The Good and the Bad News About Blogging

First the bad news. What annoys me about Blogging is that there are ignoramuses whose names aren't made public who get to act like equals with scholars and credentialed intellectuals. Imagine a written discussion before the rise of the internet. It took place in books, magazine articles, Op-Ed's, journals, and even in the Letters to Editor section of national and local newspapers. The discussion was monitored by editors, so not just anyone could engage in it, or if they did, what they wrote was considered worthy by an editor or peer reviewers to be printed. Discussions of these written works took place in the universities under the supervision of credentialed professors who chose which texts were important to discuss. There were also a lot of discussions in the halls of these universities and in the pubs and coffee shops of the world based on what these editors/reviewers/professors thought worthy for publication and discussion. The rise of Blogging has somehow changed this.

On Animal Pain and Pleasure

Jeffery Lowder Speaks Out Against the American Atheists Billboard

You can see the Billboard below, along with my comments. Lowder writes this about President David Silverman:

Silverman seems to have fallen into the trap, typical among so many leaders of organized atheism, of thinking that the United States is a post-theistic society. It's not and it's delusional to think otherwise.

Since the U.S. is not a post-theistic society, what is the point of the ad? It's not like the attendees at the Democratic National Convention are going to say, "Wow, I was going to vote to nominate Obama, but after seeing that American Atheists ad, I guess I had better nominate an atheist instead." Likewise, I don't think this ad is going to have any impact on how nonreligious voters will vote. I think many pragmatic atheists believe that nonreligious voters do not have the luxury of choosing a viable nonreligious candidate for President: most will vote for Romney or Obama.

From a marketing or public relations perspective, it's hard to see how these ads accomplish anything positive for atheism. As far as I can tell, all they do is create the impression that atheists are rude. Link

We Should Think Exclusively in Terms of Probabilities

What's the probability that my short-term memory is correct and that I agreed yesterday to meet with someone today? Pretty high actually, really high, extremely high, or perhaps even close to being virtually certain. I live my life based on short term memories. If I doubt them and fail to make that appointment, or any agreed upon appointment, I would fail through life in a haphazard dream world of random choices. I would be an unreliable person. Life demands that I trust my short term memories and that I am not now dreaming of thinking I made an appointment I didn't make. Faith has nothing to do with this reasoning process. Probabilities here are all that matter. Faith is superfluous, utterly irrelevant, completely unnecessary, and even irrational. We should think exclusively in terms of probabilities.

Bill Craig's Use of Michael Murray's Book On Animal Pain

I have Murray's book, Nature Red in Tooth and Claw, the one Bill Craig uses to defend the lack of animal pain. I have been planning on posting something about it but so far haven't. Hint: Murray doesn't conclude what Dr. Craig does. In the meantime, I found this story by Harry McCall interesting when commenting on Craig's debate with Dr. Law:

Just Released, the William Lane Craig vs Stephen Law Debate

The topic was "Does God Exist." The debate took place in front of an audience of 2,000 (largely, though not entirely Christian) at the Westminster Central Hall, London, October 2011. Enjoy.

Why Is Everyone on the Internet So Angry?

This internet problem is highlighted by a Scientific American article where the authors write:

These days, online comments “are extraordinarily aggressive, without resolving anything,” said Art Markman, a professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. “At the end of it you can’t possibly feel like anybody heard you. Having a strong emotional experience that doesn’t resolve itself in any healthy way can’t be a good thing.”

Robert Ingersoll—The Most Remarkable American Most People Never Heard Of

Today CFI-Indiana commemorates the birth of Robert Ingersoll (August 11, 1833) whom the Washington Post described as the Christopher Hitchens or Richard Dawkins of his day. In 1876, Robert Green Ingersoll delivered one of his most famous speeches to Civil War veterans on the circle in downtown Indianapolis. This speech included what has become known as "The Vision of War" which is considered by some to be second only to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in Civil War oratory.

