Tag Archives: religion

Islamic Blasphemy and the “Freedom” to Choose your Own Religion

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Ryo

In the last few weeks, Muslims from Bangladesh have been going crazy trying to fight back against the critical words of bloggers and other online heretics by violent riots that have so far led to the death of over 30 people. Over 100,000 rioters have been taking to the streets, and the Muslims have been arguing that things have to change for their allegedly secular government. Men must not “mix” with women, and the word of Allah must be brought into the nation’s constitution. And from there… the law against blasphemy can be brought to Western countries. Does that sound about right? It does to them.

This is a preview of Islamic Blasphemy and the “Freedom” to Choose your Own Religion. Read the full post (1261 words, 2 images, estimated 5:03 mins reading time)

Posted in Activism, Culture, Legal Issues | Tagged atheism, Bangladesh, blasphemy, Christian, discrimination, God, Indonesia, Islam, law, Pakistan, religion, Saudi Arabia | Leave a comment

Why Haven’t We Found the Missing Link in the Fossil Record? Science Answers!

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Ryo

War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. -George Orwell

If evolution is such an incontrovertible “theory,” then why haven’t we found the “missing link” yet? A compelling question – if not boldly ignorant. In fact, creationists ask this question all the time, falsely asserting that there is a lack of evidence to support evolution. This article is going to look at why we don’t have all the information we want on the fossil record, and what the whole question of a “missing link” really means.

This is a preview of Why Haven’t We Found the Missing Link in the Fossil Record? Science Answers!. Read the full post (2363 words, 2 images, estimated 9:27 mins reading time)

Posted in Biology & Evolution, Culture, Science, Skepticism, Technology | Tagged creationism, evolution, fossils, God, religion | Leave a comment

Did Jesus ‘Want’ to be Nailed to a Cross?

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Ryo

I’m pretty sure the answer to the question in the title is “no,” but there are many things I don’t know about religion. For example: Why is it that some Christians celebrate Easter by eating bunny-shaped chocolates (often after an informal hunt) and painting eggs, while others celebrate it by carrying a gigantic wooden cross up to the point well they will be literally nailed to it in a fashion that was – to my knowledge – reminiscent of how Jesus was forced to a few millennia ago? And for that matter… what part of that makes it “Good Friday?”

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Posted in Culture, Skepticism | Tagged bible, religion | 4 Comments

Are Religious People More Charitable, Generous, and Altruistic than Atheists?

Posted on February 16, 2013 by Ryo

According to a Canadian study from 2008, religious people are “more helpful, honest and generous;” an American study from last year found that “religious states give more to charity than non-religious states.” As I explained in a previous article, the stereotype that religious people are more likely to be Good Samaritans than nonreligious people is highly suspect. In fact, a new study has thrown the idea of religious people being more charitable into question too. This might just be the nail in the coffin for stereotypes about religiosity and altruism.

This is a preview of Are Religious People More Charitable, Generous, and Altruistic than Atheists?. Read the full post (1853 words, 2 images, estimated 7:25 mins reading time)

Posted in Culture, Psychology, Science, Social Psych | Tagged altruism, America, Canada, money, religion | 8 Comments

Religious or Non-Religious: Who is More Likely to Be a Good Samaritan?

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Ryo

Imagine that you’ve been asked to give a presentation for your school on the Parable of the Good Samaritan. You’ve researched it, prepared your talk, practiced it, and now you’re about to give it. When you arrive at the lecture hall, you’re informed that the location of your presentation has changed at the last minute, and it is now at the other end of the campus. You have to hurry to make it in time. On your way, you see someone slouched over in pain. What would you do? Would you help the man and miss or be late for your talk, or would you dismiss the very situation regarding which you have prepared a speech. This isn’t just a thought experiment – this classic study has been conducted, and the results will probably surprise the modern inquirer.

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Posted in Culture, Featured, Psychology, Science, Social Psych | Tagged atheism, comedians, religion | 13 Comments

Toxic Racism Against Japan Since the March 11 Disaster (Part2)

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Ryo

I haven’t written as much on any topic as I have on this one; this record of racism against Japan since the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake of last year. But I think it’s important to catalogue many of the things said, because it highlights a number of problems that America has in the way they deal with the past. It also provides an answer to the question “where do they get this reputation from?” In Part 1, we looked at how many Americans don’t seem to be over World War II – namely, the Pearl Harbor attack. Now, we’ll look at the “educated” people, and see how they compare to the public opinion.

This is a preview of Toxic Racism Against Japan Since the March 11 Disaster (Part2). Read the full post (1934 words, 2 images, estimated 7:44 mins reading time)

Posted in Activism, Culture, Japan, Media, Skepticism | Tagged America, natural disasters, religion | Leave a comment

Exorcism in Japan, and Another Dead Child

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Ryo

“With God by your side, you can do no wrong,” says Father Jose Francisco Syquia, who heads the Manila Archdiocese’s Office of Exorcism in the Philippines. And he should know, since he’s been through hundreds of exorcisms. Indeed, he should know, but clearly he has no idea what it means to be “wrong,” or else he would not try to justify the torturous treatment of mentally ill people. But this caliber of fool doesn’t understand that demonic spirits don’t reside in the victims of exorcisms, but in the minds of those who perpetuate this archaic practice.

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Posted in Abnormal & Clinical Psych, Activism, Japan, Pseudoscience, Psychology, Science, Skepticism | Tagged exorcisms, placebo, religion, spirit possession, trauma | 4 Comments

Einstein on God

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Ryo

I’m tired of hearing people cherry-pick quotes from intelligent historical figures to make their points, especially this one Albert Einstein said about god: “Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.” I imagine if Einstein was alive today, he may have regretted making that statement, considering how often it has been used to support proponents of “faith” – which Einstein would never subscribe to. Einstein was a man of science, and lived his life like a true skeptic. He allowed evidence to influence his opinion, which is how science should always be conducted. The unfortunate thing about Einstein’s legacy of brilliant quotes is that they are sometimes ambiguous, as the most poetic of statements often are (which is part of the reason they’re remembered so long afterwards). This post is intended to be a reference for whenever I see someone erroneously making a statement about Einstein’s quotes on God and religion.

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Posted in Biographical, Uncategorized | Tagged albert einstein, God, religion, skepticism | Leave a comment

Rock Star Skepticism

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Ryo

If you thought there was no skepticism in the Japanese rock scene, you would be wrong.

Most people reading this (i.e., English speakers) are probably unaware of just how much music Japan produces. Japan has a rich musical history and distinct cultural sound, not to mention the second biggest music market in the world, right after America. I find that some Japanese bands are able to tap into the sounds of their American counterparts, but not really vice-versa. Regardless, I’m not here to review music. I’m here to introduce you to the award-winning Japanese rock band “Radwimps.” Their music is not only fantastic, but their lyrics are always meaningful and fascinating. My favourite Radwimps song did what so relatively few have done in Japanese history (or mainstream music history in general): They dissed God.

This is a preview of Rock Star Skepticism. Read the full post (1029 words, 3 images, estimated 4:07 mins reading time)