The Secular Frontier

LOWERED EXPECTATIONS ABOUT THE PASSION NARRATIVES From the opening pages of his massive two-volume commentary on the Passion Narratives, The Death of the Messiah (hereafter: DOM), the eminent New Testament scholar Raymond Brown lowers expectations of historical reliability and historical accuracy from these important parts of the Gospels. On the first page of the introduction, Brown makes this strong statement: Yet Jesus did not write an account of his passion; nor did anyone who had been present write an eyewitness account. (DOM, Vol. 1, p.4) In one sentence, Brown rejects both the idea that any of the authors of the Gospels were eyewitnesses to the events they write about in the Passion Narratives and also the idea that any of the Gospel authors made use of a written account by an eyewitness to those events. Brown also notes that we have no direct access to the early Christian traditions made use of by the authors of the Gospels in writing their Passion Narratives: That intervening p ... Read Article

Bob is in need of a new car and would greatly appreciate your help. Here is his Go Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/f/x9httb-help-bob-get-back-on-the-road?attribution_id=sl:2ab9d1e8-99a0-4846-bd4c-bdd38a6e5274&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp13_c-amp14_t2-amp15_t1&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&v=amp14_t2 ... Read Article

(1) We know from Paul's Philippian Christ hymn and Corinthian Creed that Paul thought God raised Jesus from the dead and because of his service unto death exalted Jesus to the highest possible position (Lord), a name and status Jesus didn't previously have. Paul elsewhere declares Jesus the firstborn of many brothers and he was the apocalyptic "first-fruits" of the general resurrection of souls at the end of the age. Paul claims Jesus was thus "translated" after death, and was seen by a number of people including Peter, the 12, James, the 500, and lastly Paul himself. Certainly, nothing supernatural is implied here. Bereavement hallucinations are common (my friend's mother had them when her husband died), as are mass hallucinations (e.g., the Fatima Sky Miracle), and Paul may certainly have been under cognitive dissonance stress persecuting a movement he had relatives in (e.g., Junia) that his teacher Gamaliel also said to treat with kindness an understanding. We see such things in ancient accoun ... Read Article

It should be terrifying for people that many USA politicians are Christian and use that superstition to inform their political policies. Here is Senator Ted Cruz admitting the basis for his support of Israel is first and foremost that the bible tells him to bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4YgM2dswgdw Consider the reasoning here: "My magic book tells me to love a people and curse its enemies, a book written by the people I'm supposed to love." ... Read Article

Well, a lot of bright people are superstitious... uh ,,,, Christian. This includes this guy, the smartest person: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1athoNwR7Q0 Here's the thing. Having a ridiculously high intelligence quotient (IQ) doesn't imply you will be proficient at big picture existential questions like the meaning of life or the existence of God for the same reason it doesn't mean you will be a brilliant geometer or guitar player. Similarly, the world's best guitar player could be useless on the flute or drums. A creationist may have a highly sophisticated argument as to why "a" god is a useful explanation, but this brings nothing to the table of what such a god is like: *Jesus, Thor; The Flying Spaghetti Monster; The Great Pumpkin." ... Read Article

In George Orwell's 1984, doublespeak is not explicitly named but is embodied in the concept of "doublethink," a key mechanism of the Party's control. Doublethink is the act of simultaneously holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind and accepting both as true, while also suppressing awareness of their contradiction. It enables the Party to manipulate truth, rewrite history, and enforce ideological conformity. For example, the Party's slogans—"War is Peace," "Freedom is Slavery," "Ignorance is Strength"—are paradoxes that require doublethink to accept. Citizens must believe these contradictions without questioning them, erasing any critical thought. This mental discipline ensures loyalty to the Party, as individuals cannot challenge its lies or propaganda. The term "doublespeak" later emerged in literary analysis and popular culture, inspired by 1984 and combining "doublethink" with "Newspeak" (the Party's language designed to limit thought). Doublespeak refers to deliberately ambiguous or eva ... Read Article

WHERE WE ARE Although Spinoza’s primary objection against miracles fails, Spinoza’s second objection against miracles appears to be a powerful and devastating objection against belief in miracles. Spinoza points out that humans cannot distinguish between true miracles (that are brought about by God) and fake miracles (that are brought about by some other supernatural being, such as an angel or a demon). In the 3rd edition of his book Reasonable Faith (hereafter: RF3), the Christian philosopher William Craig raises three objections against Spinoza’s second objection.  FOUR POSTS ON CRAIG'S CASE I have written four blog posts that critically examine Craig's case against Spinoza's second objection against belief in miracles. In these articles, I show that Craig's case fails: https://secularfrontier.infidels.org/2025/05/craig-vs-spinoza-a-big-problem-for-belief-in-miracles/ https://secularfrontier.infidels.org/2025/05/craig-vs-spinoza-craigs-object ... Read Article