CFI-Indiana is commemorating Ingersoll's birthday tonight at 7 PM with readings from his speeches in the place where he made his famous Civil War Speech in 1876--the circle in downtown Indianapolis. Tom Flynn, Executive Director of Council for Secular Humanism, Editor of Free Inquiry Magazine, and Director of the Robert Green Ingersoll Birthplace Museum, is their special guest and participant. He will read Ingersoll's Vision of War in the very place Ingersoll spoke it. To help commemorate Ingersoll, Julian Haydon, a friend of mine, will be sending me excerpts of several of his speeches that I'll publish once a week. Here's the first one:

An Update On Two Forthcoming Books of Mine

For anyone wanting new information about my two forthcoming books, no matter how meager, here it is. Dr. Randal Rauser and I just finished the galleys for our co-written book God or Godless. We've also been informed Baker Books is making it into an audiobook with Pee-wee Herman as Randal's voice. (Just joking!) It's a really good exchange and I'm happy to have been a part of it. Then too, I've learned Prometheus Books has subtitled my book, The Outsider Test for Faith, with this: How to Decide Which Religion is True. I wanted them to use a different one instead: How to Decide Which Religion is True (If There is One), but they didn't go with it. Their decision was based on marketing I suppose. That's all I've got for now. Both books will be published early next year. Skeptics and Christians will be able to give them to each other for a great discussion. They would also be great as college textbooks in some classes.

Most Visitors to DC Are New Here

If my readers want to know why I promote my books so much, here is the reason. Take a look at the DC Google Analytics stats graph for the number of visitors I get per month (see below). It tells me that most of them are new to DC (or some mix of them with others who visit once a month).

Paul Tells Us in His Last Letter (Romans) That God Has Alzheimer’s Disease

Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans that "Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding for us" (ἐντυγχάνει ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν = Present Indicative or to keep doing intercession for us) in Heaven. (Romans 8:34, NIV)

Religion at the Olympics

“While many Olympic athletes attract criticism and praise based on their personal characteristic instead of their athletic performance, Saudi Arabia's female athletes get more scrutiny than most due to their country's deep social conservatism. On Twitter in Saudi Arabia, Attar and Shaherkani's Olympic participation has generated hateful comments. One Twitter user, apparently a Saudi Arabian man, started a hash tag calling Saudi Arabia's female competitors "prostitutes of the Olympics," sparking both support and ire. For instance, a lecturer at a Saudi university reportedly tweeted that "You [Shaherkani] do not represent the chaste Muslim women." Other comments on Twitter about Shaherkani's judo participation have been so offensive that her father is trying to sue the Saudi Tweeters. (Good luck to him.)”

What “Free Thinkers” (and others) Can Learn from the Tao

Even as someone that does not associate her/himself with any religion, I do believe there are things we can learn from them. For instance, I believe in the aphorism attributed to Jesus that states “We know a tree by the fruit it bears.” Yes indeed, we do know a great deal about a tree by its fruit, and a person by their actions and words.

This being said, I have been rather disappointed by the actions of many of those who consider themselves “free thinkers” as of late—specifically those so-called “free thinkers” that have gone on rampages against other so-called “free thinkers”--and the chaos that has resulted. Actually, whether one considers themselves “free thinkers” or not, ad hominem, strawmanning, etc, do nothing to promote better ways of thinking. Better ways of thinking come via the dialectical process and arguments. Arguments are subject to counter arguments, and without subjecting them to fallacies, we can come to better conclusions. So I thought I would give anyone who has participated in this type of behaviour something to think about. That is—The Tao.

Making the Case for Atheists (Dan Barker)

A nice collection of clips from one of Dan's many debates.

There Is a War Going On At Freethought Blogs! Are they Self-Destructing?

Thunderf00T seems to have gone on a rampage. Ed Brayton wants to completely censor him from speaking at all atheist conventions. Natalie Reed subsequently blisters the atheist community. Atheistlogic even calls for a new atheist movement. There is a war going on! Natalie Reed writes:

Solomon's Decision Was the Dumbest Judicial Ruling in History

We all know the story told in I Kings 3. Solomon was given wisdom by God more than anyone else. To show us how wise he was Solomon issued a ruling involving two prostitutes who both claimed a particular baby was theirs. To settle the matter Solomon ordered that the child be cut in two, with each woman receiving half of him. This is supposed to be considered wise. I demurr. I think it was the dumbest judicial ruling in history, well, at least one of them. Here's why.

