A Manual for Creating Atheists

by Peter Boghossian

Pluralism

  The peaceful coexistence of two or more states, entities, cultures, or phenomena.

  Pythia, The

  Also known as the Oracle of Delphi. The Pythia was a priestess at the Temple of Apollo, located on Mount Parnassus, who was a source of wisdom and who made prophecies.

  Quantum mechanics

  A branch of physics that provides a mathematical description of the behavior and interaction of energy and matter at the atomic and subatomic level.

  Relativism

  Either there is no absolute truth or it’s not possible to know the absolute truth.

  Scientific method

  A process by which one can make an objective investigation.

  Selection bias

  “Selection bias comes in two flavors: (1) self-selection of individuals to participate in an activity or survey, or as a subject in an experimental study; (2) selection of samples or studies by researchers to support a particular hypothesis.” The Skeptics Dictionary: http://skepdic.com/selectionbias.html

  Shermer, Michael (1954–)

  The founding publisher of Skeptic magazine, the executive director of the Skeptics Society, a monthly columnist for Scientific American, the host of the Skeptics Society, and bestselling author.

  rmad Bhgavatam (also, Bhgavata Purna)

  A Hindu sacred text. (The story recounted in chapter 3 has to do with Daksha and his daughter Dakshayani, one of whose names is Sati. She is the wife of Shiva the Destroyer and is considered the goddess of marital happiness. She immolates herself on her divine husband’s funeral pyre as a final act of loyalty and is later reincarnated as Paravati. The human woman who does this for her husband is patterning her action after a divine prototype described in one of India’s most ancient texts. The Bhgavata is sometimes called the fifth Veda—this goes to the idea that its source is ancient.)

  Subjective claim

  A statement of preference that is neither true nor false.

  Supernatural

  Outside of the natural world.

  Therapeutic alliance

  The bond between the therapist and the client that allows the client to make therapeutic progress. This term, also referred to as “therapeutic relationship,” has been appropriated from Edward Bordin’s 1979 article, “The Generalizability of the Psychoanalytic Concept of the Working Alliance” (Bordin, 1979).

  Thetan

  The Scientologist’s belief that a spirit is “stuck” in a human body.

  Treatment

  A therapeutic process in which something that is damaged becomes whole.

  Truth

  Beliefs that are in lawful alignment with reality.

  Truth claim

  A statement of fact.

  Urantia Book, The

  “The Urantia Book, first published by Urantia Foundation in 1955, claims to have been presented by celestial beings as a revelation to our planet, Urantia. The writings in The Urantia Book instruct us on the genesis, history, and destiny of humanity and on our relationship with God the Father. They present a unique and compelling portrayal of the life and teachings of Jesus. They open new vistas of time and eternity to the human spirit, and offer new details of our ascending adventure in a friendly and carefully administered universe.” Urantia Foundation, custodian and publisher of The Urantia Book: http://www.urantia.org/urantia-book

  Vector

  An organism that spreads an infectious pathogen but shows no symptoms.

  Warrant

  Sufficient justification for a claim.

  Wittgenstein, Ludwig (1889–1951)

  Austrian philosopher. One of the most important figures in philosophy in the twentieth century whose work continues to influence contemporary thinkers.

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