RIT Essays
Reprinted from past RIT Newsletters
"How to Be A Critical Thinker" by Sharon Presley
"What Is Independent Thinking?" by Sharon Presley
"Why Is Independent and Critical Thinking Important?" by Sharon Presley
"Why Do People Believe in ESP for the Wrong Reasons?" by Sharon Presley
"A Note on the History and Meaning of Skepticism" by George H. Smith
"The New Age Gets Old" by Dixon Wragg
Thinking Critically about Authority
One of RIT's specialties is critical thinking about authority. Though certain political groups may promote resistance to political authority, and other groups, such as skeptics, ask you to question many areas of popular thought, we know of no other group that is pursuing, as a major objective, critical thinking about authority per se from a nonpartisan, psychological perspective. Toward this end, we are continuing to develop resources to be added to our website.
"How to Avoid Being Manipulated, Bamboozled and Seduced by Experts and Authorities" by Sharon Presley
"Positive Things You Can Do to Be Less Vulnerable to Influence and Authority" by Sharon Presley
Review of The Guru Papers: Masks of Authoritarian Power
Books that question authority
RIT Newsletter: "Critical Thinking about Authority"
See Authority Links for more resources
Other Essays
"Own Your Own Mind" by Sharon Presley
RIT Editorials
Belief and Unbelief
"The Singer, Not the Song" by Sharon Presley
"Ethics of Believing Unbelief" by Ross Mullin
Guest Editorials
The views expressed in these guest editorials do not necessarily represent the views of RIT or its directors and advisors.
Current Issues
"Not Again" by Art Smith (no repeat of Nazi Germany)
"A Winning Strategy for Progressive: Securing Church/State Separation, Religious Freedom, and the Vote" by Joel Kramer and Diana Alstad
Abortion
"Abortion as a Moral Act" by Joel Kramer and Diana Alstad
"Teen Abortion: Requiring Parental Consent Makes No Sense" by Joel Kramer and Diana Alstad
"Abortion and the Morality Wars: Taking the Moral Offensive" by Diana Alstad
Outside Links to Other Critical Thinking Essays
"Don't Listen to Dr. Laura: Her Advice is Unsound, Hypocritical and Cruel" by Sharon Presley (Winter 2000/2001, Free Inquiry)
Other Essays by Sharon Presley
"How to Be a Critical Reader"
