Many cite internet videos, forums, blogs, etc. as a major reason*

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "Many cite internet videos, forums, blogs, etc. as a major reason*"

Transcription

1 Many cite internet videos, forums, blogs, etc. as a major reason* * survey conducted by the Fixed Point Foundation:

2 What is internet ATHEISM? What is internet ATHEISM? Popular level arguments and assertions which may have apparent rhetorical force, but often contain logical/ factual mistakes and are usually built upon a lack of relevant philosophical knowledge/understanding What is internet ATHEISM? Popular level arguments and assertions which may have apparent rhetorical force, but often contain logical/ factual mistakes and are usually built upon a lack of relevant philosophical knowledge/understanding What is internet ATHEISM? Popular level arguments and assertions which may have apparent rhetorical force, but often contain logical/ factual mistakes and are usually built upon a lack of relevant philosophical knowledge/understanding What is internet ATHEISM? Popular level arguments and assertions which may have apparent rhetorical force, but often contain logical/ factual mistakes and are usually built upon a lack of relevant philosophical knowledge/understanding What is internet ATHEISM? Popular level arguments and assertions which may have apparent rhetorical force, but often contain logical/ factual mistakes and are usually built upon a lack of relevant philosophical knowledge/understanding internet Atheism arguments internet Atheism arguments Rhetorical Arguments

3 internet Atheism arguments Rhetorical Arguments Scientific Arguments internet Atheism arguments Rhetorical Arguments Scientific Arguments Philosophical Arguments internet Atheism arguments Rhetorical Arguments Scientific Arguments Philosophical Arguments Historical Arguments internet Atheism arguments Rhetorical Arguments Scientific Arguments Philosophical Arguments Historical Arguments Our Strategy Our Strategy We can be better equipped to respond to internet atheism by breaking down the arguments or assertions and taking time to stop and think Not only must we honestly announce that pain and work are the irremovable and irreducible accompaniments of genuine learning but we must have no fears about what is over the public s head. Whoever passes by what is over his head condemns his head to its present low altitude; for nothing can elevate a mind except what is over its head Mortimer Adler RHETORICAL ARGUMENT 1 I just believe in one less god than you. When you understand why you dismiss all other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

4 That s like saying to a marathon runner, I just believe in one less form of exercise than you do. When you understand why you don t perform every available exercise you ll understand why I don t perform any! That s like saying to a marathon runner, to pretend that [belief in God] is subject to the same sorts of objections that might be presented against the gods of Olympus is simply to miss the central point of 2,500 years of philosophical reflection on the question of God s existence and nature. Edward Feser I just believe in one less form of exercise than you do. When you understand why you don t perform every available exercise you ll understand why I don t perform any! RHETORICAL ARGUMENT 2 Science flies you to the moon. Religion flies you into buildings. Science causes widespread death and destruction Science causes widespread death and destruction Religion helps the poor, sick, and needy Science causes widespread death and destruction Religion helps the poor, sick, and needy

5 Government protects the innocent Government protects the innocent The private sector steals from the innocent Government protects the innocent The private sector steals from the innocent Government kills the innocent Government kills the innocent The private sector helps the innocent Government kills the innocent The private sector helps the innocent

6 RHETORICAL ARGUMENT 3 Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Do simple claims require simple evidence? Do simple claims require simple evidence? 2) What is meant by extraordinary? Do simple claims require simple evidence? 2) What is meant by extraordinary? Is it the TYPE of evidence? Do simple claims require simple evidence? 2) What is meant by extraordinary? Is it the TYPE of evidence? This results in logical problems Do simple claims require simple evidence? 2) What is meant by extraordinary? Is it the TYPE of evidence? This results in logical problems Is it the AMOUNT of evidence?

7 Do simple claims require simple evidence? 2) What is meant by extraordinary? Is it the TYPE of evidence? This results in logical problems Is it the AMOUNT of evidence? That s precisely what we have! Do simple claims require simple evidence? 2) What is meant by extraordinary? Is it the TYPE of evidence? This results in logical problems Is it the AMOUNT of evidence? That s precisely what we have! Is it the REPEATABILITY of evidence? Do simple claims require simple evidence? 2) What is meant by extraordinary? Is it the TYPE of evidence? This results in logical problems Is it the AMOUNT of evidence? That s precisely what we have! Is it the REPEATABILITY of evidence? Many unrepeatable things are accepted SCIENTIFIC ARGUMENT 1 Empirical science is the only means of knowing truth about reality. Everything else is merely opinion. Empirical science is the only means of knowing truth about reality. Everything else is merely opinion. Is THAT claim empirically verifiable? Empirical science is the only means of knowing truth about reality. Everything else is merely opinion. Is THAT claim empirically verifiable? Empirical science is the only means of knowing truth about reality. Everything else is merely opinion. Atheists who think they are arguing from purely scientific premises never really are. They are, without exception, arguing from metaphysical assumptions and usually unexamined ones at that that are first read into empirical science and then read back out, like the rabbit the magician can pull out of the hat only because he s first hidden it there. Edward Feser SCIENTIFIC ARGUMENT 2 Quantum physics proves that the universe can come into being uncaused out of nothing. Therefore, we don t need God.

