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#1B SKEPTIC

I believe knowledge is generally accompanied by some degree of uncertainty and doubt. I like where doubting can lead: to questioning, debating, reconsidering, testing, new knowledge, and eventually to the truth.  I am suspicious of faith-based beliefs. In deciding what to believe, I prefer reason and critical thinking, to emotion and wishful thinking.  In putting down "true believers"— sometimes treating them with contempt— I lack humility and can be arrogant. (Note: critics charge that, in their efforts to “debunk,” skeptics can be closed-minded, and too eager to dismiss evidence not supportive of what they believe.)

More Information About This Worldview Theme

a diamond WV Theme...

...individual <---> knowledge

the theme is paired with: #2A The True Believer to make Choice #4    in the Choices We Make cards 

this theme as presented in older version of theme structure:  version 1.0  version 2.0  version 3.0         is this theme new to version 4?--NO

click to look at the Project Worldview Cultural Literacy Encyclopedia Related Words, Beliefs, Background articles for the above choice 

 Project Worldview authored discussion, Worldview Watch related issues, songs, etc.  

Discussion from The Worldview Literacy Book Songs
Worldview Watch issue #69, posted 10/14/2021  Suggestibility, Alien Abductions, and Democracy
Worldview Watch issue #31: "God, Science, Faith"

Wikipedia articles related to this theme:

Debunkers   Skepticism Scientific Skepticism
Rationality  Critical Thinking Religious Skepticism
 Questioning Doubt  Philosophical Skepticism

 worldview internal inconsistency related: Strongly valuing this theme and any of the themes in the list below is a contradiction:

#1A   Humbly Unsure    #2B I Know What's Best For You   #4 Spreading Disinformation / Tactical Deception #5B Vitalism
#7A   Mysticism    #7B Magic #8B   Belief in a Personal God #9A   Religious Fundamentalism
#9B  In God's Hands: Apocalypticism #12A Polytheism, Animism, Pagan   #12B Non-Rational Knowing    #14A  Salvation & Moralistic God
#14B Moral Arc of Universe/Karma/Reincarnation #25  Evil is Out There #36B  Conspiracies   #49B Idealistic Socialism  
#201B Positive Expectations      
       
       

More to Explore --Worldview Theme #1B:  Skeptic

What is a Skeptic?
Skeptic Magazine (concerned with "extraordinary claims, revolutionary ideas, and the promotion of science")
Skeptical Inquirer Magazine
links to websites on skepticism, analytical, rational thinking
Doubt: A History, by Jennifer Michael Hecht  (reviews of this book: "a stunning chronicle of unbelievers")
Dissent -- Magazine of Independent Social Thought
Tutorial on Problem Based Learning: Taxonomy of Socratic Questioning (from Fermi Lab website)
Learning Questioning, by Jamie McKenzie (this article is a resource for both teachers and students)
NoBeliefs.com ( website "for freethinkers"; entertaining, offensive depending on what you believe)
The Skeptic's Dictionary
The Skeptic  (British magazine looks at pseudoscience claims from skeptical perspective)
Skeptical Investigations (skeptical of the skeptics!)
Skeptical Information Sources (from Quackwatch)
Myths Are Widely Held Beliefs That Really Aren't True — And Here Are 18 Of Them That Are Very Ingrained Into All Of Us by Brian Galindo (from Buzzfeed September 27 2022)
Skeptical About UFOs (from The Skeptical Inquirer September 2021)
Climate Change and the Midwest : Soaked and Less Skeptical  (changing attitudes report from The Economist Jun 1 2019)
Trump Administration Hardens Its Attack on Climate Science by Coral Davenport and Mark Landler (NY Times article May 27 2019)
In Shift, Key Climate Denialist Group Heartland Institute Pivots to Policy by Katie Worth  (from PBS Frontline Nov 2 2018)

Links to "Articles in Opposition to Creationism" maintained by Lorence Collins (47 links to articles listed as of October 2018)

"When media sceptics misrepresent our climate research we must speak out" by Myles Allen and Richard Millar (from The Guardian   September 21 2017)

"Systemic Bias" by Richard Muller  (Essay 2017 contribution to Edge.org) 

"The Theology of Donald Trump"  by Peter Wehner (oped piece from NY Times July 5 2016 ==> skeptical about Trump motivation)
"Why I left Mormonism" (skeptical about Mormon religious foundations)
"Critique of PEAR Remote Viewing Lab Experiments" by George P. Hansen, Jessica Utts, Betty Markwick  (skeptical about paranormal phenomena)
The Believing Brain by Michael Shermer (read excerpts of this 2011 book)
"Ten Ways Christians Tend to Fail at Being Christian" by John Shore (on The Huffington Post, May, 7, 2010)
"Adam's Maxim and Spinoza's Conjecture" by Michael Shermer (in 3/2008 Sci Am. re: disbelief in the brain)
 Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero ( PBS Frontline program, that asks "Where was God on September 11th?) 
The Method of Doubt (another look at DesCartes' method of examining supposed truths)
Mistakes Were Made, by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson (2007 book about justifying foolish beliefs, etc)
quotes related to skepticism

back to Theme Choices version 5.0 structure

"As you shop in "The Reality Marketplace" avoid spending your "reality cash" too early,  before you have seen everything. " 
from Coming of Age in the Global Village,  by Stephen P. Cook,  with Donella H. Meadows
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