From adam.blog.heroku.com:

“Science” and “reason” are two words often spoken alongside each other – almost as if they were the same thing. But each are completely different approach to making judgements and predictions about the world around us.

Science is about measurement, controlled experiment, data collection, and empiricism. It tests hypotheses against the hard reality of repeatable experiments with objectively measurable results. Those who practice it are called scientists or empiricists.

Reason, by contrast, is internally generated. It’s building mental models of the world, starting with your internal sense for what is right and pure, from which further truths can be deduced. Those who practice reason are called rationalists.

Source: atheist-community.org

It occured to me recently that having what I belive to be an “opinion” is actually a pretty high standard. I know this isn’t true in the strictest sense of the word, i.e. according to the dictionary anyone can have one, but I disagree.

The vast majority of “opinions” are nothing but echoes of peoples’ latest influence. They are parrot songs that were particularly catchy for whatever reason. I think a true opinion is one that stands on a solid base of knowledge and then branches from there.

I was struck with this while debating a friend about the fall of America. I found myself giving the whole “fall of Rome” argument. I’ve heard the argument a number of times, and it’s always made sense to me, but what do I really know about Rome? Not much of anything.

So do I really have an opinion about what caused the fall of Rome? No. No I don’t. What I have is the ability to echo a very small portion of someone else’s opinion, which I find rather intellectually hollow.

Don’t make that mistake, and call others when they make it. It’s not a real idea until you’ve already benefited from existing knowledge and then have something new to add based on that understanding. Until then you’re just posturing.

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. — buddha

CNN: God’s Water Flows From Tree

It’s a sad day when a premier news source casts ignorant superstition in a positive light. This country world needs open and logical thought, not fear-based superstition.

Glamorizing a medieval view of the world does nothing but harm humanity. It’s not cute. It’s not sweet. It’s irresponsible and harmful.