8 SCIENTIFIC ARGUMENT 2 Quantum physics proves that the universe can come into being uncaused out of nothing. Therefore, we don t need God. 1) A quantum vacuum is not nothing 1) A quantum vacuum is not nothing Commits the fallacy of equivocation 1) A quantum vacuum is not nothing Commits the fallacy of equivocation The modern picture of the quantum vacuum differs radically from the classical and everyday meaning of a vacuum nothing. The quantum mechanical vacuum is not truly nothing ; rather, the vacuum state has a rich structure which resides in a previously existing substratum. Physicists John Barrow and Frank Tipler, The Anthropic Cosmological Principle 2) Quantum physics assumes physical laws and physical reality 2) Quantum physics assumes physical laws and physical reality But neither quantum uncertainty nor any other theory of physics is or could be the reason [that something must exist], for quantum mechanics and all the other laws of physics presuppose the existence of a concrete physical reality that behaves according to those laws, so that such laws cannot coherently be appealed to as an explanation of that reality. Edward Feser

9 PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENT 1 If everything needs a cause, then who caused God? PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENT 1 If everything needs a cause, then who caused God? these arguments rely upon the idea of a regress and invoke God to terminate it. They make the entirely unwarranted assumption that God himself is immune to the regress. Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion There is no version of the cosmological argument that says everything has a cause There is no version of the cosmological argument that says everything has a cause One version says that whatever BEGINS to exist has a cause There is no version of the cosmological argument that says everything has a cause One version says that whatever BEGINS to exist has a cause Another version says that CONTINGENT things need a cause

10 There is no version of the cosmological argument that says everything has a cause One version says that whatever BEGINS to exist has a cause Another version says that CONTINGENT things need a cause Philosophically, we know that God neither began to exist, nor is He contingent There is no version of the cosmological argument that says everything has a cause One version says that whatever BEGINS to exist has a cause Another version says that CONTINGENT things need a cause Philosophically, we know that God neither began to exist, nor is He contingent Therefore, God does NOT need a cause PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENT 2 Atheists can be moral without believing in God, therefore God is not necessary for morality. 1) The issue is NOT whether atheists can BE moral (good) 1) The issue is NOT whether atheists can BE moral (good) Atheists experience gravity without believing in a God who created it 1) The issue is NOT whether atheists can BE moral (good) Atheists experience gravity without believing in a God who created it Likewise, atheists experience moral reality without believing in the God of its foundation 1) The issue is NOT whether atheists can BE moral (good) Atheists experience gravity without believing in a God who created it Likewise, atheists experience moral reality without believing in the God of its foundation 2) The issue IS whether atheists can JUSTIFY the existence of objective morality

11 1) The issue is NOT whether atheists can BE moral (good) Atheists experience gravity without believing in a God who created it Likewise, atheists experience moral reality without believing in the God of its foundation 2) The issue IS whether atheists can JUSTIFY the existence of objective morality Much of the moral law can be known apart from any acknowledgment of God 1) The issue is NOT whether atheists can BE moral (good) Atheists experience gravity without believing in a God who created it Likewise, atheists experience moral reality without believing in the God of its foundation 2) The issue IS whether atheists can JUSTIFY the existence of objective morality Much of the moral law can be known apart from any acknowledgment of God The actual existence of the moral law requires God PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENT 3 Christianity requires faith which is belief in spite of the evidence. PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENT 3 Christianity requires faith which is belief in spite of the evidence. Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence. Richard Dawkins 1) This completely misunderstands biblical faith 1) This completely misunderstands biblical faith Reason is believing something because it has been demonstrated 1) This completely misunderstands biblical faith Reason is believing something because it has been demonstrated Faith is believing something on the basis of authority

12 1) This completely misunderstands biblical faith Reason is believing something because it has been demonstrated Faith is believing something on the basis of authority 2) We use reason to determine if we should trust a claimed authority or not 1) This completely misunderstands biblical faith Reason is believing something because it has been demonstrated Faith is believing something on the basis of authority 2) We use reason to determine if we should trust a claimed authority or not Consider how you know most of what you know about various subjects 1) This completely misunderstands biblical faith Reason is believing something because it has been demonstrated Faith is believing something on the basis of authority 2) We use reason to determine if we should trust a claimed authority or not Consider how you know most of what you know about various subjects Consider every time you visit your doctor PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENT 4 Why should we think that God is the cause of the universe? PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENT 4 Why should we think that God is the cause of the universe? Even if we allow the dubious luxury of arbitrarily conjuring up a terminator to an infinite regress and giving it a name, simply because we need one, there is absolutely no reason to endow that terminator with any of the properties normally ascribed to God. Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion 1) Philosophically, we can show that the cause of the universe is: 1) Philosophically, we can show that the cause of the universe is: UNCAUSED & NECESSARY since it is the cause of everything that exists other than itself

13 1) Philosophically, we can show that the cause of the universe is: UNCAUSED & NECESSARY since it is the cause of everything that exists other than itself IMMATERIAL since it caused all matter 1) Philosophically, we can show that the cause of the universe is: UNCAUSED & NECESSARY since it is the cause of everything that exists other than itself IMMATERIAL since it caused all matter TIMELESS since it caused time 1) Philosophically, we can show that the cause of the universe is: UNCAUSED & NECESSARY since it is the cause of everything that exists other than itself IMMATERIAL since it caused all matter TIMELESS since it caused time NON-SPACIAL since it caused all space 1) Philosophically, we can show that the cause of the universe is: UNCAUSED & NECESSARY since it is the cause of everything that exists other than itself IMMATERIAL since it caused all matter TIMELESS since it caused time NON-SPACIAL since it caused all space 2) Thus, we have an uncaused, necessary, immaterial, infinite cause of the universe 1) Philosophically, we can show that the cause of the universe is: UNCAUSED & NECESSARY since it is the cause of everything that exists other than itself IMMATERIAL since it caused all matter TIMELESS since it caused time NON-SPACIAL since it caused all space 2) Thus, we have an uncaused, necessary, immaterial, infinite cause of the universe This sounds like a good starting definition of GOD HISTORICAL ARGUMENT 1 Emperor Constantine invented Christianity at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. 1) Council of Nicea was convened to settle the Arian controversy regarding the deity of Christ

