Agnostic.com
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What do you all think about the number of people on Agnostic.com that support various kinds of woo? The ones who talk about energy healing, essential oils, Reiki, naturopathy, etc. Should we call them out on their posts for being poor skeptics? Should we post info which corrects their faulty perceptions? Or should we just let it go and not raise a fuss?

Jlangston70 7 July 9
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It never ceases to amaze me how many people claim to be agnostic or atheist, then talk about crystals, herbs and any other kind of woo. They might as well not label themselves as atheist and rather just say their god is whatever new age pseudoscientific bullshit they're currently infatuated with. It really all seems the same to me.

To me it seems like we're still completely different types of people that don't mix well at all.

Actually, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. While there are plenty of atheists that are skeptics and plenty who are, ehem...nutjobs....I supposed that's no different than labeling someone religious without knowing if they're jewish, muslim, Mormon, or plain ol' vanilla Christian.

(I hate that auto-correct capitalizes Mormon and Christian but not jewish or muslim. That's kind of discriminatory isn't it? Ha, meaning they all need to be un-capitalized, but anyway...)

I also think, as others have mentioned, that they do need to be called out so that bystanders don't think that everyone agrees. It doesn't need to be antagonistic, unless they're really out there, but something should be said.

I'm going to go rub some non-GMO crystals under my arms then make some all natural, poison ivy lip balm then dance naked around the campfire.
(only the campfire part is true 😉 )

EddieDean Level 6 July 10, 2018

@Jlangston70 uh yeah, duh...?

2

What they don't get is that the real 'magic' is in the sciences - in physics. But they're either too lazy to undergo even a basic study of this area or maybe they have but still their thinking is contaminated with indoctrination /magical thinking. Best book for this kind of mindset might well be "The Demon Haunted World - Science as a Candle in the Dark" by Carl Sagan. [en.wikipedia.org]

1

No, they're here because they envy people who don't believe in the woo, yet they can't stop believing or trying to get others to be like them. Humor them. Trying to get them to acknowledge who they are or to change is a waste of time. They won't bother to read anything that contradicts what they believe. Trying to get them to do so just gets them more worked up.

wdwyer Level 5 July 10, 2018
2

I am always disappointed to see that shit here because I would like to think that for most of us, rational, evidence-based thinking is what brought us to atheism. That is not the case far too frequently.

It depends on my mood, I've done all three.

JimG Level 8 July 9, 2018
2

This is my take, often these conversations turn in to personal attacks or trying to make people feel dumb for thinking things. I think that has a negative outcome and causes people to dig in.

If you have more tools in your toolbag, then I think you really should talk more. You are not likely to change the mind of a true believer, but there is an audience that is watching the thread and most have not made up their mind. That is mainly who you are talking to in these situations. You really look bad to those people if you simply attack the person.

JeffB Level 6 July 9, 2018
1

If they post that material in the "Skeptics" Group it might be appropriate to ask them how it aligns with skepticism, but it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with agnosticism or dating, the two ostensible focuses of the site in general.

skado Level 9 July 9, 2018
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