tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53574076671316066352024-03-23T00:14:16.506-04:00Opinions and QuestionsA blog full of opinions and questions, and several questionable opinions.Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-54525879955571934772024-03-20T08:31:00.004-04:002024-03-20T08:31:30.131-04:00Podcast for Inquiry S03E06: Free Agents: How Evolution Gave Us Free Will, with Kevin Mitchell<p><a href="https://www.kjmitchell.com/">Kevin Mitchell</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/WiringTheBrain">@WiringtheBrain</a>) is Associate Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin and writes the blog <a href="http://www.wiringthebrain.com/">Wiring the Brain</a>. His book, Free Agents, argues that evolution gave us Free Will. Kevin begins by describing free will, how life has it but rocks do not, and the gradient of choice from paramecia to humans. He talks about the thought experiment of “Rewinding the Tape” and whether someone could have done otherwise under identical circumstances. Kevin discusses the fundamental indeterminacy woven into the fabric of the universe at the quantum scale, and how that combines with chaotic systems to make many aspects of the universe both unpredictable and undetermined. Finally, Kevin speculates about the ramifications of his research and findings on social intuitions and institutions.</p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Support</a> Podcast for Inquiry on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Patreon</a>, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>), or listen here: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/30297968/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="316" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/COwc-0x3_N4" width="483" youtube-src-id="COwc-0x3_N4"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-39786579808613862192024-03-06T21:35:00.003-05:002024-03-06T21:39:04.017-05:00Podcast for Inquiry S03E05: Julien Musolino asks, Who cares if Libertarian Free Will is scientifically incoherent? <p><a href="https://psych.rutgers.edu/people/chair-v-cs/faculty-profile/118-julien-musolino">Dr. Julien Musolino</a> is a cognitive scientist and author of The Soul Fallacy. He explains why the intuitively, commonly-held notion of free will - known as “libertarian” or “contra-causal” - is scientifically incoherent. This has some implications for how we view ourselves and how we treat others, but on many levels it also doesn’t matter. Julien restores the concept of free will by providing a different definition of free will at a higher level of abstraction. Along the way, Julien and I delve into ideas from philosophy, morality, politics, and sociology.</p><p>Publications referenced in the conversation:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/epdf/10.1098/rstb.2004.1546">For the law, neuroscience changes nothing and everything</a>, by Joshua Greene</li><li><a href="http://nebula.wsimg.com/ec32fac423f663813fcf5e26021d5fff?AccessKeyId=57C0F200619988621A8D&disposition=0&alloworigin=1">Moral Responsibility Reconsidered</a>, by Gregg D. Caruso</li><li><a href="https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/blog/2011/07/13/free-will-is-as-real-as-baseball/">Free is as real as baseball</a>, by Sean Carroll </li></ul><div><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Support</a> Podcast for Inquiry on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Patreon</a>, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>), or listen here: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/30229438/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zN0ZdP7ChBQ" width="481" youtube-src-id="zN0ZdP7ChBQ"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p></div><p></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-56039371138776498132024-02-22T17:30:00.002-05:002024-02-26T11:06:45.030-05:00Podcast for Inquiry S03E04: Maryam Namazie and The Paris Appeal<p><a href="https://maryamnamazie.com/">Maryam Namazie</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/MaryamNamazie">@MaryamNamazie</a>) is the spokesperson for <a href="https://onelawforall.org.uk/">One Law for All</a> and the <a href="https://www.ex-muslim.org.uk/">Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain</a>. In December 2023, the CEMB released <a href="https://www.ex-muslim.org.uk/2023/12/paris-appeal-laics-of-the-world-unite/">The Paris Appeal</a>, calling for Laics of all countries to unite. Maryam explains the purpose and content of The Paris Appeal, and along the way gets into the difference between laïcité and secularism, and reveals the religious court system in England that denies many women the rights they ought to enjoy. Maryam also talks about World Hijab Day, what the hijab means, and concludes with a passionate analysis of Québec’s religious symbols law.</p><div><a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Support</a> Podcast for Inquiry on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Patreon</a>, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>), or listen here: </div><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/29908848/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="317" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RYgEeBQ5dfI" width="482" youtube-src-id="RYgEeBQ5dfI"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-32429501138791730132024-02-07T10:37:00.005-05:002024-02-07T10:37:41.780-05:00Podcast for Inquiry S03E03: Sandra Dunham asks: Why does Canada give $5.6 billion annually to religious charities? <p>Canada allows organizations that do nothing but “advance religion” to be classified as charities. This policy decision costs Canadians at least $5.6 billion every year, according to the Centre for Inquiry Canada's <a href="https://centreforinquiry.ca/cost-of-religion-in-canada-2021/">Cost of Religion reports</a>. Sandra Dunham explains what this amount includes, how it was calculated, and the many benefits that religious institutions enjoy in addition to this figure. </p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Support</a> Podcast for Inquiry on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Patreon</a>, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>), or listen here: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/29271733/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m0VWp0m90V4" width="480" youtube-src-id="m0VWp0m90V4"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-54933268161337696162024-02-04T14:39:00.006-05:002024-02-04T14:39:42.212-05:00Podcast for Inquiry Diatribe #3: Insurance and Pharmacy Companies Collude to Coerce<p>Canadians with group benefits covered by Manulife will soon be able to fill certain prescriptions only at Loblaw-owned pharmacies, such as Shoppers Drug Mart.</p><p>In my third Podcast for Inquiry Diatribe, I fulminate against this blatantly anti-competitive, coercive arrangement that harms everyone it affects except for the profits of two of Canada’s largest companies. I explain why this deal ought to be a violation of Canadian law, and predict that, if allowed to stand, much more - and worse - is to come. </p><p>As with all Diatribes, the opinions expressed are mine alone and do not represent CFIC or any other ogranization. </p><div><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Support</a> Podcast for Inquiry on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Patreon</a>, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>), or listen here: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/29772518/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YejhGUfwVXM" width="482" youtube-src-id="YejhGUfwVXM"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-85752428323209254652024-01-24T09:10:00.000-05:002024-01-24T09:10:01.792-05:00Podcast for Inquiry S03E02: The life of a refugee in exile: “Omer” shares his story<p>“Omer” (a pseudonym) was born and raised in Pakistan, but his life was threatened when he expressed doubts about the inerrancy of Islam. He survived a manhunt by the Pakistani government, and now lives as a refugee in Nepal. Omer is the first Pakistani atheist to reach 100,000 subscribers on <a href="https://youtube.com/ExMuslimSpartacus">his YouTube channel</a>. He has been accepted by Canada as a permanent resident, but exit permit issues mean Omer cannot leave Nepal for an indeterminate period. You may contribute to supporting Omer (who is not allowed to work in Nepal) by making a <a href="https://centreforinquiry.ca/donate-to-cfic/">donation to CFIC</a>. </p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Support</a> Podcast for Inquiry on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Patreon</a>, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>), or listen here: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/29564423/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pJhwjSxxI2c" width="479" youtube-src-id="pJhwjSxxI2c"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-5148027835815221902024-01-10T08:56:00.006-05:002024-01-10T09:20:50.869-05:00Podcast for Inquiry S03E01: Liberalism a post-liberal world, with Russell Blackford <p> A new year, a new season of Podcast for Inquiry!</p><p>Podcast for Inquiry starts 2024 with a deep discussion into the philosophical concept of liberalism, and of how Western culture has strayed from it as an ideal. <a href="http://www.russellblackford.com/">Russell Blackford</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/Metamagician">@Metamagician</a>) is a philosopher, literary critic, and widely published author. Russell talks about how the philosophical principle of Liberalism runs through his two most recent books, The Tyranny of Opinion and How We Became Post-Liberal. Our conversation starts with a definition of how Liberalism emerged over the past few centuries, and delves into two of its core concepts: free speech and toleration. We also discuss how group dynamics can lead to polarization and how society can return to liberal values. </p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Support</a> Podcast for Inquiry on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Patreon</a>, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>), or listen here: </p><p><iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/29308393/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" height="90" width="100%" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="317" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ws9BBWaa0O4" width="483" youtube-src-id="Ws9BBWaa0O4"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-73457230350476843792024-01-06T20:25:00.008-05:002024-01-06T20:47:22.093-05:00Two Incredible Years of Podcast for InquiryThe following article was initially published in the <a href="https://centreforinquiry.ca/january-2024-critical-links/">January 2024 edition</a> of the <a href="https://centreforinquiry.ca/">Centre for Inquiry Canada's</a> monthly newsletter, <a href="https://centreforinquiry.ca/critical-links-archive/">Critical Links</a>.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's been two amazing years of Podcast for Inquiry, and it continues to be a source of tremendous pride to host fascinating conversations, every two weeks. We brought you 25 discussions in 2023, plus three bonus episodes featuring Leslie defending secular principles in various contexts. </div><br />Here are some highlights: <div><br />We kicked off the year with a <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/01/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e01-what-it.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw1xARKlsh4q6vc5oFi2QnQk" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/01/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e01-what-it.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">passionate defense of morality on secular grounds</a> from Phil Zuckerman. This remains one of my favourite conversations to date. At one point, professor Zuckerman launches into a defense of secular values and governance with a passion and eloquence that rivals anything I've heard from Dawkins or Hitchens. If you haven't already listened to this episode, you're missing out.<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The topic of <b>religion and cults</b> was a recurring theme in 2023, including conversations with:</span><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/02/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e03-what-does.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw3uSxCLvh8PHFr8mZHTHcRP" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/02/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e03-what-does.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Dr. Joshua Bowen</a> on Biblical [in]accuracy</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/03/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e05-chris.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw2F4Llwyul6czIMYRfByAvp" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/03/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e05-chris.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Chris Shelton</a> on Scientology and destructive cults<br /></span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/03/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e07-philippa.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw1SMT2Q_vjLfQ4d8Pt8UZWm" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/03/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e07-philippa.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Philippa Carter</a> on What is a Religion?<br /></span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/05/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e10-secular.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw2La6-vHqSxYgGZuxFy7Wub" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/05/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e10-secular.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Noah Rasheta</a> on Secular Buddhism<br /></span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/09/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e20-seth-andrews.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw1uG1LfT4dCCoyspYul_uKA" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/09/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e20-seth-andrews.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Seth Andrews</a> on Christians acting in un-Christian ways (this was the year's <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/rm6-tRdu2uE&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw3hFihfqSxKvxBh-nLDtRSl" href="https://youtu.be/rm6-tRdu2uE" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">most popular episode on YouTube</a>, with 40,000+ views and over 200 comments!)</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/11/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e23-solomon.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw2w3vYpE11-hgw7J8HkbB0n" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/11/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e23-solomon.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">David Fitzgerald</a> claiming Solomon, Jesus and Mohammed are all fictional</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Science </b>featured prominently:</span><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/01/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e02-ashley.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw0LlLJhBk89I0cugiqROGaV" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/01/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e02-ashley.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Ashely Esakin</a> on Gardening in any Environment</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/02/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e04-allan.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw2Cm65OaqYytR5A0pBhaIrv" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/02/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e04-allan.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Allan Offenberger</a> on the Current State of Fusion Research<br /></span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/06/podcast-for-inquiry-s2e13-dana.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw0vagQpEsM_GIzyM_Gy0wNm" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/06/podcast-for-inquiry-s2e13-dana.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Dana Korneisel</a> on tetrapods (and axolotls!)<br /></span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/08/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e18-scicomm-in.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw00HZDp0iPOp4gsd10sgpEX" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/08/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e18-scicomm-in.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Tara Moriarty</a> on Communicating Scientific Knowledge during Covid<br /></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>Podcast for Inquiry delved into <b>Politics</b>:</span><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/05/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e11-misogyny-in.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw0UcTx9g60AN0LVp56RKpat" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/05/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e11-misogyny-in.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Srishti Hukku</a> on Misogyny in Humanism</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/07/podcast-for-inquiry-s2e14-homophobia-in.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw1mzkWzL6VNw-075LQSrEvd" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/07/podcast-for-inquiry-s2e14-homophobia-in.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Tonya Callaghan</a> on Homophobia in Catholic Schools</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/08/podcast-for-inquiry-s2e15-escaping.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw2lKT_XxwjyPXzcY87rdDFi" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/08/podcast-for-inquiry-s2e15-escaping.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Eunju Kim</a> on Escaping North Korea<br /></span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Economics </b>was scrutinized:<br /></span></div><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/09/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e19-dont-be-evil.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw0yap3Du1Cu9u6pz0J8TykQ" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/09/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e19-dont-be-evil.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Paris Marx</a> on “Don’t be Evil” no longer applies<br /></span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/10/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e21-dr-evelyn.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw02uJWxkWllsqfzwIkvrexP" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/10/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e21-dr-evelyn.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Dr. Evelyn Forget</a> on Basic Income<br /></span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/11/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e24-gretchen.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw1WZ71nW64iTmBupRm1M2-t" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/11/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e24-gretchen.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Gretchen Morgenson</a> on How Private Equity Runs and Wrecks America<br /></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>A couple episodes demonstrated the benefits of <b>Research and Critical Thinking:</b> </span><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/08/podcast-for-inquiry-s2e17-how-minds.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw0fz5w_9PVOiY4dZPsddiRg" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/08/podcast-for-inquiry-s2e17-how-minds.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">David McRaney</a> on How Minds Change<br /></span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/10/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e22-dr-teale.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw1YmoGpNVIK6GJmulpwcT5j" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/10/podcast-for-inquiry-s02e22-dr-teale.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff</a> on Do Cities listen to the Supreme Court?<br /></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>Finally, three bonus episodes where I expound upon <b>Secular Values</b> in various contexts:</span><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/iTzg-EzePNk&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw3dYREyCq23-J2w5BKGIXHy" href="https://youtu.be/iTzg-EzePNk" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">debate</a> on God's Role in Politics (against a Catholic scholar and lawyer)</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/02/podcast-for-inquiry-s02b01-leslie.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw2OA0Hf4EfHA78-0uX64bHR" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/02/podcast-for-inquiry-s02b01-leslie.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">presentation</a> to an International Humanist Conference on Humanism in Children and Women's Rights</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/07/podcast-for-inquiry-diatribe-2-catholic.html&source=gmail&ust=1704676605402000&usg=AOvVaw2FlQDPj42UhAk8epWkEjea" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2023/07/podcast-for-inquiry-diatribe-2-catholic.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">diatribe</a> about what Canadian Catholic Hospitals consider Ethics</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>We have a couple incredible episodes to kick off 2024: a conversation with an Australian philosopher about our post-liberal world, and an intimate view into the life of Omer, a Pakistani refugee (sponsored by CFIC) waiting to come to Canada.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'd love to hear your feedback. Let me know what you loved, how we can improve, and what you want to hear on Podcast for Inquiry. I can always be reached at <a href="mailto:podcast@centreforinquiry.ca" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">podcast@centreforinquiry.ca</a>. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Leslie Rosenblood, your host on CFIC's Podcast for Inquiry </span></div></div>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-72163362004603456512023-12-18T18:04:00.005-05:002023-12-21T11:04:37.070-05:00Despite a facelift, the Salvation Army hasn't changed<p>Ten years ago, I implored people <a href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2013/12/do-not-give-your-money-to-these-people.html">not to donate to the Salvation Army</a>. </p><p>This was because, at the time, the Canadian chapter was evangelical and despicably homophobic. I decided to check whether they had changed in the decade since.</p><p>Unfortunately, it has not.</p><p>The<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Salvation Army Canada's <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.use-salvationarmy.org/SA_Annuals/Position_Statements.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1702778533521000&usg=AOvVaw2hWaMCDbEYrYuoENtOmT7l" href="http://www.use-salvationarmy.org/SA_Annuals/Position_Statements.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Official Position Statements (2007)</a> (the most recent version I could find) shows they believe that not just marriage, but also sexual intimacy, should be limited to between a man and a woman.</span></p><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"We believe that the family is ideally rooted in the biblical concept of a marriage covenant of one man and one woman." (Page 7) </span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"biblical standards calls for chastity outside of heterosexual marriage and faithfulness within it." (Page 9)</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"The Salvation Army believes marriage is the covenanting together of one man and one woman for life in a union to the exclusion of all others." (Page 13)</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"The Salvation Army affirms the sanctity of sexual relationships based on the teaching of Scripture. The Bible presents sexual intimacy as a gift from God that is ordained and blessed exclusively within the context of heterosexual marriage." (Page 14) </span></li></ul><span style="font-family: inherit;">That is an explicit denial of same-sex equal marriage. The Salvation Army Canada affirms that no LGBT people should have sexually intimate relations.</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>But that was over a decade and a half ago - well before I wrote my initial essay. Perhaps they are no longer (quite as) homophobic.<br /><br /></div><div>Three years ago, Forbes published <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dawnstaceyennis/2020/11/27/the-salvation-army-wants-you-to-believe-theyve-changed/?sh%3D28fd12433f71&source=gmail&ust=1702778533521000&usg=AOvVaw2hi15rJ8IaUYETeByrILmN" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dawnstaceyennis/2020/11/27/the-salvation-army-wants-you-to-believe-theyve-changed/?sh=28fd12433f71" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">The Salvation Army Wants You To Believe They’ve Changed</a>, citing the organization’s "long and horrid history of discrimination." They have quite the history of anti-LGBT actions. <br /><br /></div><div>What of the Salvation Army in Canada today?<br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><div><div><br /></div><div>Their <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://salvationist.ca/mission-vision-and-values/our-mission/&source=gmail&ust=1702778533516000&usg=AOvVaw3kiLq9a3sO4rz2mnVM-hT9" href="https://salvationist.ca/mission-vision-and-values/our-mission/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">current mission statement</a> begins with, "The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ". Similarly, the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://salvationist.ca/mission-vision-and-values/our-vision/&source=gmail&ust=1702778533516000&usg=AOvVaw3meu18HlX1Ha_C4SEUg2w4" href="https://salvationist.ca/mission-vision-and-values/our-vision/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Salvation Army Vision</a> ends with, "building communities that are just and know the love of Jesus." So it's clearly a proselytizing Christian organization. Any organization that wants to appeal to all segments of Canadian society (such as police services, grocery stores, and retailers) should steer clear. </div><div><br /></div><div>Though the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://salvationist.ca/mission-vision-and-values/our-values/&source=gmail&ust=1702778533516000&usg=AOvVaw32ZLEHk5XuKSO65TQiE4xY" href="https://salvationist.ca/mission-vision-and-values/our-values/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Salvation Army's Values</a> emphasize non-discrimination and valuing everyone, this one of their four values: "Hope: We give hope through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ." This not very welcoming to non-Christians.</div><div><br /></div><div>Further proof that The Salvation Army is a proselytizing organization, trying to get as many people as possible to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, can be found by looking at the "Corps Health Stream" portion of the program of their <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://salvationist.ca/events/inspire-2023/program/conference-workshops/&source=gmail&ust=1702778533516000&usg=AOvVaw2Unf_HVHh37ALh95tz0tf9" href="https://salvationist.ca/events/inspire-2023/program/conference-workshops/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">2023 Inspire conference</a>. It includes workshops such as, "God Space: Making the Most of Every Opportunity to Start Spiritual Conversations" and "Faith Formation: Helping People with Disabilities Connect with Jesus". It also includes biblical apologetics: "But Didn't You Know the Bible Says...? A Study of the Scriptural Texts Often Used to Challenge Women in Ministry". Their leadership stream has a workshop called, "Jesus-Centred: Serving with Jesus at the Centre of Who You Are and What You Do". </div><div><br /></div><div>The Salvation Army is clearly an organization by Christians, for Christians, seeking to convert as many non-Christians to Christianity as possible.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyone who doesn't believe that to be the case need only look at the Salvation Army's <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://salvationist.ca/about/doctrines/&source=gmail&ust=1702778533516000&usg=AOvVaw3lgPtoYQIWLr9kyBu8Aej4" href="https://salvationist.ca/about/doctrines/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Doctrines page</a>, any line of which will be sufficient to convince any reasonable observer. </div><div><br /></div><div><div>I'm not the only one who thinks so. Canadians are tiring of the Salvation Army's bigotry and proselytization: they are critically short of volunteers in <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2023/12/08/bells-silent-salvation-army-appeals-for-donations-volunteers&source=gmail&ust=1702778533521000&usg=AOvVaw2msnqtx4qQoSvGTsJDHRHY" href="https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2023/12/08/bells-silent-salvation-army-appeals-for-donations-volunteers" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Winnipeg</a>, <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/salvation-army-christmas-kettle-campaign-volunteer-shortage-1.4923342">Burlington</a>, <a href="https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/salvation-army-short-of-volunteers-to-run-donation-kettles-7941771">Victoria</a>, and <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://globalnews.ca/news/10153557/urgent-appeal-for-salvation-army-bell-ringers-in-west-kelowna/&source=gmail&ust=1702778533521000&usg=AOvVaw2GYJv3ptFjWv2B0qxwM2LQ" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10153557/urgent-appeal-for-salvation-army-bell-ringers-in-west-kelowna/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">West Kelowna</a>.