14 1) Council of Nicea was convened to settle the Arian controversy regarding the deity of Christ Arias questioned the previous 300 years of nearly unanimous affirmation of Christ s deity which caused church division 1) Council of Nicea was convened to settle the Arian controversy regarding the deity of Christ Arias questioned the previous 300 years of nearly unanimous affirmation of Christ s deity which caused church division Constantine was after imperial unity 1) Council of Nicea was convened to settle the Arian controversy regarding the deity of Christ Arias questioned the previous 300 years of nearly unanimous affirmation of Christ s deity which caused church division Constantine was after imperial unity 2) The canon of Scripture was not a topic of dispute at the Council 1) Council of Nicea was convened to settle the Arian controversy regarding the deity of Christ Arias questioned the previous 300 years of nearly unanimous affirmation of Christ s deity which caused church division Constantine was after imperial unity 2) The canon of Scripture was not a topic of dispute at the Council NT canon had been largely affirmed from the beginning 1) Council of Nicea was convened to settle the Arian controversy regarding the deity of Christ Arias questioned the previous 300 years of nearly unanimous affirmation of Christ s deity which caused church division Constantine was after imperial unity 2) The canon of Scripture was not a topic of dispute at the Council NT canon had been largely affirmed from the beginning Origen likely listed all 27 NT books 100 years before the Council of Nicea HISTORICAL ARGUMENT 2 We have no reason to believe that one dead body behaved in a manner that no other dead body ever has before or since. 1) If God doesn t exist then the resurrection is nonsense

15 1) If God doesn t exist then the resurrection is nonsense Comes back to philosophy (If God, then miracles) 1) If God doesn t exist then the resurrection is nonsense Comes back to philosophy (If God, then miracles) We have a historically accurate NT text 1) If God doesn t exist then the resurrection is nonsense Comes back to philosophy (If God, then miracles) We have a historically accurate NT text 2) Minimal F.A.C.T.S. provide solid evidence for the resurrection 1) If God doesn t exist then the resurrection is nonsense Comes back to philosophy (If God, then miracles) We have a historically accurate NT text 2) Minimal F.A.C.T.S. provide solid evidence for the resurrection Fatal cross, Abandoned tomb, Conversion of the disciples, Transformation of James, Saul became Paul 1) If God doesn t exist then the resurrection is nonsense Comes back to philosophy (If God, then miracles) We have a historically accurate NT text 2) Minimal F.A.C.T.S. provide solid evidence for the resurrection Fatal cross, Abandoned tomb, Conversion of the disciples, Transformation of James, Saul became Paul The resurrection has the most plausibility, explanatory scope, explanatory power, and less ad hoc assertions You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon, or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. C.S. Lewis It isn't arguing for God's existence that's hard. It's clearing away the gigantic pile of modern intellectual rubbish that keeps people from properly understanding the arguments that's hard. Edward Feser

16 Recommended RESOURCES RECOMMENDED APPS Recommended RESOURCES Southern Evangelical Seminary Apologetics Study Bible CrossExamined.org (Frank Turek) New Testament iwitness Resurrection iwitness STR Quick- Reference App RECOMMENDED APPS Recommended RESOURCES RECOMMENDED BOOKS Southern Evangelical Seminary Apologetics Study Bible CrossExamined.org (Frank Turek) New Testament iwitness Resurrection iwitness STR Quick- Reference App

The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. Who Is Richard Dawkins and Why Is He Saying All Those Bad Things About Us?

The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. Who Is Richard Dawkins and Why Is He Saying All Those Bad Things About Us? The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins Richard G. Howe, Ph.D. Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics Southern Evangelical Seminary Vice President, International Society of Christian Apologetics

More information

The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins Richard G. Howe, Ph.D. Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics Southern Evangelical Seminary Vice President, International Society of Christian Apologetics

More information

Responding to the New Atheism: Doing as Thomas Does

Responding to the New Atheism: Doing as Thomas Does Responding to the New Atheism: Doing as Thomas Does Timothy Pawl University of St. Thomas, Minnesota S OME PARENTS, SEEING THAT THEY FAIL to live up to certain of their own standards, say, Do as I say,

More information

THE FAITHFUL EXTREME. We can close the apparent gap between faith and reason by avoiding two extremes in our thinking and by taking the middle road

THE FAITHFUL EXTREME. We can close the apparent gap between faith and reason by avoiding two extremes in our thinking and by taking the middle road SU PER STI TION [noun] a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the

More information

Cosmological Argument

Cosmological Argument Theistic Arguments: The Craig Program, 2 Edwin Chong February 27, 2005 Cosmological Argument God makes sense of the origin of the universe. Kalam cosmological argument. [Craig 1979] Kalam: An Arabic term

More information

[JGRChJ 9 (2013) R28-R32] BOOK REVIEW

[JGRChJ 9 (2013) R28-R32] BOOK REVIEW [JGRChJ 9 (2013) R28-R32] BOOK REVIEW Craig S. Keener, Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts (2 vols.; Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2011). xxxviii + 1172 pp. Hbk. US$59.99. Craig Keener

More information

THE GOD OF QUARKS & CROSS. bridging the cultural divide between people of faith and people of science

THE GOD OF QUARKS & CROSS. bridging the cultural divide between people of faith and people of science THE GOD OF QUARKS & CROSS bridging the cultural divide between people of faith and people of science WHY A WORKSHOP ON FAITH AND SCIENCE? The cultural divide between people of faith and people of science*

More information

The Grand Design and the Kalam Cosmological Argument. The Book

The Grand Design and the Kalam Cosmological Argument. The Book The Grand Design and the Kalam Cosmological Argument Edwin Chong CFN, October 13, 2010 The Book Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow, The Grand Design, Bantam, 2010. Interest to Christians: Widely discussed

More information

Self-Refuting Statements

Self-Refuting Statements Self-Refuting Statements 2016 M. S. Turner Often when Christians are sharing their faith, they are challenged by skeptics, agnostics, and non-believers with statements that are selfrefuting. A self-refuting

More information

Christian Evidences. The Verification of Biblical Christianity, Part 2. CA312 LESSON 06 of 12

Christian Evidences. The Verification of Biblical Christianity, Part 2. CA312 LESSON 06 of 12 Christian Evidences CA312 LESSON 06 of 12 Victor M. Matthews, STD Former Professor of Systematic Theology Grand Rapids Theological Seminary This is lecture 6 of the course entitled Christian Evidences.

