Paul Helm on "God and Spacelessness"
Here is a summary of Paul Helm’s “God and Spacelessness,” Philosophy 55 (1980):
Guess What? God Isn't to Blame for the Haitian Disaster!
We atheists do not revel in tragedy. We hate the fact that people suffer in this world as all people do. It's just that in times like these it's good to be an atheist. Earthquakes happen. That's all there is to it. What we revel in are attempts by Christians to justify God's actions. They are pathetic, all of them. And guess what? God isn't to blame for the Haitian Disaster! Nope. God is completely good and loving towards us all. His ways are perfect. Atheists like myself and Christopher Hitchens, and Richard Dawkins and Valerie Tarico have had a heyday with Christian responses so far. Now there is another one.
Stupid is As Stupid Does: Defending the Faith Makes a Person Stupid
When it comes to defending the faith even PhD's show they are ignorant. I'm not joking either and it should be obvious to see. I previously endorsed Richard Dawkins' column on Pat Robertson's comments about the Haitian disaster. Then comes Glenn Peoples who said of me:
Christian Police Your Own Ranks: Bill Wiese Saw Hell
This guy is wacko. But here's a problem as I see it. Christians believe because they claim to have experienced God, and yet most Christians in today's world do not accept a fire and brimstone hell. Many others argue for an annihilation view of hell. So, why do most Christians discount Bill Wiese's experience and yet trust their own experiences? Bill is so sure of what he experienced, you see. But it's ALL IN THE HEAD, all of it!
On SETI, the Brain/Mind Problem and the Best Explanation of the Evidence
I'm carrying on an email exchange with an old friend who studied under Norman Geisler and did further Ph.D. work in philosophy. He had asked me about the SETI project and what it would take for me to accept that there might be extra-terrestrial life in the universe as a parallel to accepting the evidence that there might be a supernatural intelligent being, God. Here are my rambling thoughts on this:
My Critique of Open Theism
I was asked to offer a critique of Open Theism. At one time I embraced it so I'm very familiar with it. But it seems to be an in house argument. Other Christians who are not open theists effectively criticize it. I try not to tell Christians what they should believe. If I spend time critiquing it then I have not debunked Christianity because other Christians would enjoy my critique. I try to offer a more fundamental critique of Christianity and everyone in it, especially conservatives. Conservatives as a whole are my target, not one branch of them.
The Inspirational Power of Dreams
I don't think those of us who live in the modern world quite understand the the power of dreams in the pre-scientific ancient world. Our brains need to dream while we sleep, and they do so as the imaginative side runs wild with our current thoughts. Some of our dreams seem very real and sometimes they're bizarre. You know what I'm talking about. But can you imagine a world where no one had a clue why they dreamed? That's why we find dreams figuring prominently in the Bible, from Pharaoh, to the dreams of the prophets, Nebuchadnezzar, and Pilate's wife. It was a mixed up superstitious world where they concluded dreams were sent from the gods as divine messages. This is something we can no longer accept and just one more reason why I reject the Bible as inspired by God since dreams were a major source of its inspiration. Even today people consider dreams as evidence of a spiritual world. Poppycock!
Solar Powered Bibles for Haiti: Why Some Christians Feel Compelled to Exploit Disaster
Written by Valerie Tarico:
While Doctors without Borders was struggling to get anesthetics for amputations into Haiti, an Albuquerque group queued up aid of their own sort: 600 solar powered talking Bibles. Even now, food, water, and medicine are having trouble reaching Haitians because of damaged transportation facilities and supply lines, but the missionary group says some of their Bibles are on the way.
Bobby Kern Is Taking the Debunking Christianity Challenge
He is a 32 year old student minister, on a break, who is currently working on his Ph.D. in Family Science. This is his official announcement. You can find the DC Challenge right here. Don't accept any imitations. This is the real deal. Come on. Consider doing this yourself as others have. What do you have to lose?
An Index From Conversations from the Pale Blue Dot
As you know I recommend Luke's Blog Common Sense Atheism. He has a podcast that I also recommend where he interviews several top notch thinkers on both sides of our debates. Check it out. I heard from my friend Dr. James Sennett that Luke is planning on interviewing him sometime soon. I'm really interested in that one.
Why Humans Build Their Societies on Fault Lines in the Earth
I'm posting this again to emphasize what a great program it is. In this must see BBC video (total 60 minutes)...
