Hypatia tagged posts

3

Psychology, Philosophy, Publication, and Ethical Research Guidelines in all Fields of Study: Preparation for Writing an Original, Quality Thesis

Introduction

In cases where I am called on to review a thesis or dissertation, I hesitate, frequently decline, and (with rare exceptions) I feel fear, then ultimately despair at the puerile paucity of knowledge that is contained in poorly invested, investigated, and roughly researched papers that aspire to the title and name of thesis—yet have nothing in common with a real thesis.1  The theses that I have read over the past fifty years have been at best blatant, bland, barren, crass “cut-and-past”, or more precisely, bypassing deliberate plagiarism to outright theft of intellectual property rights.2  This has become so common, that I walk away with an apologia at best, or just express my “regrets” that I am not capable of weighing in on the theses as most writers assume that “by pa...

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Freedom of Religion: Fact and Fantasy

1692 Massachusetts Christian Puritans saw the Devil everywhere

1692 Massachusetts Christian Puritans saw the Devil everywhere

Freedom of religion is a centuries-old expression. In most cases freedom of religion does not exist. It is not accepted by SCOTUS or most courts or jurists. It is not enshrined in the nation, nor in separate states. At best it is a buzzword, but in reality freedom of religion is a fantasy that has enchained the USA since its inception as American colonies.

From Maine to Georgia, the North American colonies were not founded as bastions of theological freedom or the right to disbelieve that which came from the pulpits of the churches that existed in Europe...

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Roanoke, Virginia’s Christian cabal and the words of the New Testament Jesus

Blue Ridge Coalition of Reason reached out to Virginia for tolerance and the democratic way of life with liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness for all. Guided by principles of reason, the Coalition's message met with violence and the worse elements in Virginia's Roanoke society who reject the First Amendment of the Constitution of the USA and it promise of freedom of expression and freedom to worship or not worship as the citizen choses.Read More
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Zombies, Matthew 27:52-53, Southern Baptists and reality

There are two verses in the Gospel of Matthew that are directed to tombs opening, dead are brought back to life waiting for Jesus. Today we call such phenomena "zombies" and there are theologians who discount their existence, but in the South Baptist group of seminaries, teachers, researchers, and students are told to accept their existence as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Jesus. The question is if this is an isolated case in theological history or one more plagiarism fitted into the Bible.Read More
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Serpent in the Garden

A serpent in a garden has been a common theme of world religions. Most see the serpent as a god offering wisdom to mortals. This is not the case in Genesis, but the serpent is created out of numerous older theologies, and for a special reason: changing the stories to create a unique tale to meet the writers' goals.Read More