Just imagine Solomon’s so-called “wise” judgment in our day in a courtroom situation in a divorce child custody case. Go ahead. Imagine it. It was anything but wise. We would be morally repulsed if any judge issued such a judgment, for it was always possible that both women in Solomon's story might agree to have the child killed. Even the real mother might have wanted the child killed rather than have it raised by such a lying conniving pretender/thief. If this had happened then the child would have been killed since that’s what Solomon said, and he could not back out of it, could he? Any civilized judge issuing such a judgment would be thrown out of the country it’s so utterly repulsive. It’s actually the dumbest ruling that was ever made.

Did We Invent God?

In series hosted by "God" (Well, Morgan Freeman did play god a few times..;) he asks the question,  did we invent God?  I have watched a few episodes in this series, and they are quite interesting.  In this episode however, I found that the experiments were somewhat flawed in their conception.  (For instance, in the first experiment  children are set up to "cheat" at a game, but the administrator of the experiment never lets on that he thinks cheating is wrong, but in the second part of his experiment, he does imply that cheating is wrong.)

Anyway,  I did find the virtual reality experiments interesting--reminiscent of the "God Helmet."

You might find it interesting to watch too.  Episodes are free to download at Fastpasstv.ms

Enjoy!
_____________
Cathy Cooper

The Case Against Christianity (Dr. Keith Parsons)

This is the excellent opening statement from Keith Parsons in his debate against William Lane Craig.  The full debate can be heard here.

Dan Barker Speaks Out Against Hate Directed at Women

Surly Amy at Skepchick is collecting denunciations of hatred toward women in the atheist community. So far she's collected twelve of them from atheist leaders. One of the most recent ones is from Dan Barker, co-president of Freedom From Religion Foundation. I wholeheartedly agree with what Dan wrote, reproduced below. I would be extremely doubtful any atheist leader or leading blogger would not denounce this and embrace feminism. In fact, I don't think a woman-hater could be found among them, even prior to Elevatorgate.

The First Blurb for My Outsider Test for Faith Book

"Without doubt one of the best books I've ever read on faith. A masterpiece." -- Dr. Peter Boghossian, Portland State University Philosophy Department.

I consider it to be the solution to the problem of religious diversity. An outline of the book can be found here. It's scheduled to be published by Prometheus Books early next year. Of all my books I think this one just might possibly make the most impact.

Fired Pastor Jack Schaap Demonstrates How To Masturbate in the Pulpit

Jack Schapp was fired after admitting he had a sexual relationship with a 17 year old girl. But this amazing video should have provided church people a clue. This is must see stuff!

Is Shariah Law Also Biblical Law?

Dr. Avalos shows how Christians who oppose Shariah Law don't seem to know that much of what they fear about Shariah Law actually derives from Biblical laws. He writes: "Some of the most feared aspects of Shariah also derive almost directly from biblical values and laws." Link.

Back in the Stocks: A Short Treatise on Thought and Eternity (Part II of II)

Continuing with the previous observations, when we die, we die and forget it all. And then the cells that made us up disassemble and become a part of the earth again. Just like their dancing little sub-particle components, they dance and shift around and trade partners like some hand-clapping, toothless country folk with stupid smiles on their faces, as they switch partners in some rural dance hall with flickering neon lights seen from a poorly-paved, two-lane highway...

Having Some Good Biblical Fun With God

John’s post got me thinking about my lake experience last month. While out water skiing, I noticed that when I cut my slalom ski, the spray behind my ski was making a rainbow in the noonday sun. So I decided to have some fun with God as based on his covenant with Noah. According to Genesis 9, God uses all rainbows throughout the world like a string tied around his figure to remind him: “Hey, you don’t need to use water again to destroy humanity!” (How quickly God keeps forgetting about the million he destroyed)!

Was Jesus a Man of Science?

Yesterday a thunderstorm got us. You've seen them approaching. You know their effects. I was thinking as one approached what God had to do with it. No really, what did God have to do with it? At what point did he decide when to send it? Did he violate any known natural laws to do so? Did he make it rain here because of anything we had done or not done? Matthew 5:45 has Jesus, supposedly the Son of a creator God saying, "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."