Iain Stewart tells the epic story of how the planet has shaped our history. With spectacular images, surprising stories and a compelling narrative, the series discovers the central role played in human history by four different planetary forces.
Dr. Jerald Dirks on Why He Rejected Christianity and Embraced Islam
[Written by John W. Loftus] Jerald Dirks is a former minister (deacon) of the United Methodist Church. He holds a Master's degree in Divinity from Harvard University and a Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Denver. Here he is interviewed on The Deen Show sharing why he accepted Islam. I was only going to skim through his interview, but I found myself captivated by his story. His critique of Christianity is penetrating and well founded.
Answering Two Questions Asked by a Reader of My Book
I have read your book trying to look for answers to my own questions regarding the Christian faith. I had only recently became a Christian about a year ago and now I am experiencing serious doubts if the Christian God is real.
Richard Dawkins On The Haitian Disaster: "Pat Robertson is the true Christian here"
I was thinking of doing my own post on this topic. I have heard Christians say Pat Robertson is a moron for suggesting the Haitian disaster was a divine judgment for too long now. No, they are the morons. Pat Robertson represents Christian tradition, not them, as Dawkins said in a Washington Post column:
New Site: Recovering Fundamentalists
Former DC team member Dr. Marlene Winell is blogging there. It looks good. Check it out.
Nerdstock: 9 Lessons and Carols
This is a non-religious Christmas celebration of comedy, science and music recorded live at London's Hammersmith Apollo in December 2009.
Cole: "I'm tired of looking stupid by trying to defend the Bible."
Cole first arrived here at DC a few years back as a Christian under the name Calvin, and he was the answer man. He quoted the Bible. We argued against him. Finally I challenged him to read my book WIBA. Then a few weeks passed and he said he no longer believed. He changed his name to Cole and became an angry atheist for a while, a typical reaction for many ex-believers once they realize they were duped. But months passed and then he came back to DC as a Christian again by arguing in the same fashion as I originally saw him do. Just today he gave it up. He said: "I'm done with the Bible." And then "I'm tired of looking stupid by trying to defend the Bible." You can read the exchange I had with him right here. I'm glad for him. He did look stupid defending the Bible. Many Christians do. But Cole is not stupid at all. He was just deluded, and I wish him well. Finally, no more cognitive dissonance for him.
It's Not Too Late to Take the Debunking Christianity Challenge in 2010
Several Christians have decided to take the DC challenge as I first wrote about here, including a master's degree student, a pastor, and others. Just today I heard from a fifteen year old named Kyle who has decided to do so (via email). The official DC challenge is to get and read the ten books I suggested in that link. Don't accept any imitations. This is the real deal. I also encourage believers to read both sides, but this is the official Debunking Christianity Challenge. ;-)
Two Atheists Debate Whether Jesus Died On the Cross
If you're interested in debates like I am, below you can watch an interesting one by two atheists. Yep, that's right, two atheists. Oh, I know that Mary Jo Sharp is a Christian apologist and that Ehteshaam Gulam is a Muslim apologist. But if you listen closely they are using atheist arguments against each other.
You Should Be Skeptical Your Faith Passes the Outsider Test for Faith
I have heard from several Christians who claim to have bit the bullet by admitting their faith should pass the Outsider Test for Faith (OTF), only to conclude that it does. Surprise! The fullest presentation of it online is to be found here. Having received this feedback I revisited the argument again in a chapter for The Christian Delusion. One of the many things I do in that chapter is to argue that Christians ought to be just as skeptical their own faith passes the OTF as they are when Mormons or Muslims claim the same thing. Why not, right? That's what outsiders do.
"A Fault Is Not a Sin: It's idiotic to blame anything other than geology for the Haitian earthquake." by Christopher Hitchens
On Nov. 1, 1755—the feast of All Saint's Day—a terrifying combination of earthquake and tsunami shattered the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon. Numerous major churches were destroyed and many devout worshippers along with them. This cataclysmic event was a spur to two great enterprises: the European Enlightenment and the development of seismology. Voltaire and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were only some of those who reasoned that no thinkable deity could have desired or ordained the obliteration of Catholic Lisbon, while other thinkers—Immanuel Kant among them—began to inquire into the possible natural causes of such events.
