Apologist Tom Gilson, writer of the self-consciously titled Thinking Christian blog, claims that atheists aren’t truly consistent with their reasoning and are internally incoherent. He is currently making this assertion a frequent theme throughout his posts, and is promoting a book titled True Reason: Christian Responses to the Challenge of…
Reason is a common theme in the skeptical community. For instance, several atheist groups held the Reason Rally this last weekend in Washington D.C., billed as the largest secular event in history. Author and Neuroscientist Sam Harris, one of the “Four Horsemen” of the new atheism movement, is founder and…
Two accomplished scholars recently voiced differing and combative views on the historicity of Jesus. I’ve read works from both of the men involved, and they are both accomplished authors and historians. Even though I’m a little surprised at some of the rhetoric used, I plan on providing this academic contretemps…
With so many religious groups paying to persuade and influence congressional politicians, it brings to mind a pithy one-liner that sounds like an old George Carlin comedy routine: If god isn’t dead, he must be broke, because his followers are spending all of his money. It’s not funny, though, especially…
Sam Harris has taken away my free will, and I’m not happy about it. Just what in the deuce does this man think he’s doing? You’re all familiar with Harris, aren’t you. He earned a degree in philosophy from Stanford University and a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA. He has…
No one will be happy after reading this post. No one should be happy after reading this post. Those with an over-active ability to emote may need to proceed with caution, as the subject I’m discussing makes even me, a professional misanthrope, a bit edgy. I recently took Christian apologist…
A radical theologian who co-authored a book declaring the death of god has died in my home city of Portland, Ore. William Hamilton died at the end of February of congestive heart failure at the age of 87, according to KGW.com. According to KGW, Hamilton was an “atheistic Christian” who…
Proper categorization would relegate theology to the kid’s section of the local bookstore or the frivolous last-minute Google search for obscure trivia if it weren’t for two reasons: Far too many adults take it seriously, and the subject is not suitable for children. In fact, according to evangelical theologian William…
My previous post considered Alvin Plantiga’s claim that a rational belief in god doesn’t require evidence, as outlined in this speech. Paul Pardi, who runs the Philosophy News website, recently delivered the speech in Seattle. Pardi outlines the theologian’s ideas and points out that this particular assertion by Plantinga specifically…
On blessedly rare occasions a friend will tell me a fantastic tale I know to be false. These purported truth-claims vary, but usually involve improbably low golf scores or unlikely encounters with popular, attractive members of the opposite sex. The best method of debunking these mistruths is to simply engage…
