 32 No. 6
Does Secular Humanism have a Political Agenda? -- Patricia Schroeder, Greg Laden, Ron Bailey, Razib Khan
Anthony Pinn: What Humanism Might Learn from Hip Hop
Andy Norman and Tom Flynn Debate "Spirit" Talk
China's Holy Horror
Why I am not a Jehovah's Witness
The Trouble with Richard Rorty
Also: Russell Blackford, Greta Christina, Arthur Caplan, Shadia Drury, Nat Hentoff
October/November 2012 Vol. 32 No. 6
Does Secular Humanism have a Political Agenda? -- Patricia Schroeder, Greg Laden, Ron Bailey, Razib Khan
Anthony Pinn: What Humanism Might Learn from Hip Hop
Andy Norman and Tom Flynn Debate "Spirit" Talk
China's Holy Horror
Why I am not a Jehovah's Witness
The Trouble with Richard Rorty
Also: Russell Blackford, Greta Christina, Arthur Caplan, Shadia Drury, Nat Hentoff
Free Inquiry
December 2012/January 2013 Vol. 33 No. 1
Women in Secularism: Essays Delivered at - or Sparked by - the Landmark Conference -- Susan Jacoby, Wafa Sultan, Jennifer Michael Hecht, Ophelia Benson, Sikivu Hutchinson, Jennifer McCreight, Rebecca Watson, Melody Hensley
Free Expression in Crisis -- Tom Flynn, Edward Tabash, Austin Dacey, Shadia Drury, Ryan Shaffer
Ronald A. Lindsay: Free Expression and Women's Rights
How Christians Can Test Their Prayer Power
More on the Male Circumcision Debate
A Farewell to Yule
Paul Kurtz: 1925-2012 -- in memoriam
December 2012/January 2013 Vol. 33 No. 1
Women in Secularism: Essays Delivered at - or Sparked by - the Landmark Conference -- Susan Jacoby, Wafa Sultan, Jennifer Michael Hecht, Ophelia Benson, Sikivu Hutchinson, Jennifer McCreight, Rebecca Watson, Melody Hensley
Free Expression in Crisis -- Tom Flynn, Edward Tabash, Austin Dacey, Shadia Drury, Ryan Shaffer
Ronald A. Lindsay: Free Expression and Women's Rights
How Christians Can Test Their Prayer Power
More on the Male Circumcision Debate
A Farewell to Yule
Paul Kurtz: 1925-2012 -- in memoriam
Free Inquiry
February/March 2013 Vol. 33 No. 2
Tom Flynn: In Praise of the Naked Public Square
Our Anthropocene Future
What Biology Can Tell Us
Becky Garrison: Billy Graham's Anti-Gay Legacy
Greta Christina: Atheism and Sensuality
Also: Robert M. Price, Russell Blackford, Ophelia Benson, Michael Shermer, Gordon Gamm, Jane Roberts
February/March 2013 Vol. 33 No. 2
Tom Flynn: In Praise of the Naked Public Square
Our Anthropocene Future
What Biology Can Tell Us
Becky Garrison: Billy Graham's Anti-Gay Legacy
Greta Christina: Atheism and Sensuality
Also: Robert M. Price, Russell Blackford, Ophelia Benson, Michael Shermer, Gordon Gamm, Jane Roberts
Skeptical Inquirer
September/October 2013 Vol. 37 No. 4
Stardust, Smoke, and Mirrors: The Myth of the Mad Genius
Sylvia Browne's Psychic Failures: Why Does anyone Believe Her?
Has Global Warming Stopped?
News and ESP Belief
Lost Lessons of the Strangling Angel
Electrocuting Parasites
September/October 2013 Vol. 37 No. 4
Stardust, Smoke, and Mirrors: The Myth of the Mad Genius
Sylvia Browne's Psychic Failures: Why Does anyone Believe Her?
Has Global Warming Stopped?