The Greater and Lesser Deeds
If God sent Jesus to save the world by dying on the cross for our sins (the greater deed) then he should at least be as passionate as Christians are to help people believe (the lesser deeds). Why would God do the greater deed and not also do the lesser deeds? This doesn't make sense of an omniscient, omnibenelovent, and omnipotent God. The excuses given for the paucity of evidence reveal that the Christian expects way too little from the God they believe in. [First posted 10/29/08]
An Interview Between Christian Todd Friel and Christopher Hitchens
Friel plays a game of “What if?” with Hitchens. Below is a condensed paraphrase from Luke at Common Sense Atheism:
What is the Likelihood That a Trickster or Evil God Exists?
246 comments later on this topic and I want to resurrect it. dguller has sufficiently defended an argument that I have not seen a proper rejoinder to about the possibility that a trickster god exists, rather than a good one, if one exists at all. I claimed that Based on This Argument Alone The Best Any Believer Can Claim is Agnosticism. Okay so far?
Professor James McGrath Reviews "Doubting Jesus' Resurrection: What Happened in the Black Box?"
I am grateful to Kris Komarnitsky for sending me a copy of his book Doubting Jesus' Resurrection: What Happened in the Black Box? For some, the title may seem appealing, while to others it may be disturbing, but when it comes to historical study, the simple fact is that there is no way for a historian not to doubt the resurrection - or to put it more precisely, a historian cannot but raise questions about the historical factuality of the early narratives that tell the resurrection story.
What To Expect In My Atheist Regime: Atheist Entertainment
From time to time I'll tell you what to expect when I rule the world, if that should happen. The first thing I'll do is step down and institute a democracy where everyone's right to free speech is guaranteed. I'll leave other details of my regime for later, but for now I'd like to talk about supernatural adventures, thrillers, comedy's and such. In tonight's speech before the assembly I want to introduce before the body politic the movie Avatar as an example of something that is a potential threat to my atheist regime. ;-) <-----
Two Books Are Now Available Online for Free
Here they are: 36 Arguments for the Existence of God by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, and former DC member Ken Daniels book Why I Believed. Enjoy.
New Movie: "Creation: The True Story of Charles Dawin"
This movie will be released tomorrow. From the trailer I saw on their website it looks very very good! I can't wait to see it myself. Check it out if you can.
The Problem With Atheist Debates?
It was the Atheists, Agnostics and Freethinkers student group at the University of Illinois that was approached to suggest someone to debate Dinesh D'Souza. I didn't know until now why they suggested me. In December one of them said he has been disappointed with the atheists who have debated recently:
Three More Leave the Fold: They're Dropping Out Like Flies!
I hope my readers visit ex-christian.net every so often. Here are three deconversion stories of interest: From Master's of Nothing, the Visible Atheist, and a person named Ryan. Enjoy. You know, in sales marketing it's hard enough to get new customers, so why does God allow the loss of his customers so often nowadays?
Austin Cline: "Was Hitler an Atheist Who Killed Millions in the Name of Atheism, Secularism?
This post of Cline's was sent today to subscribers.
Myth: Atheism is more dangerous than religion because atheists like Adolf Hitler killed millions in the name of their atheistic ideologies like Nazism. That's far more than have been killed in the name of religion.
Dr. Paul Copan's Advice To A Future Seminarian
Dear _______,
I was asked to pass along some “words of wisdom” in light of your graduation from PBA and new start in seminary. I’m certainly honored to do so, as it’s been a joy to have you as a student in my classes and to know you as a brother in Christ. You have stood out above your peers not only in your gifts, intellect, and eagerness to learn, but also—and most importantly—in your dedication to Christ. May you ever pursue Him with pure, simple devotion and cultivate your gifts for His glory.
A Personal Note to My Readers: I’m Both Humbled and Excited!
I remember years ago having writer’s block on several occasions when I had to write my weekly Monday column for our church paper, or when preparing a sermon, or a series of sermons. Now I write something almost once a day here at DC. I have so much to say, although, after four years on this Blog I tend to repeat myself. Still, since I gain new readers every week, some things must be said repeatedly.
Former Preacher Turned Atheist Bruce Gerencser on Lumping All Christians Together
I am sure my more liberal, progressive, emerging/emergent, non-conforming Christian readers are upset at me because I lumped them into the same group as all the Christians I mentioned in my previous post.
