These things I believe

I hope to turn this into a blogging meme that spreads throughout the skeptical blogosphere (hey, I can be ambitious if I want) but if someone else came up with this idea great, otherwise I claim full credit for it.

Skepticism, critical thinking and the promotion of science is often criticised as being negative by the horde of woos and religious believers when nothing could be further from the truth. Asking questions is empowering and science has the ability to fill us with awe and wonder if properly understood. Sometimes the accusation is levelled that skeptics or atheists don't believe in anything.

This post is my statement of belief, my affirmation of my skepticism and my declaration that science is inspiring, enlightening and fulfilling. I call upon the skeptics of the blogosphere to proudly and boldly state their beliefs.


These things I believe.

I believe that Sylvia Browne, John Edwards, James Van Praagh and any others who claim to talk to spirits or the dead are liars, cheats, frauds or deluded.

I believe that so-called psychics are using nothing more than cold, warm and hot reading techniques.

I believe that Nostradamus was writing in code about his time, not the future.

I believe that any observed effect of alternative medicine (including but not limited to acupuncture, homeopathy and reiki is nothing more than the placebo effect.

I believe that astrology doesn't work.

I believe that JFK was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald alone.

I believe that man landed on the Moon.

I believe that the attacks of 9/11 were not the work of the Bush administration, the New World Order or any other conspiracy.

I believe that there is alien life out there, but it hasn't visited us.

I believe that The Secret and the Law of Attraction are a crock of shit centred around the proposition that the victim is to blame.

I believe that anthropegenic global warming is a fact, and that we need to act decisively and rapidly to overcome it.

I believe in the separation of church and state.

I believe that marriage between consenting adults should not be governed by the state or religious belief.

I believe in equality for all.

I believe in the scientific method.

I believe that life on this planet evolved by natural selection.

I believe that Intelligent Design is creationism in disguise, and is therefore religion not science.

I believe that the Universe as we know it began with the Big Bang.

I believe that science has the ability to fill us with awe and wonder.

I believe that critical thinking is empowering.

I believe that there is no such thing as too much education.

I believe that being an expert in one subject does not make you an expert on all subjects.

I believe that humankind has a need to believe in something higher than itself, but that doesn't mean it has to.

I believe that atheism frees us from the shackles of superstition.

I believe that when presented with sound evidence that contradicts our beliefs, we need to re-examine our beliefs.

I believe that autism is not caused by mercury in vaccines, Thimerasol or too many vaccines at once.

I believe that vaccines save lives.

I believe that I would rather live in a world where abortion is not necessary, but that the state has no right to tell women they can't have one under any circumstances.

I believe there is no such thing as gods.

I believe there is no such thing as ghosts, fairies or other such supernatural entities.

I believe that morality does not come from gods or religion.

These things I believe.

And as time goes on, I'll add to this list.