News and ESP Belief
Lost Lessons of the Strangling Angel
Electrocuting Parasites
Skeptical Inquirer
November/December 2013 Vol. 37 No. 6
Losing Our Minds in the Age of Brain Science -- Sally Satel and Scott O. Lillenfeld
Why Evolution is Hard to Understand -- Cameron Smith
Six Signs of Scientism, Part 1 -- Susan Haack
The Jersey Deveil -- Brian Regal
Valentich UFO Cold Case Solved -- James McGaha and Joe Nickell
November/December 2013 Vol. 37 No. 6
Losing Our Minds in the Age of Brain Science -- Sally Satel and Scott O. Lillenfeld
Why Evolution is Hard to Understand -- Cameron Smith
Six Signs of Scientism, Part 1 -- Susan Haack
The Jersey Deveil -- Brian Regal
Valentich UFO Cold Case Solved -- James McGaha and Joe Nickell
Free Inquiry
December 2013/January 2014 Vol. 34 No. 1
Three Evocative Papers From 'Women in Secularism 2' -- Katha Pollitt, Rebecca Goldstein, Susan Jacoby
Edward Tabash: Atheists Must Not Self-Censor
Ronald A. Lindsay: Faith -- The Humanist Perspective
The Secular Right and Its Discontents
Joseph Ratzinger and the Nativity Legends
Cremation and Religiosity
Also: Ophelia Benson, Russell Blackford, Shadia B. Drury, Tibor Machan
December 2013/January 2014 Vol. 34 No. 1
Three Evocative Papers From 'Women in Secularism 2' -- Katha Pollitt, Rebecca Goldstein, Susan Jacoby
Edward Tabash: Atheists Must Not Self-Censor
Ronald A. Lindsay: Faith -- The Humanist Perspective
The Secular Right and Its Discontents
Joseph Ratzinger and the Nativity Legends
Cremation and Religiosity
Also: Ophelia Benson, Russell Blackford, Shadia B. Drury, Tibor Machan
Skeptical Inquirer
January/February 2014 Vol. 38 No. 1
Islamic Creationism: Harun Yahya's Global Publishing Empire
Dean Radin's Supernormal: Pitfalls and Over-Reaching
When does Human Life Begin?
Three More Signs of Scientism
Demonology: A Study of What is Not
January/February 2014 Vol. 38 No. 1
Islamic Creationism: Harun Yahya's Global Publishing Empire
Dean Radin's Supernormal: Pitfalls and Over-Reaching
When does Human Life Begin?
Three More Signs of Scientism
Demonology: A Study of What is Not
Free Inquiry
February/March 2014 Vol. 34 No. 2
The Faith I Left Behind: Secular Humanists Recount Their Journeys into Unbelief
Arthur L. Caplan: Assisted Suicide's Slippery Slope
Also: Tom Flynn, Greta Christina, Nat Hentoff, Russell Blackford, James A. Haught
February/March 2014 Vol. 34 No. 2
The Faith I Left Behind: Secular Humanists Recount Their Journeys into Unbelief
Arthur L. Caplan: Assisted Suicide's Slippery Slope
Also: Tom Flynn, Greta Christina, Nat Hentoff, Russell Blackford, James A. Haught
Skeptical Inquirer
May/June 2014 Vol. 38 No. 3
Mount Rainier UFO Magnet?
UFOs and Cognitive Science
Pseudoscience in American Medicine
Outrageous Misuses of Quantum Physics
Special Report: Bill Nye on His Creationist Debate
May/June 2014 Vol. 38 No. 3
Mount Rainier UFO Magnet?
UFOs and Cognitive Science
Pseudoscience in American Medicine
Outrageous Misuses of Quantum Physics
Special Report: Bill Nye on His Creationist Debate
Skeptical Inquirer
July/August 2014 Vol. 38 No. 4
Special Issue: Science and Religion
Would We Be Better Without Religion? A Skeptic's Guide
The Seuclar are Skeptics: A New Survey
Faith Healing vs. Child Protection
Witch Murders
Raelism: UFO Religion
Also: Scott O. Lilienfeld, Rachel Ammirati, Barry A. Kosmin, Harriet Hall, Ryan Shaffer, Mark Rubinstein, Charles M. Wynn, Sr.
July/August 2014 Vol. 38 No. 4
Special Issue: Science and Religion
Would We Be Better Without Religion? A Skeptic's Guide
The Seuclar are Skeptics: A New Survey
Faith Healing vs. Child Protection
Witch Murders
Raelism: UFO Religion
Also: Scott O. Lilienfeld, Rachel Ammirati, Barry A. Kosmin, Harriet Hall, Ryan Shaffer, Mark Rubinstein, Charles M. Wynn, Sr.