Randal Rauser - A Tippling Philosopher

Randal Rauser, Ed Babinski and Decisions in Heaven

I was having a private Twitter discussion with Edward Babinski yesterday concerning heaven. He is presently writing up a critical review of the work of Randal Rauser's book Miracles: Randal Rauser, the tentative apologist, says all of our decisions in heaven will be righteous ones. “We will be

math

Miracles, Prayer, Coincidences and Statistical Probability

I went to the pub last night with a couple of mates, one of whom is the founding member of the Tippling Philosophers. Because we are very cool people, we spent a large amount of time talking philosophy and theology. Strap yourselves in, this ain't short. My other

Jesus

Casting Doubt on the Nativity of Jesus again

My usual seasonal spiel goes something like this... Holidays are coming, holidays are coming... It's that time of year, you know, the interminable run-up to Christmas when big corporations vie for your hard-earned cash in an attempt to exploit the seasonal goodwill brought on by the imaginary birth

Biblical Exegesis

My Debate on the Nativity with Randal Rauser

Some time ago, I had my first public debate, hosted by the Reasonable Doubts podcast and radio show. Check out my book on the subject The Nativity: A 'critical Examination. As I posted a couple of years back: My pre-recorded debate with Randal Rauser, a Christian apologist from Canada,

Free Will and Determinism

Libertarian Free Will Defeats the Kalam Cosmological Argument

Given that I have a forthcoming book about the Kalam Cosmological Argument due out in the near future, I thought I would resurrect some old ones on the KCA. Here is one from a few years back looking at the mutually exclusive natures of the KCA and libertarian free will:

Featured ATP

The Nativity: A Critical Examination

Holidays are coming, holidays are coming... It's that time of year, you know, the interminable run-up to Christmas when big corporations vie for your hard-earned cash in an attempt to exploit the seasonal goodwill brought on by the imaginary birth of a godmanspirit.

Consciousness

Randal Rauser has a pop at me

A few weeks back, theologian, author and blogger Randal Rauser had a pop at me. We have previously had a few cross-posts and whatnot, and even debated on US radio/Reasonable Doubts podcast on the subject of the Nativity, which can be found here. Luke, a theist who regularly comments here,, also comm

Debate

It's Christmas - my Nativity Debate

Here's a reminder about my debate with Randal Rauser which took place last year over the historicity of the nativity accounts. Listen in and enjoy! The post from last year. My nativity book is available from the sidebar over there!

miracles

Oh, my! Randal Rauser on prayer (God or Godless)

I recently reviewed Randal Rauser and John Loftus' debate book entitled God or Godless. I have also responded to Randal's post on why I am an atheist as well as posting an article critiquing Randal on why he is a Christian. During my review, I noted that I was particularly frustrated at Randal's pra

counter-apologetics

The 'Why I am a Christian' series - Randal Rauser

As mentioned in my last post, I was graciously asked by Randal Rauser on his blog recently to provide a synopsis of a few paragraphs to run in his series “Why I am an atheist” (or not a Christian. The series has been interesting and has elicited testimonies from Justin Schieber, Counter Apologist, J

Philosophical Argument Against God

Randal Rauser on failing to answer my problem of evil question

So I was graciously asked by Randal Rauser on his blog recently to provide a synopsis of a few paragraphs to run in his series "Why I am an atheist" (or not a Christian. The series has been interesting and has elicited testimonies from Justin Schieber, Counter Apologist, Jeff Lowder, Ed Babinski and

atheism

Quote of the Day - Russ on Rauser

Russ chimed in on my Why I Am An Atheist post, in response to Randal Rauser's request for a paragraph or two on my reasons for my worldview. Johno, does Rauser think he is going to refute all the "Why I Am An Atheist(or not a Christian)" paragraphs that you and the others wrote? If he thinks he

atheism

Why I am an Atheist

Randal Rauser, with whom I have had a radio debate about the Nativity, is running a series on his blog asking atheists why they are atheist (or not Christian). He has asked several atheist bloggers and authors, including myself, to produce a paragraph. Justin Schieber, Counter Apologist and Ed Babin

determinism

Libertarian Free Will Defeats the Kalam Cosmological Argument

I was posting on Randal Rauser's blog recently and made a throw away comment about the Kalam Cosmological Argument (KCA) and libertarian free will. It is an argument which have meant to spell out for some time and so I guess this is as good a time as any.

apologetics

A reply to Rauser on Loftus, God or Godless?, and evidence for God (pt 2). And some.

So Randal has responded to my response to Part 1 of his response to my review of his book. But I have not yet had the chance to respond to his Part 2 of his response to my review of his book. Or something. Anyway, this will combine responding to his Part 2 and commenting on his further reply.

apologetics

Randal Rauser has replied to my critique

I posted my first take on John Loftus' and Randal Rauser's debate book God Or Godless? recently. Randal Rauser has now posted two responses to the post: Part 1 and Part 2 I will check them out and respond to them over the next few days.

apologetics

God or Godless, a review (and a chat about presuppositionalism)

Last week, I introduced you to John W. Loftus and Randal Rauser's new debate-style book, God or Godless? I am now going to furnish you with a review. I commend Baker Books for sending me a review copy.

John Loftus

God or Godless?

I am stoked to have received a review copy of John Loftus' latest offering, "God or Godless?" which he has co-written with Randal Rauser, the apologist with whom I had a radio debate on the subject of the nativity. Let me briefly introduce the authors and the book.

Biblical Exegesis

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.

John W. Loftus

The Outsider Test For Faith

So John Loftus, of Debunking Christianity, and who wrote what is still the finest book deconstructing the Christian position (Why I Became An Atheist whose second edition is now out) has a few books due out soon. I am excited about both, but particularly The Outsider Test For Faith (OTF), based on a

Debate

The Nativity - a talk, and a debate with apologist Randal Rauser

On Thursday night I gave another talk on the Nativity to the Portsmouth Skeptics in the Pub. The talk was a great success. I was able to establish the case in some good detail as I set out in my last book The Nativity: A Critical Examination. There was a good turnout for the relaunching of PSITP and

Randal Rauser

My first talk on the Nativity, yesterday, went well

So I gave my first public talk on my book The Nativity: A Critical Examination yesterday. It was a bit of a warm up for my next to, being to a group of students at a small conference (very small!) of humanist / atheists representatives from local universities (they were doing