Month: August 2012

Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence (ECREE), Part 4: NT Reliability, Extraordinary Claims, and the Base Rate Fallacy

|

I want to re-visit the issue of “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence” (ECREE), by considering a type or class of argument for miracles based upon the historical reliability of the New Testament (NT), hereafter “the argument.” According to this argument, the general historical reliability of the NT provides sufficient evidence to make the historicity of … Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence (ECREE), Part 4: NT Reliability, Extraordinary Claims, and the Base Rate Fallacy

Jehovah is a Sexist – Part 4

|

In previous posts on this topic here at the Secular Outpost I have not attempted to build a case for the claim made in the title.  Instead, I have discussed the meaning and implications (i.e. Jesus is a false prophet and Christianity is a false religion) of the claim.  However, on my own blog I … Jehovah is a Sexist – Part 4

Fundamentalist Kidnapping Scheme

|

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/08/08/655951/bryan-fischer-children-of-same-sex-couples-must-be-saved-through-underground-railroad-kidnapping/ How about an underground railroad to remove innocent children from the homes of fundamentalist morons? Your name Your email Subject Your message (optional)

Are You a Current or Former BSA Member? If So, MSNBC Would Like to Hear From You

|

A journalist at MSNBC is interested in hearing from current or former members about the membership policies of the Boy Scouts of America. Since her reporting up to this point has focused on the BSA’s exclusion of homosexuals, I think it would be valuable for her from current or former members about the BSA’s discrimination … Are You a Current or Former BSA Member? If So, MSNBC Would Like to Hear From You

Unreasonable Faith: Failing as a Parent

|

So much for “love the sinner but hate the sin,” eh? As the father of two young children myself, I cannot even imagine ever writing a letter like that to either of my children. LINK Your name Your email Subject Your message (optional)

Are Christians the Best Argument Against Christianity?

|

According to The Confident Christian, Christians themselves are “the best argument against Christianity.” The author sums up the argument as follows. Noted Christian apologist and author Ravi Zacharias says the one question that has haunted him the most throughout his ministry was asked by a Hindu acquaintance: “If this conversion you speak about is truly … Are Christians the Best Argument Against Christianity?

Whatever The Motive, Human Ego Can Be An Understandable Component Of The Apologist’s Public Outreach

|

Among nonbelievers on the Internet, there has recently been some discussion about whether the more prominent public speakers and debaters for fundamentalist religious beliefs are honestly self deluded or are intentionally misrepresenting what they claim to be the truth about reality. I am in no position to definitively assess, one way or another, which of … Whatever The Motive, Human Ego Can Be An Understandable Component Of The Apologist’s Public Outreach

Index: The Evidential Argument from Evil: the Biological Role of Pain and Pleasure

|

The purpose of this post is to provide an index for all posts regarding Paul Draper’s version of the evidential argument from evil which focuses on the biological role of pain and pleasure (APP).“The Argument from the Biological Role of Pain and Pleasure“: an introduction to the argument“Silver’s Defense of Draper’s Argument from the Biological … Index: The Evidential Argument from Evil: the Biological Role of Pain and Pleasure

Jeff’s Picks — 5 Aug 12

|

The Argument from Evil Morality without God Apologist Watch   [Editor’s Note (Lowder):  Despite its stated purpose (to “sound the alarm against” the bullying of hateful rhetoric from atheists), the scope of the site seems to go beyond that. For example, when I first saw this site, the latest post was “Prayer Studies and the … Jeff’s Picks — 5 Aug 12