One of the pleasant side effects of skepticism is that it doesn’t neatly align you on one end of the political spectrum or the other or even with a political party.

50 years ago, being an atheist would cause people to associate you with communism and socialism.  In the 1980’s and onwards in the United States it would make you opposed “religious-right”.

But it seems more and more in this day and age, skepticism and atheists make one start to pick more fights with the left.

Whether is it:

• Aspects of the environmentalism movements, from recycling to organic food
• Alternative Medicines promoted by the Huffington Post
• President Obama’s appointment to the National Institute of Health
• Or when multiculturalism is used to defend extremist religious practices.

Skepticism and atheism can certainly give one an endless line of people to argue with.

The whyevolutionistrue blog has a got a new word for you.  You know those people to call themselves atheists but also claim that it’s OK to reconcile science and religion?

Or perhaps, people who claim to be atheists but also say one shouldn’t criticise other’s beliefs, even if those beliefs could be danger to a free society.

There a new word to describe that point of view:  Faitheism.  And a person who posits that viewpoint is a Faitheist.

New words are always such fun!

They Might Be Giants (my favorite band of all time) and just come out with a children’s album that may offend religious people.

Why? Because it’s about Science of course!  It’s called Here Comes Science

Some choice lyrics from the song “Science is Real”:

I like the stories

About angels, unicorns and elves

Now I like the stories

As much as anybody else

But when I’m seeking knowledge

Either simple or abstract

The facts are with science

The facts are with science

What a great band!

P.S. Be sure to check out the song “My Brother the Ape”, due to its Ape (not monkey) related content.

From WikiMedia Commons

I love what James Randi has done for the advancement of skepticism over the various decades; from uncovering psychic frauds (aren’t all psychics frauds?) to promoting science to the masses.

But someday, the world will be without The Great Debunker…