Nathan B Jacobson

Rupert Sheldrake Enumerates the Dogmas of Scientism

Type:: clipping
Date:: May 14, 2015
In:: Naturalism and Scientism

In a very provocative and dense TEDx talk, Rupert Sheldrake posits ten core tenets of current, “materialistic” science, and suggests they should be questioned. The subversive ideas ... » Go

Freedom of Conscience Is For Everyone

Type:: post
Date:: April 01, 2015
In:: Freedom of Conscience, Tolerance and Conviction

There are virtually endless scenarios in which an employee, a small business owner, or a sole proprietor might decline to participate in a business activity or deny service as a matter ... » Go

Steven Pinker’s Sense of Style and Placing Commas

Type:: clipping
Date:: December 31, 2014
In:: Arts and Letters

In a recent interview, “‘Literally,’ Emojis, and Other Trends That Aren’t Destroying English“, Steven Pinker directs his characteristic optimism to writing style. I’ve been guilty too ... » Go

Broken Then Unbroken

Type:: film
Date:: December 30, 2014
In:: Salvation

Unbroken is a well-produced film that tells the story of World War II survivor Louis Zamperini, who survived crashing in the Pacific, interminable weeks lost at ... » Go

Pigliucci’s Exhortation to Skeptics, Atheists, and Secularists

Type:: clipping
Date:: June 25, 2014
In:: Anti-Religion, Civility and Rhetoric, Philosophy of Science

No matter their cause, every group falls short of its aspirations. Amongst skeptics, atheists, and secularists, some less fêted voices like Michael Ruse and Julian Baggini ... » Go

A Mess Around Here

Type:: post
Date:: January 21, 2014
In:: Uncategorized

I was recently forced to move this site into a new content management system before I had all my ducks in a row for the ... » Go

The Boob Tube for Brooders

Type:: film
Date:: October 27, 2013
In:: Agency and Will, Doubt, Faith + Reason, Fallenness

Recently a number of philosophically arresting moments have managed to insert themselves into the television landscape. True to form, Ronald D. Moore and company continue ... » Go

The Adjustment Bureau

Type:: film
Date:: August 01, 2011
In:: Agency and Will, Ethics

Into the ever-expanding catalog1 of films predicated on our anxiety about the extent of our free will, enter The Adjustment Bureau, perhaps the most cerebral ... » Go

Roger Penrose On The Grand Design

Type:: clipping
Date:: October 08, 2010
In:: Origins + Science, Theism

With all the hand-wringing about whether Stephen Hawking’s The Grand Design changes anything — whether “philosophy is dead” and whether M-theory promises to explain the ... » Go

Ad Hominem

Type:: illogic
Date:: October 07, 2010
In:

The person presenting an argument is attacked instead of the argument itself. ... » Go

A Plea for Civil Disagreement

Type:: clipping
Date:: March 22, 2010
In:: Civility and Rhetoric, Law and Government

We interrupt this broadcast for a rare excursion into contemporary politics, but only to make a broader plea. Last night, here in the U.S.A., the ... » Go

Our Inescapable Pluralism

Type:: clipping
Date:: March 22, 2010
In:: Naturalism and Scientism, Pluralism or Exclusivism, Religious Knowledge

The great variety of contradictory religious views is for many reason enough to conclude that there is no truth to be had in such matters, ... » Go

Common Sense on Ultimate Explanations

Type:: clipping
Date:: February 07, 2010
In:: Origins + Science, Theism

Luke, the wunderkind over at Common Sense Atheism, continues to be a tremendously salutary voice in the online conversation about God. Recently, Luke set out ... » Go

Regarding Haiti: An Imperative

Type:: clipping
Date:: January 17, 2010
In:: Activism and Revolt, Problem of Evil, The Church

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set ... » Go

The Decade of Atheism?

Type:: book
Date:: January 11, 2010
In:: Anti-Religion, Apologetics, Theism

Radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt concluded 2009 by broadcasting a debate about God between polemicists Michael Shermer and Gregory Koukl, thereby bidding adieu to ... » Go