(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

(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

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!”

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

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

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?

One objection to my cognitivist view of religion and of Christianity goes like this: “Christianity is not a religion; it is a relationship with Jesus Christ.” In the previous post in this series, I argued that (1) Christianity is a religion according to the Bible.  So, Christians who believe that the Bible is the inspired … What is Christianity? Part 3

Here is an essay written by my friend Eddie Tabash. He is a Constitutional lawyer, legal scholar, and one hell of a defense attorney. Here he tells of his experiences growing up as the son of an Auschwitz survivor. http://secularhumanism.org/index.php/articles/7861 Eddie also provides enlightening and incisive comments on evil and theism. When confronted with instances … Evil: Still no Good Answers