SCIENTIFIC LITERACY: “Scientific Ignorance” / Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Neil DeGrasse Tysonh/t: Hammer the Gods

ATHEISM: “When We Landed on the Moon . . .” / Eddie Izzard

Eddie Izzardh/t: Atheism 411

ORIGINS OF LIFE: “The Difference of Years” / Richard Dawkins

Clinton Richard Dawkins, Ph.D., (born 26 March 1941)
Ethologist, Evolutionary Biologist, Author, and Outspoken Atheist

“The difference between 6,000 years and 4.6 billion years it’s equivalent to believing the distance from New York to San Francisco is 7.8 yards. That’s the scale of the disagreement.”

CRITICAL THINKING: “Are There Emotional No-Go Areas Where Logic Dare Not Show Its Face?” / Richard Dawkins

Richard Dawkins Are there kingdoms of emotion where logic is taboo, dare not show its face, zones where reason is too intimidated to speak?

[…]

I believe that, as non-religious rationalists, we should be prepared to discuss such questions using logic and reason. We shouldn’t compel people to enter into painful hypothetical discussions, but nor should we conduct witch-hunts against people who are prepared to do so. I fear that some of us may be erecting taboo zones, where emotion is king and where reason is not admitted; where reason, in some cases, is actively intimidated and dare not show its face. And I regret this. We get enough of that from the religious faithful. Wouldn’t it be a pity if we became seduced by a different sort of sacred, the sacred of the emotional taboo zone?

[…]

I deliberately [want] to challenge the taboo against rational discussion of sensitive issues.

Read more . . .

ANTI-THEISM: “Freethought of the Day” / Will Wheaton

Will Wheatonh/t: Freedom From Religion Foundation