A Parting Thought for My Brother

My brother and his wife visited from the west coast and stayed the night last week. We had talked about his Christian faith. I gave him both barrels to no avail. Then as they were leaving, as his wife took a picture of us together, I said: "Keep in mind according to your faith I am going to hell." Now hopefully they will think of what I said whenever they look at that picture. Can he really imagine his brother in hell? See if that breaks them out of their dogmatic slumbers. It should.

I Have Better Answers to Fundamental Questions Than Christians Do

A local church has an advertisement in our newspaper for a thirteen week course on basic church teachings purporting to have the correct answers to fundamental westernized questions. I defy someone to tell me why my succinct answers to these questions aren't much much better than what they will say. Here goes:

Creation Museum's Latest Project: Ark Encounter

According to Ken Ham's vision, they aim

To rebuild the Ark, to full-scale biblical dimensions, as a sign to the world that God’s Word is true and its message of salvation must be heeded. Just as the Ark in Noah’s day was a sign of salvation, as well as judgment, an Ark rebuilt today can be a sign to point to Jesus Christ, the Ark of our salvation, and to coming judgment. Link.

To think there was a world-wide flood depicted in the Bible is delusional. Of course, if you believe it you can always donate to this project. ;-)

Three Reviews On Amazon That Should Be Reported as Abuse

Damn some delusional Christians who cannot deal with the arguments who seek to poison the well instead, much like slander is used to shut someone's business down. See what YOU think. There is no solid evidence they even read the book.

What a Relief it is Not Blogging (Much) in August

I've wondered that if I didn't respond to criticisms of my writings who would do so? Well, now I know. My peeps. You don't even need me. ;-) I am enjoying not having to respond to every delusional person who can quote a Bible passage. This is such a relief that, well, I'm questioning if I ever want to do it again. I've said my piece. I'll never get in the last word. It's been an online conversation, debate, and series of killings ever since the very beginning.

So let me leave you with this: Why would anyone is his or her right mind ever embrace the same religion that was used to imprison, torture, burn, kill, and oppress other human beings simply because they thought differently? That's insane to me. Furthermore, why would any minority accept the religion that was used to oppress them? So my hat is off to Native Americans, who have not done so and who also refused to be enslaved by the European crusaders. I would that others be more like them.

Here's Another Email

I grew up amongst "holy rollers" in the Pentecostal tradition. By 20 I had read more scholarly systematics (Geisler, Grudem, Culver, etc.), monographs, and works in philosophy, apologetics, and philosophy of religion than most pastors have read in their lifetime. My rational discussions with non-believers proved very productive. There was then a turn in my thinking that would forever change the way I viewed the world.

Non-Christian literature was of much interest to such a dogmatic Theist as myself, so I picked up The Christian Delusion and found many of the chapters unrelated to the specific pivot point for rational belief in Christianity--that is, Is Scripture the Word of God? I turned next to Why I Became an Atheist expecting to complete it with as much enthusiastic assurance as I had when I began it.

Even as I began my studies I realized that the crux of the Christian faith was centered on the answer to the question of the integrity of the Christian canon. Your book, Mr. Loftus, challenged my presupposition of biblical integrity so that I could examine the evidence on its on merit. That evidence led to my renunciation of the faith of my parents, a belief in Yahweh, the God of the Bible, and a denial of the gospel and person of Jesus Christ. It was freeing--finally the wrath of God had been propitiated!--but by solid (counter-Christian) evidence, not Jesus Christ; alas! an epistemological regeneration worthy of the title. Thank you, Mr. Loftus.

My Interview With Barry Lynn of Culture Shocks

Even though my target audience is evangelical Christians, Barry was more interested in discussing his own liberal view of Christianity, which fails for the reasons I stated in this program. Enjoy.

The Criticisms Are Coming Faster Than I Can Respond

I cannot respond to even the most intelligent and scholarly criticisms of my writings. They are coming fast and furious. The deluded are coming up with the most contorted reasons to continue believing despite my arguments. That's the way it always has been. That's why many Christianities still exist who argue the others are wrong, and who agree against doubters like me. They just refuse to see. But then you wouldn't expect the deluded to see it any other way. I'd say they were idiots, but in reality, the more educated and brilliant they are the more idiotic they appear to the rest of us. They are blind. Faith blinds people. It really does. Just ask any person who has faith in a different religion and you will see clearly what I see.

Another Email

I've been a born-again believer since August 1985. After 3-4 years of doubts I read your book WIBA, after reading some material by Geisler and others. While there were conclusions you reached I didn't entirely agree with, you gave clarity and voice to my most serious doubts.

I just had breakfast with my pastor the other day. I've been the primary worship leader at our small town CBA church for about 7.5 - 8 years. Having to tell him I no longer believed was one of the toughest things I've ever done, after coming to terms with it myself. I'm fortunate in that he and the others in my church have responded with love and understanding, which I'm guessing is the exception rather than the rule.

So I want to thank you for sharing your story and your knowledge.

Dr. Avalos Goes in Search of a "True Christian Conservative."

Link.

