“God Particle” Discovery Means Woes for Atheists?
Check this out: https://i.imgur.com/Y69cF.png According to some Tweeters, the recent (probable) discovery of the Higgs Boson (unfortunately tagged “The God Particle” by physicist Leon Lederman) has some people once again writing obituaries for atheism. Of course, it seems unlikely that these particular individuals have advanced degrees in physics, philosophy, or theology, so their pronouncements should … “God Particle” Discovery Means Woes for Atheists?
How to Think or What to Think?
John Loftus raises an issue that I would like to address: Should professors teach students how to think or what to think? http://debunkingchristianity.blogspot.com/2012/06/open-challenge-to-dr-keith-parsons-and.html John gives a link to an article by philosopher Peter Boghossian: http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2011/07/192/boghossian Boghossian challenges what John calls the “received” view of pedagogy. The received view can be summed up by the slogan … How to Think or What to Think?
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?
The Unending Story
This was in the Manchester Guardian last February: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/feb/12/new-anti-science-assault-us-schools Like movie monsters who keep getting killed but keep coming back for more (and more tedious) sequels, anti-science activism keeps rising from the crypt. No surprise here. This is truly the unending story. What does surprise me a bit is that it apparently took so long … The Unending Story
THE HYPERBOLE EXCUSE
Check this out: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pastor-sean-harris-beat-gay-children-sermon_n_1474510?ref=gay-voices Typical. Whenever an extremist is called out for making violent and hateful remarks, the response is always the same: “Just kidding. Hah hah. I was only using hyperbole to make a point.” OK, well, I guess sauce for the goose… I think a 320 pound, heavily tattooed, leather-clad gay biker should … THE HYPERBOLE EXCUSE
Podcast Available
My interview with Nelson Brooke for ThinkAtheist is now available: The talk ranged over a number of issues–really more on philosophy of science than anything else. Your name Your email Subject Your message (optional)
Does Craig Demonstrate a Fallacy in Hume?
A recent responder to my postings on Hume’s argument against miracles claims that Hume’s argument in Section X of An Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding is “demonstrably fallacious.” After a bit of coaxing, he has produced the following alleged demonstration, taken from William Lane Craig’s debate with Bart Ehrman: ”When we talk about the probability of … Does Craig Demonstrate a Fallacy in Hume?
The Parsons Test of Biblical Literalism
A number of posts and commentaries recently have argued that even conservative Christian apologists have now largely abandoned the old-fashioned literalist view of scripture. I am still not sure. I don’t know how deep or broad their skepticism is. Hence I offer the following Parsons Test of Biblical Literalism. It is, of course, a completely … The Parsons Test of Biblical Literalism
Does Hume Commit a Fallacy?
One respondent to my previous post, “The Gospels and Critical History,” in addition to the usual bluster and bombast, manages to offer a few interesting arguments. He had this to say about Hume’s miracle argument from section 1o of An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding: “As for Hume’s beautiful argument; it is demonstrably fallacious. Hume had … Does Hume Commit a Fallacy?
The Gospels and Critical History
I follow with interest some of the debates posted on SO concerning the historical reliability of the Gospel narratives. Christian apologists often accuse skeptics of approaching those narratives with an unwarranted degree of skepticism that assumes the falsehood of those narratives until and unless they meet unreasonable standards of proof not imposed on other ancient … The Gospels and Critical History