God Was There
Joe Holman, a former preacher and team member here at DC, recently wrote some sarcasm which I think is pretty damn funny. Check it out:
Loftus vs. Wood Debate on the Problem of Evil
Click on the play button below to see Part 1, which will introduce you to the participants. Then you can watch the debate on evil we had at the Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, VA, on October 7th 2006.
The Perpetual Miracle Objection
When it comes to the problem of evil, in my book I mention the possibility of perpetual miracles from God that alleviate suffering among God's creatures. I call it the Perpetual Miracle Objection. David Hume didn't use this exact phrase when he objected that the ordering of the world by general natural laws "seems nowise necessary" for God, but it's the same concept.
Why God Hates Haiti: The Frustrating Theology of Suffering
Newsweek columnist Lisa Miller discusses this topic below:
Praise God for the Disaster in Haiti! Isn't God Good? Thank You Jesus!
As a bit of sarcasm that Voltaire would appreciate let's all praise God for the disaster in Haiti. God is sovereign. He knows what he's doing. In fact this has been long overdue.
Is America Christian?
I have several good people who comment here at DC. Take Russ for instance, who makes several interesting points in debate with Rob R.
[N]o two people calling themselves Christians view Christianity the same way. Being Catholic he's likely not even reading the same Bible you read. In fact, he may not read it at all. Many Catholics chuck the entire OT, except of course for hating homosexuals and original sin. Without a doubt, given your doctrinal differences each of you is heaven-bound by your own lights, and each of you has reserved a ticket for the other on the bus to hell. You do not accept each other's dogma, so his choice for apologetics will be different than yours. Get it through your thick skull: you do not represent all things Christian and to suggest that you do is intellectually dishonest. You do not even speak for a large fraction of Christians.
Still Another Christian Takes the Debunking Christianity Challenge
I'm becoming encouraged as Christians, one after another, are showing me they are really interested in the truth. How can they be if they never actually read the opposing literature? I have read and taught the other side and I claim the other side had better arguments. And I'm challenging Christians to do the same. If they come away thinking otherwise, then so be it. At least this shows they are interested in the truth.
Religion is a Love Born of Terror
This video should grab and hold your attention as it tries to explain the rise of religion and why science removes the fear that produced it in the first place. It's good!
Parody: Televangelist Robertson Likely Possessed by Satan
It appears that televangelist Pat Robertson is in the thrall of Satan, according to spiritual warriors, Drs. Valerie Tarico and Marlene Winell. “It’s the only possible explanation,” said Tarico. “How else can we make sense of his repeated attempts to humiliate both God and Christianity in the wake of recent natural disasters.”
Conservative Bibliobloggers Attack Again. Why? No, Really? Why?
Jeremy, who is apparently taking over the Biblioblogger rankings list, had asked recently how to decide who should make the list of BiblioBlogs. Since he asked, I responded in the comments section as follows:
More From Dr. Peoples and Annihilationism
Glenn Peoples rejects an eternal hell in favor of extinction or annihilationism, which I wrote about previously. Glenn takes issue with what I had said. Here we go again...
A Preacher Decides to Take the "Debunking Christianity Challenge"
So far three Christians have decided to do this in 2010 that I know of. Luke at Common Sense Atheism talks about the goals of one such person named Phil, and offers his own list of books. In the comments a preacher named Greg from the "Cambridge Church of Christ" will do so as well. A person named Micah is doing this and may end up writing a book about it, along the lines of the very popular “My Year Of…” genre of books, for which I might write the Foreword. The choice of books is important but not as important as the challenge itself. Come on, what do you have to lose?
Debunking Christianity is Ranked 4th Among Atheist Blogs
This is pretty cool! I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my readers, so thank you all!
Debunking Christianity Ranked 6th Place in 2009 Among Atheist Sites
For what it's worth the results from Post Rank Analytics can be found here. The top ten posts for the year can be found here.
Christians, Police Your Own Ranks: Randy Demain Claims to Have Raised the Dead
What a crackpot, a buffoon. He claims it's easy to raise the dead. He's an idiot.
Am I An Angry Atheist? No, I'm Just Mad as Hell and You Might Be Too.
Reason 1,937 why I want nothing to do with Christianity: Pat Robertson on Haiti's Disaster
I'll just link to what Bruce over at Restless Wanderings said.
