Ideas change everything

Why people believe weird things

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Michael Shermer |

TED2006

• February 2006

Why do people see the Virgin Mary on a cheese sandwich or hear demonic lyrics in "Stairway to Heaven"? Using video and music, skeptic Michael Shermer shows how we convince ourselves to believe -- and overlook the facts.

Why do people see the Virgin Mary on a cheese sandwich or hear demonic lyrics in "Stairway to Heaven"? Using video and music, skeptic Michael Shermer shows how we convince ourselves to believe -- and overlook the facts.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.

Sign up for Skepticism 101, Michael Shermer's course on how to think like a scientist.

About the speaker

Michael Shermer

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Michael Shermer debunks myths, superstitions and urban legends -- and explains why we believe them. Along with publishing Skeptic Magazine, he's author of Why People Believe Weird Things and The Mind of the Market.

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Why People Believe Weird Things

Michael Shermer | Holt Paperbacks (2002)

Michael Shermer - *Why People Believe Weird Things*

Let's bring scientific inquiry to the masses

Explore Skeptic magazine, cofounded by Michael Shermer, for critical approaches to bold claims like the existence of voodoo and the paranormal.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.

Sign up for Skepticism 101, Michael Shermer's course on how to think like a scientist.