To my Southern Friends: Are You Sure You Want to Support the Battle Flag?

For many southerners, the Battle Flag (or "Confederate flag") doesn’t mean white supremacy or racial superiority. They, like myself, grew up thinking the flag meant southern pride: pride in a simple life and family time, synonymous with cornbread and pickup trucks. The racial history of the flag wasn’t part of their dialogue growing up, and they have largely been oblivious to the history surrounding the flag and how other people view it. When they see the Battle Flag, they see it as standing up for their culture and lifestyle that is largely mocked and ridiculed by those in other parts of the country, and when they see their symbol being attacked, they feel as though their lifestyle and culture is being attacked as well, resulting in their clinging to it more intensely.

I Celebrate the Supreme Court Ruling Because of my Religion, Not in Spite of It

It is with much joy that I woke up and heard the news this morning: the Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex marriage bans are illegal and these unions must be recognized. I've been a supporter of the legalization of same-sex marriage for years, and today, I'm very proud of my country.

But I'm a Mormon, and Mormons have a history of opposing same-sex marriage.

Today's Logical Fallacy is... Slippery Slope!

This fallacy has been chosen especially in honor of today's Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage!

(Also known as “Snowball Argument,” “Domino Theory”)

The slippery slope fallacy is based on the idea that if we allow one thing to happen (“A”), then it will inevitably lead to a chain reaction of consequences, eventually culminating in something reprehensible (“Z”). 

Defending Family Values - Are You Sure Same-Sex Marriage is the Threat?

"Defend the family!"

"Stand up for family values!"

"The family is under attack!"

Oh, you've heard it. From the pulpit to news media outlets to social media, you've heard about the war on the family. And you know exactly what it is they are referencing:

Same-sex marriage.

Today's Logical Fallacy is.... Equivocation!

(Semantics, Splitting Hairs, Playing With Words, or Using Legalisms, Fallacy of Equivocation, Doublespeak)

This fallacy occurs when someone uses the inherent ambiguity in a word to manipulate the audience by suggesting that a word means something that it doesn’t, often by allowing the meaning of a word to change during the argument and thus invalidating the conclusion. Equivocations are common in the American legal system, newspaper headlines, and anti-science arguments. They are also very effective in humor and satire.

Changing Times

I know, I've been absent for the past few months. Between getting the Evolution/Religion lecture finished and posted, getting ready to start my PhD at the University of Kentucky, and getting ready to move, I've been *super* busy. So I'm sorry. Don't worry; I'll be back posting regularly soon.

BUT...

I did want to let everyone know that the blog itself is shifting a bit in its emphasis. I've focused the past year on science and religion, and I'll continue to write on that, but there are other things that I think are important: religion itself, science outside of the context of religion, politics, culture. You know, life. So the title has been changed to "A Believing Scientist" (same web address), and you'll find a wider range of things being posted here. Especially since I've dropped the pseudonym I used in the beginning ("Rose Huxley"). You can expect to see a bit more of... well, me. I hope you enjoy it.