I don't know if anyone has noticed but over at Pharyngula PZ often has these icons on his articles as certified peer reviewed science on the internet. The articles are not often over the top technical science, they are still lay person friendly. We should investigate getting such a stamp of approval for any worthy science articles we produce.

Good idea DD. And I vote that Emergence should get the job of designing the icons too.

I've started a draft of 'Atheism is a Religion' which should be ready for peer review pretty soon. I'd also like to write a short plea for Secular-Humanism and/or secular morality, as an answer to those who insist that that there is no good without god.

THWOTH wrote:I've started a draft of 'Atheism is a Religion' .

That why you changed your avatar to a target symbol recently?

Makes me happy to write anything that has to do with politics, political science, international relations, political philosophy, political history and sociology; practically the things that i studied. Generally, i find the whole idea about writing essays and articles exciting; i haven't done so, since my university years. The only problem for me is that i don't spend as much time as i would want to in the internet, and our forum of course, due to work. My limited time aside, I want to contribute.

Sounds interesting - I may give it a go. How about an article on, "Morals without God"? That's a big one, though maybe controversial - I am still way too scared to even mention morals to anyone in the Philosophy section lest I become buried in bizarre retorts I don't quite understand...

Oliver wrote:Sounds interesting - I may give it a go. How about an article on, "Morals without God"? That's a big one, though maybe controversial - I am still way too scared to even mention morals to anyone in the Philosophy section lest I become buried in bizarre retorts I don't quite understand...

You might be able to slip something in round the back of this thread without drawing fire.

THWOTH wrote:

Oliver wrote:Sounds interesting - I may give it a go. How about an article on, "Morals without God"? That's a big one, though maybe controversial - I am still way too scared to even mention morals to anyone in the Philosophy section lest I become buried in bizarre retorts I don't quite understand...

You might be able to slip something in round the back of this thread without drawing fire.

Not... even... going... to... try...
Last time I got involved with that subforum, I was arguing for weeks about poxy semantics and all. Mental, the lot!

Oliver wrote:Sounds interesting - I may give it a go. How about an article on, "Morals without God"? That's a big one, though maybe controversial - I am still way too scared to even mention morals to anyone in the Philosophy section lest I become buried in bizarre retorts I don't quite understand...

Been there, suffered that.

Oliver wrote:

THWOTH wrote:

Oliver wrote:Sounds interesting - I may give it a go. How about an article on, "Morals without God"? That's a big one, though maybe controversial - I am still way too scared to even mention morals to anyone in the Philosophy section lest I become buried in bizarre retorts I don't quite understand...

You might be able to slip something in round the back of this thread without drawing fire.

Not... even... going... to... try...
Last time I got involved with that subforum, I was arguing for weeks about poxy semantics and all. Mental, the lot!

Ah, the old 'poxy semantics canard' (pSC) defence. usually invoked by those who don't have a clue what their last post really meant!

Hello!

If you are interested, I would be interested in writing an essay focusing on the thesis of James Spiegel's new book, The Making of an Atheist: How Immorality Leads to Unbelief.

Specifically, I would like to focus on Spiegel's thesis in his book that immorality leads to atheism and that "broken father relationships" lead to atheism. Using some of Spiegel's other published works (such as The Benefits of Providence and Gum, Geckos, and God), I would like to show how Calvinistic doctrines that Spiegel defends in some of his other books directly contradict the assertions he makes regarding atheists in The Making of an Atheist.

Hiya Sophie T. I'd read that.

I would be willing to consider any ideas people might have for things I should write about, if they take into account what I am likely to be good at writing about. I tend to write long articles though, and it is hard not to, but maybe I could make a special effort.

I'm going to come up with a list of subjects soon.
That doesn't mean you couldn't write something about a topic you've thought about yourself

THWOTH wrote:

Oliver wrote:

THWOTH wrote:

Oliver wrote:Sounds interesting - I may give it a go. How about an article on, "Morals without God"? That's a big one, though maybe controversial - I am still way too scared to even mention morals to anyone in the Philosophy section lest I become buried in bizarre retorts I don't quite understand...

You might be able to slip something in round the back of this thread without drawing fire.

Not... even... going... to... try...
Last time I got involved with that subforum, I was arguing for weeks about poxy semantics and all. Mental, the lot!

Ah, the old 'poxy semantics canard' (pSC) defence. usually invoked by those who don't have a clue what their last post really meant!

Personally, I just think that focusing on how a word can be taken out of context when it's obviously meant to mean something else detracts from having a progressive debate...

Oster wrote:Oh look! I have two cents!

A few things I'd like to see on the articles:

1. The articles started on RDF were riveting, and I thought I'd very much like new articles sent via mobile device -- an iPhone and Android app to push new article alerts and a basic reader would be fine.

2. More articles of human interest, tackling subjects like the immediate and longterm effects of "breaking the will of the child / spare the rod" parenting, father-as-godhead in terms of modern feminism, etc.

Ooh, ooh!
I'd like a crack at that one, as long as Oster wouldn't mind my nicking it?



edit: I solemnly promise to write in English, not lolcat. And i can haz srs references to srs books. Srsly.

Over the past few days I have actually been considering writing a few short essays on two topics that have interested me in one way or another. For example, after speaking with a few people about religion, i was frustrated enough to write about how a person should go about weighing the truth or falsity of claims while remaining intellectually honest to themselves. Basically a small primer on applying logic to science. I don't know exactly how to explain that one, I haven't really even fully worked it out in my own head.

The second subject I was considering was on the subject of aliens and extraterrestrial life and how it applies to Evolution and Natural Selection. Pretty much just stressing what sorts of molecules (a replicator) would be required for any sort of life to come about anywhere in the universe, and how likely it is that this molecule would arise. It would also touch on the fact that natural selection is blind to the future and has no goals to strive towards. (Is intelligence an inevitable product of natural selection, or just a niche us humans happened to have filled here on Earth?)


I'd like to know what you all think.

I am interested in writing one, although I'd prefer writing about a topic of philosophical nature.

I'd like to write something about uniformitarianism vs catastrophism.

Hopeful Monster wrote:I'd like to write something about uniformitarianism vs catastrophism.

That sounds really interesting. I've never heard of those two positions before. They seem a little like the whole punctuated vs. gradual evolution debate. I'd read it.

I have begun writing my first piece, it is a discussion on the possible effects of a global nation, the removal of sovereign borders and a one world policy; both negative and positive.

This comes from my stance as a "one-worldist"

It's going to be a while...