The Skeptic's Circle

The latest issue of the Skeptic's Circle is up at Paige's Page. One of my favorite entries is this post by Jim Lippard about his long experience with Scientology. Jim does really good work in this area. He's not only taken on Scientology but also Amway, an organization with many of the trademarks of a cult including the same kind of heavy handed intimidation of critics that he ran into with Scientology. I really should write more about Amway myself.

Another excellent entry is this one from The World According to Pooh, which fisks a really pretentious article taking Jon Stewart to task for fomenting cynicism among young people with his work on the Daily Show. Jon Stewart is not the cause of cynicism about politicians; politicians are the cause of cynicism about politicians. Anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded beyond belief.

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Lordy. Given that the U.S. government IS incredibly corrupt in numerous ways, isn't discussing it cynically with young people far better than encouraging a blind reverence? The latter approach has prevailed in schools for so long, it's about time they get another view on the matter.

What? Amway isn't the way, the truth and the light?