More information

PHILOSOPHIES OF SCIENTIFIC TESTING

PHILOSOPHIES OF SCIENTIFIC TESTING PHILOSOPHIES OF SCIENTIFIC TESTING By John Bloore Internet Encyclopdia of Philosophy, written by John Wttersten, http://www.iep.utm.edu/cr-ratio/#h7 Carl Gustav Hempel (1905 1997) Known for Deductive-Nomological

More information

Science, Religion & the Existence of God Seidel Abel Boanerges

Science, Religion & the Existence of God Seidel Abel Boanerges Science, Religion & the Existence of God Seidel Abel Boanerges I. Has Science buried Religion? II. Three Reasons why the Existence of God makes a HUGE difference. III. Four Reasons for the Existence of

More information

CRITICAL QUESTIONS FOR CHRISTIANS

CRITICAL QUESTIONS FOR CHRISTIANS Dr. Jim Eckman CRITICAL QUESTIONS FOR CHRISTIANS I. How can there be only one true religion? All major religions are equally valid and basically teach the same thing. Each religion sees part of spiritual

More information

Presuppositional Apologetics

Presuppositional Apologetics by John M. Frame [, for IVP Dictionary of Apologetics.] 1. Presupposing God in Apologetic Argument Presuppositional apologetics may be understood in the light of a distinction common in epistemology, or

More information

PHI 1700: Global Ethics

PHI 1700: Global Ethics PHI 1700: Global Ethics Session 3 February 11th, 2016 Harman, Ethics and Observation 1 (finishing up our All About Arguments discussion) A common theme linking many of the fallacies we covered is that

More information

The Kalam Cosmological Argument provides no support for theism

The Kalam Cosmological Argument provides no support for theism The Kalam Cosmological Argument provides no support for theism 0) Introduction 1) A contradiction follows from William Lane Craig's position 2) A tensed theory of time entails that it's not the case that

More information

The Cosmological Argument

The Cosmological Argument The Cosmological Argument Reading Questions The Cosmological Argument: Elementary Version The Cosmological Argument: Intermediate Version The Cosmological Argument: Advanced Version Summary of the Cosmological

More information

Introduction to Apologetics-Part VI

Introduction to Apologetics-Part VI Introduction to Apologetics-Part VI Course modeled after Frank Turek and Norman Geisler s I Don t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist curriculum, with additional materials from William Lane Craig, J.P.

More information

Simplicity and Why the Universe Exists

Simplicity and Why the Universe Exists Simplicity and Why the Universe Exists QUENTIN SMITH I If big bang cosmology is true, then the universe began to exist about 15 billion years ago with a 'big bang', an explosion of matter, energy and space

More information

I Am the I Am. Our Gospel lesson sets forth four astonishing claims of Jesus Christ that radically transform our lives.

I Am the I Am. Our Gospel lesson sets forth four astonishing claims of Jesus Christ that radically transform our lives. I Am the I Am Our Gospel lesson sets forth four astonishing claims of Jesus Christ that radically transform our lives. 48 The Jews answered him, Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and

More information

Philosophy of Religion. Ross Arnold, Summer 2014 Lakeside institute of Theology

Philosophy of Religion. Ross Arnold, Summer 2014 Lakeside institute of Theology Philosophy of Religion Ross Arnold, Summer 2014 Lakeside institute of Theology Philosophical Theology 1 (TH5) Aug. 15 Intro to Philosophical Theology; Logic Aug. 22 Truth & Epistemology Aug. 29 Metaphysics

More information

2 FREE CHOICE The heretical thesis of Hobbes is the orthodox position today. So much is this the case that most of the contemporary literature

2 FREE CHOICE The heretical thesis of Hobbes is the orthodox position today. So much is this the case that most of the contemporary literature Introduction The philosophical controversy about free will and determinism is perennial. Like many perennial controversies, this one involves a tangle of distinct but closely related issues. Thus, the

More information

Marcel Sarot Utrecht University Utrecht, The Netherlands NL-3508 TC. Introduction

Marcel Sarot Utrecht University Utrecht, The Netherlands NL-3508 TC. Introduction RBL 09/2004 Collins, C. John Science & Faith: Friends or Foe? Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway, 2003. Pp. 448. Paper. $25.00. ISBN 1581344309. Marcel Sarot Utrecht University Utrecht, The Netherlands NL-3508 TC

More information

The Cosmological Argument

The Cosmological Argument The Cosmological Argument The Cosmological Argument is an argument that attempts to demonstrate the existence of God using only one starting assumption: Something exists. 1. Three sorts of being: Whatever

More information

TRUST CHRIST. Spiritual Outcome Defined: Spiritual Outcome Described:

TRUST CHRIST. Spiritual Outcome Defined: Spiritual Outcome Described: TRUST CHRIST Spiritual Outcome Defined: A firm belief that Jesus is who He claimed to be, reconciling us to God. Inviting and relying on Him to be the leader of my life on a daily basis, and acknowledging

More information

out in his Three Dialogues and Principles of Human Knowledge, gives an argument specifically

out in his Three Dialogues and Principles of Human Knowledge, gives an argument specifically That Thing-I-Know-Not-What by [Perm #7903685] The philosopher George Berkeley, in part of his general thesis against materialism as laid out in his Three Dialogues and Principles of Human Knowledge, gives

More information

THE INESCAPABILITY OF GOD

THE INESCAPABILITY OF GOD CHRISTIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE PO Box 8500, Charlotte, NC 28271 Feature Article: JAF2405 THE INESCAPABILITY OF GOD by James N. Anderson This article first appeared in the CHRISTIAN RESEARCH JOURNAL, volume

More information

THE LIFE KEY POINTS IN THIS LESSON YOU WILL STUDY THESE QUESTIONS:

THE LIFE KEY POINTS IN THIS LESSON YOU WILL STUDY THESE QUESTIONS: 6 THE LIFE KEY POINTS 1. If Jesus Christ DID NOT rise from the dead, He is not the Truth and He is not the Way. 2. If Jesus Christ DID rise from the dead, He is truly the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

