Difference between revisions of "Evolutionists who have had problems with being overweight and/or obese"

Revision as of 00:45, March 6, 2017

PZ Myers in 2006.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines biology as "a branch of knowledge that deals with organisms and vital processes."^[1] Although the creation vs. evolution issue touches upon a number of scientific fields outside of biology (for example, the field of paleoanthropology), biology is a key scientific field relating to this issue.

As far as the maintenance of personal health, one of the most basic vital processes related to human biology is eating and it is important that it is done in a healthy manner (see: Nutrition and Health risks linked to obesity).

Below is a list of evolutionists who are experiencing or have experienced problems with being overweight and/or obese (see also: Atheism and obesity):

• PZ Myers is a prominent evolutionist and atheist. In 2010, Myers had health problems related to his heart.^[2] 2009 pictures of a significantly overweight PZ Myers can be found HERE and HERE and HERE. On June 1, 2011, Myers posted a picture of himself and others on his blog and Myers appeared to no longer have issues with being overweight.^[3] However, on February 13, 2013, a video was posted to YouTube entitled, Is church harmful? and Myers appeared to have put on weight subsequent to his June 1, 2011 picture.^[4] In addition, a picture taken in 2014 features an overweight PZ Myers.^[5]

• Stephen Jay Gould was a prominent evolutionist and he was an agnostic. Pictures of an overweight Stephen Gould can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE.

AronRa is a staunch evolutionist. He also serves as the Texas State Director of American Atheists.

(photo obtained from Wikimedia Commons, see: license agreement)

• Richard Leakey is an anthropologist, evolutionist and atheist.^[6] A 2008 picture of an overweight Richard Leakey can be found HERE. Other pictures of an overweight Richard Leakey can be found HERE and HERE and HERE. In October 2010, he appeared to have a healthy weight.^[7] However, a May 2012 picture of Leakey featured HERE in the USA Today' had a picture of him where he was once more overweight.

• Niles Eldredge is an American paleontologist, author, and curator in the Department of Invertebrates at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.^[8][9] Eldridge and fellow paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould developed the Theory of Punctuated Equilibrium.^[10] Niles Eldredge is an atheist. ^[11] A picture of overweight Niles Eldridge can be found HERE.

• James Boster, an overweight, evolutionist professor of anthropology at the University of Connecticut, became unhinged and angrily shouted at a campus, open-air, Christian preacher in a crude and ignorant rant (see: Video). The incident was so embarrassing for the university that they felt compelled to denounce Boster's behavior.^[12]

• Ed Brayton is an atheist blogger at freethoughtblogs.com. His blog Dispatches from the Culture Wars is a prominently featured blog at freethoughtblogs.com. He is also the co-founder and president of Michigan Citizens for Science and co-founder of the pro-evolution blog The Panda's Thumb. Pictures of an overweight Ed Brayton can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE. A video of an overweight Ed Brayton at the Kitzmiller vs. Dover Area School District trail can be HERE. A video of the overweight American atheist Ed Brayton mocking the fit, Christian martial artist Chuck Norris can be found HERE. According to Chuck Norris, most obesity in America is the result of hedonism (see: Chuck Norris on the topic of obesity). Many Christians believe that a hedonist lifestyle is a causal factor of atheism (see: Causes of atheism).^[13] Other videos of an overweight Ed Brayton can be found HERE and HERE. On January 2, 2013, Brayton indicated he had a medical emergency which caused him to require having open heart surgery.^[14]

• Larry Moran is a professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Toronto. His blog Sandwalk is described as "Strolling with a skeptical biochemist". ^[15][16] Moran is an atheist.^[17] Pictures of an overweight Larry Moran can be found HERE and HERE.