The Darwinian Problem of Evil
Charles Darwin laid out what I call The Darwinian Problem of Evil. In his autobiography he wrote:
This is How it's Done Right: Taking the "Debunking Christianity" Challenge for 2010
It appears that an amateur Catholic apologist has decided to take my Debunking Christianity Challenge. This is how it's done right! Any other takers? I said:
I have a challenge for Christians. It’s a challenge few will take up, but let me offer it anyway, even though many expert Christian apologists have done it without a loss of faith. Other Christian thinkers struggle with their faith because they have done what I'm about to ask Christians to do. Still others....end up rejecting our former faith. Do this. I’ll call this the Debunking Christianity challenge....read up on all of the top Christian apologetics books and then [decide] in fairness to read all of the top skeptical books....Come on…what are you afraid of? If your faith can withstand our arguments then you will be a better informed Christian with a much stronger faith. If your faith cannot withstand our arguments then your faith wasn’t worth having in the first place. YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE! Link.This is what he plans to do. A report of his findings would make it's own publishable book.
Front Row Seats in Hell, Can You Picture This?
One belief change of mine that allowed me to pursue my doubts about Christianity was the rejection of an eternal punishment in hell. This doctrine is completely barbaric. It is the biggest stick ever invented by man to keep believers from questioning their faith. Christian philosopher Dr. Glenn Peoples rejects this doctrine too in favor of annihilation, and says why in a recent post. Reject it like he does and you'll be freer to think about your faith.
The JEPD Theory In A Nutshell
[Posted by John Loftus] Someone sent me a link to this. See what you think. It looks pretty good.
I’ll begin by introducing the history of the theory, provide my perspective on JEPD, and then proceed to outline its strengths and weaknesses.
"Religion and Women" by NY Times Columist Nicholas D. Krisof
Religions derive their power and popularity in part from the ethical compass they offer. So why do so many faiths help perpetuate something that most of us regard as profoundly unethical: the oppression of women?
Truth Claims and the Poetry Difference in Wisdom Literature
New Mid-Month Biblioblogger Ranking
And guess which Blog is now ranked 2nd, topping all but one of them? *Cough*. Thanks to all my readers. It means a great deal to know people are interested in what some guy in Indiana has to say.
Psalm 14:1 Again, This Time Responding to Dr. Matt Flannagan
Previously I had argued that Psalm 14:1 claims an atheist is an immoral person, not an insane one, as Jim West had ignorantly argued. And I reject both accusations. And I argued the correct immoral interpretation of Psalm 14:1 is easily proven false by one lone ethical atheist. This verse is speaking about our behavior not our beliefs, for it's speaking about the behavioral consequences of our not believing. Again, the verse reads: "The fool hath said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good."
William Lane Craig: Avoiding More Debate Opponents?
Recently Craig refused to debate me again. But not just me this time. He also refused to debate Robert Price, Hector Avalos, and Richard Carrier, three other contributors to the anthology to be released in April called The Christian Delusion. Maybe he ought to refuse to debate everyone who contributed to that book, right? Here's the story:
When Psalm 14:1 Says Atheists Are "Fools" This Can Be Easily Refuted.
Psalm 14:1 says: "The fool hath said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good."
My claim is that once we correctly understand this verse we can easily refute it.
My claim is that once we correctly understand this verse we can easily refute it.
The Witch Hunts Continue: Christian, Police Your Own Ranks!
Christian, God fearer, Bible believer, how long before this ends?
The Documentary "Waiting for Armageddon" Opens Friday in Select Theaters
To see a trailer of this documentary click here. A synopsis of it can be found here. I've already argued that the rapture madness is indeed madness. This is yet another reason why I do what I do here at DC.
SURPRISE!! Khirbet Qeiyafa Inscription Already Being Used to Support the Historicity of David
The following is a response to recent reports of an inscription found at Khirbet Qeiyafa, by Dr. Hector Avalos, Iowa State University:
Dr. Valerie Tarico On Ugandan Atrocities: A Perversion of Religion or a Part of It?