More information

A Case for Christianity

A Case for Christianity Introduction to Christian Apologetics A Case for Christianity By J.R. Allebach A Case for Christianity Bibliography Holy Scripture The Origin of the Bible, Philip Wesley Comfort The Reasonableness of Faith,

More information

Module 1-4: Spirituality and Rationality

Module 1-4: Spirituality and Rationality Module M3: Can rational men and women be spiritual? Module 1-4: Spirituality and Rationality The New Atheists win again? Atheists like Richard Dawkins, along with other new atheists, have achieved high

More information

Richard L. W. Clarke, Notes REASONING

Richard L. W. Clarke, Notes REASONING 1 REASONING Reasoning is, broadly speaking, the cognitive process of establishing reasons to justify beliefs, conclusions, actions or feelings. It also refers, more specifically, to the act or process

More information

Outline. The Resurrection Considered. Edwin Chong. Broader context Theistic arguments The resurrection Counter-arguments Craig-Edwards debate

Outline. The Resurrection Considered. Edwin Chong. Broader context Theistic arguments The resurrection Counter-arguments Craig-Edwards debate The Resurrection Considered Edwin Chong July 22, 2007 Life@Faith 7-22-07 Outline Broader context Theistic arguments The resurrection Counter-arguments Craig-Edwards debate Life@Faith 7-22-07 2 1 Broader

More information

True and Reasonable Faith Theistic Proofs

True and Reasonable Faith Theistic Proofs True and Reasonable Faith Theistic Proofs Dr. Richard Spencer June, 2015 Our Purpose Theistic proofs and other evidence help to solidify our faith by confirming that Christianity is both true and reasonable.

More information

Getting To God. The Basic Evidence For The Truth of Christian Theism. truehorizon.org

Getting To God. The Basic Evidence For The Truth of Christian Theism. truehorizon.org Getting To God The Basic Evidence For The Truth of Christian Theism truehorizon.org A True Worldview A worldview is like a set of glasses through which you see everything in life. It is the lens that brings

More information

Fr. Copleston vs. Bertrand Russell: The Famous 1948 BBC Radio Debate on the Existence of God

Fr. Copleston vs. Bertrand Russell: The Famous 1948 BBC Radio Debate on the Existence of God Fr. Copleston vs. Bertrand Russell: The Famous 1948 BBC Radio Debate on the Existence of God Father Frederick C. Copleston (Jesuit Catholic priest) versus Bertrand Russell (agnostic philosopher) Copleston:

More information

the negative reason existential fallacy

the negative reason existential fallacy Mark Schroeder University of Southern California May 21, 2007 the negative reason existential fallacy 1 There is a very common form of argument in moral philosophy nowadays, and it goes like this: P1 It

More information

In Epistemic Relativism, Mark Kalderon defends a view that has become

In Epistemic Relativism, Mark Kalderon defends a view that has become Aporia vol. 24 no. 1 2014 Incoherence in Epistemic Relativism I. Introduction In Epistemic Relativism, Mark Kalderon defends a view that has become increasingly popular across various academic disciplines.

More information

Ayer s linguistic theory of the a priori

Ayer s linguistic theory of the a priori Ayer s linguistic theory of the a priori phil 43904 Jeff Speaks December 4, 2007 1 The problem of a priori knowledge....................... 1 2 Necessity and the a priori............................ 2

More information

Ayer and Quine on the a priori

Ayer and Quine on the a priori Ayer and Quine on the a priori November 23, 2004 1 The problem of a priori knowledge Ayer s book is a defense of a thoroughgoing empiricism, not only about what is required for a belief to be justified

More information

This article is also available in Spanish.

This article is also available in Spanish. The Council of Nicea Introduction This article is also available in Spanish. The doctrine of the Trinity is central to the uniqueness of Christianity. It holds that the Bible teaches that God eternally

More information

Saving the Substratum: Interpreting Kant s First Analogy

Saving the Substratum: Interpreting Kant s First Analogy Res Cogitans Volume 5 Issue 1 Article 20 6-4-2014 Saving the Substratum: Interpreting Kant s First Analogy Kevin Harriman Lewis & Clark College Follow this and additional works at: http://commons.pacificu.edu/rescogitans

More information

Notes for Tactical Faith Talk July

Notes for Tactical Faith Talk July Notes for Tactical Faith Talk July 28 2012 What does an aspiring apologist a practical apologist need to know? And how should he go about acquiring it? Story: Erik s dilemma. * No time (or money!) to go

More information

Chance, Chaos and the Principle of Sufficient Reason

Chance, Chaos and the Principle of Sufficient Reason Chance, Chaos and the Principle of Sufficient Reason Alexander R. Pruss Department of Philosophy Baylor University October 8, 2015 Contents The Principle of Sufficient Reason Against the PSR Chance Fundamental

More information

AS-LEVEL Religious Studies

AS-LEVEL Religious Studies AS-LEVEL Religious Studies RSS03 Philosophy of Religion Mark scheme 2060 June 2015 Version 1: Final Mark Scheme Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the

More information

THEISM AND BELIEF. Etymological note: deus = God in Latin; theos = God in Greek.

