Books
Books that I have written.
Media Appearances
Podcasts and Videos in which I have appeared or which I have created.
pyndamics3
Dynamical systems simulation in Python. Includes both continuous and stochastic simulation.
Stats for Everyone
An introductory stats book from a Bayesian perspective, including Python software.
I am a Scientist, Skeptic, and Professor at Bryant University. My goal is to make technical subject matters widely accessible and to use my analytical and computational skills to assist anyone with their science-related problems.
Blog
The Nines Deck and Scientific Reasoning
I wrote about the Nines Deck here as an example of multiple model comparison. Here I want to extend the example to explore more about scientific reasoning.
I ended my …
#math
The Nines Deck and Non-Monotonic Probability Changes
I realized that I don't have a blog post about my favorite simple probability example, the High-Low Deck Game. I've written about it in Statistical Inference for Everyone but I …
#math
The "dead men stay dead" argument
Another piece from this article by Than Christopoulos which caught my eye.
Among the many arguments skeptics use to support an exceedingly low prior probability of the resurrection, one of …
#religion
Bayesian Analysis and its Misuses
In Paulogia's response video, he defines Bayesian analysis as:
"Bayesian analysis is a quantification and mathematical description of presuppositions and natural decision-making processes"
which Than and others took umbrage. They …
#religion
Mundane vs Miraculous claims
I've been thinking lately about a particular criticism of apologist techniques. Apologists will argue for the general reliability of texts using relatively mundane claims which can be verified externally, and …
#religion
Falsification is a real thing
In a response video with Than Christopoulos, Than says at 35:10 :
"I have a video titled "Do Christians make excuses for their faith" [...] why this constant complaint from internet …
#religion
Swinburne and Than need to make predictions and not be post-hoc
I just listened to the Debate Between Than Christopoulos and Matt Dillahunty about the question "Did Jesus Rise from the Dead" and the response by Paulogia and the reponse to …
#religion
Bayes Theorem and a Critique of Maximal Case for the Resurrection
I read with interest this article by Than Christopoulos after seeing his debate with Matt Dilahunty which I hope to respond to at some point. Than is very excited about …
#religion
Do ‘Spirit’ and ‘Supernatural Agency’ Explain Anything?
Been a while since I've written here, so getting back into it with a short observation.
I notice that some theists critique naturalists by claiming that the latter believe nothing …
#religion
Response to Oxford Mathematician [John Lennox] DESTROYS Atheism (15 Minute Brilliancy!)
A friend of mine recently sent me this video to get a response. I haven't done a deep dive into this for a while, so I figured I'd go through …
#religion
Energy Balance Revisited
Going back a few years I published an article simplifying the calculations for atmospheric greenhouse gas effects for undergraduate non-science majors,
Blais, B. (2003). Teaching energy balance using round numbers …
#science
Leon Cooper passes away
My mentor and friend Leon Cooper has died at the age of 94. I am still grappling with this news, hitting me harder than I expected. However, why wouldn't I …
#science
Reproducing Richard Carrier's Calculations
It is said that a published work without the code is little more than an advertisement. It is for this reason that I try to make sure that I publish …
#religion
A poor introduction to Bayesian Reasoning
I've had my disagreements with Jonathan McLatchie a few times, some of it here, and now there is another interview Bayesian Probability and Intelligent Design: A Beginner's Guide that someone …
#religion
What would I expect to be in the Bible?
I've read the entire Bible twice, the most recent time this past year. Both times I was underwhelmed by the content in the book. It had so much barbarism, and …
#religion
"Why I became an atheist" Part 1 and Part 2- John Loftus & Peter May - 05 April 2008, 12 April 2008
As part of the Unbelievable Project, I am taking notes and "arm-chair" responding to each of the Unbelievable podcast episodes satisfying a set of simple rules.
See here for a …
#Unbelievable Project
Some More Comments on Undesigned Coincidences
An "undesigned coincidence" is used in an argument for the reliability of the Gospels, notable by Jonathan McLatchie, Tim McGrew and Lydia McGrew, and is defined as
When you have …
#religion
Can Science Explain Everything? Unbelievable Project: John Lennox vs Peter Atkins - 2nd February 2019
Can science explain everything? Christian guest John Lennox is emeritus Professor of Mathematics and Philosophy of Science at Oxford University. Atheist guest Peter Atkins is emeritus Professor of Chemistry at …
#Unbelievable Project
How NaNoWriMo Got Me Back to the Gym
So National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is here, and it has its usual ups and downs as expected. For this event, you commit to writing 50,000 words of a …
#productivity
What Does Probability have to do with God? Exploring Bayesian Reasoning in Theological Problems
In this talk, I will present a framework for rational inquiry based on probability theory. Probability theory is a branch of mathematics that deals with uncertainty and how to reason …
#presentations
Richard Bauckham and the Distribution of Names
My work with Kamil Gregor on the reexamination of the analysis of names from Richard Bauckham's Jesus and the Eyewitnesses has been published:
Gregor, K., & Blais, B. (2023). Is Name …
#media