Erasmus Darwin's "love of food (particularly fruits, sugar, cream and butter) was matched by his dislike of exercise, and by the age of 46 he had grown so corpulent that a semi-circle had to be cut out of his dining table to accommodate his girth at meal times."^[18]

• Aleksandr Oparin was an atheist, Soviet biochemist. A biography of Oparin declares: "Ill health dogged Oparin in his final years, and his death in 1980 was probably the result of a heart attack."^[19]

• The agnostic Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of Charles Darwin, is believed to have influenced Charles Darwin as far as the development of his evolutionary beliefs.^[20][21] As far as Erasmus Darwin's eating habits, "His love of food (particularly fruits, sugar, cream and butter) was matched by his dislike of exercise, and by the age of 46 he had grown so corpulent that a semi-circle had to be cut out of his dining table to accommodate his girth at meal times."^[22]

• AronRa is an atheist activist and vlogger. He is also an ardent evolutionist and vocal critic of creationism. A picture of AronRa with excess weight can be found HERE. In 2014, a video entitled Aronra on faith appeared on YouTube in which AronRa appeared to have excess weight.

• Richard Goldschmidt^[23]

• Steven Novella is a prominent atheist/agnostic/skeptic/evolutionist who was involved in the pro-evolution campaign called Project Steve. Novella had some excess weight challenges as can be seen HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE.

Since World War II a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the evolutionary position which employs methodological naturalism have been atheists.^[24] For a list of overweight and/or obese notable atheists please see: Atheism and obesity

Given the pseudoscientific nature of the evolutionary paradigm, it not surprising that overweight and obese prominent evolutionists/atheists ignore or take lightly the recommendations of nutritional science, exercise science, and medical science in terms of the harmful effects of being overweight (see also: Evolution, Liberalism, Atheism, and Irrationality). See also: Bariatric science

Creation Ministries International points out that some evolutionists unreasonably claim that human evolution supposedly has contributed to obesity.^[25]

Britain, the birthplace of Darwinism, has been called "the fat man of Europe"

See also: United Kingdom and obesity

Britain is the birth place of Darwinism.

Professor Terence Stephenson in Measuring Up, a report on the nation's obesity crisis by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) called Britain "the fat man of Europe".^[26] In May of 2014, the British paper The Mirror reported that according to the British medical journal Lancet, British girls are the most overweight girls in Western Europe.^[27] In Britain, 29.2% of girls under the age of 20 are classed as excessively heavy with just over 8% meeting the clinical definition of obesity.^[28]

Vehemently pro-evolution New Atheism leaders and health practices

See also: New Atheism leadership's problem with excess weight

Given that medical science research indicates that being overweight causes brain impairment and that Daniel Dennett has had issues with being overweight, it is ironic that Dennet's book Consciousness Explained is beloved by those who deny God in favor of a pseudoscientific naturalist philosophy of the mind.^{[29] [30][31]}

(photo obtained from Flickr, see license agreement)

Since World War II a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the evolutionary position which employs methodological naturalism have been atheists and agnostics.^[32]

New Atheism is a form of militant atheism. The term New Atheism which first appeared in the November 2006 edition of Wired magazine, is frequently applied to a series of six best-selling books by five authors that appeared in the period between 2004–2008. These authors include Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, Richard Dawkins, Victor J. Stenger and Christopher Hitchens.^[33]

The New Atheist leaders claim to be pro-science, 3 out of 5 of these atheist men have had issues with being overweight as can be seen HERE and HERE and HERE As noted earlier, PZ Myers is also a leader within the New Atheism movement and Myers has had problems with being overweight as can be seen HERE.

According to medical science, there are a significant number of physical and mental health related problems associated with being overweight. In the late 1990s, Dennet had coronary artery bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass surgery reroutes blood around clogged arteries to enhance blood flow and oxygen to the heart).^[34][35] In 2010, as noted earlier PZ Myers had health problems related to his heart.^[36]

New Atheists are known for their vehement advocacy of the evolutionist pseudoscience. Also, given that being overweight causes brain impairment and that Daniel Dennet has had issues with being overweight, it is ironic that Dennet's book Consciousness Explained is beloved by those who deny God in favor of a pseudoscientific naturalist philosophy of the mind.^{[37] [38][39]}

Pro-evolution American Atheists leaders and excess weight challenges

See also: Atheism and obesity and American Atheists and their challenges in terms of overweight leadership personnel

As of July 9. 2016, Matt Dillahunty was on the board of directors for the American Atheists organization.

