CHRISTIANITY IS NOT GREAT is Out!
In case you missed, John Loftus’s latest anthology, Christianity is Not Great, is out. Just look at the table of contents: I know of no other book which argues in such comprehensive detail that Christianity has caused so much harm in the world. You can purchase the book on Amazon.com here.
Why be Skeptical? Reason #1 (Lying Cheating Teenagers)
One good reason why we should be skeptical is that people often lie, deceive, and cheat. This is not just my personal opinion. This is a fact, a fact established by scientific observation and research. I have presented factual scientific data showing that very young children lie, and that elementary age children lie frequently. Now … Why be Skeptical? Reason #1 (Lying Cheating Teenagers)
Reza Aslan Claims Harris and Dawkins Aren’t Atheists
“Renowned scholar” Reza Aslan wrote an article for Salon.com with the title, “Sam Harris and ‘New Atheists’ Aren’t New, Aren’t Even Atheists.” I don’t know if this title was chosen by him or his editors, but it’s false. To deny that Sam Harris or Richard Dawkins are atheists is as ridiculous as to deny that … Reza Aslan Claims Harris and Dawkins Aren’t Atheists
Christian Debaters
Jonathan McLatchie: Fact-Checking Wikipedia on Common Descent: The Evidence from Paleontology (2011)
Jonathan McLatchie is an up-and-coming Christian apologist who also has a strong background in biology. I met him in person once while I was speaking in Seattle and he was an intern at the Discovery Institute. He seemed to me to be a very nice and intelligent fellow. McLatchie wrote a series of blog posts … Jonathan McLatchie: Fact-Checking Wikipedia on Common Descent: The Evidence from Paleontology (2011)
Horia George Plugaru: The Argument from Physiological Horrors (2003)
This was recommended to me, but I haven’t read it yet. Please feel free to debate in the combox. P1: If human beings: (1) would produce extremely disgusting, abhorrent, horrible, pestilential, totally ugly results, (2) those results would be due to no fault of their own, (3) assuming that (some of) those results would help … Horia George Plugaru: The Argument from Physiological Horrors (2003)
The Evidential Argument from Biological Evolution: Part 1
Many conservative Christians and lay atheists alike claim that if biological evolution is true, then God does not exist. Ironically, while many conservative Christians have attacked evolution because it supposedly entails atheism, only one contemporary atheist philosopher has argued that evolution is evidence for atheism: Paul Draper. Draper defends an evidential argument from evolution for naturalism. … The Evidential Argument from Biological Evolution: Part 1
Atheism and the Meaning of Life, Again
http://www.strangenotions.com/if-atheism-is-true-does-life-still-have-meaning/ The above article by Jennifer Fulwiler, who converted from atheism to Catholicism, raises the perennial issue of the meaning of life for atheists. For me, the most engaging part of the piece is the quote from Ross Douthat. Douthat apparently concedes that an atheist’s joys and sorrows can feel as intensely meaningful as they … Atheism and the Meaning of Life, Again
Theists, like Math Students, Need to Show Their Work
In my recent debate with Kevin Vandergriff, Vandergriff argued that biological evolution is evidence for theism. In support, he referred to the probability estimate of evolutionary biologist Francisco Ayala. According to Ayala, it is fantastically improbable that intelligent life on Earth is the result of unguided evolution. Since I have a background in probability theory, I was most interested in … Theists, like Math Students, Need to Show Their Work
Why be Skeptical? Reason #1 (Little Liars)
If an adult person is not mentally ill and not mentally disabled, then he/she will answer YES to the following questions: 1. Do children sometimes lie? 2. Do teenagers sometimes lie? 3. Do college students and young adults sometimes lie? 4. Do adults sometimes lie? It take it to be UNCONTROVERSIAL that children, teenagers, young … Why be Skeptical? Reason #1 (Little Liars)