Alex’s Heresies - embracing a physical reality

Here’s another video demonstrating Sarah Palin’s fitness to be the next US Vice President - perhaps not.

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/countdown-palin-wants-help-special-ne

Alex McCullie

In case you missed THE Sarah Palin video. Palin’s religiosity is a very scary from someone who may run militarily the powerful country ever (video). In fact the whole video reinforces every stereotype of religious belief that atheists attack.

Alex McCullie

Stephen Law, British philosopher, discusses Richard Dawkin’s God Delusion (chapter one) as part of his book club. (read more)

Alex McCullie

I’d like to discuss one or two topics as part of the final session. Here is a suggestion:

• Are the “new atheists” just like other religious fundamentalists?
• Are we naturally religious and, if so, are atheists really evolutionary mutations?

Feel free to email other suggestions.

Alex McCullie

God of Broken Hearts (Four Corners report)

End of the World Cult (currently screening)

“The End Of The World Cult: Inside a Christian sect which believes its leader is the Messiah and that the end of the world is imminent.
Also showing on ABC2
The End Of The World Cult - 8:00am Tuesday, August 12
- 8:00am Tuesday, August 19
- 8:00am Tuesday, August 26
Also showing on ABC
The End Of The World Cult - 11:30pm Tuesday, August 12
- 8:30pm Monday, August 18
- 11:30pm Tuesday, August 19
- 8:30pm Monday, August 25
- 11:30pm Tuesday, August 26” (ABC website)

Andrew Denton (Enough Rope) interviews Waleed Aly (of SBS’s Salam Cafe) about growing up Muslim in Australia.

Alex McCullie

Evolution (DVD) is an excellent introduction to Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution (in 7 parts for 8 hours). The topics include Darwin’s Dangerous Idea, The Evolutionary Arms Race, Why Sex?, The Mind’s Big Bang and What About God?

Mostly the DVD is classic documentary style even though the first part includes a drama recreating Darwin’s life.

I found the last episode about the conflict between beliefs in God and theory of evolution the most interesting episode. The documentary follows US teenage students from strong Christian backgrounds attempting to reconcile first introductions to biological science including evolution. Most of these young people had been told since birth the Genesis explanation from the people that mattered - parents, immediate and extended families, faith school teachers and church elders. Not surprisingly they accepted without questions, especially as their parents and friends described evolution as the work of Satan.

The DVD is available in Australia encoded as region 4. It’s also available from Amazon (region 1).

Corresponding website with video extracts: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/

Alex McCullie

Debate with Reza Aslan: part1 part2 part3 part4 part5

Religious faith: part1 part2 part3 part4 part5 part6

Holy Scriptures vs Modernism

Secular fundamentalism

Conversational intolerance

Misconceptions of atheism (full video)

Alex McCullie

Selection of interesting YouTube videos. Revisit under Links category.

Brain processing overview

Christof Koch’s webpage: Lois and Victor Troendle Professor of Cognitive and Behavioral Biology, Caltech

Christof Koch: Consciousness part1 part2 part3 part4 part5 part6 part7

Christof Koch: The Quest for Consciousness part1 part2 part3 part4 part5 part6

John Bickle on neuroscience and reductionism: part1 part2

Alex McCullie

Patricia Churchland is Professor of Philosophy University of California - webpage. Her research concentrates on the interface between philosophy and neuroscience covering areas as consciousness, free will and the self.

Philosophy in the Age of Neuroscience Presentation: part1 part2 part3 part4 part5 part6

Open questions in Neuroscience: part1 part2 part3

Beyond Belief conference: part1 part2 part3 part4

Decisions, Responsibility and the Brain: part1 part2 part3 part4 part5 part6

Interview: part1 part2 part3

Alex McCullie