Watch to the end to see how subliminal messaging is used here. h/t Josh
Posted in Videos | 1 Comment »From an article on TIME magazine’s site
Researchers from the U.K., U.S. and Canada analyzed results for fluoxetine (better known by the brand name Prozac), venlafaxine (Effexor), nefazodone (Serzone) and paroxetine (Paxil or Seroxat) – all members of a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The researchers’ paper, published this week in the journal PLoS Medicine, claims that only patients who are diagnosed “at the upper end of the very severely depressed category” get any meaningful benefit from the widely prescribed drugs. For the others, the paper says, antidepressants are barely more effective than a placebo (although patients suffering from depression, like those suffering from chronic pain, generally do see a substantial placebo benefit).
Read the rest of this news item »
This week’s Economist reports on a panel discussion at The American Association for the Advancement of Science in which biologists discussed moral thinking.
I find it interesting to hear what people say about morals who approach the subject from a non-religious viewpoint.
I was especially interested in the study of liberal and conservative teenagers and also this:
Dr Bowles, however, thinks that the virtues of human collaboration are so great that groups composed of genuine, self-sacrificing altruists would outcompete others.
I tend to think this is true which means altruism does have an evolutionary advantage – rather than being something which conflicts with the theory of evolution. I suppose I care about this because many Christians claim otherwise. I’ve disagreed with them for a while (to myself – I don’t really enjoy debating this stuff – it’s more that I want my own views to make sense). I appreciate seeing that a biologist agrees with me!
Posted in General Conversation | 3 Comments »Eliza mentioned on Hemant’s blog that it’s her birthday today. Eliza is a regular commenter on CatE and has posted many blog entries including An Atheist in Lutheran Class. Eliza, I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
(In other blog news, please drop by the ebay atheist blog and say ‘hi’ back to Jason, our newest blogger. And go back tomorrow for Josh’s latest post about conversation with people who don’t share your beliefs/nonbeliefs)
Posted in General Conversation | 5 Comments »Chez Pazienza was fired by CNN recently because he wasn’t running his blogging by CNN for their approval.
Chez wrote this in his blog post about being fired:
CNN fired me, and did it without even a thought to the power that I might wield as an average person with a brain, a computer, and an audience. The mainstream media doesn’t believe that new media can embarrass them, hurt them or generally hold them accountable in any way, and they’ve never been more wrong.
I don’t know enough to know whether Chez blogging about being fired will change anything in the mainstream media. However I have seen ways in which the ‘new media’ holds people accountable. Recently I saw a youtube video made by a teenager’s friends as a cop inappropriately lost it with the teenager. Now the cop has been suspended.
One of the things which frustrates me most is when people have power and others have no way to hold them accountable for how they use it. I’m pleased that the ‘new media’ has created some new ways to do that.
Posted in General Conversation | 5 Comments »
Did you see the total eclipse of the moon last night? It was awesome!
I usually miss things which happen in the sky at night: either it’s too late at night or cloudy or they’re not visible from where I live or I simply forget.
But last night my husband said there was going to be a lunar eclipse (otherwise I wouldn’t have known) at about 9 p.m. and it was a clear night and you could see the moon right from our house.
It looked like the moon turned from a full moon to a partial one as it got underway. But when it was almost total and total you could see the whole moon again, except not as bright as usual. When I looked through my camera I could see it was reddish all over.
I was so pleased I had the opportunity to see this!
(Edited to add: The Chicago Tribune has wonderful photos of the eclipse – much better than mine!)
Posted in General Conversation | 5 Comments »As some of you know from past posts (years ago now) I’ve written a new book about evangelicals. It’s called “The Fall of the Evangelical Nation: The Surprising Crisis Inside the Church.” It won’t publish until May 1, but I’ve been re-connecting with some of my sources and friends from when I was a religion reporter at The Dallas Morning News. One of them is George Mason, the senior pastor at Dallas’ Wilshire Baptist Church. George spoke at the New Baptist Covenant meeting in Atlanta.
For those of you who don’t know a lot about Baptists, the Southern Baptist Convention was taken over by ultra-conservatives, some say fundamentalists, a couple of decades ago. A lot of Texas Baptists opposed that takeover. George has been a leader in the alternative Baptist convention called the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
I asked to see his remarks at the Atlanta meeting. I’ve always admired George and know that he is fearless in being willing to think through hard questions.
Read the rest of this news item »
Jim Wallis is in Chicago for a couple of days, talking about his book The Great Awakening at bookstores and churches. (He’s on a national tour – here’s his schedule)
I went to hear him last night at Borders in Oak Park. He spoke for half an hour, took questions for half an hour, then signed books. I took a tiny notebook and took notes – now I wish I’d taken my laptop and not worried whether it would look stupid if I was there taking notes on it. Some other people were taking notes too (I didn’t see any laptops).
They had to put extra chairs out – I think there were about 60 maybe – and people were still standing at the back.
Here are some things he said (somewhat paraphrased and summarized):
Here’s some good news: the dominance of the Religious Right is over [at this there was an enthusiastic response from the listeners]
When politics fails to resolve the biggest moral issues of our time, social movements will rise up to address them.
Read the rest of this news item »
If you lose income due to an accident while at home or driving your car, how will you continue tithing to your church?
If this concerns you GuideOne Insurance has just the policy for you. You can purchase their FaithGuard Auto and Home policy which “provide[s] unique auto and home benefits for churchgoers and people of faith”.
Not only is your tithing covered, if you’re involved in a car accident driving directly to or from a church or scheduled worship activity, your benefits are higher. Or if you’re hosting a church-related activity in your home and anyone gets injured.
In the unfortunate event you actually die from an accident in your car, $1,000 memorial fund will be given to your church.
For more information check out the FaithGuard Auto and Home Policy
Posted in General Conversation | 7 Comments »