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Thread: Great American Skeptics

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    Default Great American Skeptics

    Ben Franklin vs Mesmerism, Harry Houdini vs Seances and Mark Twain vs Hypnotism and Phrenology.

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    Leviticus 19:33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not do him wrong. 34 The stranger that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as the homeborn among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

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    Carl Sagan, bitches.
    "Do not think that I came to bring peace... I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." - Matthew 10:34

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    Quote Originally Posted by RStringfield View Post
    Ben Franklin vs Mesmerism, Harry Houdini vs Seances and Mark Twain vs Hypnotism and Phrenology.
    and Johnny Carson vs Spoon Benders and Faith Healers.
    Leviticus 19:33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not do him wrong. 34 The stranger that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as the homeborn among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

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    Quote Originally Posted by RStringfield View Post
    Ben Franklin vs Mesmerism, Harry Houdini vs Seances and Mark Twain vs Hypnotism and Phrenology.

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    What about W.C. Fields versus....well....everyone and everything?

    my personal favorite skeptic was H.L. Menken and his skewering of the religous right.
    Last edited by Mott the Hoople; 11-02-2009 at 03:16 PM.
    You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic!

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    Some of Menkens Quotes

    "There's a sucker born every minute."
    "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."
    "Puritanism, the huanting fear that someone, somewhere, might be happy."
    You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mott the Hoople View Post
    What about W.C. Fields versus....well....everyone and everything?

    my personal favorite skeptic was H.L. Menken and his skewering of the religous right.
    Blank verse versus those versed in verses
    http://www.justplainpolitics.com/blog.php?u=237
    If you feel so inclined a comment would be appreciated.

    Respect a believers right to believe, but they should damn well repect our right to challenge such utterly illogical notions.


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    This is not greatest, but great. Houdini would have to be included in a short list of greatest. After reading this I think I would put Franklin on a short list too.

    What were Fields' and/or Mencken's investigative achievements? I like Mencken too, but the best skeptics are those who have added to testing of fantastic claims.
    Leviticus 19:33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not do him wrong. 34 The stranger that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as the homeborn among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

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    Skepticism comprehension fail.
    "Do not think that I came to bring peace... I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." - Matthew 10:34

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    Quote Originally Posted by RStringfield View Post
    This is not greatest, but great. Houdini would have to be included in a short list of greatest. After reading this I think I would put Franklin on a short list too.

    What were Fields' and/or Mencken's investigative achievements? I like Mencken too, but the best skeptics are those who have added to testing of fantastic claims.
    Franklin and Houdini were both on that short list.
    Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but rather we have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.
    - -- Aristotle

    Believe nothing on the faith of traditions, even though they have been held in honor for many generations and in diverse places. Do not believe a thing because many people speak of it. Do not believe on the faith of the sages of the past. Do not believe what you yourself have imagined, persuading yourself that a God inspires you. Believe nothing on the sole authority of your masters and priests. After examination, believe what you yourself have tested and found to be reasonable, and conform your conduct thereto.
    - -- The Buddha

    It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
    - -- Aristotle

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    Quote Originally Posted by RStringfield View Post
    This is not greatest, but great. Houdini would have to be included in a short list of greatest. After reading this I think I would put Franklin on a short list too.

    What were Fields' and/or Mencken's investigative achievements? I like Mencken too, but the best skeptics are those who have added to testing of fantastic claims.
    Mencken tested many religeous and social paradigms. For example, none of us would have ever heard of the Scopes Monkey Trial had it not been for Mencken.
    You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic!

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