Michael Shermer on NPR 'Science Friday' today

bignickel · 29th August 2003, 09:04 AM

2nd hour will have a segment on skepticism and belief. Michael Shermer will be one of the guests.

The 2nd hour starts at 2 PM CT on an NPR station near you.

Or go to www.sciencefriday.com and listen to it over the net.

Nyarlathotep · 29th August 2003, 12:47 PM

I am listening to it now. Some guy just went on claiming that NASA proved the existanceof God and proceeded to trot out the old "NASA scientists sound a missing day mentioned in the bible" urban legend. He sounded so dejected when Shermer pointed out that it was just an urban legend.

Hilarious!

bignickel · 29th August 2003, 01:45 PM

He took great pains to point out to Dr. Shermer that NO supercomputer was used, suggesting that Dr. Shermer had the wrong story, I guess.

But the good Doctor pointed out that the many different versions of the story, some with, some without supercomputer.

Without supercomputer? What, the 'unnamed' scientist worked out 2000+ years of stars in the sky BY HAND? Evidently, NASA scientists don't have enough work to do, according to these people.

The very odd thing about the persistance of this story is: how the heck would you ever establish without a PRECISE mapping of the stars in the sky on a night BEFORE the supposed sun-stop event took place? Really: ask any believer in this story what method could possibly be used to find a 'missing' day just by looking at the sky.

You'd have a better chance finding it behind the couch.

Nyarlathotep · 29th August 2003, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bignickel
He took great pains to point out to Dr. Shermer that NO supercomputer was used, suggesting that Dr. Shermer had the wrong story, I guess.

But the good Doctor pointed out that the many different versions of the story, some with, some without supercomputer.

Without supercomputer? What, the 'unnamed' scientist worked out 2000+ years of stars in the sky BY HAND? Evidently, NASA scientists don't have enough work to do, according to these people.

The very odd thing about the persistance of this story is: how the heck would you ever establish without a PRECISE mapping of the stars in the sky on a night BEFORE the supposed sun-stop event took place? Really: ask any believer in this story what method could possibly be used to find a 'missing' day just by looking at the sky.

You'd have a better chance finding it behind the couch.

Another thing I thought was funny was his statement prefacing his story "If one part of the Bible is true, it all must be true". The fact that that is an enormous logical fallacy should be apparent to anyone with a grain of common sense. I can't belive anyone would seriously think that.

The fact that people who are so deficient in their logic are so prevalent in this world really makes me shudder.

I am willing to bet that the guy will just go back to his cozy little world, safe in the knowledge that NASA "proved that God exists", though, unmolested by any slings or arrows that logic may sling his way. As Mr. Shermer said, if you've thought that way all of your life, you are unlikely to change.

bignickel · 29th August 2003, 03:14 PM

The fundy soliloquiy:

"Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of Dr. Shermer,
Or take up arms against a sea of skeptics, and by opposing, end them."

Make no mistake: the fundies are funny fuzzy little voices when they're on the radio talk shows: but when they amass numbers and clout... better watch your back.

Yeesh! That sounds too paranoid for Labor Day Weekend! I'm gonna go out and have some fun.

29th August 2003, 09:04 AM	#1
bignickel Mad Mod Poet God Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,723	Michael Shermer on NPR 'Science Friday' today 2nd hour will have a segment on skepticism and belief. Michael Shermer will be one of the guests. The 2nd hour starts at 2 PM CT on an NPR station near you. Or go to www.sciencefriday.com and listen to it over the net.
	__________________ "You can find that book everywhere and the risk is that many people who read it believe that those fairy tales are real. I think I have the responsibility to clear things up to unmask the cheap lies contained in books like that." - Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone

29th August 2003, 12:47 PM	#2
Nyarlathotep Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 7,514	I am listening to it now. Some guy just went on claiming that NASA proved the existanceof God and proceeded to trot out the old "NASA scientists sound a missing day mentioned in the bible" urban legend. He sounded so dejected when Shermer pointed out that it was just an urban legend. Hilarious!
	__________________ Why stay sane in a sick world?

29th August 2003, 01:45 PM	#3
bignickel Mad Mod Poet God Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,723	He took great pains to point out to Dr. Shermer that NO supercomputer was used, suggesting that Dr. Shermer had the wrong story, I guess. But the good Doctor pointed out that the many different versions of the story, some with, some without supercomputer. Without supercomputer? What, the 'unnamed' scientist worked out 2000+ years of stars in the sky BY HAND? Evidently, NASA scientists don't have enough work to do, according to these people. The very odd thing about the persistance of this story is: how the heck would you ever establish without a PRECISE mapping of the stars in the sky on a night BEFORE the supposed sun-stop event took place? Really: ask any believer in this story what method could possibly be used to find a 'missing' day just by looking at the sky. You'd have a better chance finding it behind the couch.
	__________________ "You can find that book everywhere and the risk is that many people who read it believe that those fairy tales are real. I think I have the responsibility to clear things up to unmask the cheap lies contained in books like that." - Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone

29th August 2003, 02:07 PM	#4
Nyarlathotep Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 7,514	Quote: Originally posted by bignickel He took great pains to point out to Dr. Shermer that NO supercomputer was used, suggesting that Dr. Shermer had the wrong story, I guess. But the good Doctor pointed out that the many different versions of the story, some with, some without supercomputer. Without supercomputer? What, the 'unnamed' scientist worked out 2000+ years of stars in the sky BY HAND? Evidently, NASA scientists don't have enough work to do, according to these people. The very odd thing about the persistance of this story is: how the heck would you ever establish without a PRECISE mapping of the stars in the sky on a night BEFORE the supposed sun-stop event took place? Really: ask any believer in this story what method could possibly be used to find a 'missing' day just by looking at the sky. You'd have a better chance finding it behind the couch. Another thing I thought was funny was his statement prefacing his story "If one part of the Bible is true, it all must be true". The fact that that is an enormous logical fallacy should be apparent to anyone with a grain of common sense. I can't belive anyone would seriously think that. The fact that people who are so deficient in their logic are so prevalent in this world really makes me shudder. I am willing to bet that the guy will just go back to his cozy little world, safe in the knowledge that NASA "proved that God exists", though, unmolested by any slings or arrows that logic may sling his way. As Mr. Shermer said, if you've thought that way all of your life, you are unlikely to change.
	__________________ Why stay sane in a sick world?

29th August 2003, 03:14 PM	#5
bignickel Mad Mod Poet God Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,723	The fundy soliloquiy: "Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of Dr. Shermer, Or take up arms against a sea of skeptics, and by opposing, end them." Make no mistake: the fundies are funny fuzzy little voices when they're on the radio talk shows: but when they amass numbers and clout... better watch your back. Yeesh! That sounds too paranoid for Labor Day Weekend! I'm gonna go out and have some fun.
	__________________ "You can find that book everywhere and the risk is that many people who read it believe that those fairy tales are real. I think I have the responsibility to clear things up to unmask the cheap lies contained in books like that." - Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone