Michael Shermer

Shermer began his undergraduate studies at Pepperdine University, initially majoring in Christian theology, later switching to psychology.^[6] However, his graduate studies in experimental psychology at California State University, Fullerton led to many after class discussions with professors Bayard Brattstrom and Meg White, which is when his "Christian ichthys got away, and with it my religion."^[7]

Before starting the skeptics society, he was a professor of the history of science at Occidental College.

Published works and ideas

Shermer is the author of several books that attempt to explain the ubiquity of irrational or poorly substantiated beliefs. In 1997 he wrote Why People Believe Weird Things, which explores a variety of "weird" ideas and groups (including cults), in the tradition of the skeptical writings of Martin Gardner. A revised and expanded edition was published in 2002. From the Introduction:

In How We Believe: The Search for God in an Age of Science, Shermer explored the psychology behind the belief in God. In the introduction Shermer wrote "Never in history have so many, and such a high percentage of the population, believed in God. Not only is God not dead as Nietzsche proclaimed, but he has never been more alive."

In early 2002, Shermer's Scientific American column introduced Shermer's Last Law, the notion that "any sufficiently advanced extraterrestrial intelligence is indistinguishable from God." Shermer's Last Law is a spin on Clarke's Third Law.

In his 2006 book Why Darwin Matters: The Case Against Intelligent Design, Shermer marshals point-by-point arguments supporting evolution, sharply criticizing Intelligent design. The book also argues that science cannot invalidate religion, and that Christians and conservatives can and should accept evolution.

In June 2006, Shermer, who formerly expressed skepticism regarding the mainstream scientific view on global warming, wrote that, in view of the accumulation of evidence, this position is no longer tenable.^[8]

He attended and was a speaker at the Beyond Belief symposium on November 2006. He also spoke at the 2006 TED Conference on "Why people believe strange things."^[9]

Media appearances

Shermer made a guest appearance in a 2004 episode of Penn & Teller's Bullshit!, in which he argued that the Bible was "mythic storytelling" from Showtime.Com^[10]and that literal interpretation of events described therein would "miss the point of the Bible." His stance was supported by the show's hosts, who have expressed their own atheist beliefs. The episode in question, The Bible: Fact or Fiction?, sought to debunk the notion that the Bible is an empirically reliable historical record. Opposing Shermer was Dr. Paul Maier, professor of ancient history at Western Michigan University.

Caltech Lecture Series

Personal life

Shermer lives in Altadena, California, on the edge of a cliff in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains atop which Mount Wilson stands.^[14] He was born and raised in Southern California, graduated from Crescenta Valley High School in 1972. He earned a B.A. degree in psychology from Pepperdine University in 1976, an M.A. degree in experimental psychology from California State University, Fullerton in 1978, and a Ph.D. in the history of science from Claremont Graduate University in 1991. Shermer's academic career was interrupted by a ten-year career racing bicycles long distances, helping to found the 3,000-mile nonstop transcontinental bicycle Race Across America (along with Lon Haldeman and John Marino), in which he competed five times (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1989), was Assistant Race Director six years, and Executive Race Director seven years.^[15] He has also produced several documentaries on cycling.^[15]

List of published works

List of Skeptic columns published in Scientific American

References

^ http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/eml9818.htm "Nontheist is a much better word because it is neutral, so I use that when I have to, but mostly I avoid labels altogether. It is best to just say "I do not believe in God.")"
^ http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/07-07-25.html "Today, however, although I remain fiscally conservative, I am a nontheist, a social liberal, and a public intellectual critical of religious extremism and excessive intrusion of religion in American public life (see Shermer 1999; 2004; 2006; as well as Skeptic magazine, of which I am the founding editor)".
^ "About Us: Michael Shermer", The Skeptics Society (2006). Retrieved on 2007-01-04.
^ Michael Shermer. Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time. 2002, ISBN 0-8050-7089-3 page 15.
^ Michael Shermer. Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time. 2002, ISBN 0-8050-7089-3 page 13-15.
^ Michael Shermer. Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time. 2002, ISBN 0-8050-7089-3 page 127.
^ Michael Shermer. Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time. 2002, ISBN 0-8050-7089-3 page 128.
^ Shermer, Michael (June 2006). "The Flipping Point", Scientific American. Retrieved on 2006-12-11.
^ Michael Shermer: Professional Skeptic, TED Conference Nov. 2006
^ Penn & Teller's Bullshit! Season 2: The Bible: Fact or Fiction?
^ Skepticality Podcast
^ Michael Shermer at the Internet Movie Database
^ Skeptic: Lectures & Events: Caltech Lectures
^ Shermer, Michael; "The Skeptic's Chaplain: Richard Dawkins as a Fountainhead of Skepticism"; Skeptic magazine; Vol. 13, 2007; Page 47.
^ ^a ^b Curriculum Vitae for Michael Shermer at michaelshermer.com

Contents

Early life and education