Three Keys To Understand What I'm Doing
Recently on another blog I was sort of dismissed because I don’t have a PhD nor any scholarly articles published. Does this matter? I think not, not when you understand what I’m doing.
I don’t want to write scholarly stuff to get patted on the back by other scholars. While doing so is very important, that’s what they get in return. My goal is to change the religious landscape and you don’t do that by writing for the scholars. You do that by writing for university students and the average intelligent reader.
Three things then are key to understand what I’m doing.
One) As a scholar I understand the scholars. I can effectively engage them. But I “translate” what they’re saying to the intelligent reader. Someone has to do this and I think that’s where my time is best spent if I want to change the religious landscape.
Two) My specialty is in being a generalist. I know that sounds like a possible contraction, but I don’t see this at all. Most scholars specialize in a small little area of expertise in the woods, on some particular tree, and/or a leaf of a tree. My specialty is in being able to see and describe the whole forest. I specialize in the Big Picture. Someone has to do this and it's just as difficult to do as to focus on a leaf on a tree in the forest. But I do this because it's the best way to change the religious landscape.
Three) I focus on Christian theism, not theism in general. The defense of theism in general is a long way from the God of Christianity. To get to the God of Christianity one must defend a whole host of things that cannot reasonably be defended. Christian philosophers delude themselves and others into thinking that by defending theism they can conclude Christian theism is the case. That is one big non-sequitur.
Many people think I’m doing something that few if any atheists are doing. My passion is great about this.
Update: The London Times Literary Supplement will be reviewing my book soon. It’s just a little more influential than a New York Times Book Review. I have also been asked to speak on a panel for the prestigious Society of Biblical Literature's annual meeting in New Orleans this November. [Unlike others who must travel there I must pay my own way]. People see my scholarship; it’s just a different kind.
I'm in the final stages of sending a new work to Prometheus Books for publication. It’s already accepted and due August 1st. I see it as a further extension of my book, WIBA. I wrote four chapters for it and the other 12 are written by Drs. David Eller, Valerie Tarico, Jason Long, Jim Linville, Hector Avalos, Richard Carrier, and Robert M. Price, along with Ed Babinski, Joe E. Holman, Matthew J. Green, and Jeffery Mark. From what I can see as the chapters are being sent my way this will be a very good book. It’s tentatively titled: “Critics Confront Christianity.”
I need your financial help at this time to keep on keeping on, to maintain this Blog, buy important books to review, and attract the kind of firepower we have here. I’m not kidding. Please read this. If you believe in what I’m doing please help. Just about $285 has been contributed with this weekend's push so far. Every bit helps. I'm hoping to raise $500 right now. Thanks for your help!
Let me give a couple of examples of book prices. “The End of Philosophy of Religion” by Nick Trakakis goes for $120 (with 172 pages!). I think some publishers want to rape us. I’m sure it’s a good book though and in a few years I’ll get it. It’s a shame that cutting edge libraries must fork over these costs. It stretches their budget beyond imagining. I have William Hasker’s “Providence, Evil and the Openness of God,” at a pricey $150, (for 236 pages), and Michael Murray’s “Nature Red in Tooth and Claw” for $62 (204 pages), which does represent my speciality, the problem of evil. I also have Edward Adams's "The Stars Will Fall From Heaven," which cost me $109, Just look at the prices of books and you'll know why I need your finacial help (BTW, I spend it frugally).
I don’t want to write scholarly stuff to get patted on the back by other scholars. While doing so is very important, that’s what they get in return. My goal is to change the religious landscape and you don’t do that by writing for the scholars. You do that by writing for university students and the average intelligent reader.
Three things then are key to understand what I’m doing.
One) As a scholar I understand the scholars. I can effectively engage them. But I “translate” what they’re saying to the intelligent reader. Someone has to do this and I think that’s where my time is best spent if I want to change the religious landscape.
Two) My specialty is in being a generalist. I know that sounds like a possible contraction, but I don’t see this at all. Most scholars specialize in a small little area of expertise in the woods, on some particular tree, and/or a leaf of a tree. My specialty is in being able to see and describe the whole forest. I specialize in the Big Picture. Someone has to do this and it's just as difficult to do as to focus on a leaf on a tree in the forest. But I do this because it's the best way to change the religious landscape.
Three) I focus on Christian theism, not theism in general. The defense of theism in general is a long way from the God of Christianity. To get to the God of Christianity one must defend a whole host of things that cannot reasonably be defended. Christian philosophers delude themselves and others into thinking that by defending theism they can conclude Christian theism is the case. That is one big non-sequitur.
Many people think I’m doing something that few if any atheists are doing. My passion is great about this.
Update: The London Times Literary Supplement will be reviewing my book soon. It’s just a little more influential than a New York Times Book Review. I have also been asked to speak on a panel for the prestigious Society of Biblical Literature's annual meeting in New Orleans this November. [Unlike others who must travel there I must pay my own way]. People see my scholarship; it’s just a different kind.
I'm in the final stages of sending a new work to Prometheus Books for publication. It’s already accepted and due August 1st. I see it as a further extension of my book, WIBA. I wrote four chapters for it and the other 12 are written by Drs. David Eller, Valerie Tarico, Jason Long, Jim Linville, Hector Avalos, Richard Carrier, and Robert M. Price, along with Ed Babinski, Joe E. Holman, Matthew J. Green, and Jeffery Mark. From what I can see as the chapters are being sent my way this will be a very good book. It’s tentatively titled: “Critics Confront Christianity.”
I need your financial help at this time to keep on keeping on, to maintain this Blog, buy important books to review, and attract the kind of firepower we have here. I’m not kidding. Please read this. If you believe in what I’m doing please help. Just about $285 has been contributed with this weekend's push so far. Every bit helps. I'm hoping to raise $500 right now. Thanks for your help!
Let me give a couple of examples of book prices. “The End of Philosophy of Religion” by Nick Trakakis goes for $120 (with 172 pages!). I think some publishers want to rape us. I’m sure it’s a good book though and in a few years I’ll get it. It’s a shame that cutting edge libraries must fork over these costs. It stretches their budget beyond imagining. I have William Hasker’s “Providence, Evil and the Openness of God,” at a pricey $150, (for 236 pages), and Michael Murray’s “Nature Red in Tooth and Claw” for $62 (204 pages), which does represent my speciality, the problem of evil. I also have Edward Adams's "The Stars Will Fall From Heaven," which cost me $109, Just look at the prices of books and you'll know why I need your finacial help (BTW, I spend it frugally).