About The Young Skeptics - East Valley

Why have a group for Young Skeptics?

The idea is to provide younger adult skeptics with a network of peers they can talk to about things that matter to critical and free thinkers, as opposed to a group in which the Senior Skeptics dominate the discussion with lectures about how they used to refute the veracity of paranormal claims in the middle of a snowstorm, walking uphill both ways.


What does it mean to be a skeptic?

You don't need any special training or credentials to be a skeptic. You simply need an inquisitive mind, a high tolerance for ambiguity and an interest in separating demonstrable truth from speculation and fantasy. More than anything, skeptics strive to understand the world around them as it truly exists, and not as they might imagine or want it to be. They take no comfort in unproven claims about the supernatural, and they lose no sleep over conspiracy theories built on half-truths and faulty logic. Skeptics are inspired by the beauty and complexity of the physical universe and guided by a deep respect for its known laws and limitations. Skeptics regard all wishful embellishments and misinterpretations as unhealthy, because they create false expectations and inhibit critical thinking; and as pointless, because wishing something doesn't make it so.


Why do we need skeptics?

We live in a universe of mind-boggling complexity and mystery, where natural forces beyond our understanding constantly dictate the outcome of events beyond our control. Everything we value -- health, prosperity, love, happiness and even life itself -- is the aberrant byproduct of a cosmic process that seeks only to eliminate aberrations and achieve total equilibrium.

As far as we know, the universe from which we have emerged does not "care" about us any more than gravity or nuclear energy cares about us. It's an unglamorous conclusion that many people simply cannot accept. As a result, societies have dreamed up far more appealing interpretations of the universe that regard the human race as cosmically important and divinely protected. Some beliefs even imbue humankind with supernatural powers such as spiritual immortality, telepathy, clairvoyance, telekinesis and the ability to communicate with the dead. The human urge to eliminate uncertainty and elevate our status in the universe has inspired mythology, religion, astrology, magic, metaphysics, pseudoscience, alien visitation theories, and other conspiracy theories about the suppression of secret knowledge.

The principle concern of skeptics is that these invented explanations have led some people down a path of self-delusion, irrationality and "magic thinking," which makes them easy prey for charlatans, hucksters and other assorted frauds. Those who adopt magic thinking divorce themselves from deductive reasoning and the search for proof. Logic and evidence are perceived as threats, because magic beliefs presuppose a universe driven by mystical forces that, if real, would violate observable physical laws.

Mankind's greatest ability, that which distinguishes us from every other earthly creature, is the mental capacity to contemplate the nature of our existence. However, institutions founded on magic thinking effectively rob people of that ability by handing them a bundle of prepackaged beliefs emblazoned with a warning label that says, "Asking too many questions about this stuff could be hazardous to your eternal soul." As a result, cognitive dissonance and self-delusion become a way of life for their followers. Many don't even hesitate to use the indisputable fruits of scientific achievement, such as computers, to communicate their doubts about the legitimacy of science as a human pursuit.

The role of skeptics is to safeguard the boundary between reasonable conclusions and irrational speculation. Skeptics are keenly aware of what has been proved, what has yet to be proved, and what cannot be proved. The unknown is regarded as an opportunity for discovery and exploration, and not as a threat to be ignored or denied. Skeptics are prepared to adjust their understanding of the universe based on new information, as long as there is credible evidence to support it. The life of a skeptic is one of deep reflection, active discussion and ongoing education.

We hope you will join us for a fun and interesting group that is open to thoughtful discussion and ideas. In the meantime, why not check out our Young Skeptics "Smell-Test" Test?