WELCOME TO RATIONALSKEPTICISM.ORG

We would like to wish all of our new members the warmest of welcomes to Rationalskepticism.org
This Welcome Pack is designed to help you orientate yourself to the forum and to provide some handy links for your further education and/or interest.

The Formalities

Please take a look at our MISSION STATEMENT.

It is important that you take the time to read through our FORUM USERS' AGREEMENT as this governs what members may and may not post. We strive to make RationalSkepticism the best possible forum experience. If you come across a post that contradicts the Forum Users' Agreement please dont hesitate to press the report tab located at the top of each post.

The forum is divided into several main fora, each containing their own sub-fora, as outlined in the BOARD INDEX. Whatever your interest, there will hopefully be something there for you, be it our Welcome Section, Science and Technology, Theism, Non-Theism, Debunk It or one of our several General fora.

If you are unsure about the basic mechanics of using this forum's software, take a look at the FAQ page to familiarize yourself.

Alternatively if the answer you seek isn't there, visit our FEEDBACK FORUM and ask your question(s) there or to leave us feedback and suggestions.

One of our Christian members, Jerome, has written some ADVICE FOR THEIST MEMBERS to assist them in making their voices heard in unfamiliar territory.

Use of swearing or profanities is allowed on this site, as long as it doesn't form part of a personal attack or other violation of the Forum Users' Agreement. If you are dissuaded from engaging in debate because of a sensitivity to certain words, maybe take a look at Goldenmane’s Third Rule of Public Discourse, colloquially known around here as Rule #3.

Some of the RatSkep Highlights

Here are some of the frequently debated topics or answers to questions that keep arising. And some fun stuff too.



Forum Moderator, Calilasseia, explains why Radiometric Dating is Rigorous.

Cali also has some comprehensive rebuttals for Creationists and suggests that Creationists read this before they wade into debates and post debunked material that has been dealt with repeatedly.

Jain, one of our Forum Moderators, has created a list of very useful scientific and educational Resources for Parents and Teachers and some Interesting Links for Children related to science.

Forum member, CJ, has compiled a list of Evolution Resources and a collection of Evolution Videos to help you understand this important and sometimes hotly debated topic.

Want a laugh ? Forum Moderator Durro has put together a collection of Critical Thinking Humour links.

Some Handy External Links

Try a new perspective with reading the Bible, Koran or Book of Mormon with a little help from The Skeptics' Annotated Bible.

Ever wondered Why Won't God Heal Amputees ?

What's the harm in superstition, mysticism and woo ? What's the harm.net has hundreds of reasons.

To see how bad the delusion can get, have a look at Answers in Genesis or feel warm and fuzzy at the collective thoughts of the American Taliban.

For a bit of perspective on who we are and where we are in the universe, take a look at Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot video clip or maybe see the Scales of the Universe website.

There's lots of thought provoking articles, DVDs and other material at Richard Dawkins' Website

A comprehensive evolution resource is the Talk Origins Archive

Ex-fundy and now leading Skeptic, Michael Shermer, explains how to spot BS in his Baloney Detection Kit and answers the question, Why People Believe Strange Things ?

Some Books to Consider Reading

If you click on one of these links before you buy something from Amazon,
rationalskepticism.org will get a cut (usually 5%) and it won't cost you anything extra at all.

For Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/?tag=rationskepti-20
For Amazon.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/?tag=rationskept01-21
For Amazon.de
http://www.amazon.de/?tag=rationskepti-21



The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. The title says it all.
The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins. Detailed study of natural selection.
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins. A gene centered view of evolution.
The End of Faith by Sam Harris. A slamming indictment of religion.
God is not great by Christopher Hitchens. Beats the crap out of religion.
Breaking the Spell by Daniel Dennett. Why we invented God.
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Escaping the clutches of Islam. Fantastic!
The Quantum World by Kenneth Ford. Mind numbing physics made approachable.
God: The Failed Hypothesis by Victor J Stenger. How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist.
The Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan. Science as a Candle in the Dark. Excellent!
River Out of Eden by Richard Dawkins. A Darwinian View of Life. Wonderful!
The Ancestor's Tale by Richard Dawkins. A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution. Superb!
Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris. A little book with a BIG message. Brilliant!
Evolution. What fossils say and why it matters by Donald R. Prothero. Evidence for evolution in the paleontological records.
The Portable Atheist by Christopher Hitchins. Essential readings for the non-believer.
The Greatest Show on Earth by Richard Dawkins. The Evidence for Evolution. Enthralling!
The Atheist Guide to Christmas by Ariane Sherine. A collection of writings by atheists about christmas.
Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne. A fantastic compilation of the most compelling evidence for evolution
Flim-Flam by James Randi . A critical look at much of the superstition and woo that pervades society.

The New Atheism by Victor J Stenger A justification of the positions "New Atheists" hold and a reply to of the critics of "New Atheism".

Jain and I have recently revamped the above Welcome Pack for new members. If you haven't seen it for a while, perhaps take another look at the new links and resources.

If any members have suggestions for future inclusions or revisions, please PM one of us.



Jain & Durro