Sean McDowell and Michael Shermer Dialogue Videos

In this series of unscripted videos by SAVN.tv, Sean McDowell and Michael Shermer talk about the Fine-Tuning of the Universe, Objective Morality, and the Evidence for God. The conversation was hosted by Cross Examination, a show produced by The Salvation Army to stimulate thinking and discussion:

• Objective morality and God: Part 1

• Objective morality and God: Part 2

• The Fine-Tuning of the Universe

• Does atheism or theism better explain the universe?

• Evidence and God

Watch all the videos on one page over at Thinking Matters.
Enjoy.

Book Review: The Believing Brain by Michael Shermer

A Review Essay of Michael Shermer’s The Believing Brain
by Eugene A. Curry

Introduction

Michael Shermer is an interesting man. He is a former professional cyclist, a professor at Claremont Graduate University in California, and the Executive Director of the Skeptics Society. It is in this last role as a professional unbeliever that Shermer has really made a name for himself. Raised within a household largely apathetic to religious issues, Shermer embraced Christianity as a teenager and pursued his new spirituality with gusto. But after some time Shermer’s faith began to wane and ultimately guttered out. Now, armed with an education in experimental psychology and history, Shermer opposes belief in all things supernatural and paranormal by writing books on these issues, publishing a magazine entitled Skeptic, debating prominent believers, and standing in as the designated doubter in various media appearances.

Shermer’s latest book, The Believing Brain: From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies—How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths, pursues this very track, sketching out the various dynamics that undergird human thought and then analyzing a range of beliefs he finds incredible with reference to that theoretical framework. Unsurprisingly, given Shermer’s own religious skepticism, he dedicates a fairly sizable chunk of his book to debunking religious notions like life after death and the existence of God. 

Does the Universe Have a Purpose? Audio Debate

Richard Dawkins, Michael Shermer, and Matt Ridley debated William Lane Craig, Douglas Geivett, and Rabbi David Wolpe on the topic: Does the Universe Have a Purpose? This debate is part of the third annual Festival Internacional de Mentes Brillantes (English: International Festival of Great Minds). It took place on Saturday, November 13, 2010 in Puebla, Mexico.

Full English Debate MP3 Audio here. (1hr. 43min)
Video here.
Enjoy.

John Lennox vs. Michael Shermer: The Great Debate - Does God Exist? MP3 Audio

The Great Debate: Does God Exist? This is a debate featuring Professor John Lennox and Dr Michael Shermer during Australian Science Week 2008.

Full MP3 Audio here.

Found here.

Enjoy.