I Don’t Care – Part 6
Aquinas is often thought of as a rigourously logical and systematic thinker. This is only half-true. There is a good deal of vaguness, ambiguity, and illogical thinking in his book Summa Theologica, as far as I can see. Here is a cautionary note from a philosopher who is an expert on Aquinas: From the concept of … I Don’t Care – Part 6
Does God Exist? Part 2
Here is a third option for breaking down the question “Does God exist?” (click on the image below to get a clearer view of the chart): This is a variation on Option 2 (see the previous post in this series). In this analysis I stick with the process of simply adding on divine attributes to … Does God Exist? Part 2
What is Christianity? Part 8
I have a cognitivist view of religions, and of Christianity in particular. 1. Christianity is something that can be true (or false). 2. An experience is NOT something that can be true (or false). 3. A feeling is NOT something that can be true (or false). 4. A commitment is NOT something that can be … What is Christianity? Part 8
Does God Exist? Part 1
The overarching question for my ten-year plan is: Is Christianity true or false? After I clarify this overarching question, the first major question to investigate is this: Does God exist? I will, of course, at some point need to address the traditional arguments for the existence of God (ontological, cosmological, teleological, and moral arguments). But I … Does God Exist? Part 1
What is Christianity? Part 7
In the previous post in this series, I argued that the Christian apologist James Sire makes a fundamental mistake in his book Naming the Elephant, by defining “a worldview” as being a kind of commitment. A worldview is something that can be true (or false), but a commitment is NOT something that can be true … What is Christianity? Part 7
Ben Carson is Also a POLITICAL Nutcase – Part 2
Ben Carson is a religious nutcase, and he is a POLITICAL nutcase as well. He is a double threat to the national security of the United States of America, and a double threat to the well-being of every American citizen. Fortunately, even the know-nothing republicans of Iowa appear to have discerned that Ben Carson would make … Ben Carson is Also a POLITICAL Nutcase – Part 2
What is Christianity? Part 6
Evangelical Christians buy T-shirts and bumper stickers that proclaim this slogan: Christianity is not a religion; it is a relationship with Jesus Christ. http://www.christianapparelshop.com/p-526-christianity-is-not-a-religion-christian-t-shirt.aspx? The problem with this slogan is that a relationship is NOT the sort of thing that can be true (or false): 1. If Christianity is a relationship, then Christianity is true … What is Christianity? Part 6
What is Christianity? Part 5
In his book The Universe Next Door (IVP, 3rd edition, 1997; hereafter: TUND), James Sire speaks of worldviews as things that can be true: …I am convinced that for any of us to be fully conscious intellectually we should not only be able to detect the worldviews of others but be aware of our own–why it … What is Christianity? Part 5
What is Christianity? Part 4
I think of Christianity as being a worldview. But what is a worldview? How should we analyze and compare and evaluate worldviews? There are different ways of understanding and analyzing worldviews, so before I defend my cognitivist view of religions, I should make an attempt to clarify the concept of “a worldview” that I plan … What is Christianity? Part 4
What is Christianity? Part 2
One objection to my cognitivist view of religion and Christianity is this popular little bit of stupidity: “Christianity is not a religion; it is a relationship with Jesus Christ.” I have three initial responses to this statement: (1) read your freaking bible, (2) read your freaking dictionary, and (3) use your freaking brain. 1. READ … What is Christianity? Part 2