THEISM AND BELIEF. Etymological note: deus = God in Latin; theos = God in Greek. THEISM AND BELIEF Etymological note: deus = God in Latin; theos = God in Greek. A taxonomy of doxastic attitudes Belief: a mental state the content of which is taken as true or an assertion put forward

More information

WTN U. Class Notes Lesson 6 10/15/13

WTN U. Class Notes Lesson 6 10/15/13 WTN U. Class Notes Lesson 6 10/15/13 I. Today we want to talk about that third relationship worldviews address our relationship to God. II. So, in terms of our relationship to God, when it comes to those

More information

WHY THERE REALLY ARE NO IRREDUCIBLY NORMATIVE PROPERTIES

WHY THERE REALLY ARE NO IRREDUCIBLY NORMATIVE PROPERTIES WHY THERE REALLY ARE NO IRREDUCIBLY NORMATIVE PROPERTIES Bart Streumer b.streumer@rug.nl In David Bakhurst, Brad Hooker and Margaret Little (eds.), Thinking About Reasons: Essays in Honour of Jonathan

More information

Plantinga, Van Till, and McMullin. 1. What is the conflict Plantinga proposes to address in this essay? ( )

Plantinga, Van Till, and McMullin. 1. What is the conflict Plantinga proposes to address in this essay? ( ) Plantinga, Van Till, and McMullin I. Plantinga s When Faith and Reason Clash (IDC, ch. 6) A. A Variety of Responses (133-118) 1. What is the conflict Plantinga proposes to address in this essay? (113-114)

More information

Christianity and Science. Understanding the conflict (WAR)? Must we choose? A Slick New Packaging of Creationism

Christianity and Science. Understanding the conflict (WAR)? Must we choose? A Slick New Packaging of Creationism and Science Understanding the conflict (WAR)? Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, is a documentary which looks at how scientists who have discussed or written about Intelligent Design (and along the way

More information

Up to this point, Anselm has been known for two quite different kinds of work:

Up to this point, Anselm has been known for two quite different kinds of work: Anselm s Proslogion (An Untimely Review, forthcoming in Topoi) Up to this point, Anselm has been known for two quite different kinds of work: his devotional writings, which aim to move and inspire the

More information

Getting Deeper: Discussion and Activities

Getting Deeper: Discussion and Activities Getting Deeper: Discussion and Activities Getting Deeper: Discussion and Activities 1 Introduction Key verse to memorize: 1 Peter 3:15 1. Read 1 Peter 3:15 together again. Explain the significance of the

More information

Running head: NICENE CHRISTIANITY 1

Running head: NICENE CHRISTIANITY 1 Running head: NICENE CHRISTIANITY 1 Nicene Christianity Brandon Vera BIBL 111-02 February 5, 2014 Prof. Robert Hill NICENE CHRISTIANITY 2 Nicene Christianity To deem that the ecumenical councils were merely

More information

The Kalam Cosmological Argument

The Kalam Cosmological Argument The Existence of God The Kalam Cosmological Argument Richard G. Howe, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, Southern Evangelical Seminary Past President, International Society of Christian Apologetics The Kalam Cosmological

More information

The Neo-Platonic Proof

The Neo-Platonic Proof The Neo-Platonic Proof by Ed Feser Informal statement of the argument: Stage 1 The things of our experience are made up of parts. Suppose you are sitting in a chair as you read this book. The chair is

More information

Philosophy is dead. Thus speaks Stephen Hawking, the bestknown

Philosophy is dead. Thus speaks Stephen Hawking, the bestknown 26 Dominicana Summer 2012 THE SCIENCE BEYOND SCIENCE Humbert Kilanowski, O.P. Philosophy is dead. Thus speaks Stephen Hawking, the bestknown physicist of the contemporary age and author of A Brief History

More information

Fatalism and Truth at a Time Chad Marxen

Fatalism and Truth at a Time Chad Marxen Stance Volume 6 2013 29 Fatalism and Truth at a Time Chad Marxen Abstract: In this paper, I will examine an argument for fatalism. I will offer a formalized version of the argument and analyze one of the

More information

Cosmological Arguments

Cosmological Arguments Cosmological Arguments Cosmology: u Study of the origins of the Universe u Why is there something rather than nothing? u Where did everything come from? u Where did the stars come from? u Aquinas: u If

More information

1. Atheism We begin our study with a look at atheism. Atheism is not itself a religion.

1. Atheism We begin our study with a look at atheism. Atheism is not itself a religion. 1 1. Atheism We begin our study with a look at atheism. Atheism is not itself a religion. What is atheism Atheism is the view that God does not exist. The word comes from the Greek atheos which when we

More information

Liar, Lunatic, or God

Liar, Lunatic, or God Liar, Lunatic, or God 8-28-16 John 16:7 (ESV) Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send

More information

Something versus Nothing & Some Thoughts on Proof of No God

Something versus Nothing & Some Thoughts on Proof of No God February 2011 Vol. 2 Issue 2 pp. 188-193 188 Essay Something versus Nothing & Some Thoughts on Proof of No God Himangsu S. Pal * ABSTRACT Even if it is claimed by the scientists that the universe has actually

More information

Philosophy of Science. Ross Arnold, Summer 2014 Lakeside institute of Theology

Philosophy of Science. Ross Arnold, Summer 2014 Lakeside institute of Theology Philosophy of Science Ross Arnold, Summer 2014 Lakeside institute of Theology Philosophical Theology 1 (TH5) Aug. 15 Intro to Philosophical Theology; Logic Aug. 22 Truth & Epistemology Aug. 29 Metaphysics

More information

Religious Education and the Floodgates of Impartiality

Religious Education and the Floodgates of Impartiality 118 PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION 2011 Robert Kunzman, editor 2011 Philosophy of Education Society Urbana, Illinois John Tillson Independent Scholar INTRODUCTION The issue that I have in mind is part epistemic

More information

I'd Like to Have an Argument, Please.

I'd Like to Have an Argument, Please. I'd Like to Have an Argument, Please. A solid argument can be built just like a solid house: walls first, then the roof. Here s a building plan, plus three ways arguments collapse. July/August 2002 I want

More information

Video: How does understanding whether or not an argument is inductive or deductive help me?

