LINK: Quodlibeta on Multiversial Musings
A well-written summary of leading objections to the multiverse as an objection to various versions of cosmological and teleological arguments. LINK
John Danaher on Corvino on the Definitional Objection to Same-sex Marriage (Part One)
John Danaher at Philosophical Disquisitions summarizes some interesting portions of Oxford University Press’s book, Debating Same-Sex Marriage. LINK
Should We Love Bashar al-Assad?
Recently, Victor Reppert and I have been having one of our occasional slugfests, er, polite discussions. Actually, our exchanges are quite polite compared to the flaming displays of “Internet courage” all too often seen in this medium. Anyway, the point at issue concerns the claim by Christians to be able to love the sinner while … Should We Love Bashar al-Assad?
Argument from Self-Centeredness and Limited Altruism of Human Beings
This post was inspired by the writings of Paul Draper. If you like the argument, the credit should go to Draper. Any problems with the formulation below, however, are probably due to an error on my part. Informal Statement of the Argument Humans are effectively self-centered; our tendency to behave in self-centered ways is usually … Argument from Self-Centeredness and Limited Altruism of Human Beings
The BSA and Nontheists: A Reply to Steve Hays
After reading my post about the BSA’s policy of discriminating against atheists, Steve Hays is not convinced. While at one point he recognizes that I am criticizing “the opposing position internally, on its own terms,” at several other points he seems to forget that, e.g., his tu quoque claim that atheists don’t generally defend the … The BSA and Nontheists: A Reply to Steve Hays
Comforting Illusions: Reply to Steve Hays
Hays writes: Militant atheists deem it their duty to disabuse Christians of their faith. Militant atheists think Christian theology is false, and they also think it’s morally wrong to believe falsehood. I guess I am not a militant atheist. (As an aside, why is it common practice to refer to some atheists as “militant” or … Comforting Illusions: Reply to Steve Hays
Stenger on Zero Total Energy as Evidence for Atheism
I do not have a physics background, so I am posting this in case someone who does can clarify this for me. In his book, God: The Failed Hypothesis, physicist Victor Stenger argues that the fact that the universe began from a state of zero energy is evidence for God’s nonexistence. On page 116, he … Stenger on Zero Total Energy as Evidence for Atheism
The Argument from the Flourishing and Languishing of Sentient Beings (AFL)
This post was inspired by the writings of Paul Draper. If you like the argument, the credit should go to Draper. Any problems with the formulation below, however, are probably due to an error on my part. Informal Statement of the Argument Only a fraction of living things, including the majority of sentient beings, thrive. … The Argument from the Flourishing and Languishing of Sentient Beings (AFL)
WOTM: What a Friend We Have in Joshie
This is a brilliant video clip exposing the absurdity and immorality of condemning people to eternal punishment solely based on nonbelief. (HT: PZ Myers)
A Key Assumption of TASO
In Chapter 8 of The Existence of God, 2nd edition (hereafter: EOG), Richard Swinburne defends two teleological arguments for the existence of God. The second argument he calls the Teleological Argument from Spatial Order (TASO):1. The laws and boundary conditions of the universe are such as to make probable the evolution of human bodies.Therefore:2. God exists.Swinburne … A Key Assumption of TASO