Thinking
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Islam spread through the Christian world via the bedroom
Unions between Muslims and non-Muslims played a huge part in the expansion of Islam.
3 philosophers set up a booth on a street corner – here’s what people asked
"I should be as happy as I'm ever going to be right now, but I'm not. Is this it?"
Jordan Peterson’s take on the origins of the Buddha
In this short video, he compares the outset of Buddhism with the biblical garden.
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The man’s a walking disaster
Jamie Aten is an expert on the science of dealing with Really Bad Things.
Philosopher Alan Watts on the difference between money and wealth
What would you do if money was no object?
Similar ideas between Buddhism and Western psychology
Buddhism and Western science converge on a number of ideas.
What Einstein meant by ‘God does not play dice’
Einstein's God is infinitely superior but impersonal and intangible, subtle but not malicious. He is also firmly determinist.
How religion turned American politics into a bizarre anti-science spectacle
The countdown continues! This is the 7th most popular video of 2018.
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4 min
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3 pieces of historical evidence for the existence of Jesus Christ
Was Jesus a real historical figure? Here's what we know.
5 holidays to celebrate this year that aren’t Christmas
Going mad with Christmas cheer? Try one of these alternatives.
Making sense of it all
Synthesizing the vast research in the scientific study of religion is a huge task.
An end to suffering: 10 quotes on Buddhist philosophy
It's not what you have, it's what you do with it.
Unknowns in heaven and Earth
Marcelo Gleiser and Alister McGrath discuss truth and meaning in an indifferent universe.
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10 philosophy books to develop a diverse metaphysical perspective
There are many ways to posit the fundamental nature of reality.
Why spiritualizing the cosmos is a disservice to science and religion
Where is God? Michelle Thaller lays out a cosmic view of religion, science, and the human condition.
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5 min
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How Christians co-opted the winter solstice
Christmas has many pagan and secular traditions that early Christians incorporated into this new holiday.
Why Henry David Thoreau was drawn to yoga
The famed author headed to the pond thanks to Indian philosophy.
Can AI laugh? We investigated.
Comedy, A.I.-style. Our roving reporter, Evan Fleischer, went into The Laughing Room and here's what happened
10 pieces of wisdom from Alan Watts
With his collected letters recently being published, it's time to revisit this extraordinary thinker.
Germany denies Pastafarians religious rights
All the prayers in the world to the Flying Spaghetti Monster probably won't help.
Life as a skeptic is summed up in this parody documentary
This parody documentary skewers both the skeptic and the superstitious, and accurately shows what issues skeptics face.
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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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Being gay in Scientology: How Michelle LeClair got out
High-level official LeClair suppressed her sexuality for decades. Now that she's out, she's speaking up.