Dear Bleaders, “Faith” is a fine invention When Gentlemen can see– But Microscopes are prudent in an Emergency. A favorite of mine from Emily Dickinson, offered here as a little digestif to your worldly feasts. Happy Thanksgiving. (Reread the poem slowly as if Lauren Becall were saying it into your ear very dramatically with an … A Thanksgiving Gift from Emily

But even if we take this argument to be an argument not for God’s existence, but just for supernaturalism, it still fails. I agree with [William Lane] Craig that some moral judgments (such as ‘rape is wrong’) are not relative to society or culture. What I don’t understand is why Craig believes this position is … Quote of the Day

Dear Bleaders, Hecht here. I’m new in these parts so will start with a few introductory introductions. To wit, I call anyone reading any blog I write my “bleader” for the obvious wordscrunch and also because I like reminding us that we are mortal. Also while often “breeder” means nesting heterosexual, blood is something many … Post the First, by Jennifer Michael Hecht

A key premise in Swinburne’s (deductive) argument in defense of his inductive version of the Cosmological argument (TCA) goes like this: (TCA9) The probability that there will be a complex physical universe given that God does not exist is low. (EOG, p.151) Swinburne has provided an explanation of his reasoning in support of this premise … Help Wanted – Part 4

Here is a link to a recent radio recording: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thinkatheist/2011/11/14/episode-34-dr-graham-oppy-nov-13-2011 It may be of interest to some people who read this blog.

Randall Rauser, a Christian scholar who I respect, has just weighed in on the Michael Licona situation on his blog (see here). I want to comment on just one part of Rauser’s post. The image of a witch hunt has been bandied about by many commentators. One could just as well speak of an academic … Skeptics Are Not Gloating Over the Treatment of Michael Licona

Just in case Julian Baggini fails to promote his latest Heathen’s Progress article, here’s the link: ‘You just don’t understand my religion’ is not good enough. And here is the best part: Too often I find that faith is mysterious only selectively. Believers constantly attribute all sorts of qualities to their gods and have a list … Baggini on selective mystery

A key premise in Swinburne’s (deductive) argument in defense of his inductive version of the Cosmological argument (TCA) goes like this:(TCA9) The probability that there will be a complex physical universe given that God does not exist is low. (EOG, p.151) Based on Swinburne’s explanation of his reasoning in support of this premise (in email … Help Wanted – Part 3

Perhaps you’ve heard of Mason Crumpacker, the 9-year-old girl from Dallas who had a tete-a-tete with Christopher Hitchens last month at the Texas Freethought Convention (details here).  Dallas Morning News reporter Tod Robberson later interviewed her (long version here) and Dallasites were in for a surprise. Yes, there are children who say things like this– … Who’s Being Indoctrinated?

The House of Representatives on November 1 voted in favor of a Congressional resolution reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the national motto and supporting its placement on public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions. This House Concurrent Resolution 13, which passed by a vote of 396 to 9, with 2 voting present, was … ‘In God we trust,’ when politically convenient