The relationship between skepticism and atheism is complicated. For starters, skepticism is a process with which you evaluate information and claims, while atheism is merely the absence of belief in the supernatural claims of various religions in regard to a "higher power". Despite the fact we all agree that skepticism is more of a "toolkit" to evaluate claims rather than an actual belief, invariably there ...

It looks like science is finally pushing back hard against the pseudoscience that is homeopathy. The British Medical Association has come out publicly and stated it's nothing more than "witchcraft", and the National Health Service should cease to fund this quackery. Homeopathy is witchcraft. It is a disgrace that nestling between the National Hospital for Neurology and Great Ormond Street [in London] there ...

I received an email from the 10:23 team today asking for people in the UK to join their struggle to end the government's subsidization of homeopathy. You might remember the group's hilarious "mass suicide" protest just a few weeks back. Their goal is to have the government follow the recommendation of all major scientific institutions that argue the so-called effectiveness of homeopathy can be explained ent ...

It never ceases to amaze me how utterly incapable some people are of admitting defeat. A few days ago, we recorded a bonus show reporting a group of skeptics in Britain had staged a "mass suicide" at one of the largest pharmacy chains in the country. They consumed entire bottles of homeopathic "medicine" to demonstrate they are no better than placebos, arguing that Boots has no business selling what is esse ...

Our love affair with alternative "medicines" still demonstrates that as a species, we still have a lot of growing up to do. The persistence of reiki, acupuncture, crystals, homeopathy, and just about every other bullshit "medicine" is due mainly to the mysterious placebo effect, which seems to suggest our bodies respond positively to treatments, even when they do nothing at all. I think we can easily dissec ...

Your back hurts, and you've tried a number of painkillers to relieve the pain. A friend suggests you try an alternative form of medicine to cure your ailment. Like everyone else, you are skeptical of the medical industry and the collusion of big pharma and doctors. You head over to an acupuncturist, who pokes you in various places in your body, and a few days later the pain disappears. Naturally, you incorr ...

I was asked a few days ago by the Colorado Gazette do do a series of email interviews on a variety of subjects. They wanted an Atheist's perspective on a number of issues ranging from gay marriage to Internet access, and I was happy to oblige. The responses I wrote were probably too lengthy and detailed for them to be able to publish, and so I asked if I could post them up on the site for you who may find s ...

I am often reminded one does not win popularity contests when attempting to shatter the delusions of others. I can certainly appreciate the fact no one wants to believe that they might be wrong, especially if this belief represents a form of comfort. It is then that I carefully remind people the truth is not a matter of popularity; we have plenty of examples in history of when popular beliefs have been held ...

The Atheist Revolution has two posts on the topic of atheist dating that I just HAVE to post up (and don't forget to read the comments, they're just as interesting). Jake (the Good Atheist himself) is constantly struggling with some of the issues and questions brought up by these posts, like "How do you respect people who believe in such dumb things?" And no, I'm not saying believing in a god is necessarily ...