Here's what she wrote:
Richard Carrier on the Formation of the NT Canon (2000)
Contrary to common belief, there was never a one-time, truly universal decision as to which books should be included in the Bible. It took over a century of the proliferation of numerous writings before anyone even bothered to start picking and choosing, and then it was largely a cumulative, individual and happenstance event, guided by chance and prejudice more than objective and scholarly research, until priests and academics began pronouncing what was authoritative and holy, and even they were not unanimous. Every church had its favored books, and since there was nothing like a clearly-defined orthodoxy until the 4th century, there were in fact many simultaneous literary traditions. The illusion that it was otherwise is created by the fact that the church that came out on top simply preserved texts in its favor and destroyed or let vanish opposing documents. Hence what we call "orthodoxy" is simply "the church that won." Link.
Professor Matt McCormick on "Vetting Supernatural Knowledge Claims"
Check it out. This is excellent and non-refutable.
Christians, You Have It All Wrong, This Christian Has The Answers!
That's right, or so he claims. What is missing from his credal statement? What is different from the historic creeds of the faith? Convert I say.
Christopher Hitchens Answers Some Questions
If you haven't already watched this it's worth looking at to understand what he thinks:
A More Insightful Critique of a Recent Post and My Response
A recent post, titled Based on This Argument Alone The Best Any Believer Can Claim is Agnosticism, has gained a lot of attention and been sidetracked by Christians who seek to defend their beliefs rather than think through it. To these Christians let me show you a much better way to argue your case, coming from a gay guy named Gaylord Martha Focker on Facebook, whose beliefs I can't say for sure, even if his his response is dead wrong:
Helen Fisher on Why We Love and Cheat
The provocatively titled blog by Leah Elliott Hauge called The Whore of All the Earth first linked to this brief but incredible TED talk. Fisher tells us of the science of lust, romantic love, and attachment, and it blows away the ancient Biblical understandings in several ways. View it and then let's count the number of ways this science destroys Biblical understandings, shall we? Once again it's Science vs Religion and once again believers will denigrate science. Go figure. How many times must they do this to believe?
Christian THINK: What About Your Friends and Family Who Will Be In Hell?
On Facebook I became a fan of the group "I may be going to hell but at least all my friends will be there." It's just a fun group and I can do fun. But then a Christian friend of mine and I got into a brief conversation about it:
Sam Harris Answers The Liberal Complaint Against the New Atheists
I really liked how Sam Harris answered Karen Armstrong's Foreign Policy article right here, although she got the last word. What's wrong with the liberals? Why don't they get it? Sam's sarcastic answer is a much better response than trying to reason with people like her, so it's better than my review of her book, The Case For God. But they just don't get it.
No Movement in Today's World Can Make a Difference Without Women, So Here's to Them ALL
Jen McCreight has complied a large list of awesome female atheists. Kudos to them and many thanks for all their efforts in our fight against superstition, pseudoscience, and ignorance. We need them! Let me rather say it this way: I'm glad to join with them in this common cause. So far her list includes:
Even PZ Myers Power Cannot Win All Atheist Polls
PZ Myers has topped every atheist poll so far and isn't doing too bad as a write-in on the most influential female atheist of 2009. ;-) He creamed all challengers on my own most vocal atheist poll, and right now he's beating out everyone in the universe combined. Since he wins all polls here's one in the sidebar where he cannot win in every category! We've got him this time. So which will it be?
Austin Cline on "Why Don't Theists Believe What Atheists Tell Them About Atheism?"
Question: When atheists explain why they became atheists, what atheism is, and what atheism is not, religious theists (and especially Christians) often refuse to accept what they hear. This happens even when atheists just answer a specific question which they were asked. Why do theists behave this way? What can I do about it?
Christian THINK: That's All You Have to Do
Check out this video of "Noah's Ark and the Great Flood":
Christopher Hitchens Takes on the Liberals
Hear Christopher Hitchens interviewed by Unitarian minister Marilyn Sewell. He's defending the fundamentalist critique of liberalism. You see, I agree with the fundamentalist critique of liberalism, as well as the liberal critique of fundamentalism. I agree with the Catholic critique of Protestantism as well as the Protestant critique of Catholicism. They debunk themselves leaving us no reason to accept Christianity in any form. HT: Hemant Mehta.
One Last Biblioblogger List Done (W)Right for December
And lookee here. I bested all but two of them. Now that Jim West is off the market I only need to overtake J.L. Watts for the number one slot. Can it be done? I wonder how I could convince him that he is boring too. ;-)
Could it Be That Our Universe Never Had a Beginning?