WHERE WE ARE Although Spinoza's primary objection against miracles fails (see my post "Craig vs. Spinoza: A Big Problem for Belief in Miracles"), Spinoza's second objection against miracles appears to be a powerful and devastating objection against belief in miracles. Spinoza points out that humans cannot distinguish between true miracles (that are brought about by God) and fake miracles (that are brought about by some other supernatural being, such as an angel or a demon). In the 3rd edition of his book Reasonable Faith (hereafter: RF3), the Christian philosopher William Craig raises three objections against Spinoza's second objection. So far, I have shown that two of those objections fail: Craig's First Objection Fails (see my post "Craig vs. Spinoza: Craig’s Objections to Spinoza’s Second Objection against Miracles") Craig's Second Objection Fails (see my post "Craig vs. Spinoza: Craig’s Doctrinal-Context Objection") CRAIG'S THIRD OBJECTION Here is Craig's third objection to Spin ... Read Article

WHERE WE ARE In the third edition of Reasonable Faith (hereafter: RF3), William Craig presents three objections against Spinoza's second objection against miracles, as we saw in my previous post on this subject. Craig's first objection, lets call it the Insignificant Impact Objection, is an attempt to downplay the significance of Spinoza's second objection against miracles. Craig portrays Spinoza's objection as only impacting an argument for the existence of God. But Craig is mistaken on this point. Spinoza's second objection, if successful, rules out the possibility of identifying any event as being a miracle. This strong conclusion, if correct, demolishes any arguments for any Christian belief whatsoever by Christian apologists that are based on an alleged miracle. If we cannot determine whether an event is a miracle, then no argument based on an alleged miracle can be a strong or solid argument. Furthermore, because the occurrence of miracles is the basis for claims by Christian apologists about ... Read Article

(HINT -- PARTLY BECAUSE THE SLAUGHTER OF TENS OF BILLIONS OF KIDS MEANS THERE CANNOT BE A WISE AND LOVING CREATOR) TO BEGIN WITH We are hearing it all the time these days. That the American economy is now the envy of the world. Wages are higher in the poorest state and very red, Mississippi, than in progressive Canada, with per capita income in the USA leaving that of most of the rest of the west in its wake. It is a notion that the likes of even oft conservative bashing Bill Maher is touting, that the USA looking to the other more secular and socialistic democracies for a better life is no longer operative. That the American Way that has long beein exceptional in combining the most free market economy in the world with being the most religious among 1st world nations, is pulling ahead of the prosperity pack.  To a great extent it is an illusion. Lifespans are about 81 in Canada, 71 in Mississippi, and a few years longer north of the border than the USA as a whole. Americans live shorter l ... Read Article

Last Time: Trump Playing 4-D Chess Once again Trump put on a mask, pushed an old lady down the stairs, and tore off the mask to go help her up: he once again wants to be congratulated for solving a problem he created.  Putting on his strong man persona, he unleashed the national guard and marines on the American people even though the protests were being handled fine on a local level because … of course he did, lol.  It should be clear by now that Trumpism isn’t Republicanism because he doesn’t want small government in the traditional Republican sense, he wants the power of government consolidated in a small focal point, with his inner group of sycophants constantly stroking his ego chirping “Yes Mr. President; Brilliant Mr. President; Thank-You Mr. President; etc.” Of course, an authoritarian personality getting popular and winning the big political popularity contest is nothing new.  Reich asked the perennial question which is ours again today: "Why would a people wil ... Read Article

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geKNWCQpvfg ... Read Article

"Concept/conceive/understand" are etymologically related to the hand/grasping in either (sort of) Greek or Latin etymology, e.g., "I was able to grasp his meaning." The words "concept," "conceive," and "understand" have etymological connections to the idea of "grasping" or "seizing" in Latin, though not directly tied to the hand in Greek. Here's a breakdown: Concept and Conceive: Both derive from the Latin verb concipere (to take in, grasp, or conceive), which is a compound of com- (together) and capere (to take or seize). The sense of "grasping" here metaphorically extends to mental comprehension or forming ideas, as in "grasping a concept" or "conceiving an idea." The root capere is strongly associated with physical grasping or holding (e.g., "capture" also comes from capere). Understand: This word has a different origin, from Old English understandan (to comprehend, literally "to stand under"). It doesn't directly relate to grasping or the hand in its etymology. However, the metaphorical use of "g ... Read Article

Large scale war and mass atrocities have been afficting humanity since the advent of civilization. So who is most to blame for these disasters? According to the religion industry if most or all folks would just be good and obedient sheep and behave themselves by following the dictates of whatever deity a particular brand of theism promotes, then peace would reign over the planet. Theists especially conservative often contend that the atheism that has become popular in the 1900s on is exceptionally dangerous because of the tens of millions who godless communists have liquidated, particularly over a short period in the ;ast century. Of late some atheists, many Christians especially conservative, and Hindus have asserted that Islam particularly of the militant flavor has become an exceptional threat to global security.             To figure this out in a defintive paper is a matter of stastitics. The death tolls for given wars and other events ... Read Article

These days many who are secular and/or on the center-left just don’t get why so many on the evangelical right seem so darn dead set against the threat of global climate change, to the point they thrill in chanting “drill, baby, drill!” After crude is slimy, smelly, icky stuff, and the refined products are not all that refined. Many may imagine that if duly educated about the science of CO2 driven atmospheric and ocean warming and acidification a fair number of theocons will come around to agreeing on prudent steps to cut down on mass transferring fossil carbon from underground into the sky and sea.              Don’t hold your breath on that.              To understand why oil in particular has a special place on the hearts of theocons, we go back to 1800s America when Puritanical Calvinism was still dominant. The Bible is as usual contradictory when it comes to weal ... Read Article