December 17, 2009
Check out Jay at "Debunking Creationism"
Link. He plans to post more often than any of us before, so subscribe to the Blog.
Another Former Apologist Leaves the Fold: "Confessions of a Heretic"
Here's a few excerpts of what he recently wrote:
December 16, 2009
"Holy Relics Batman!" The Spear of Destiny and the Holy Foreskin
Over at God is for Suckers there is an informative post about the spear that supposedly pierced Jesus when on the cross: Allegories Gone Wild – The Shish-Kebab Of Destiny. Isn't this laughable? The religious imagination is rich isn't it? But it's just one of the reasons I reject such fantasy. It gets worse. Did you know there is one piece of the flesh of Jesus still on earth? Can't guess? Take some time. Think circumcision. Yep! Not long ago Ed Babinski wrote about it: Indiana Jones and the Quest for the Holy Foreskin. These relics have healing power you know. Who wants to kiss the Holy Foreskin? Apparently many do. Step right up and get in line. Yeeeeeach! Now if we can just know where it is or if it exists. [Hi Tyro ;-)]
To All Atheists Who Have Moved Beyond Linking to Debunking Christianity
A somewhat popular atheist site removed my blog from his links recently and I asked why. Here's what he said and my reply:
Christopher Hitchens On the Christmas Wars
I never cease to be amazed by how little the Bible-believing Protestants, who constitute most of the soldiery in the Christmas wars, know about their own tradition.
The Power of Prayer? Prove It!
The video below discusses prayer from a scientific perspective. It's fairly good.
December 15, 2009
Oral Roberts Died Today at 91 Years of Age
Oral Roberts was a kook. What better person then to be known as a pioneer for what the American church has become! ;-) The problem is that he will never realize he was wrong since he will never wake up from the dead. In any case here is a news item summarizing his life:
Hey Religious Believers, Where's Your Evidence? By Greta Christina
You'll have to read all that she wrote but here's the final part:
Democratic Loving People, We Need Your Vote at Fox News
Vote on whether an atheist councilman in N. Carolina should step down.
If Faith Brings Salvation Then Why Should Believers Care About Morality?
A former team member here at DC, DagoodS, asks this important question.
Christian, Why Don't You Reject Modern Science, All of It?
It's simply amazing that Christians accept the findings of science in every single area except the few having to do with their ancient holy book. That's one of the reasons why David Eller argues there is no debate between science and religion. [Read and vote on my review of his book right here]. The debate is rather between specific local religions and specific scientific claims. Why the duplicity? Why the double standard? Why not just throw out all science in order to maintain faith? Why not?
My Own Scale for Dumb Theistic Arguments
Luke over at Common Sense Atheism has a scale for how he ranks several theistic arguments and asked me how I would rank them. Okay, why not?:
December 14, 2009
A Great Review of Jack Good's Book: "The Dishonest Church"
"Andrew J. (Jack) Good, author of The Bible: Faith’s Family Album (Chalice Press 1998), is an ordained pastor of the United Church of Christ. Educated at Boston University School of Theology, the Maxwell School at Syracuse University (International Relations), and the Lancaster Theological School, Dr. Good has practiced his socially oriented theology in pastorates for over forty years. He has lived in villages in Pakistan and Bangladesh and has, through these and other experiences, formed a great respect for other cultures and other ways of worshiping God." Here's a great review of his book The Dishonest Church:
"One of the surprising discoveries of modern psychology is how easy it is to be ignorant of your own ignorance.”
I had started in September with what I call the Argument From Ignorance, Part I of which can be found here. This is Part II, the final part. Sorry it took me so long.
December 13, 2009
What Type of Critique of the Christian Faith Do I Have to Offer?
There are different types of critiques of Christianity. Each one of them stresses something different coming from different areas of expertise. Some of the major areas of criticism come from 1) The sciences, especially evolution and brain science; 2) Biblical and historical criticism; 3) Philosophy, especially the philosophy of religion; 4) Archaeology; 5) Cultural anthropology; 6) Psychology; and, 7) Social and moral criticism of the Bible and the church. There are others. Which one do you think is more effective? Christian which one gives you the most trouble?
Two More Leave the Fold
Here is a story from Vince, and another one titled Freedom from the Bondages of Evangelical Christianity by a former missionary.
Waiting for Armageddon
Is it any wonder why we think religion causes suffering in the world? Check this out:
December 12, 2009
Jaco Gericke: Fundamentalism on Stilts: A Devastating Response to Alvin Plantinga's Reformed Epistemology
[Written by John W. Loftus] Being a philosopher of religion specializing in the analysis of ancient religions and a biblical scholar to boot, Dr. Gericke has written what can be considered a refutation of Plantinga's Reformed Epistemology. "The trouble with Craig and and Plantinga," he tells me, "is that their philosophy of religion conveniently ignores the problems posed for their views by the history of Israelite religion. They might as well try to prove Zeus exists. People sometimes forget 'God' used to be Yahweh and it is possible to prove from textual evidence that 'there ain't no such animal.'"
Bart Willruth On The Christmas Wars.
Bart was a team member here at DC at one time. Now he's writing for "Fresh Conservative." Don't ask me why 'cause I don't know.
December 11, 2009
Skeptic Chris Hallquist Weighs In: Dawkins SHOULD Debate William Lane Craig
After linking to what I had written Chris said:
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