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>To be clear: as a religious organization, the Salvation Army is perfectly within their rights to use their resources to spread the "Good Word" in an attempt to get more people to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. It is inappropriate, however, for any governmental entity (including those operating at arm's-length, such as police services or the LCBO in Ontario) to partner with a sectarian group like the Salvation Army. In addition, private corporations should rethink their partnerships with the Salvation Army. Any organization that wants to give presents to the poor (a genuinely charitable aim) should find another group that does charitable works (there is no shortage) and partner with them instead. </div><div><br /></div><div>If someone from the Salvation Army asks for a donation, politely decline and tell them you will make a contribution to a genuinely charitable organization - one that does not endorse bigotry and seek to convert the world to their faith. </div></div></div>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-62924951268889453472023-12-06T08:09:00.002-05:002023-12-06T08:09:23.640-05:00Podcast for Inquiry S02E25: A century of Humanism with Gordon Precious<p> Gordon Precious was born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1924. As a teenager he became a born-again Christian but as he travelled the world he began to question why he believed his faith was the only true one. As his 100th birthday approaches, Gordon shares his insights on vaccines, technology, humanism, and death. </p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Support</a> Podcast for Inquiry on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Patreon</a>, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>), or listen here: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/28705488/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nmV-Qzx0988" width="481" youtube-src-id="nmV-Qzx0988"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-71065616214195074762023-12-04T17:30:00.005-05:002023-12-05T10:14:22.341-05:00Calgary Police Service provides Honour Guard to Calgary Leadership Prayer Breakfast<p>I wrote the <a href="https://centreforinquiry.ca/calgary-police-provide-honour-guard-at-prayer-breakfast/">following article</a> for the <a href="https://centreforinquiry.ca/december-2023-critical-links/">December edition</a> of <a href="https://centreforinquiry.ca/critical-links/">Critical Links</a>, the monthly newsletter from the <a href="https://centreforinquiry.ca/">Centre for Inquiry Canada</a>. </p><p><b>Calgary Police Service provides Honour Guard to Calgary Leadership Prayer Breakfast</b></p>You might recall "Bob", the Calgary Police Service Sergeant who has had his complaint with the Alberta Human Rights Commission officially recognized (see articles from the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://centreforinquiry.ca/christianity-embedded-in-calgary-police/&source=gmail&ust=1701803447534000&usg=AOvVaw2u9PHe7VFAg-JihwomgARc" href="https://centreforinquiry.ca/christianity-embedded-in-calgary-police/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">June</a> and <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://centreforinquiry.ca/review-of-calgary-police-service-recommends-removal-of-religious-iconography/&source=gmail&ust=1701803447534000&usg=AOvVaw1RkOwNhoQMHNsCdGnnvxHR" href="https://centreforinquiry.ca/review-of-calgary-police-service-recommends-removal-of-religious-iconography/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">August</a> Critical Links). While we wait for his case to be heard, CFIC learned from <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://globalnews.ca/news/10049868/calgary-police-chief-unaware-honour-guard-attended-controversial-prayer-breakfast/&source=gmail&ust=1701803447534000&usg=AOvVaw1UdR8C2x8Kk89xksR0DEe2" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10049868/calgary-police-chief-unaware-honour-guard-attended-controversial-prayer-breakfast/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Global News</a> that "On Oct. 19, members of the [Calgary Police Service] honour guard escorted keynote speaker Nigel Hannaford to his seat at the Calgary Leaders Prayer Breakfast, as part of the opening ceremonies." <span style="font-family: inherit;">There are several things problematic about this decision by the CPS:</span><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://globalnews.ca/news/10039822/calgary-prayer-breakfast-anti-lgbtq2-rhetoric-residential-school-denialism/&source=gmail&ust=1701803447534000&usg=AOvVaw1ZDKHRBhLVkSGwKcW3AHuK" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10039822/calgary-prayer-breakfast-anti-lgbtq2-rhetoric-residential-school-denialism/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">According to Global News</a>, last month was the 55th year of the Calgary Leadership Prayer Breakfast. There has been no demonstrated safety or security need for a police presence at any previous event.</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The purpose of the CPS Honour Guard is to represent the service. Some events, such as the Stampede parade and Remembrance Day, always have an Honour Guard. Other events are at the discretion of the Honour Guard Executive and the Chief. That the leadership of the Calgary Police Service gave its implicit endorsement to an <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.calgaryprayerbreakfast.com/&source=gmail&ust=1701803447535000&usg=AOvVaw0TDOJ5ETYGn4TxazGmJday" href="https://www.calgaryprayerbreakfast.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">organization</a> that "affirms our faith in God through prayer, testimony, scripture reading, and fellowship" lends credence to Bob's claim that the CPS favours Christianity over other faiths. The police service must remain neutral in such matters of religion, as the Supreme Court ruled in the Saguenay case in 2015 (<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://centreforinquiry.ca/dr-teale-phelps-bondaroff-do-cities-listen-to-the-supreme-court/&source=gmail&ust=1701803447535000&usg=AOvVaw1SRZFXjjQ5uQQVLb_3mXh8" href="https://centreforinquiry.ca/dr-teale-phelps-bondaroff-do-cities-listen-to-the-supreme-court/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">listen</a> to or <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DvTzfjw0q9cM&source=gmail&ust=1701803447535000&usg=AOvVaw2jBXydtdHKfQrjy25a3BVM" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTzfjw0q9cM" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">watch</a> the Podcast for Inquiry episode on this topic) and affirmed in the Trinity Western University decision in 2018 (read my <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-supreme-court-rules-discrimination.html&source=gmail&ust=1701803447535000&usg=AOvVaw3bgCrmx8_wyxP5x8_vV1tg" href="https://opinionsquestions.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-supreme-court-rules-discrimination.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">analysis of the TWU ruling</a>). While the CLPB has every right to endorse Biblical teachings and exhort government to follow Christian precepts, CPS providing an Honour Guard to the CLPB is a violation of state neutrality and should not recur. </span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The content of this year's <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DQ7BSNYrOggA&source=gmail&ust=1701803447535000&usg=AOvVaw3rsifpHXTUJjgTNk5hkrFR" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7BSNYrOggA" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">keynote address</a>, by Nigel Hannaford, contains much that must make many active Calgary Police Service officers uncomfortable (at best):</span></li><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Hannaford rails against many Canadian laws. He describes Medical Assistance in Dying as "Doctors killing people", in violation of the commandment "Thou Shalt Not Murder". He pities the "Christian doctors [who] find themselves up against the government" about abortion. He even takes aim at the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, lamenting that "The Bible-based morality that you grew up with, that once informed Canadian law, was quietly but explicitly rejected in 1982 [when the Charter was adopted]." CPS officers are sworn to uphold the law. Why would it endorse someone who is asking his audience to reject it?