What is Christianity? Part 15
In his book Naming the Elephant (hereafter: NTE), the Christian apologist James Sire raises various objections against his analysis of the concept of a “worldview” that he had presented in his earlier book The Universe Next Door (hereafter: TUND). I have reviewed three of Sire’s objections to his earlier cognitivist analysis of the concept of a … What is Christianity? Part 15
What is Christianity? Part 11
Shortly after the turn of the century, the Christian apologist James Sire revised his understanding of the concept of a “worldview” and wrote a book advocating this revised understanding: Naming the Elephant (hereafter: NTE). Some of the the key changes that Sire makes to his conception of a “worldview” are defended in Chapter 5 of NTE: …the … What is Christianity? Part 11
Another Christian Apologist Tears Down a Straw Man of Atheist Morality
My friend Wintery Knight (WK) has written another blog post on the topic of morality. Like so many other theists (and a few atheists), he manages to completely botch the topic of atheist morality. Who Speaks for Atheists, Anyway? If you want to determine Christian beliefs about something, you can see what the Bible and various representatives of … Another Christian Apologist Tears Down a Straw Man of Atheist Morality
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
Quentin Smith on Bertrand Russell on “Unyielding Despair” and the Meaning of Life
In his essay, “A Free Man’s Worship,” Bertrand Russell writes: Such, in outline, but even more purposeless, more void of meaning, is the world which Science presents for our belief. Amid such a world, if anywhere, our ideals henceforward must find a home. That man is the product of causes which had no prevision of … Quentin Smith on Bertrand Russell on “Unyielding Despair” and the Meaning of Life
Link: Intended and Unintended Life by Brooke Alan Trisel
I am quoting the abstract of Trisel’s paper here, without comment pro or con, for interested readers who may wish to read the paper for themselves. Feel free to debate in the combox. Abstract. Some people feel threatened by the thought that life might have arisen by chance. What is it about “chance” that some people find … Link: Intended and Unintended Life by Brooke Alan Trisel
Di Muzio Responds to WLC on “Theism and the Meaning of Life”
LINK HT: Ex-Apologist
Kahane on Cosmic Insignificance
This paper is an absolute must-read. Abstract: The universe that surrounds us is vast, and we are so very small. When we reflect on the vastness of the universe, our humdrum cosmic location, and the inevitable future demise of humanity, our lives can seem utterly insignificant. Many philosophers assume that such worries about our significance … Kahane on Cosmic Insignificance
The Alpha course vs. Philosophy
Extract from my OUP book Humanism: A Very Short Introduction, which references the Alpha Course (it’s from chpt 7) Religion vs. shallow, selfish individualism Let’s now turn to religious practice. Setting aside the issue of whether God exists, perhaps it might still be argued that religious reflection or observance is required if our lives … The Alpha course vs. Philosophy
Scalar Connection to Meaning of Life?
Because I’ve written so much about arguments from scale lately, the following statement in Dennis Prager’s op-ed on atheism and consolation caught my eye. “‘And we promise to work for more gun control. But the truth is we don’t have a single consoling thing to say to you because we atheists recognize that the human … Scalar Connection to Meaning of Life?