In this conversation, I talk with Casey Kiracofe, who shares his transformative journey from being deeply involved in conspiracy theories to embracing humanism. He discusses the impact of online communities on belief systems, the challenges of rationality and groupthink, and the importance of humility and critical thinking in the pursuit of truth. We explore the psychological aspects of belief formation, the role of religion, and the ongoing process of self-discovery and learning in a world filled with misinformation.
Casey is a Secular Humanist, Atheist, Skeptic, and Artist.
He grew up in a small, Christian, conservative town and was indoctrinated into an online conspiracy theory cult by the age of 14. Provided with a biased worldview at such a young age, he hit multiple brick walls throughout the years, and since then, has happily deconstructed from his faith and former beliefs.
Casey is a strong advocate for Humanism— a belief system he sees as being based on empathy, empiricism, and continued growth. Now, with the right critical thinking tools and an appreciation for epistemology, he wishes to share his unique perspective on religious nationalism, culture, humanity, and more.
link to WSJ article: https://www.wsj.com/tech/how-two-young-men-got-pulled-into-internet-darkness-and-how-they-got-out-814d0214?st=sjKPmi&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
link to Casey’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@squampus?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
link to Casey’s substack: https://substack.com/@humanisthq
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