</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He claims that there is "No proof that Christians murdered indigenous children" in residential schools. While there is much to be learned about the extent of abuse, there are thousands of documented deaths at residential schools (see the final report of the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://nctr.ca/records/reports/&source=gmail&ust=1701803447535000&usg=AOvVaw2w4IH8CqgBCi-VDHEEK1Kh" href="https://nctr.ca/records/reports/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Truth and Reconciliation Commission</a>). And while he does call for "these sites to be examined," referring to unmarked graves, notably absent was a call for the release of records from the Catholic Church, which continues to refuse to allow access to its voluminous documentation relating to Canada's residential schools. First Nations members of the Calgary Police Service (among others) doubtless would not approve of Hannaford's remarks.</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hannaford calls for Canada to become (or return to) a theocracy. He says, "Once, Canada's laws reflected a Biblical understanding of truth. [...] Then Canada adopted the Charter. Their [nine Supreme Court justices] job now is to interpret the law with the Canadian consensus, not the Bible." Later, Hannaford regrets that "We are now finding that Canadian law is often, and increasingly, at variance with our Bible-based worldview." Again, while individual Calgary officers are welcome to attend such an address as private citizens on their own time, why did the CPS endorse the Calgary Leadership Prayer Breakfast, and by extension its keynote speaker's call for Bible-based law in Canada? </span></li></ul></ul><span style="font-family: inherit;">The decision to provide an honour guard to Nigel Hannaford at the Calgary Leadership Prayer Breakfast shows tremendous disrespect to the diverse community CPS is tasked with protecting, as well as offending a sizable proportion of its own members.<br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bob's human rights complaint against the Calgary Police service because of its "Christian-default" practices continues to wind its way through the system. If you know an Alberta lawyer with human rights experience, please contact <a href="mailto:rosenblood@centreforinquiry.ca" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Leslie Rosenblood</a>, CFIC Secular Chair. </span>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-86646200460726132602023-11-22T10:32:00.001-05:002023-12-05T10:27:03.355-05:00Podcast for Inquiry S02E24: Gretchen Morgenson on her book These are the Plunderers: How Private Equity Runs -- and Wrecks -- America<span id="docs-internal-guid-18e79aa3-7fff-b04a-2f3e-ab5b119feb62"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What is Private Equity, and how does it work? </span><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/author/gretchen-morgenson-ncpn1100071" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Gretchen Morgenson</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (</span><a href="https://twitter.com/gmorgenson" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">@gmorgenson</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">) is a Pulitzer-winning journalist whose latest book is These are the Plunderers. Gretchen exposes the bad and often illegal activities of Private Equity firms, and tries to explain why they have been allowed to get away with it for so long. She describes how Private Equity firms operate behind the scenes to ensure the loopholes that substantially reduce their tax bills are never closed, and details recent events that might give cause for hope.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p></span></span><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Support</a> Podcast for Inquiry on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Patreon</a>, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>), or listen here: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/28519670/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">A video recording is also available:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="314" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WVIvY4e5r8s" width="480" youtube-src-id="WVIvY4e5r8s"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-89553222359840792682023-11-08T06:47:00.000-05:002023-11-08T06:47:05.995-05:00Podcast for Inquiry S02E23: Solomon, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, Gandalf: All fictional! With David Fitzgerald<p>After years of research, <a href="http://davidfitzgerald.org/">David Fitzgerald</a> has come to a surprising conclusion: that all the main characters in the world’s major religions are entirely the product of human imagination. While many have long doubted the supernatural feats that religious figures are purported to have done, the assumption that these are grounded in at least a kernel of historical fact is widely held. David explains how the stories we are familiar with today accreted over time, and the utter lack of evidence that any of the major figures of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, or Buddhism ever actually existed. </p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Support</a> Podcast for Inquiry on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Patreon</a>, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>), or listen here: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/28397723/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r9DPTKRxtDw" width="482" youtube-src-id="r9DPTKRxtDw"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-12843320711137474692023-10-25T17:31:00.002-04:002023-12-13T14:14:13.405-05:00Podcast for Inquiry S02E22: Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff: Do cities listen to the Supreme Court?<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Is secularism church-state separation or government neutrality in matters of religion? What does state religious neutrality look like? When the Supreme Court of Canada issues a ruling, is that the final word? What is the difference between a welcome, a traditional greeting, a cultural practice, and a prayer, especially in the context of indigenous nations and reconciliation?</span></span></p><p><a href="https://www.teale.ca/" style="font-family: trebuchet; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff</span></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (</span><a href="https://twitter.com/TealePB" style="font-family: trebuchet; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">@TealePB</span></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">), research coordinator at the </span><a href="https://www.bchumanist.ca/" style="font-family: trebuchet; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">British Columbia Humanist Association</span></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, answers all these questions and more. His team at the BCHA contacted every municipality in </span><a href="https://www.bchumanist.ca/municipal_prayer" style="font-family: trebuchet; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">British Columbia</span></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span><a href="https://www.bchumanist.ca/in_open_defiance" style="font-family: trebuchet; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Manitoba</span></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, and </span><a href="https://www.bchumanist.ca/open_for_unconstitutional_business" style="font-family: trebuchet; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ontario</span></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> to determine whether they are in compliance with the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2015 </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Saguenay</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> ruling, which unambiguously decreed that opening municipal council sessions with a prayer was unlawful. He describes how some municipalities try to sneak in religious content with “stealth prayer”, and why ecumenical prayers, non-denominational prayers, or rotating prayers from different religious groups, are bound to fail if the goal is to have an inclusive democracy.