Victor Stenger Died
LINK Stenger was an early supporter of the Internet Infidels; we occasionally exchanged emails. Trained as a physicist, Stenger was also interested in the philosophy of religion. Many of his writings were at the intersection of physics (or, more broadly, science) and religion. As I reflect upon my numerous interactions with him about responding to … Victor Stenger Died
Biola’s / Talbot’s Doctrinal Statement
William Lane Craig teaches at Talbot Theological Seminary, affiliated with the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (BIOLA) University. (Some readers may not know that Josh McDowell graduated from BIOLA or that Josh McDowell’s Evidence That Demands a Verdict helped convert Craig to Christianity.) Here is the doctrinal statement he, J.P. Moreland, and the other faculty … Biola’s / Talbot’s Doctrinal Statement
Draper’s Reply to Welty
Philosopher Greg Welty wrote a brief response to Paul Draper’s brief summary of his position regarding God and the burden of proof. Here is Draper’s reply to Welty. Greg Welty has written an interesting reply to my post on “God and the Burden of Proof”. He does a very good job of explaining my argument (for … Draper’s Reply to Welty
Critical Thinking and Skepticism
In a recent post advocating the end of Philosophy of Religion, John Loftus commented that PoR classes are often taught with the primary goal of teaching students to think critically, and he objected that “Teaching students to be critical thinkers is very important but teaching them to have a skeptical disposition is more important.” I would … Critical Thinking and Skepticism
The Worst of C.S. Lewis
Victor Reppert posted this quote from Lewis on his Dangerous Idea blog: From C. S. Lewis’s essay “Christian Apologetics, ” found in God in the Dock. “I have sometimes told my audience that the only two things really worth considering are Christianity and Hinduism. (Islam is only the greatest of the Christian heresies, Buddhism only the greatest … The Worst of C.S. Lewis
Towards a Rational Paganism
Recent discussions here at SO have focused on the future of philosophy of religion (if any), and some have queried where the field might go if, to some extent, it moves away from its traditional theistic/Christian emphases. I have maintained that certain discussions have pretty much played out. By now we know the arguments for … Towards a Rational Paganism
Theistic and Atheistic Conversation Killers
Both theists and atheists can make statements which are “conversation killers.” Here are two recent examples from the Blogosphere. On the atheistic side, James Lindsay recently wrote this. On that basis, and others like it, it is very difficult to see the matter of theism as something to treat seriously as a philosophical object. We … Theistic and Atheistic Conversation Killers
The End of PoR – Part 2
John Loftus has begun laying out his views on PoR in greater detail on his website. I’m going to comment on a few key points that he makes in a recent post: What Exactly is My Proposal For Ending the Philosophy Of Religion Discipline in Secular Universities? It will probably take me a few posts … The End of PoR – Part 2
One Problem with Swinburne’s Case for God
In The Existence of God (2nd edition, hereafter: EOG), Richard Swinburne lays out a systematic cumulative case for the claim that it is more likely than not that God exists. I have a specific objection to the third argument in this case, but I believe this objection throws a monkey wrench into the works, and … One Problem with Swinburne’s Case for God
Pot, Meet Kettle
This is from Steve Hays on the Triablogue blog. He writes: In my experience, internet atheists typically act like lawyers. Lawyers only argue their side of the case. And they use whatever argument is convenient. … It’s funny how utterly hidebound and anti-intellectual they are. That’s why they regard it as treasonous when a real … Pot, Meet Kettle