The Periodic Table of Irrational Nonsense Ver 3.0

Following the success of the Periodic Table of Irrational Nonsense a few years back, I produced an all new updated version of the table which was exclusively available as a 4 page pull-out poster inside Vol. 24 No. 1 of the Skeptic Magazine. You can still get a copy of the poster by ordering a back issue of the Skeptic Magazine, but here, for the first time, is the updated table. (now with pan and zoom)

The Venn Diagram of Irrational Nonsense

The curiously revered world of irrational nonsense has seeped into almost every aspect of modern society and is both complex and multifarious. Therefore rather than attempt a comprehensive taxonomy, I have opted instead for a gross oversimplification and a rather pretty Venn Diagram.

In my gross over simplification the vast majority of the multitude of evidenced-free beliefs at large in the world can be crudely classified into four basic sets or bollocks. Namely, Religion, Quackery, Pseudoscience and the Paranormal.

However as such nonsensical beliefs continue to evolve they become more and more fanciful and eventually creep across the bollock borders. Although all the items depicted on the diagram are completely bereft of any form of scientific credibility, those that successfully intersect the sets achieve new heights of implausibility and ridiculousness. And there is one belief so completely ludicrous it successfully flirts with all forms of bollocks.

Religious Bollocks ∩ Quackery Bollocks ∩ Pseudoscientific Bollocks ∩ Paranormal Bollocks = Scientology

T-Shirts NOW AVAILABLE


Always Look on the Bright Side of Death

*****************

UPDATE 24th March 2013

Many thanks for the retweets and shares.

I have also received the first translated copy of the Venn Diagram produced by Pavle Močilac of the Croatian Society for Promotion of Science and Critical Thinking.

Italian translation courtesy of Andrea Mirra

Spanish translation via @Cienciaaldía

30th Dev 2013:
Here's a Portguese translation courtesy of Samir Nassif (@samirchn)

If I receive any other translations I shall post them here with the original.




BTW, Its been awfully nice to have seen the Diagram popping up all over the interwebs in the last few days, but if you could so kind as to link back to here you'll be sure to have the latest version in case I make any updates.




FURTHER UPDATE 27th March


I conceived the Venn Diargram of Irrational Nonsense in the car on my way home from work last Wednesday, and quickly knocked it up when I got home. However, I didn't publish it immediatley as I was pondering the feasability of adding a fifth set.

I spent a few hours the following night attempting to add a fifth set, but the diagram was getting cluttered and the fonts too small, so eventually I reluctantly abondened the five set version and posted the original four set version from the previous night.

I have however, seen a fair few comments suggesting that the diagram might benefit from a conspiracy theorist dimension, however, before I've had a chance to have another crack at it, I noticed dehydrationstation has beaten me to it. I think it came out OK.(although I would have used the word "bollocks" a bit more myself.

The Multi-Faith Blasphemy Generator

Blasphemy as we know, is a truly victimless crime, and contrary to popular belief is both big and indeed, clever.

However, in this multicultural society in which we live, we should be careful to ensure we embrace multi-faith blaspheming rather than simply blaspheming in the faith relevant to our particular cultural heritage.

I have therefore created the multi-faith blasphemer that will help ensure your verbal outbursts correctly address a wide variety of deities.

Exclusive Photograph of the Pope's Last Day at Work

I have been fortunate enough to get an exclusive photograph of Pope Benedict leaving the Vatican for the last time.