A GOOD WEEK FOR ASH IN THE LOCAL PRESS

WITCHCRAFT APPEAL FOR COMPENSATION/CHALLENGE TO WITCHDOCTORS

Publicity seeker George Thindwa does it again by making sure that the press are fully informed of ASH's developments and activities. The Malawi News of 2nd April reported that ASH was assisting the 'witch' recently freed on appeal to sue the government for wrongful arrest and imprisonment. They also reported  that ASH would be seeking to obtain compensation for all such cases.
Additionally, the newspaper reported that ASH's open challenge to witchdoctors (asing'anga) to demonstrate their powers on him is yet to produce a challenger even thouigh the cash prize has been raised to K 500, 000 ($3,500) - a large sum in Malawi where the annual GDP per person is less than US150!


BIBLE DISCREPANCIES AND THE QUESTION OF FAITH

On 3rd April 2011, the Sunday Times in its regular and light-hearted 'Paparazzi' column highlighted the discrepancies in both the Old and New Testaments. Tongue-in-cheek, the columnist proclaimed himself to be a believer whilst highlighting the problems gaced by believers.
This is the first ocasion on which we have noted any public challenge to biblical authority in the local press. We surmise that the close relationship with the reporting and editorial staff of this newspaper group is helping to widen the debate.

ASH's HAROLD WILLIAMS CHALLENGES FACEBOOK 'FRIENDS'

 As an indication of what ASH in Malawi has to contend with here are samples of the material being posted on Facebook by some of Harold's new-found friends:

Benson Nkhoma Somba Your unbelief exposes your emerse lack of knowledge on christian faith. its easy to mock God when u still have life. by the way who provides the air u breath? that little unbelieving heart of yours who sustains it? know that there is no repetance after death! 'The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness: but is longsufferng to us-ward, not willing that all should perish, but that all should come to repentance' 2 Peter 3:9Saturday at 18:33 ·

Felix Millowa Drama Conservatory A person needs divine revelation to know God. But one must be extra careful: Lucifer does provide revelation too, a contrast and adversary of God's commandment of love. It is a revelation based on greed and personal aggrandizement. With Lucifer's revelation, anything about God is inconclusive and arguable.

Enough said!

SCIENCE & CRITICAL THINKING MARCH 27 2011

HOW TO BE A CRITICAL THINKER

By George Thindwa, 

Regular Science & Critical Thinking column published in the Sunday Times (Malawi) of March 27, 2011

Quote: Customs do not concern themselves with right or wrong or reason. But they have to be obeyed; one reasons all around them until he is tired, but he must not transgress them, it is sternly forbidden. Mark Twain

Critical thinking is the most valuable and underused resource. Malawians need to be critical thinkers to avoid being deceived, conned, misled and exploited. Critical thinking can help us to conquer fear, ignorance, and gullibility; challenge long standing political, religious and social dogmas. It can free our minds from superstition and nonsense. With critical thinking, we are unlikely to fall victim to faith healers, fraudsters like evangelical con artists, money multipliers, asing`ang`as and realise that some of what we see on satellite Televisions is not faith healing but fraud. The miracles claims are stage-managed and meant to hoodwink vulnerable gullible folks. Ask yourself, why can`t these miracles solve the many economic and social problems in their countries? Why can`t the money multipliers make themselves rich? Critical thinking is for everyone. There are many superstitious beliefs in Malawi that should be subjected to critical thinking. Our society would be better off then. So think critically.

Critical thinking is an ability to evaluate, compare, critique and synthesize information, think critically and analytically; thinking to generate questions and examine and challenge claims; questioning beliefs and assumptions. These are the eight essential guidelines on thinking critically.

1) Ask questions, be willing to wonder. Creativity is sparked by an openness to question the world around us. Critical thinkers examine all ideas and beliefs. New and old claims should be examined and questioned especially when evidence is weak.

2) Define the problem clearly. To solve a problem, you must in the first place define the problem clearly. Many times proposed solutions fail because they are not addressing the correct problem.

3) Examine the evidence. Demand good evidence before accepting a belief as true.  Ask for evidence to support a claim.  As much relevant evidence as possible should be examined.