Here is an interesting scenario I have wondered myself, so I'd appreciate any input on it since I'm not a scientist:
Global Peace Index Shows Atheistic Nations are More Peaceful.
A GPI comparison of theistic nations to atheist nations shows us that peace is non-theistic.
Debate of the Day: Alvin Plantinga vs. Jaco Gericke
Watch the following interview and then read what I consider a refutation of Reformed Epistemology by Dr. Jaco Gericke afterward. Who wins?
Take the Debunking Christianity Challenge in 2010
[Written by John W. Loftus] What I’m engaging in here at Debunking Christianity is a huge challenge. I like big challenges. So let me offer one to Christians...
An Open Letter to All Bibliobloggers
In light of the developments of the last week or more let me recap what has happened. See what you think. I’ll try to keep this brief as possible and I’ll number my points for easy reference, not that I have to, okay?
Based on This Argument Alone The Best Any Believer Can Claim is Agnosticism
That's right. For even if some kind of god exists the believer has no reasonable way to know anything about such a god, hence a theistic kind of agnosticism. dguller expressed this cogent argument very well in the comments:
"Noah's Ark" Was Not Rectangular Shaped. It Was Bowl Shaped
That's right. Not as pictured on the left but a bigger version of the one on the right:
See the story here. Now pseudo-apologists will start finding the remains of a big bowl boat in the mountains of Turkey, right? Right!
Listen to Top Notch Thinkers Interviewed
It looks like Luke over at Common Sense Atheism does one a month. Check them out.
Richard Swinburne on Probabilities and the Anthropic Principle
When I first read the selection below I was a believer and thought what Swinburne wrote on this topic in his book, The Existence of God (1979 ed.), was excellent. No longer do I think so.
A Step By Step Course in How Christians Argue Fallaciously
I had linked earlier to a site about Reasoning Fallacies. I think it's time to illustrate them with some real examples of how most Christians argue at DC in a series of short Blog posts. I'll illustrate several of the most blatant fallacies as I see them using that link's nomenclature. Don't get caught or I might write you up for it. ;-) This could be the beginnings of a book, we'll see!
Jesus Was My Invisible Babysitter by Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais describes why he became an atheist. Link. Gervais directed and starred in the comedy The Invention of Lying.
Christians Live in an Intellectual Box and Cannot Think Outside of it
Yep, that's true of most of them in my opinion. Here's exhibit "A" named Brad Haggard, and my response. Watch how easy this is because I am not in that box of theirs.
On How to Write a Gospel Account
This is a challenge emailed to me from Johnny Pearce. It's interesting:
The Samaritan Strategy for Skeptics is Going to be Realized
In May of 2008 I had called upon skeptics to create an organization for doing humanitarian works. It now looks as if that is going to happen with the Foundation Beyond Belief. I first heard about it from former DC team member Valerie Tarico on Exchristian.net. Here is a video about it below:
What Do Tiger Woods and Jim West Have in Common?
They're both still missing! ;-) Maybe if and when Jim West comes back he'll deal with what Dr. Hector Avalos and others wrote here. Sorry, but anyone who claims like Jim West did that "Atheism is insanity. Hence, there’s no more point in arguing with (or even discussing things with) an atheist than there is in walking into an insane asylum and attempting to carry on a lucid conversation with persons utterly devoid of the gift of lucidity," doesn't deserve my respect. For I am one of those people and I take those attacks personally.
Why Did Jim West Shut His Blog Down to Outsiders?
Could it be because Dr. Hector Avalos called his bluff? ;-)
Another Poll: Who Was the Most Influential Female Atheist of 2009?
I like this one. Women don't always get their fair share of respect. Go Vote.
My Response to J. L. Watts, You Must First Understand My Argument Before You Can Effectively Critique It
Yep, that's what I think, and I don't think he understands what it is enough to offer an effective critique, so this will probably be my last reply to him. We'll see...
There's a Tree 7,000 Years Older Than the Entire Universe!
That is if you're a young earth creationist. ;-) Hat Tip to Stephen Law for this.
J. L. Watts is Engaging Me on the Problem of Suffering
Check it out here where you'll also see my initial response.
Resurrecting Eden
Professor Alan Lenzi posted a CBS 60 Minutes video that I found very interesting about the Wetlands in Southern Iraq where the Sumerian's lived in Ur of Chaldees, the birthplace of civilization.
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