Video: How does understanding whether or not an argument is inductive or deductive help me? Page 1 of 10 10b Learn how to evaluate verbal and visual arguments. Video: How does understanding whether or not an argument is inductive or deductive help me? Download transcript Three common ways to

More information

THE TWO-DIMENSIONAL ARGUMENT AGAINST MATERIALISM AND ITS SEMANTIC PREMISE

THE TWO-DIMENSIONAL ARGUMENT AGAINST MATERIALISM AND ITS SEMANTIC PREMISE Diametros nr 29 (wrzesień 2011): 80-92 THE TWO-DIMENSIONAL ARGUMENT AGAINST MATERIALISM AND ITS SEMANTIC PREMISE Karol Polcyn 1. PRELIMINARIES Chalmers articulates his argument in terms of two-dimensional

More information

For My Atheist Friend. a reminder, a refresher, an encouragement

For My Atheist Friend. a reminder, a refresher, an encouragement For My Atheist Friend a reminder, a refresher, an encouragement Christian Believe in God Atheist Not: win Bear informed, gracious witness 1 Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give...the reason for the hope

More information

time but can hardly be said to explain them. [par. 323]

time but can hardly be said to explain them. [par. 323] Review of "Who Made God: Searching for a theory of everything" By Edgar Andrews (Darlington, England: EP Books, 2009), kindle edition Andrews has produced a book which deserves a wide readership especially

More information

Argumentation Module: Philosophy Lesson 7 What do we mean by argument? (Two meanings for the word.) A quarrel or a dispute, expressing a difference

Argumentation Module: Philosophy Lesson 7 What do we mean by argument? (Two meanings for the word.) A quarrel or a dispute, expressing a difference 1 2 3 4 5 6 Argumentation Module: Philosophy Lesson 7 What do we mean by argument? (Two meanings for the word.) A quarrel or a dispute, expressing a difference of opinion. Often heated. A statement of

More information

Chapter 5: Freedom and Determinism

Chapter 5: Freedom and Determinism Chapter 5: Freedom and Determinism At each time t the world is perfectly determinate in all detail. - Let us grant this for the sake of argument. We might want to re-visit this perfectly reasonable assumption

More information

WHY APOLOGETICS HAS A BAD NAME

WHY APOLOGETICS HAS A BAD NAME CHRISTIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE PO Box 8500, Charlotte, NC 28271 Feature Article: JAF6353 WHY APOLOGETICS HAS A BAD NAME by Sean McDowell This article first appeared in the CHRISTIAN RESEARCH JOURNAL, volume

More information

Overview. So who is this God guy, anyway?

Overview. So who is this God guy, anyway? Study 3.01 Overview So who is this God guy, anyway? In our modern age of doubt and skepticism, it s no surprise that many teens are confused about God. Media personalities, political candidates, and even

More information

The Nature of Humanness Module: Philosophy Lesson 13 Some Recommended Sources The Coherence of Theism in Philosophical Foundations for a Christian

The Nature of Humanness Module: Philosophy Lesson 13 Some Recommended Sources The Coherence of Theism in Philosophical Foundations for a Christian 1 2 3 4 The Nature of Humanness Module: Philosophy Lesson 13 Some Recommended Sources The Coherence of Theism in Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview, by Moreland and Craig Physicalism,

More information

Why Study Christian Evidences?

Why Study Christian Evidences? Chapter I Why Study Christian Evidences? Introduction The purpose of this book is to survey in systematic and comprehensive fashion the many infallible proofs of the unique truth and authority of biblical

More information

-1 Peter 3:15-16 (NSRV)

-1 Peter 3:15-16 (NSRV) Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision 3. Why does anything at all exist? 4. Why did the universe begin? 5. Why is the universe fine-tuned for life? Sunday, February 24, 2013, 10 to 10:50 am, in

More information

Full file at

Full file at Chapter 1 What is Philosophy? Summary Chapter 1 introduces students to main issues and branches of philosophy. The chapter begins with a basic definition of philosophy. Philosophy is an activity, and addresses

More information

5: Preliminaries to the Argument

5: Preliminaries to the Argument 5: Preliminaries to the Argument In this chapter, we set forth the logical structure of the argument we will use in chapter six in our attempt to show that Nfc is self-refuting. Thus, our main topics in

More information

Baha i Proofs for the Existence of God

Baha i Proofs for the Existence of God Page 1 Baha i Proofs for the Existence of God Ian Kluge to show that belief in God can be rational and logically coherent and is not necessarily a product of uncritical religious dogmatism or ignorance.

More information

Basic Concepts and Skills!

Basic Concepts and Skills! Basic Concepts and Skills! Critical Thinking tests rationales,! i.e., reasons connected to conclusions by justifying or explaining principles! Why do CT?! Answer: Opinions without logical or evidential

More information

Wk 10Y5 Existence of God 2 - October 26, 2018

Wk 10Y5 Existence of God 2 - October 26, 2018 1 2 3 4 5 The Existence of God (2) Module: Philosophy Lesson 10 Some Recommended Resources Reasonable Faith, by William Lane Craig. pp. 91-204 To Everyone an Answer, by Beckwith, Craig, and Moreland. pp.

More information

INTRODUCTION. Historical perspectives of Naturalism

INTRODUCTION. Historical perspectives of Naturalism INTRODUCTION Although human is a part of the universe, it recognizes many theories, laws and principles of the universes. Human considers such wisdom of knowledge as philosophy. As a philosophy of life

More information

Impact Hour. May 15, 2016

Impact Hour. May 15, 2016 Impact Hour May 15, 2016 Why People Don t Believe: 1. The Power of Religion 2. Reason To Fear 3. Religion and Violence: A Closer Look 4. Is Christianity Irrational and Devoid of Evidence? 5. Is Christianity

More information

Who do you say Jesus is? Your response to Him will determine not only your values and lifestyle, but your eternal destiny as well.