(photo obtained from Creative commons, see license agreement)

Madalyn Murray O'Hair was the founder of the American Atheists organization and she was overweight.^[40] One of the last pictures taken of Madalyn Murray O'Hair features her standing before a cake as can be seen HERE.

As of December 28, 2010, the pictures of the members of the American Atheists organization's board of directors showed a significant portion of its members having excess body weight. Members of the American Atheists board of directors who were overweight as of December 28, 2010 included: Richard Andrews, Monty Gaither, Blair Scott and Ann Zindler. A picture of an overweight Richard Andrews can be found HERE.

On August 11. 2013, a new overweight member of their board of directors was listed - namely, Jamila Bey. A video of an overweight Jamila Bey can be seen HERE. As of June 8, 2016, she is no longer on their board of directors.

On July 9, 2016, Matt Dillahunty was on the Board of Directors for the American Atheists organization. Pictures of an overweight Matt Dillahunty can be found HERE and HERE.

The current pictures of the American Atheists board of directors can be found HERE.

See also: Atheism and obesity

Atheism and the fat acceptance movement

See: Atheism and the fat acceptance movement

Other overweight evolutionists

Since World War II a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the evolutionary position which employs methodological naturalism have been atheists and agnostics (see also: Causes of evolutionary belief)^[41] Please see Atheism and obesity.

Medical problems associated with being overweight and/or obese

Medical science research indicates that excess weight impairs brain function.^[42]

See also: Atheism and health and Health risks linked to obesity

Some of the medical conditions associated with obesity include: type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, arthritis, cancer, sleep apnea, reproductive problems in women and varicose veins.^[43] In addition, medical science research indicates that excess weight impairs brain function.^[44]

According to the Mayo Clinic some of the symptoms associated with obesity can include:

Other problems associated with obesity include:

• Infertility problems in men and men.^[46] Atheist fertility problems associated with obesity further excerbates the sub-replacement fertility rates of the atheist population which is contributing to the global decline of atheism in terms of its adherents.^[47][48]

• Feet/ankles problems: According to Stuart D. Miller, M.D.: "It is important for the public to know that obesity isn't just an aesthetic issue, but a contributing cause of musculoskeletal health problems, specifically with the feet and ankles."^[49]

• Lower levels of balance recovery and increased risk of falls: In her thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, entitled A modeling investigation of obesity and balance recovery, Sara Louise Matrangola writes in the abstract: "Obesity is associated with an increased risk of falls and subsequent injury. Previous studies have shown weight loss and strength training to be beneficial to balance, but knowing which is more beneficial will allow researchers to design interventions to maximize the benefits in terms of balance and reducing risk of falls."^[50]

Atheism, evolutionism, obesity and hypocrisy

See also: Atheist hypocrisy

Atheists/evolutionists often champion mainstream medicine and disparage osteopathy, integrative medicine, chiropractic healthcare and other alternative medicine approaches.^[51][52] Yet despite medical science having an vast amount of evidence pointing out the many health risks of excess weight and medical science, exercise science, and nutritional science having many effective measures to lose weight, there are a significant number of Western World atheists who are obese or have excess weight.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines biology as "a branch of knowledge that deals with organisms and vital processes."^[53] One of the most basic vital processes relating to human biology is eating. Given that overweight atheists typically champion evolutionary pseudoscience, it is not surprising that many have not mastered regulating their daily food intake.

For more information on atheist hypocrisy, please see: Atheist hypocrisy

See also

• Atheism and obesity
• Homosexuality and obesity
• Atheism and health
• Psychology, obesity, religiosity and atheism
• Lesbianism and obesity

Other related articles:

• Nutritional science
• Exercise science
• Medical science
• Evolution, Liberalism, Atheism, and Irrationality
• Theory of Evolution and Cases of Fraud, Hoaxes and Speculation
• Evolution

External Links

• Obesity Linked to Changes In Cognitive Patterns
• As Waistlines Widen, Brains Shrink
• Physical Activity Self-Monitoring and Weight Loss: 6-Month Results of the SMART Trial
• Body-mass index and mortality among 1.46 million white adults

Notes