In order to displace a prevailing theory or paradigm in science, it is not enough to merely point out what it cannot explain; you have to offer a new theory that explains more data, and do so in a testable way. Michael Shermer datumdisplaceexplain share on social
The reason people turn to supernatural explanations is that the mind abhors a vacuum of explanation. Because we do not yet have a fully natural explanation for mind and consciousness, people turn to supernatural explanations to fill the void. Michael Shermer abhorconsciousnessexplanation share on social
No single discovery from any of these fields denotes proof of evolution, but together they reveal that life evolved in a certain sequence by a particular process. Michael Shermer denotediscoveryevolution Change image and share on social
You have to know evolution to understand the natural world. And that cannot be a threat to people of faith. There's a serious problem if you are forced by your faith to reject the most well-supported theory in all of science. Michael Shermer evolutionfaithforce share on social
We think of our eyes as video cameras and our brains as blank tapes to be filled with sensory inputs. Michael Shermer blankbraincamera Change image and share on social
Religious faith depends on a host of social, psychological and emotional factors that have little or nothing to do with probabilities, evidence and logic. Michael Shermer dependemotionalevidence Change image and share on social
But there is only one surefire method of proper pattern recognition, and that is science. Michael Shermer methodpatternproper Change image and share on social
In comparison, Google is brilliant because it uses an algorithm that ranks Web pages by the number of links to them, with those links themselves valued by the number of links to their page of origin. Michael Shermer algorithmbrilliantcomparison Change image and share on social
A Hubble Space Telescope photograph of the universe evokes far more awe for creation than light streaming through a stained glass window in a cathedral. Michael Shermer awecathedralcreation Change image and share on social
The principal barrier to a general acceptance of the monist position is that it is counterintuitive. Michael Shermer acceptancebarriercounterintuitive Change image and share on social