</span></p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Support</a> Podcast for Inquiry on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Patreon</a>, subscribe <span style="font-family: trebuchet;">wherever </span>you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>), or listen here: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/28397702/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="317" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vTzfjw0q9cM" width="482" youtube-src-id="vTzfjw0q9cM"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-15257541359624839362023-10-17T07:23:00.005-04:002023-11-22T11:34:10.889-05:00Podcast for Inquiry S02E21: Dr. Evelyn Forget believes Canadians need Basic Income<p> Dr. Evelyn Forget is Canada’s foremost expert on Basic Income, and the author of Basic Income for Canadians: From the COVID-19 Emergency to Financial Security for all. Dr. Forget describes what Basic Income is, and how it differs from UBI (Universal Basic Income). She talks about the results of a Basic Income pilot conducted in Canada, and answers the question: If Basic Income is such a great idea, why aren’t we doing it already? Finally, Dr. Forget explains what a Canadian Basic Income program would look like. </p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Support</a> Podcast for Inquiry on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Patreon</a>, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>), or listen here: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/28249292/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="316" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YDrSXL5Qq-c" width="479" youtube-src-id="YDrSXL5Qq-c"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-85853762245284417852023-09-27T09:01:00.004-04:002023-09-27T09:39:11.910-04:00Podcast for Inquiry S02E20: Seth Andrews, host of The Thinking Atheist, on Christians acting in un-Christian ways<p><a href="https://www.sethandrews.com/">Seth Andrews</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/SethAndrewsTTA">@SethAndrewsTTA</a>) is the host of <a href="https://www.thethinkingatheist.com/">The Thinking Atheist</a>, a very popular podcast and online resource for nonbelievers. Seth talks about his life as an evangelical Christian and what led him to leave his faith. We talk about how many Christians embrace seemingly un-Christian beliefs and policies, and what Humanists need to do to make the world a better place.</p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Support</a> Podcast for Inquiry on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Patreon</a>, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>), or listen here: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/28004580/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rm6-tRdu2uE" width="482" youtube-src-id="rm6-tRdu2uE"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-33765166434381547672023-09-13T07:03:00.003-04:002023-09-13T07:03:40.668-04:00Podcast for Inquiry S02E19: “Don’t be Evil” no longer applies, with Paris Marx <p><a href="https://parismarx.com/">Paris Marx</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/parismarx">@parismarx</a>) is a critic of Silicon Valley business practices and the impact they have on workers and society at large. Paris writes the <a href="https://www.disconnect.blog/">Disconnect</a> newsletter and hosts <a href="https://techwontsave.us/">Tech Won’t Save Us</a>, an award-winning critical technology podcast.</p><p>In today’s episode, Paris explains the flaws in each category of the tech sector, including:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Blockchain and crypto currencies - Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Tether</li><li>Asset-light service firms - AirBnB, Uber, Lyft</li><li>Amazon</li><li>Fully digital free services - Google, Facebook / Instagram, Twitter / X</li></ul><p></p><div><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Support</a> Podcast for Inquiry on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Patreon</a>, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>), or listen here: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/28001676/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="316" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5ENpFTl8kKc" width="481" youtube-src-id="5ENpFTl8kKc"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-16076412271997943562023-08-30T17:15:00.002-04:002023-08-30T17:15:00.139-04:00Podcast for Inquiry S02E18: SciComm in the time of Covid, with Tara Moriarty<p>Dr. Tara Moriarty (<a href="https://twitter.com/MoriartyLab">@MoriartyLab</a>) was happy being a research scientist, studying how Lyme disease bacteria travel to different parts of our body using the bloodstream. Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and she saw a vast need for disseminating accurate information to the public. So she founded <a href="http://www.covid19resources.ca/">COVID-19 Resources Canada</a> and learned on the fly to become a science communicator. Dr. Moriarty describes the reaction from the scientific community and the public, and shares some surprising statistics about the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.</p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Support</a> Podcast for Inquiry on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry">Patreon</a>, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>), or listen here: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/27868008/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="317" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8s_13D9WyrQ" width="480" youtube-src-id="8s_13D9WyrQ"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-25721448155748822252023-08-16T17:30:00.007-04:002023-08-30T15:46:37.627-04:00Podcast for Inquiry S02E17: How Minds Change with David McRaney<p>On this week's Podcast for Inquiry, I speak with David McRaney (<a href="https://twitter.com/davidmcraney">@davidmcraney</a>) about his book, “How Minds Change”. We explore how social context is critical when people form their opinions. People don’t change their minds in a vacuum, and David describes how network effects lead to social cascades, such as how widespread resistance to equal marriage flipped to widespread acceptance in an astonishingly short period. David quizzes me about the most recent movie I watched as a demonstration of how to get people to think differently. We discuss the role of truth in persuasion, and the utter failure of the “information deficit hypothesis”. You can learn more from David via his podcast You Are Not So Smart and on his website at <a href="http://davidmcraney.com">davidmcraney.com</a>. </p><p>Subscribe to Podcast for Inquiry today wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>) or listen here: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/27747609/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="316" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SPEkFhRFkqc" width="479" youtube-src-id="SPEkFhRFkqc"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-30993531886507934122023-08-16T07:23:00.001-04:002023-08-30T15:46:26.538-04:00Podcast