A Nation of Suckers: Getting Duped in America…
A Nation of Suckers: Getting Duped in America;What makes people believe, despite the lack of evidence — or even in the face of solid contrary evidence? How many Americans believe the unbelievable? In a free society, does it even matter what people believe, or why? Focusing on the leaders of the contemporary cults of irrationality, D.J. surveys some of the more “unbelievable beliefs” of our society, including Scientology and other fringe religions, the Ufology movement, alternative medicine remedies like “healing touch” and magnet therapy, and the most popular current conspiracy theories. He concludes by suggesting concrete actions that rationalists can take to counter these trends of unreason in society.
D.J. Grothe is vice president and director of outreach for the Center for Inquiry, a think tank that advances skepticism and secular values in public affairs. The Center for Inquiry is also home to CSICOP, the Council for Secular Humanism, and other programs of public education and advocacy. An associate editor of Free Inquiry magazine and frequent contributor to Skeptical Inquirer magazine, Grothe lectures and debates widely on topics surrounding science and central beliefs at universities throughout North America. He is the editor of On the Beauty of Science, a book about the secular and skeptical worldview and the life's work of Nobel Laureate Herbert Hauptman.
He is currently writing a book about secularism and public debate titled Arguing for America: How Secularists Can Win The Culture War. He hosts the radio show and podcast, Point of Inquiry, discussing fundamental questions with the world's intellectual leaders, exploring the implications of the scientific outlook for society's most cherished convictions about the paranormal, pseudoscience, alternative medicine and religion. A "mind-reader" and award-winning magician, he studies the processes of deception and self-deception. His lectures and shows are ideal for campus and corporate clients, focusing on the powers of the mind, parapsychology, and the challenge that skeptics bring to paranormal claims.
Social hour will follow question and answer session at 3:30 PM.
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