The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has just come out with Part 2 of their massive US Religious Landscape Survey. Their description of the results: The survey finds that most Americans have a non-dogmatic approach to their faith; for example, most do not believe their religion is the only way to salvation. The … US Religious Landscape Survey

I’m sure all of you recall fondly the Chick “Big Daddy” Tract where the Christian student chastens his unbelieving professor with preposterous anti-evolution arguments. Here is something else in that same genre, forwarded to me by a former student (hmmmmm). BTW, they did not even get absolute zero right. It is -459.67 degrees F, not … Christian Student Deflates Atheist Professor (Round II)

Every now and then I’m reminded that there’s this strange parallel world of religiously driven “science” education. One example that recently came my way is the The Quest for Right series of texts, advertising itself as “the ultimate marriage between an in-depth knowledge of biblical phenomena and natural and physical sciences.” Apparently, “physical science” opposes … Lunatic “science” textbooks

I can think of at least four different skeptical approaches to miracle claims. The Big Guns – AtheismAtheism eliminates biblical miracles, but it is difficult to persuade religious believers that there is no God. Also, God is just one of many supernatural persons who can allegedly override the laws of nature, so disproving the existence … Skeptical Approaches to Miracles – Part 2

I don’t think that philosophical defenders of theism could ply their trade without employing tu quoque arguments. The use of this device in defense of theistic doctrine goes back at least to Bishop Berkeley. When atheist astronomer Edmund Halley (famous for his comet) charged that the doctrines of Christianity are incomprehensible, Berkeley composed The Analyst … Tu Quoque Apologetics

ReachMD, an XM radio channel appealing to medical professionals, is running an interview with me this week. It’s a 13 minute “Book Club” segment, talking about Science and Nonbelief. You can listen to it online.

Apparently, there are rumors that George W. Bush might be thinking of converting to Catholicism. Interesting. If true, I wonder if the attraction is to a kind of theocon authoritarianism that often shows itself in the Catholic hierarchy. If you want a tradition with a long history, intellectual depth (not incompatible with being basically bullshit), … Rumors about Bush converting to Catholicism

Take a look at Ed Fremouw’s short article, “Science and Religion: A Personal Synthesis,” in The Compass, the online newsletter of The Jefferson Center. When I search for a label to identify my spiritual perspective, my literal self suggests “scientific rationalist” or at least, without equivocation, “natural materialist.” With at least equal comfort, however, I … Fremouw article

Objections to Condition (5) I have previously argued that the following condition in Richard Purtill’s definition of “miracle” should be rejected (see Purtill’s essay “Defining Miraclies” in Defense of Miracles, IVP, 1997): (5) for the purpose of showing that God has acted in history. (p.72) This condition is based on an unappealing conception of God … Purtill “Defining Miracles” – Part 3

I just did another interview with Point of Inquiry, the podcast associated with the Center for Inquiry. This one centers on my book Science and Nonbelief, which came out in a low-price paperback edition a few months ago.