for Inquiry S02E16: Catherine Dunphy on Humanist activism and the Kimberley project<p>Catherine is a humanist activist, and believes the two go hand in hand. Catherine talks about the inherent tension within the Catholic Social Justice Movement, and her own journey out of Catholicism. She describes the link between Christofascism and Incels (see her <a href="https://secularhumanism.org/2023/04/incels-the-minions-of-christofascism/">article</a> in <a href="https://secularhumanism.org/">Free Inquiry</a>). Catherine’s activism today is focused on <a href="https://thekimberleyproject.org/">The Kimberley Project</a>, a Canadian charity dedicated to the prevention of violence against women. </p><p>Subscribe to Podcast for Inquiry today wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>) or listen here: </p><p><iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/27467742/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" height="90" width="100%" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="319" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F6eP0X8rkno" width="480" youtube-src-id="F6eP0X8rkno"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-70336876999739570972023-08-15T09:17:00.005-04:002023-11-22T11:34:30.429-05:00Podcast for Inquiry S02E15: Escaping North Korea with Eunju Kim<p>How does one survive in an authoritarian regime, where you are sent away for education if the frame holding a picture of the Dear Leader gets dirty? When no one has enough to eat? Eunju Kim is the author of A Thousand Miles to Freedom, which describes her harrowing escape from North Korea to Seoul. She discusses how the Kim dynasty is worshiped in North Korea, much like a God. Eunju details how escaping from North Korea is much harder today than it was when she fled. Today Eunju works for <a href="https://fsi21.org/">Freedom Speakers International</a>, helping North Korean refugees settle into their new lives in South Korea. </p><p>Subscribe to Podcast for Inquiry today wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Stitcher</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>) or listen here: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/27323160/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="318" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TC8oXiMcI9A" width="482" youtube-src-id="TC8oXiMcI9A"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-47182191705215022132023-07-14T13:32:00.003-04:002023-07-14T13:33:20.398-04:00Podcast for Inquiry Diatribe #2: Catholic Health Care “Ethics”<p>In this second episode of Leslie’s Diatribes, I sound off on the <a href="https://www.chac.ca/documents/422/Health_Ethics_Guide_2013.pdf">Health Ethics Guide</a>, a publication of the <a href="https://www.chac.ca/">Catholic Health Alliance of Canada</a>. Employees in Catholic health care facilities in eight provinces are told to sign this code of ethics every year, and many do so without reading it. Leslie highlights some salient aspects of its contents, and encourages those who object to what it demands to refrain from agreeing to it.</p><p>The opinions expressed in this episode are mine, and do not represent the Centre for Inquiry Canada or any other organization.</p><div><p>Subscribe to Podcast for Inquiry today wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">Apple</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Stitcher</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>) or listen here: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="90" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/27360330/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" style="border: none;" title="Libsyn Player" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RZPb_AhxXwM" width="478" youtube-src-id="RZPb_AhxXwM"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-17140881355903891532023-07-05T21:25:00.006-04:002023-11-22T11:34:39.759-05:00Podcast for Inquiry S02E14: Homophobia in Catholic Schools with Tonya Callaghan<p>Why do publicly funded Catholic schools exist in Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta? Does the government or the Church actually run them? I speak with Dr. Tonya Callaghan, author of Homophobia in the Hallways, about systemic homophobia in Canadian Catholic schools. We discuss the long struggle to establish Gay-Straight Alliances, the oddly selective enforcement of Catholic doctrine, and the contradiction at the heart of professing compassion for all at the same time as demanding lifetime celibacy from those with same sex attraction. </p><p>Subscribe to Podcast for Inquiry today wherever you listen to podcasts (<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ry9eD0i2t2Li62qJFucyi">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-for-inquiry/id1600815518">iTunes</a> <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3Rmb3JpbnF1aXJ5LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz">Google</a> <a href="https://www.deezer.com/show/3237142">Deezer</a> <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Stitcher</a> <a href="https://player.fm/series/the-podcast-for-inquiry">Player.fm</a>) or listen here: </p><p><iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/27323148/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" height="90" width="100%" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H2KwczHSjMQ" width="481" youtube-src-id="H2KwczHSjMQ"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-14912499189752411482023-06-21T08:37:00.002-04:002023-11-22T11:35:51.507-05:00Podcast for Inquiry S02E13: Dana Korneisel on tetrapods and her book, “Dana Digs Dinosaurs”<p>What is a tetrapod? What is a homologue, and how does it differ from convergent evolution? Dana answers my many questions about animal development from embryo to adult, talks about her research on amphibians and axolotls, and how her book, “Dana Digs Dinosaurs”, was inspired by the excitement of a seven year old. </p><p>Subscribe to Podcast for Inquiry today wherever you listen to podcasts (Spotify iTunes Google Deezer Stitcher Player.fm) or listen here: </p><p><iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/27119487/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/054d94/" height="90" width="100%" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe></p><p>A video recording is also available:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NKnCowiTIjE" width="478" youtube-src-id="NKnCowiTIjE"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5357407667131606635.post-27582954515419969822023-06-08T17:30:00.024-04:002023-06-08T17:30:00.130-04:00Sudbury Inmates on Suicide Watch Offered Only the Bible<p>Back in April, I spoke with Jenny Lamothe, a reporter for <a href="http://Sudbury.com">Sudbury.com</a>, about a terrible policy at the Sudbury Jail: inmates on suicide watch can read nothing except the Christian Bible.</p><p>“There is no evidence that I have ever encountered that indicates that religious texts are effective in helping those who have suicidal ideation,” I told her. “As someone who is greatly in favour of evidence-based treatment, I would hope that our penal system would use those materials that have proven efficacy for those in dire need. So the policy of restricting access to religious materials makes no sense to me, because there is no evidence that it will achieve its stated goal.”</p><p>Ms. Lamothe also noted that Canada subsidizes "religious charities to the tune of $5 billion a year."</p><p>Read the <a href="https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/inmates-on-suicide-watch-only-offered-the-bible-at-sudbury-jail-6877678">full article</a> on Sudbury.com. </p>Leslie Rosenbloodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16348048564434945617noreply@blogger.com1