Carrier and Wanchick debate: Argument from Mind-Brain Dysteleology
In the Carrier-Wanchick debate, Carrier gives an argument for naturalism from the fact that minds are embodied in brains. As part of the setup, he writes: If BT [Biblical theism] is true, then (a) a brainless mind is possible, (b) God could have imbued humans with one, (c) no mind exists that was not deliberately … Carrier and Wanchick debate: Argument from Mind-Brain Dysteleology
An empirical test of the existence of sensus divinitatis in atheists
Paul Manata, in a comment on the post about Dan the agnostic who claims there aren’t really atheists, linked to a paper he wrote arguing for a similar conclusion. The position he takes in that paper, following Greg Bahnsen, is that atheists really do believe in God–everyone does–but that they have a second-order belief about … An empirical test of the existence of sensus divinitatis in atheists
Evangelicals fail to speak out on climate change issue
Environment-concerned members of the 30-million-member National Association of Evangelicals had been hoping for the group to issue a statement on the dangers of global warming and the need to address the issue, but the chances of this were torpedoed “after NAE President Ted Haggard received a sternly written letter from 22 Bush-friendly evangelical leaders, including … Evangelicals fail to speak out on climate change issue
The greatest philosophers: theists or atheists?
William Vallicella ranks the greatest philosophers, asking whether they were theists or atheists–and his list puts at least seven theists in the top ten. I think he’s asking the wrong question–an alternative question which would put things in a different perspective is Were the greatest philosophers advocates of the mainstream religious views of the population … The greatest philosophers: theists or atheists?
Wanchick’s moral argument
I probably should have posted this directly here rather than on my own blog, but I’ve offered up a critique of Wanchick’s moral argument in his Internet Infidels debate with Richard Carrier at The Lippard Blog. I believe that not only does Wanchick mainly proceed through the mere assertion of dubious premises, but that at … Wanchick’s moral argument
Daniel Dennett interview in New York Times Magazine
The New York Times Magazine of January 22, 2006 contains an interview with Daniel Dennett on the subject matter of his new book, Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon. A couple of excerpts suggest it will have some similarities to Pascal Boyer’s Religion Explained: We have a built-in, very potent hair-trigger tendency to … Daniel Dennett interview in New York Times Magazine
Christianity, fear of death, and quality of gospel writings
My friend Einzige, a contributor to The Lippard Blog as well as writing at his own, Die Eigenheit, has posted a critical commentary on John 3:16 and on the gospels in general.
An atheist visits Christian forums
Lya Kahlo did an informal study of Christian forums, visiting them and openly announcing her atheism to see what would happen. She visited 35 different forums. 7 banned her because she was an atheist, 28 continued to welcome her. She was accused of trying to corrupt the young and repeatedly asked “if you don’t believe … An atheist visits Christian forums