Oct 16, 2022·edited Oct 16, 2022Liked by Meghan Daum
Excellent interview. I'm glad Meghan pushed back when Shermer attempted to equate right-wing censorship with left-wing censorship.
The illiberal left has acquired an iron grip on our cultural institutions and products. Right-wing governor's/state legislators have relatively little power to control the cultural narrative so they grasp for idiotic laws to restrict the content of K-12 curricula.
Here's an example of the dichotomy between left and right censorship: some church ladies on the East Podunk School Board or Library Commission vote to " ban" a book they deem appropriate. They can't stop anyone from obtaining the book by other means; the only practical effect is to make the book more desirable due to the curiosity factor.
By contrast, some wokesters working for Random House, Simon& Schuster, or Penguin complain that a submission is problematic because it's allegedly racist/misogynist/transphobic etc. As a result of the complaint, the book never sees the light of day.
Thanks for making my point. The other example given was that the Right used to try to control the culture by adding "PG13" labels to profanity laden CDs. Even though that project was headed by Al and Tipper Gore, you could call that conservative. Compare that with how the Left controls the culture now. If you don't actively admit that men can get pregnant, you can lose your source of income, potentially forever.
Being a believer in a Creator, I find these discussions fascinating. I keep expecting to hear someone say something that rocks my beliefs especially since I only have a HS and Trade School education. But the story that made him a non-believer is basically, 'Any creator of a universe would design a universe where no serious harm comes to any of it's lifeforms and therefore, since harm came to his loved one, there is no Creator.' If I got that correct, it's quite flimsy logic. I'm starting to understand the word "atheist" to mean, "I don't believe in The Bible, The Koran, The Vedas or any yet perceived religions". Does it actually mean that the person thinks the Universe (gravity, strong and weak nuclear forces, electromagnetic forces) was not created? That it either created itself or is infinite (although we know of it's beginning)?
Really enjoyed this interview, thank you. I read his "weird things" book when it came out in the 90s and have casually followed along since. It was interesting hear more about his own history, too.
Great conversation. Shermer is a thoroughly reasonable person and I should probably start listening to his podcast again.
One quibble- the anti-antibiotic crowd is definitely out there. Living in a part of the country where Lyme disease is rampant and prescriptions for doxycycline are common, I have had many conversations with these people. For them the solution (for any ailment including bacterial infection) seems to be herbal medicine and acupuncture. It’s absolutely crazy making.
I am about 3/4 of the way through this great interview, just past Shermer sharing his personal story about leaving Evangelical Christianity. It seems his exit well illustrates the point that we humans do not tolerate uncertainty and messiness. Those who once upon a time subscribed to fundamentalist/dogmatic/absolutist "religions" dismiss it all vehemently when they depart the fold. Adding only more dualism to the mix rather than grace.
I have been an atheist from the beginning (4 year-old) so not dogmatic! I appreciate that I am a minority, don't have "the God gene", note that religion can be progressive in many contexts and, sometimes, a lovely and meaningful community. All that said, Christianity is not a nice religion at all. If you don't believe in it, you go to hell. This is quite oft-putting.
Excellent interview. I'm glad Meghan pushed back when Shermer attempted to equate right-wing censorship with left-wing censorship.
The illiberal left has acquired an iron grip on our cultural institutions and products. Right-wing governor's/state legislators have relatively little power to control the cultural narrative so they grasp for idiotic laws to restrict the content of K-12 curricula.
Here's an example of the dichotomy between left and right censorship: some church ladies on the East Podunk School Board or Library Commission vote to " ban" a book they deem appropriate. They can't stop anyone from obtaining the book by other means; the only practical effect is to make the book more desirable due to the curiosity factor.
By contrast, some wokesters working for Random House, Simon& Schuster, or Penguin complain that a submission is problematic because it's allegedly racist/misogynist/transphobic etc. As a result of the complaint, the book never sees the light of day.
Who has more power in this instance.
Thanks for making my point. The other example given was that the Right used to try to control the culture by adding "PG13" labels to profanity laden CDs. Even though that project was headed by Al and Tipper Gore, you could call that conservative. Compare that with how the Left controls the culture now. If you don't actively admit that men can get pregnant, you can lose your source of income, potentially forever.
Loved this, glad you had him on!
Being a believer in a Creator, I find these discussions fascinating. I keep expecting to hear someone say something that rocks my beliefs especially since I only have a HS and Trade School education. But the story that made him a non-believer is basically, 'Any creator of a universe would design a universe where no serious harm comes to any of it's lifeforms and therefore, since harm came to his loved one, there is no Creator.' If I got that correct, it's quite flimsy logic. I'm starting to understand the word "atheist" to mean, "I don't believe in The Bible, The Koran, The Vedas or any yet perceived religions". Does it actually mean that the person thinks the Universe (gravity, strong and weak nuclear forces, electromagnetic forces) was not created? That it either created itself or is infinite (although we know of it's beginning)?
Really enjoyed this interview, thank you. I read his "weird things" book when it came out in the 90s and have casually followed along since. It was interesting hear more about his own history, too.
I was just sharing this with a friend and wrote “Megham” 😱😱😱 you are so right!
I just wrote a blog post to say what I think Shermer is completed wrong about the Kennedy Assassination. https://ramcduffwhatever.blogspot.com/2022/11/still-conspiracy-after-all-these-years.html
Great conversation. Shermer is a thoroughly reasonable person and I should probably start listening to his podcast again.
One quibble- the anti-antibiotic crowd is definitely out there. Living in a part of the country where Lyme disease is rampant and prescriptions for doxycycline are common, I have had many conversations with these people. For them the solution (for any ailment including bacterial infection) seems to be herbal medicine and acupuncture. It’s absolutely crazy making.
I am about 3/4 of the way through this great interview, just past Shermer sharing his personal story about leaving Evangelical Christianity. It seems his exit well illustrates the point that we humans do not tolerate uncertainty and messiness. Those who once upon a time subscribed to fundamentalist/dogmatic/absolutist "religions" dismiss it all vehemently when they depart the fold. Adding only more dualism to the mix rather than grace.
There is no one more dogmatic than the adult convert, both into religion and out of it.
I have been an atheist from the beginning (4 year-old) so not dogmatic! I appreciate that I am a minority, don't have "the God gene", note that religion can be progressive in many contexts and, sometimes, a lovely and meaningful community. All that said, Christianity is not a nice religion at all. If you don't believe in it, you go to hell. This is quite oft-putting.