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The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe - Podcast 80 - 1/31/2007
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The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe
The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by SGU Productions, LLC - dedicated to promoting critical thinking, reason, and the public understanding of science through online and other media. The first episode of the SGU podcast went online on May 4th, 2005. It soon became a popular science/skeptical podcast, and remains one of the most popular science podcasts on iTunes.
SGU Podcasting Awards: SGU on XM: You can listen to the SGU on America's Talk XM 166 every Saturday night from 8-9pm Eastern.
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Podcast
80
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January 31, 2007
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TAM5 Interviews Part II: John Rennie, Teller, Jim Underdown; News Items: Randi takes on Sylvia, The Hobbit Returns; Your E-mails and Questions: The God Question, Cults and Religion
Science or Fiction; Skeptical Puzzle
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Segment: News Items
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Segment: Questions and E-mails
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The Whole God Thing
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I enjoy your podcast, and listen regularly. Other than Perry's persistently whiney complaints about things clearly over his head (though, I know, he's a 'personality'), your crew seems like a decent, balanced bunch. In particular, Steven's breadth and depth gives credibility to the whole affair.
Other than my observations of dubious merit, I do have a question: I have enjoyed riding the recent tidal wave of interest generated by Dawkin's "God Delusion" and Harris' "Letter To ...", and read both with nodding head. (I'm most of the way through Harris' "The End of Faith", a great companion/compliment to "The God Delusion", btw).
After reading Dawkin's book, though, I felt dissatisfied with his refutation of the ontological arguments for the existence of God. (E.G., the one that begins "Can you imagine a being such that there is no greater being...He must be real b/c that's greater still" I spare you the full argument, as I trust you know it. If not, consult the text and/or the web). He essentially dismisses them as simply 'prestidigitation' without really going into adequate detail (from my point of view) as to why. Now, these arguments seem to lack common sense to me, but greater minds than mine - and, dare I say, Dawkin's - have wrestled at length with these constructions, including logician Bertrand Russell's formidable grey matter. I'd love a more complete exploration of them, and their weakness(es).
So, the question: Do you think you might pause your witty banter for sufficient time to tackle so weighty a topic, and provide a more compelling refutation of these "God Proofs"?
(And, I trust you read my jibes as they were written: tongue planted firmly in cheek)
Cheers,
"Skip" Tickol
Albania
The ontological argument: http://www.philosophyofreligion.info/ontological.html
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Difference between Religion and Cults
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Dr. Novella,
Hello I am a sophomore at Loyola University of Chicago. I love your show, but my attempts to get my fellow students into it are usually to no avail. When the panel talked about scientology, you spoke about it like it is a scam and nonsense. But what is the difference between scientology and any other religion? Cannot following Jesus and the Bible be just as "crazy" as following L. Ron Hubbard and Dianetics? And in terms of being a scam, how much money do Christians and Muslims spend on their church? I doubt any of you are too religious, but don't you think it is hypocritical for religious people to dismiss scientology, or for people to take some religions seriously while calling scientologists fools? Thank you, and will you write me a recommendation? (Joking)
Ross Donnelly
Chicago, United States
http://www.refocus.org/charcult.html
http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm
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Segment: TAM5 Interviews Part II
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TAM5 Interviews Part II
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These are interviews recorded during The Amazing Meeting 5 (January 18-21 2007). Included are highlights from the interviews. The full uncut interviews will be made available soon.
This week's interviews include:
- John Rennie, the Editor and Chief of Scientific American
- Teller, of the skeptical magician team Penn and Teller
- Jim Underdown of the Center for Inquiry West
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Segment: Science or Fiction [ Click Here to Show the Answers ]
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Question #1  Science
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New study shows that men enjoy romantic movies, so-called chick flicks almost as much as women.
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Question #2  Fiction
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A recent study has found that the most unpleasant sound to humans is the sound of nails scratching across a blackboard.
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Question #3 Science
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Researchers have witnessed free-ranging spider monkeys anointing themselves with crushed aromatic plants that they believe is used as a type of perfume.
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Segment: Skeptical Puzzle
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Puzzle
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This Weeks Puzzle
I came into being in the mid 19th century in Iowa
But I was only discovered a year later in New York
My fathers name was George
But the man who found me was my first cousin, once removed
I am larger than any person that has ever lived
Yet millions of people believe that others like me once flourished
People from far and wide would visit me
Theyd line up by the hundreds to get a glance at my visage
I was no great thinker, some thought I had rocks in my head
But I was gentle, firm, and thought provoking
I traveled the country and displayed my uniqueness to the masses
Though my star shone brightly, it faded quite fast
And a year or so later, I was little more than a joke
But before I was through, I had carved out my place in history
And solidified myself as one of the best known fakes of all time
Who am I?
Last Weeks Puzzle
If an insane person loses power, and decides that the only way to restore the power is to make a list, send it to God, then informs other people of this and apologizes to them for the power failure, what has this person actually experienced?
Answer: Alcoholics Anonymous, or a 12 step program
Winner: Iron Man from the message board
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Segment: Quote of the Week
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Quote
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"I am not a fan of Sigmund Freud because his theories are not testicle."
- Richard Wiseman
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