Welcome to Skeptic Ink

Skeptic Ink is a diverse group of people who desire to offer a fresh perspective on behalf of an inclusive atheism. Since many internet sites that share our goals are now dominated by destructive political squabbles, this is very much needed. We will not shy away from a reasoned criticism of any particular person or idea, but we shall endeavor to ensure that such criticism is constructive and sincere. We will each be responsible to run our respective sites as we see fit, constrained only by the broad mission statement and discussion policy below.

About Hypatia of Alexandria

The image to the right, and that which graces our masthead is a representation of Hypatia of Alexandria. Hypatia was a 4th century Greek philosopher and skeptic. A renowned and accomplished thinker, she instructed in mathematics and astronomy at the Musaeum of Alexandria, that was arguably the greatest center for learning and knowledge for several centuries. Hypatia is one of the first women in recorded history to become an intellectual leader of her time. Her death was likely the result of a political struggle fueled in part by antagonism between Christian and Hellenistic factions. The 2009 film Agora is based on her life and death (though many details are amended for narrative purposes, and some are fabrications).

Inspired by her courage, strength, and scholarship, we hold Hypatia an exemplar. Her image, and that of the Lighthouse of Alexandria- icon of illumination and understanding, mark all Skeptic Ink websites.

Mission Statement

We seek to provide a positive set of voices on behalf of science, reason, and skepticism. Our focus is to critically examine the basis of religious faiths, their holy books, claims of miracles, pseudoscience, and of the paranormal without neglecting the adverse cultural impact these claims have on us with regard to socio-political and moral issues. We work to promote a reality-based worldview. We hold that all of these topics vital to human flourishing.

Our Discussion Policy

Invectives that demean individuals on the basis of ethnicity, sex, religion, gender identification, appearance, or age will not be tolerated. While it is fashionable in some corners of the internet for atheists to crassly denigrate people, that is not acceptable here. We will focus on the arguments themselves. Sensitive commenters should be warned that poor arguments may be called out as such, and that it is our obligation to do so, even if it is upsetting to the person we argue against. But no position worth defending requires the sacrifice of either manners or respect for other people. We seek a calm, intelligent debate on the issues that divide us or none at all, and we demand the same from our commentariat.

Our Particular Kind of Diversity

SIN represents a world perspective to some degree. We have writers from South Africa, Columbia, England, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and America. We have one writer who was raised in the Islamic world and another one who lived in Russia. We like this very much and we hope our readers will too.