Thomas Paine on the Immorality of the (Alleged) Virgin Birth
The story, taking it as it is told, is blasphemously obscene. It gives an account of a young woman engaged to be married, and while under this engagement she is, to speak plain language, debauched by a ghost, under the impious pretense (Luke, chap. I., ver. 35), that “the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, … Thomas Paine on the Immorality of the (Alleged) Virgin Birth
Empty Defense of an Empty Tomb: A Reply to Anne A. Kim’s Misunderstandings
I finished this essay many years ago, but due to my hiatus never got around to publishing it until now. It will be announced on the Secular Web’s “What’s New?” page very soon. It can be accessed immediately by using the link below, however.Abstract: William Lane Craig has argued for the historicity of Jesus’ empty … Empty Defense of an Empty Tomb: A Reply to Anne A. Kim’s Misunderstandings
William Lane Craig on the Prior Probability of the Resurrection
Prior to examining the specific evidence for and against Jesus’ resurrection, how probable is it that God raised Jesus from the dead? According to many Christian apologists, the answer is “not low” — at least, the answer is “not low” for theists. Are they right? For example, here is William Lane Craig: Dr. Ehrman just … William Lane Craig on the Prior Probability of the Resurrection
William Lane Craig’s Critique of Bart Ehrman on the Probability of Miracles
As the saying goes, I have to “call ’em as I see ’em.” I just read, for the first time, the transcript of William Lane Craig’s debate with Bart Ehrman. I read, with great interest, Craig’s first rebuttal, where he makes extensive use of Bayes’s Theorem (BT) to critique two of Ehrman’s statements. Those two … William Lane Craig’s Critique of Bart Ehrman on the Probability of Miracles
Hume’s Beautiful Argument
In two of my classes this term we have been reading Hume’s An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. Whenever I read his Section X, “Of Miracles,” I am once again struck by the beauty, simplicity, and the power of his argument. Oceans of ink have been spilled by philosophers commenting on this argument, and many of … Hume’s Beautiful Argument
LINK: A Bayesian Analysis of the Cumulative Effects of Independent Eyewitness Testimony for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
I just discovered this essay by John DePoe which defends a Bayesian technique to measure the cumulative effect of independent eyewitness testimony for the Resurrection. Check it out: Resurrection.pdf I think this article could be of interest to anyone interested in Bayesian approaches to evidence for or against God’s existence, not just people interested in … LINK: A Bayesian Analysis of the Cumulative Effects of Independent Eyewitness Testimony for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The Meaning of ‘miracle’ – Part 3
Swinburne’s description of Aquinas’ concept of a ‘miracle’: Aquinas wrote that a ‘miracle’ in a wide sense is any event brought about by a rational agent in virtue of powers greater than normal human powers; and so many events brought about by demons or angels would count as miracles. But in a strict sense, he … The Meaning of ‘miracle’ – Part 3
The Meaning of ‘miracle’ – Part 2
Let’s start with Swinburne’s description of Aquinas’ concept of a ‘miracle’: Aquinas wrote that a ‘miracle’ in a wide sense is any event brought about by a rational agent in virtue of powers greater than normal human powers; and so many events brought about by demons or angels would count as miracles. But in a … The Meaning of ‘miracle’ – Part 2
Miracles and Antecedent Probabilities
Victor Reppert responded succinctly but thoughtfully to my posting on ECREE (the principle that “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence”): There is a sense in which I agree with the ECREE thesis, it is just that I don’t believe that there is any objective way of proving that one set of antecedent probabilities is rational and … Miracles and Antecedent Probabilities
Victor on Weird Stuff
Victor Reppert has been kind enough to reply on his Dangerous Idea blog to my comments on his earlier posting. I’m replying to his reply, which will evoke a counter-reply, which will get a counter-counter-reply…until one or the other of us has some real work to do and has to break it off. Sigh. That … Victor on Weird Stuff