Debunking the Kalam Cosmological Argument

Listen to a Pre-Recorded Interview With Me on Irreligiosophy

Enjoy

Proof Evangelicals Will Do Whatever it Takes to Continue Believing: "Evangelicals Question The Existence Of Adam And Eve"

They are doing what each generation of Christian thinkers have done from the very beginning. The future of Christianity will not be the same as it is today. It's just that like all other evolving organisms and systems of thought, they evolve so slowing it's hard to detect it. Evangelicals would be appalled at the Christianity of a century or more ago, and they will be equally appalled at the Christianity a century or more from now. Evangelicals, give it up. Enjoy

I Tire of Answering this Crap, I Really Do

William Lane Craig revisits the "Slaughter" of the Canaanites. Isn't it obvious what Craig is doing? This is a problem for his faith so he seeks to reduce his cognitive dissonance by doing almost anything he can with the text in order to keep the faith. It's just obvious. Then Randal Rauser claims he is offering a skeptical review of The End of Christianity. Say that again? He's doing a skeptical review of the book? This is clearly Orwellian Doublespeak where the word "skeptical" now replaces the word "believing". It is a believing review of my book! And can you or not clearly see that his criticisms miss the mark? I tire of this shit, big time. I'll not even offer a critique since it's so lame. You either see it or you are blind, bat shit blind. Sorry, but that's what I think. That Christian scholars make these kind of arguments only reinforces my claim that defending the faith makes otherwise brilliant people look dumb. Enjoy discussing these things below.

I'll Be Inactive in August

August will be time for me to get some needed things done, so I'll be inactive this month. Not that I won't post some things, just not that much. Become a follower or subscribe by email not to miss a thing. If you have something to share do it below. Cheers.

Are Christian Colleges/Seminaries Afraid of My Work?

Who knows for sure, but maybe they should be. ;-)

By far the single biggest challenge to my Christian faith, during this early part of my de-conversion process, came in the form of a book, by John W. Loftus, Why I Became An Atheist. I believe that most Christians have little difficulty maintaining their faith, even when challenged, since it is propped up by dozens, if not hundreds, of individual pieces (& thought patterns) they deem to be solid on their own (and even stronger together)...if one of those pieces takes a hit, hey, no big deal, there are still plenty of reasons to continue believing!...But what happens when a sizable number of those pieces, propping up your worldview, are attacked simultaneously? Well, this can cause one to question their entire paradigm, and in my case, that paradigm was the truth of Christianity.

Harry McCall: "John’s books would have as much of a chance of ever seeing the light of day in any conservative Bible believing seminary or church as a prohibitionist in a liquor distillery!"

Weston Bortner stated: “John, you can't just assume that people are scared and avoiding you. That's a little silly. Perhaps they have a valid reason and you just don't know it.”

If this is what John assumed, then he made a great assumption!

Animals Don't Think, Or Do They?

Check this site out.

What a Good Christian Apologetics Program Should Include

Over at Apologetics 315 is a listing of some Christian colleges that offer degrees in Christian Apologetics. If we add the ones mentioned in the comments, here they are:

Morality Without God

Part 1 can be found here. Part 2 is below:

Definitional Apologetics, Excessive Skepticism, and the OTF

[Written by John W. Loftus] Philosophers love to define words. It's a good thing too, since Aristotle said something to the effect that "Many a dispute could be solved in a few sentences if the disputants merely defined their terms." Sometimes though, in the hands of Christian philosophers the goal is obfuscation. They try to define away a problem for their faith. I call this Definitional Apologetics, and they are quite good at it. They will feign ignorance about what an extraordinary event is in the face of a concrete example, like a virgin birth or a resurrection from the dead. They will also feign ignorance about what the scientific method is to the point of claiming there is no such thing, even though science continues to progress, purportedly without one. And using Orwellian doublespeak they claim to have a "full-blown skepticism" where they are skeptical of skepticism, thinking this allows for their faith but blind to the fact it also allows for anyone's faith. This is all pure sophistry.

Along these same lines let me respond to one major objection to the Outsider Test for Faith (OTF), as stated in the comments of a recent post:

I think you’ll find that if you try to apply [the OTF] rigorously to every aspect of your life (not just the religious bits), you’ll soon discover what “analysis paralysis” is. You’ll be unable to entertain, even for a moment, any political, aesthetic or moral opinion or value, unless you can back it up by a complete chain of logical deduction from perfectly flawless axioms. Once you get addicted to the “test of skepticism”, *how will you know* where to draw the line and refrain from excessive skepticism? So my question about where to draw the line between healthy and excessive skepticism is a genuine one, not some sort of ploy by the christian-apologist-boogeyman ;) Skepticism is indeed a slippery slope – the question is where do you draw the line? Link.

50 Renowned Academics Speaking About God

Answering My Critics, Two Reviews of TEC

vorjack, the managing editor of Daniel Florien's blog Unreasonable Faith, wrote a review where he said, "All told, there are fourteen strong articles here, plus Loftus’ OTF in the introduction and a brief closing from Robert Price. It’s a solid collection of essays that work well together...On balance, the book is a solid addition to the atheist library, and it makes an excellent companion to The Christian Delusion." That's cool, but I get the sense he's tired of me or something, for he also wrote: "No one has ever accused Loftus of being timid," and, "By this point Loftus can only muster a three paragraph introduction..." and, "Richard Carrier, who Loftus credits with doing the actual editing of the book..." and, "One of the advantages of these collections is always the chance to hear new voices, and that gets lost when you turn it over to the usual suspects...if Loftus et. al. wants to publish another book, it may be time to develop the field a little more and bring in some new blood."

Old Testament Scholar Michael Heiser and I Discuss OT Prophecy

He has been kind to discuss this issue with me even though it was an aside to a post of his on Bible study. It's hard to replicate the order of our comments since it was two different discussions, but I tried. See what you think:

Kris D. Komarnitsky Replies to William Lane Craig

"The Cognitive Dissonance Theory of Christian Origins," Link.