Welcome to the Always Question Authority blog, established on 07.11.2011.
“Call me Madison.” I am an unapologetic non-accommodationist anti-theist. The intent of this blog is to inform readers of the vast negative social and political implications to humanity caused by the poison of specifically religious, and generally political, reactionary right-wing dogmatism.
This blog is for the well-informed, and well-read with an independence of mind that place a high value on reason, critical thought, and general intellectualism.
The Always Question Authority blog consists mostly of articles, videos, etc. that I have read, or watched, and choose to share with my readers. Posts penned by me will explicitly read “By Madison S. Hughes (mm.dd.yyyy).” All aphorisms are written by me, and labeled as such. I will re-post Aphorisms when updated. I will also re-post any article, video, etc., that I deem worthy of repetition. All other posts are linked to the source from which they were accessed, or, if able, the root source of their origin. I claim no credit for posts, that do not bear “By Madison S. Hughes (mm.dd.yyyy).” Additionally, epigraphical comments written by me will be indicated by ending with “[MSH].”
Although most of the material contained within will have social and political implications, some art, poetry, and music selections will be posted for aesthetic appreciation.
It is my sincere hope that you find the posts on this blog informative, intellectually stimulating, and rewarding. If you have any suggestions that you feel would make your visits even more profitable, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
In Reason,
Madison
You have been tagged. http://windupmyskirt.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/tag-im-it/
Hello there,
I’m a member from a Dutch FreeThinker forum. ( http://www.freethinker.nl )
To promote skepticism/critical thinking our admin wrote some questions for the Christian believer.
Maybe you can put the link on your blog, so somebody can discus them here.
The topic on Freethinker is locked, so discussion there is not possible.
I hope you can enjoy them.
Jim, Warmenhuizen, The Netherlands.
The original questions
http://www.freethinker.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=8382
The English translation
http://www.freethinker.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=10033
Thank You.
Hello,
Love the site man. I was reading one of your Aphorism articles and can’t seem to locate it. You wrote about how the 99% are forced to work for a pittance…and be happy about it. That was the gist. Can you email me the link please; it was right on.
-Rick from PA
Rick,
I am glad to read that you are enjoying my blog. If it was an Aphorism, a better way to search would be to select the Aphorisms button at the top of the Home page. Also, if you scroll to the bottom of the sidebar on the right of the page, and select the month from the MONTH ARCHIVES, then just roll your cursor over each day to see the title of each subject posted on that particular day. With all that said, I found an aphorism titled “On Supply-side Economics,” dated 09.20.2011, that may be what you were describing. It may be found here:
http://alwaysquestionauthority.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/aphorism-on-supply-side-economics/
Of course, I can’t be sure it is the one of which you refer; however, if it is not let me know, and I will continue to help you find it.
In Reason,
Madison
Hey man,
Love the site. Found from Atheist blogroll. You had a Aphorism speaking about
how the 99% “…are forced to work for a pittance” and be happy about it. I CAN’T FIND IT!
I went all the way up to page twenty and I can’t read any more. Please advise. It was right on.
-Rick from PA
Minnesota Atheists
American Atheists
Keep up the great work man.
May I question *your* authority? (And mine too, of course.) Three big icon-figures look out from your home page – they’re not saints for a new religion, by any chance? I admire Dawkins and Hitchens (who’s the third one?) but my admiration or veneration alone isn’t enough. Honesty, truth to experience, fallibility, humanity, generosity – these matter. The established churches may not say much about this, but the man chosen by Jesus to be the rock of his church denied him on the day of his execution *three times* – fallibility is the core of our humanity. I can’t see much difference between Hitchens’ willful political vacillations and the absurdity of an infallible church. The point is the generosity of spirit that credits to us the fallible something better than our fallibility. Love and generosity, in an absurd world, are more important than intelligence. Science is a fantastic tool but it is not the or an answer. The universe may be tending towards entropy, but the consciousness that could make that perception isn’t. I’m not saying that established religions are the answer either, but I would argue that we need to have a conception of the good in order to make things better. Have a rational – and generous – day.
Propagandum,
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
The third figure on my home page banner is Sam Harris, an American author, and neuroscientist. He authored the 2005 book titled “the End of Faith.”
Many people take issue with what they perceive as “Hitchens’ willful political vacillations.” I used to be of that ilk concerning his support for the United States’ illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. However, after watching a video interview of one of his great friends, writer Ian McEwan, I realized why Christopher seemed to vacillate to those of us that did not understand that he was simply against tyranny, and what one would consider a rare member of the Anti-Totalitarian Left. It is just that in contemporary times the ‘left’ is ‘dovish,’ while the ‘right’ has gone extremely ‘hawkish,’ therefore, anyone on the left that has any hawkish bone in them, even if it is against tyranny, is seen as one with “willful political vacillations.”
The video interview I mentioned above is worth the watch, and may be found here:
http://alwaysquestionauthority.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/ian-mcewan-on-hitchens/
In Reason,
Madison
Good answer Madison. Hitchens never moved to the right. His justification for Iraq did not mean a support for US foreign policy. He wrote many great polemics against that too. He was for the Iraq invasion for the same reason as he supported the British in the Falklans. He could imagine no worser place to live than under the bondage of a thought oppressive tyrant.
Love the blogs by the way. Good to see fellow atheists waving the banner
That is not really the case. Given thier Lutheran Past and present. In Scandinavia it would seem that religion and reason coexist. The reilgious are not restricted, in essence they have not rid themselves of religion.
History tells us that every society that has sought to rid itself of religion to replace it with “reason” has become authoritative. The Soviet Union, Cuba, Vietnam, etc.
Contemporary Scandinavia proves otherwise.
In Reason,
Madison
Thoughtful blog; well organized. Do we have an obligation to reason such that reason itself is authoritative? If so, then is reason itself an authority that should also be questioned?
musingandmotion,
Those are excellent questions! I have enjoyed pondering them for the last few minutes, and my preliminary responses are as follows:
Allow me to answer in reverse order, if you will.
“[I]s reason itself an authority that should also be questioned? To me, this is a no-brainer. Any, and all, authority should be questioned at all times without exception. Even if an abstraction like reason is elevated to the level of authority.
“Do we have an obligation to reason such that reason itself is authoritative?”
There are many ways to go on this one. I want to reflect on this further. Great question!
Considering the contrasting lenses with which we view life, I imagine our answers to this question would be quite dissimilar as well.
In Reason,
Madison
musingandmotion,
After reflection, my answer to the question, “Do we have an obligation to reason such that reason itself is authoritative?,” is that reason acts as a built-in check valve against itself becoming authoritative.
In Reason,
Madison
Awesome stuff. Yay for rejecting blind acceptance.
Your blog looks great, Madison. I’ve only gone through some of the most recent posts, but I’ll be sure to make some time for the rest later. Please keep up the good work.
nayefahmad,
I am glad you enjoyed your visit. I share your great admiration of Carl Sagan. I am posting, “Pale Blue Dot – Carl Sagan [Original],” for others to enjoy. Thank you for the nostalgia of the great Carl Sagan.
In Reason,
Madison