Who do you say Jesus is? Your response to Him will determine not only your values and lifestyle, but your eternal destiny as well. Grace to You :: Unleashing God's Truth, One Verse at a Time Who Do You Think That I Am? Scripture: Selected Scriptures Code: A335 With that brief question Jesus Christ confronted His followers with the

More information

Facing Tough Questions: Defending the Faith

Facing Tough Questions: Defending the Faith CPC School of Discipleship Fall 2018, Missionary Encounters with Our Neighbors Week 5 Facing Tough Questions: Defending the Faith Opening Questions When do you feel the most insecure about talking about

More information

Morality, Miracles & Prophecy March 6, Ross Arnold, Winter 2015 Lakeside institute of Theology

Morality, Miracles & Prophecy March 6, Ross Arnold, Winter 2015 Lakeside institute of Theology Morality, Miracles & Prophecy March 6, 2015 Ross Arnold, Winter 2015 Lakeside institute of Theology Apologetics (CM4) Jan. 30 Introduction to Apologetics Feb. 6 Reliability of Witnesses Feb. 13 The Existence

More information

Boghossian & Harman on the analytic theory of the a priori

Boghossian & Harman on the analytic theory of the a priori Boghossian & Harman on the analytic theory of the a priori PHIL 83104 November 2, 2011 Both Boghossian and Harman address themselves to the question of whether our a priori knowledge can be explained in

More information

1/6. The Resolution of the Antinomies

1/6. The Resolution of the Antinomies 1/6 The Resolution of the Antinomies Kant provides us with the resolutions of the antinomies in order, starting with the first and ending with the fourth. The first antinomy, as we recall, concerned the

More information

nature of love. Man rejected God, man had to restore that relationship. That was achieved through Jesus Christ.

nature of love. Man rejected God, man had to restore that relationship. That was achieved through Jesus Christ. Can joy be found in suffering? This is a very strange question. Since joy and suffering appear as polar-opposites, few people would even consider this to be rational. A similar question, but a question

More information

Analyticity, Reductionism, and Semantic Holism. The verification theory is an empirical theory of meaning which asserts that the meaning of a

Analyticity, Reductionism, and Semantic Holism. The verification theory is an empirical theory of meaning which asserts that the meaning of a 24.251: Philosophy of Language Paper 1: W.V.O. Quine, Two Dogmas of Empiricism 14 October 2011 Analyticity, Reductionism, and Semantic Holism The verification theory is an empirical theory of meaning which

More information

Week 3 Current Challenges to Christianity

Week 3 Current Challenges to Christianity Week 3 Current Challenges to Christianity 9 Weeks 1. Introduction to Personal Discipleship 2. Keeping It Real 3. Current Challenges to Christianity 4. Apologetic Reasoning 5. Does God Exist? 6. Can We

More information

Topics and Posterior Analytics. Philosophy 21 Fall, 2004 G. J. Mattey

Topics and Posterior Analytics. Philosophy 21 Fall, 2004 G. J. Mattey Topics and Posterior Analytics Philosophy 21 Fall, 2004 G. J. Mattey Logic Aristotle is the first philosopher to study systematically what we call logic Specifically, Aristotle investigated what we now

More information

Evidences for Christian Beliefs

Evidences for Christian Beliefs Evidences for Christian Beliefs Date Day Lesson Title Teacher 7 Jan 17 Sun 1 Understanding Faith Marty 10 Jan 17 Wed 2 The Christian's Faith Marty 14 Jan 17 Sun 3 The Universe: God's Power & Deity Marty

More information

Scripture clearly commands that we should be ready to give an answer for our faith.

Scripture clearly commands that we should be ready to give an answer for our faith. Answering the Tough Questions September 15, 2017 2017 Soul Winning Seminar Joshua Burdick Introduction When we go to share our faith with an atheist, skeptic, or someone involved in another religion, it

More information

BOOK REVIEWS. Duke University. The Philosophical Review, Vol. XCVII, No. 1 (January 1988)

BOOK REVIEWS. Duke University. The Philosophical Review, Vol. XCVII, No. 1 (January 1988) manner that provokes the student into careful and critical thought on these issues, then this book certainly gets that job done. On the other hand, one likes to think (imagine or hope) that the very best

More information

Phil 1103 Review. Also: Scientific realism vs. anti-realism Can philosophers criticise science?

Phil 1103 Review. Also: Scientific realism vs. anti-realism Can philosophers criticise science? Phil 1103 Review Also: Scientific realism vs. anti-realism Can philosophers criticise science? 1. Copernican Revolution Students should be familiar with the basic historical facts of the Copernican revolution.

More information

Final Paper. May 13, 2015

Final Paper. May 13, 2015 24.221 Final Paper May 13, 2015 Determinism states the following: given the state of the universe at time t 0, denoted S 0, and the conjunction of the laws of nature, L, the state of the universe S at

More information

Philosophy of Religion: Hume on Natural Religion. Phil 255 Dr Christian Coseru Wednesday, April 12

Philosophy of Religion: Hume on Natural Religion. Phil 255 Dr Christian Coseru Wednesday, April 12 Philosophy of Religion: Hume on Natural Religion Phil 255 Dr Christian Coseru Wednesday, April 12 David Hume (1711-1776) Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (1779) Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural

More information

On Some Alleged Consequences Of The Hartle-Hawking Cosmology. In [3], Quentin Smith claims that the Hartle-Hawking cosmology is inconsistent with

On Some Alleged Consequences Of The Hartle-Hawking Cosmology. In [3], Quentin Smith claims that the Hartle-Hawking cosmology is inconsistent with On Some Alleged Consequences Of The Hartle-Hawking Cosmology In [3], Quentin Smith claims that the Hartle-Hawking cosmology is inconsistent with classical theism in a way which redounds to the discredit

More information

Atheism: A Christian Response

Atheism: A Christian Response Atheism: A Christian Response What do atheists believe about belief? Atheists Moral Objections An atheist is someone who believes there is no God. There are at least five million atheists in the United

More information

JAMES CAIN. wants a cause. I answer, that the uniting. or several distinct members into one body, is performed merely by

JAMES CAIN. wants a cause. I answer, that the uniting. or several distinct members into one body, is performed merely by Rel. Stud. 31, pp. 323-328. Copyright? 1995 Cambridge University Press JAMES CAIN THE HUME-EDWARDS PRINCIPLE In such a chain too, or succession of objects, each part is caused by that which preceded it,

More information

Knowledge of the Holy

Knowledge of the Holy Knowledge of the Holy Knowledge of the Holy God s Actuality, Aseity, Necessity, and Eternality Who Made God? I may say that when I was a young man and was debating these questions very seriously in my

More information