A Brief Guide to Religious Denominations in America (author unknown): A Baptist is a man who got saved. A Methodist is a Baptist who got shoes. A Congregationalist is a Methodist who moved to town. A Presbyterian is a Congregationalist who got rich. An Episcopalian is a Presbyterian who ran for public office. (First told
Religion in America — humorous demographics Read More »
Coming soon: The Religion Course: What is religion? Is it true? Is it good? If neither necessarily, is it useful? Does the meaning of life depend upon religion? A Livestream Lecture Series by Dr. Stephen Hicks. The first unit of the course will be a three-lecture series during February 2020 on defining the complex phenomenon that is religion.
The Religion Course: my livestream lecture series at thinkspot Read More »
Hong Kong and Cuba: “are two remarkable real world experiments of economies closer to resembling an ideal (true laissez-faire, true socialism) than any other in the world. … in the late 1950s, both economies had a GDP per capita of around $4,500 in today’s money. By 2018 Cuba had slightly more than doubled its GDP
A perfect social-science contrast: Hong Kong and Cuba Read More »
The Brisbane Dialogues is hosting a debate on Monday, March 9 in the evening. They’ve invited me and Professor John Quiggin of the University of Queensland to take up this resolution: Resolved: Postmodernism is a right-wing philosophy. Professor Quiggin, a democratic socialist, will argue the affirmative. I will argue the negative. More information forthcoming. The
Debate in Brisbane, Australia, March 9: Right-wing Postmodernism? Read More »
The livestream is free to my followers at thinkspot. Here are the questions posted so far: 1. How would you say a proper judicial system should handle the testimony of a firm believer in a postmodern-based ideology that is required to swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Solver
Today’s Q&A livestream at thinkspot (January 18, 2020) Read More »
A new episode of my podcast series, produced by Possibly Correct out of Toronto. Conservative nationalist Yoram Hazony makes eight claims about the Enlightenment. One is mostly true, and seven are badly false or are grains of truth badly exaggerated. Audio: Youtube. Soundcloud. Transcription: Will be available soon. Sources: Yoram Hazony, “What Was the Enlightenment?” Prager
Hazony Attacks the Enlightenment [Open College] Read More »
I’ve seen four hypotheses advanced: 1. Natural cycles of drought: Throughout its history, Australia has had seasons of unusually high temperatures and numbers of fires. 2. Arson: So far, over 180 arrested for arson, including this guy. 3. Anti-human-management policies: Deadwood not removed, fire breaks allowed to grow over, and firefighters’ access to them blocked.
Fires in Australia: four causal claims Read More »
“By the mid-fifteenth century crimes subject to the death penalty … included the following: rebellion, fraud, bigamy, incest, arson, theft, adultery, carrying off a woman against her will, blasphemy, moving signs of property boundaries, attacking someone, high treason, child murder, using dishonest weights and measures, murder, counterfeiting, rape, attempted suicide,* striking someone to death, converting
Death penalty in 1400s central Europe Read More »