Template:Did you know nominations/Counterknowledge

I've put this in prep 4, per explanation by WilliamH.⇒ T A  P  11:33, 28 June 2012 (UTC)

Counterknowledge

 * ... that Holocaust denial and 9/11 conspiracy theories are part of what Damian Thompson describes in Counterknowledge as a "pandemic of credulous thinking"?
 * Reviewed: Gaborone City Council

Created/expanded by WilliamH (talk). Self nom at 22:53, 17 June 2012 (UTC)


 * Symbol possible vote.svg The hook needs an in-line citation. The relevant paragraph in the article lacks any  citations. A 9-11 conspiracy-theory was mentioned briefly by Murphy's review. Holocaust denial was mentioned in relation to the current President of Iran in a review (I forget which one).
 * This citation should be easy to arrange.
 * It would be interesting to find RSes (or one RS) that discusses Thompson on belief, especially fidism; Catholic theologians rightly condemn the irrationalism of "the just shall live on faith alone" fetishism. I would guess that such a discussion would illuminate the author's treatment of religion. (The sources cited seem to treat Thompson as a namby pamby liberal protestant of the Honest to God type; typically Catholics believe in at least one miracle 2000 years ago.)
 * Disclosure: The author just reviewed my languishing DYK nomination. Kiefer  .Wolfowitz  10:56, 27 June 2012 (UTC)
 * All relevant citations have been woven in, and the hook is fully supported. Thompson's views of beliefs are probably best left to the article on him. Thanks. WilliamH (talk) 22:24, 27 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Symbol confirmed.svg The hook is fine. One problem with the article is the use of the word "pseudo-science" before holocaust denial, with the source mentioning the President of Iran. "Pseudo-science" does not appear in the source. I would suggest "fringe belief" rather than pseudo-science, since the President of Iran does not engage in the appearance of historical inquiry of some holocaust-denying authors. Perhaps you or another can find a better word than "pseudo-science". Kiefer  .Wolfowitz  05:57, 28 June 2012 (UTC)
 * On the contrary, the Iranian government once commissioned a conference for Holocaust deniers of the world, and one of the most notable pieces of Holocaust denial is a very very unscientific report. I included the citation for Holocaust denial to indicate its existence in the book for the hook, but I think Holocaust denial as a pseudoscience is very unlikely to be challenged in the grand mainstream of things. Thanks for your time once again. WilliamH (talk) 09:31, 28 June 2012 (UTC)