Michael Shermer
Founding Publisher, Skeptic Magazine
Dr. Michael Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, a monthly columnist for Scientific American, and Presidential Fellow at Chapman University.

How to shut down coronavirus conspiracy theories
The larger the stakes and scope, the less likely a conspiracy theory is to be true.
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What kind of government will exist on Mars?
The lessons we've learned here on Earth will affect how we govern a new world.
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4 min
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Ask an atheist: Does the universe have a purpose?
All that matters is the here and now.
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4 min
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Should we defend the free speech of everyone — extremists included?
You can't really have an opinion if you don't know all sides of the argument.
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5 min
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How trying to solve death makes life, here and now, worse
Maybe we should stop worrying about what happens after we die, and make the best of what we have on earth right now.
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6 min
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Utopia is a dangerous ideal: we should aim for ‘protopia’
Utopias are idealised visions of a perfect society. Utopianisms are those ideas put into practice. This is where the trouble begins.
How skepticism can fight radicalism, conspiracy theorists, and Holocaust deniers
Why have some conspiracy theories been pushed back into the public? Because when you try to force them out of the mainstream, they'll find a wider audience on the fringes.
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10 min
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How we know right from wrong without God or religion
Do we really need an imaginary guy-in-the-sky to tell us what's right and wrong? Not anymore, says Skeptic Magazine's Michael Shermer.
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5 min
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Carl Sagan’s baloney detection kit: How to improve your critical thinking skills
Think you detect some grade-A baloney? Here's how you can tell for sure.
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6 min
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Do near-death experiences prove that an afterlife exists?
The scientific quest for immortality is predicated on the belief that evidence may already exist in the form of Near-Death Experiences and reincarnation.
Gods, Aliens, and Atheists: Are We Alone in the Universe?
If you believe there is intelligent extraterrestrial life out there, have you ever stopped to wonder why?
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3 min
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Why Skepticism Is the Right Approach to the Afterlife, Immortality, and Utopia
Heaven is a place on earth, says a major American thinker. And a certain awesome '80s pop song.
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8 min
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How to Persuade People to Listen to Reason, from a Former Climate Skeptic
Killing prejudice with kindness is probably the best way to go, says former climate skeptic Michael Shermer. The secularist discusses his history with religion and how he speaks about it now.
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Giving Animals More Rights Improves the Quality of Human Life
Expanding our moral sphere to include animals isn't just good for animals. Professional skeptic Michael Shermer explains the various ways that it's also good for us.
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4 min
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The 2 Types of Freedom That Will Help Us Settle the Gun Debate
Gun enthusiasts are worried their guns could get confiscated by the feds. Writer Michael Shermer explains why that's not going to happen.
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Weaning People off Religious Belief Is a Sales and Marketing Problem
One day, people will look back on humanity's religious past and laugh, says skeptic and science writer Michael Shermer.
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