My column on conspiracy theories by different political parties went up at LiveScience.com last week. A new national poll reveals that Americans differ along political party lines even in their endorsement of conspiracy theories, including the belief that President...
Media Literacy
My ‘Media Mythmakers’ Book Cited in New York Law School Report
My research on sex offenders and the news media, published in my 2003 book Media Mythmakers: How Journalists, Activists, and Advertisers Mislead Us, was recently quoted in a report from the New York Law School... You can read the full report HERE, it's actually pretty...
How Belief in Magic Spreads HIV in Africa
In many countries throughout the world belief in witches is common, and black magic is considered part of everyday life. A 2010 poll of 18 countries in sub-Saharan Africa found that over half of the population believe in magic. Witch doctors are consulted not only for...
Sharon Hill of ‘Doubtful News’ Becomes HuffPo Blogger
Sharon Hill, editor and writer of the ever-useful site DoubtfulNews.com, has recently become a writer for the Huffington Post. Congratulations to Sharon, and I'm sure she will be spreading skepticism and critical thinking for a long time to come. You can read her...
My book “Scientific Paranormal Investigation” Finalist for New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards!
My book “Scientific Paranormal Investigation: How to Solve Unexplained Mysteries” was a finalist for the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards in the Science & Math category. How cool is that? It's got some great reviews on Amazon.com and elsewhere; copies are still...
The Reality of Demonic Possession and Exorcism
The belief that demons exist and can possess people is of course the stuff of fiction and horror films — but it is also one of the most widely-held religious beliefs in the world. Most religions claim that humans can be possessed by demonic spirits (the Bible, for...
Was Hugo Chavez Murdered?: Cancer Conspiracies
In my recent article for Discovery News I discuss conspiracy theories surrounding the recent death of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez--including that an American plot caused his cancer. You can read it HERE.
My ‘Scientific Paranormal Investigation’ book– and Carl Sagan’s ‘Demon-Haunted World’
I'm honored and delighted to see that my paranormal investigation book is often bought along with one of the all-time great skeptical books by one of my heroes, Carl Sagan. From Amazon.com:
The Scope of Skeptical Activism: A Personal Story
I've been working at the Center for Inquiry's Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (formerly CSICOP) for fifteen years. I'm best known for my skeptical investigations and research into paranormal subjects such as ghosts, lake monsters, chupacabras, near-death experiences,...
Commentary: Burning the Mean and Disparaging Skeptic Straw Man
"Does “skeptic” equal nasty, obnoxious and shouty? No? Then why do we get automatically tagged with those characteristics even when we are not? The word carries some connotations. But that ought not bar an exchange between skeptics and believers. We have some bridges...