I.I. Sponsors Internet Debate on God’s Existence: God or Blind Nature?
(redated post originally published on 9 July 2007) After five years of planning, preparation, and work, the Internet Infidels will officially announce on July 1 the first installment of its “Great Debate” project, God or Blind Nature? Philosophers Debate the Evidence. (I’ve been given the OK to post this early.) The project, coordinated by agnostic … I.I. Sponsors Internet Debate on God’s Existence: God or Blind Nature?
Victor Reppert’s Anti-Naturalistic Argument from Pain
(redated post originally published on 25 November 2006) There are a variety of approaches to formulating an argument from evil against theism. Two of the most influential versions of the evidential argument from evil were developed by atheist William Rowe and agnostic Paul Draper. Both involve appeals to pain. In a recent entry on his … Victor Reppert’s Anti-Naturalistic Argument from Pain
Sarcasm: How to be an Atheist Apologist
(redated post originally published on 3 December 2006) Disclaimer: the following post is sarcastic. It is not intended to be representative of the tactics used by all or most atheist “apologists.” 1. Any reason for doubt, no matter how far-fetched or speculative, is sufficient for avoiding the conclusion that God exists. For example, even if … Sarcasm: How to be an Atheist Apologist
Sarcasm: How to be a Christian Apologist
(redated post originally published on 2 December 2006) Disclaimer: the following post is sarcastic. It is not intended to be representative of the tactics used by all or most Christian apologists. 1. Doubt is to be avoided at all costs. There’s a reason for the expression, “devil’s advocate,” you know. 2. Do not mention objections … Sarcasm: How to be a Christian Apologist
“You are Under Arrest in the Name of Jesus!”
Life in Texas is many things, but it is never boring. You can always count on zealous Bible-beaters, uh, our duly elected state officials, that is, to liven things up. Our governor Greg Abbott wants crosses on police cars: Note that his justification only mentions the religious significance of the cross in passing. Chiefly, the … “You are Under Arrest in the Name of Jesus!”
Off Topic: Critical Thinking about Marijuana Use
I don’t smoke pot, so I don’t have a significant personal stake in questions about the risks and dangers of marijuana use. I am glad that my state recently legalized marijuana, but I think it should be legal whether or not it has significant health and safety risks, just like smoking tobacco and drinking alcoholic … Off Topic: Critical Thinking about Marijuana Use
The Argument from Silence, Part 9: Mormonism’s Missing Golden Plates
I began this series with a Bayesian interpretation of arguments from silence and then proceeded to use that interpretation to evaluate various arguments from silence about Jesus and God. In this post, I want to assess an argument from silence against a central claim of Mormonism, namely, that the Book of Mormon is the English translation of golden plates … The Argument from Silence, Part 9: Mormonism’s Missing Golden Plates
Off-Topic: A U.S. Constitutional Amendment Wish List
All the presidential primary debates, primaries, and causes got me thinking about the U.S. Electoral College, which in turn got me thinking about changes I’d like to see made to the Constitution. 1. Eliminate Lifetime Supreme Court Appointments. See, for example, here. Instead, have Supreme Court justices get, say, 20-year terms after which they are ineligible … Off-Topic: A U.S. Constitutional Amendment Wish List
Three Ontological Arguments
I have been trying to provide some clear and plausible versions of the ontological argument for one of my classes. This is a lot harder than it sounds. Below is what I have so far. The first argument is an attempt to capture what Anselm was arguing in his first version in Proslogion. The second … Three Ontological Arguments
What Could God do about Evil?
My post “Evil: Still no Good Answers” has provoked a lively discussion with over 200 comments. Theistic commentators naturally want to argue that there are indeed plausible reasons for God to permit evil, even evils of the magnitude, extent, and variety that we find in the actual world. A common theme of these replies is … What Could God do about Evil?