4)  Analyze assumptions and biases. Critical thinkers need to be aware of their own biases and prejudices in order to keep those influences to a minimum.

5) Avoid emotional reasoning. Feelings and intuitions are not enough to base an argument on. Give little credit to a person who can only support his opinions by emotions. Science and our understanding of the world, progress on facts and not feelings.

6) Do not oversimplify. We live in a complex world. Avoid easy generalizations and understand that there may be several viewpoints that make valid claims. Know that “the devil is in the details’; i.e. a claim that seems impressive may turn out to be false once the details are examined.

7)  Consider other interpretations. Be creative in formulating hypotheses that offer potential explanations of behavior and events. Find an explanation that accounts for the most evidence with fewest assumptions.   Generate as many interpretations of the evidence as possible before settling on the most likely.

8) Tolerate uncertainty. Maintain an open mind. Be receptive to new ideas and possibilities. Do not be dogmatic. Science cannot answer every question. Some answers are probabilities. Critical thinkers must admit when they are not sure of something.

Feedback: georgethindwa@yahoo.com 

MORE PUBLICITY FOR ASH

ASH MAKES THE FRONT PAGE

A short article on the award of the 2010 Nordic Rainbow Humanist Award to our association featured on Page 2 of Malawi’s Sunday Times. The article was highlighted on the front page (see photo). This is another example of how ASH is thought of as newsworthy by the local media - another boost to our public image.

SCIENCE & CRITICAL THINKING

Science & Critical Thinking - the Secular Humanist View is our regular column in Malawi's Sunday Times newspaper. We will be posting weekly articles to this blog. Earlier columns will be posted in due course to the linked blogsite http://ref-mwhumanism.blogspot.com

13th February 2011

INTELLECTUAL AUTONOMY: BEING AN INDEPENDENT THINKER

By Harold Williams

Quote:

What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite.
Bertrand Russell

We are moulded as children by ‘authority’ – our parents, schoolteachers and religious leaders. Unquestioning obedience is probably the quickest way to develop, learn and establish our position in society. However, if our intellects are to develop we need to begin to question. Just as our bodies mature so should our minds – and that requires critical thinking - a scientific approach to the physical world and a questioning approach to ideas, beliefs and opinions. We need to develop Intellectual Autonomy and become Independent Thinkers.

Autonomous persons are in charge of their lives. They are not irrationally dependent on others and not controlled by infantile emotions. They have self-control. They are competent. … In forming beliefs, critical thinkers do not passively accept the beliefs of others. … They are not limited by the accepted way of doing things. They evaluate traditions and practices that others often accept unquestioningly. … They function from values they themselves have freely chosen. (Richard W. Paul & Linda Elder: Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Professional and Personal Life. ISBN 0-13064760-8)

The desire to conform, not to be seen as being different from the crowd, is very strong in the human psyche and difficult to overcome. Most people are Intellectual Conformists. In this state they may easily accept the status quo, unquestioningly submitting to dominant groups in society such as politicians, traditional and religious leaders, and captains of business. Thinking for oneself does not always go down well with these dominant groups which need the passivity of the masses to maintain control and to gain or retain power, wealth and influence.

Secular Humanists have generally gone through a period of critical thinking and honest self-evaluation. They often find that the generality of the public is disturbed by pronouncements that may challenge comfortable beliefs and habits. In this series we will challenge many of your cherished beliefs. We hope that you will understand the honest process that preceded the challenge. We hope that you, also, will discipline yourself and examine your beliefs with a critical and honest mind. Just a few suggestions for the exercise:

• Do we REALLY need a Messiah to cure the problems of our nation? Or do we require good policies honestly and vigorously applied?
• Is our President REALLY the ‘father of the nation’? Is that what we voted for?
• How is it that many self-anointed Christian leaders live a rich and ostentatious family life at the expense of their ‘flock’ whilst espousing a doctrine that demands they leave their families and give up all worldly goods? Should we REALLY believe such hypocrites and show them honour?
• If each religious group claims to follow the one true faith, how can we know which group is REALLY right?

Or are they all wrong?

Honestly, now!

Feedback: thinksecular@gmail.com