Jonathan MS Pearce

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Mar 4, 2013

Real Deconversion Story #4 - Mike D.

Here is another account in my series of real-life deconversion stories. They are often painful, psychological affairs. Mike's account is centred around his involvement with Youth Group. Happy reading. The previous accounts can be found here:

Mar 3, 2013

My first commenter banned - and he is an ordained priest!

It's finally happened. I have extolled the virtue of giving people ample chance and opportunity to be well-behaved. In this case, the chances and opportunities were not taken up. But this story goes much further back, to about a year ago, and to what I declare as a form of libel.

Mar 2, 2013

Why burqas / niqabs are controversial

Burqas are back on the agenda in the UK. This is because there was a recent furore within the British legal aystem. A Muslim woman was barred from serving on a jury because she refused to remove her veil. In a controversial ruling, a judge said she could not sit on an attempted murder trial because

Mar 2, 2013

Counter-apologetics on the meaning of life by ... Counter Apologist

The new kid on the counter-apologetic blogging block, the aptly named Counter Apologist, is continuing to produce some great videos. They are really good because they are clean, clear and concise; easy to digest and a good introduction to interesting topics. Here, I/ will embed this particular offer

Feb 28, 2013

Joseph of Arimathea - fact or fiction? Er, fiction.

Joseph of Arimathea used to be used by William Lane Craig as a pillar of his truth claims for the Resurrection, itself one of the four cornerstones of his apology. Richard Carrier, amongst others, has provided some very interesting viewpoints on the historicity of this figure (or lack thereof). Crai

Feb 25, 2013

Proving parapsychology. Or not, as the case may be.

I have had several arguments online about parapsychology research, from Rupert Sheldrake to Dean Radin. The people who defend parapsychology as well-evidenced and real are very adamant of the validity of the research to the point of being highly emotionally charged, often. I have even seen theists a

Feb 25, 2013

Some reflection on my Nativity debate with Randal Rauser

It's been a few months since my radio debate with Randal Rauser on the subject of the reliability of the nativity accounts in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. You can listen to the debate by following the link from here. If you have not listened to it, please let me know what you think.