Religion

A collection of 233 posts

theology

Theology and Black Cats

This is a classic: “Philosophy is like being in a dark room and looking for a black cat. Metaphysics is like being in a dark room and looking for a black cat that isn't there. Theology is like being in a dark room and looking for a black

myth

Genesis and the Garden of Eden: It's Just a Just So Story

This quote, from Kevin K, was pretty much spot on in its thrust: I honestly think people try to read too much into the tale. It's a "Just So" myth, that explains many, many things about the human condition, most-specifically why we are separate and apart

Adam and Eve

Having a Chop at the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

I recently posted on the incoherence of the narrative in Genesis concerning Adam and Eve and the eating of the apple. The upshot was this: Adam and Eve were expected to morally follow the moral proclamation of God in not eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and

God's characteristics

Problem of Evil: Issues with Skeptical Theism and Theodicies

The problem of evil is this last week's subject of choice! One problem for many of the theodicies (defensive reasons as to why suffering should exist in light of an OmniGod) is natural evil, qua hurricanes, carnivorousness and general plate tectonic mayhem. Oh, and drought. And mayhap AIDS.

Counter Apologist

Discussing the Problem of Evil: Skeptical Theism and More

Given C. Peterson's contribution to the blog yesterday, I thought I would extend the conversation by reposting an old chat I had with Counter Apologist and Justin Schieber, where we ruminated on the problem of evil, it defence in skeptical theism, and all manner of things thereabouts. Have

God's characteristics

Suffering and an Omnibenevolent God

Here is a guest post from C. Peterson who has recently been making some great contributions in commenting here. In this piece, he looks at the logical problem of evil (as opposed to the evidential problem of evil), suggesting some theodicies (such as the soul-building theodicy) and ideas like heaven

Aristotle

Aristotelian Realism and Saving Theology

I recently posted about abstract objects and things that are called universals, writing about how I think the whole area is thoroughly problematic for metaphysics and thus theology. I won't go through it all again - you can read more here - but I will redefine universals. There

abstracts

The Pertinence of Nominalism to Religious and Philosophical Debates

I have written about nominalism quite a number of times, both here at the blog and in my books (most recently in Did God Create the Universe from Nothing? Countering William Lane Craig's Kalam Cosmological Argument). For those of you unfamiliar with the topic, let me briefly explain:

atheism

Guest Post by Franz Kiekeben: William Lane Craig and Altruism

Here is a guest post from philosopher Franz Kiekeben - thanks Franz for adding to the mix! In a debate with Paul Kurtz, William Lane Craig contrasted theism and atheism with respect to self-sacrifice. He claims that on the theistic view, “God holds all persons morally accountable for their actions.

Biblical Exegesis

Why Should the Bible and Qu'ran Need Commentaries?

I was recently reminded of this conversation that I had a few years back with Jayman, a Christian commenter who sometimes posts here: Over on a thread about the challenges I have met in my claims of Islam, a Christian commentator asked this question: I agree with you that Islam

atheism

Quote of the Day: Anne Fenwick in Religion

This was a pretty spot on quote concerning defining religion in a UK-centric context when discussing whether religiosity has dropped in the UK. There are some difficulties in defining the word "religion" as has been discussed here. Anne clears up a few issues resulting from such conversations. This

atheism

On Defining Religion and Surveys Getting It Wrong. Apparently.

I recently posted a news release from Humanists UK. It talked about the continued recession of religion in the UK: The latest findings of the British Social Attitudes Survey, published today, reveal 71% of 18-24 year olds say they belong to no religion, while just 3% say they are Church

Ficino

Beards and the Perverted Faculty Argument

Here is the third and final part in a series of pieces by regular erudite commenter Ficino (the first part can be found here, the secon here). This series will be looking at Natural Law Theory in its historical context. Over to Ficino: III. Beards and the Perverted Faculty Argument

death

Repentance and an Untimely Death

It's not often that I get to think about a theological issue in a different way, or realising a different issue or application of a problem. However, I was having an email conversation the other day with a friend (JH), and one came up. Here is JH'

Ficino

On the Veiling of Virgins: Continuing To Critique Tertullian

Some Early Natural Law Arguments: Faculties, Functions and Organs (part II) Here is the second part in a series of pieces by regular erudite commenter Ficino (the first part can be found here). This series will be looking at Natural Law Theory in its historical context. Over to Ficino: 1.

Epistemology

On the Argument from Divine Miscommunication

The Argument from Divine Miscommunication, as set out by people like John Loftus (for example, in Chapter 7 of The Christian Delusion, titled "The Problem of Divine Miscommunication"), is a glaringly obvious one. There is so much confusion between theists on what God is, what God means, and

Natural Law

Natural Law Theory and Sexual Pleasure: A Proposed Syllogism

Having a chat with a friend online the other day, a syllogism concerning Natural Law Theory (NLT) was proposed. I'll post it here to see what you think. Let's see if we can refine it, and work out where the weaknesses occur. For more information on

masturbation

Natural Law Theory: Sexual Organs, Beards and Food

There has been quite a debate raging with regard to Natural Law Theory (NLT) in a post I recently wrote: Sex and Sexuality: Criticising Natural Law Theory. I would just like to add a few interesting problematic analogies to the conversation. The idea with NLT, in its simplest understanding in

Problem of Evil

Lazy and Incoherent Theology: God Will Take Care of It

I posted yesterday about a Republican who said that is climate change actually existed, it would be okay, because God would sort it. So coming out of the Paris Accord, for Trump, was A-Okay. This is what the Huffington Post reported: “I believe there’s climate change,” Walberg said, according

extremism

Mayor of Manchester, Burnham: Abedi "not a Muslim"

This old chestnut again. As many of you will know, I am a liberal philosopher, centre left economically, left socially. Most pushback I ever get is when I criticise Islam, and I get it from my fellow liberals. Invariably, though, those criticising my theological attacks on Islam: 1. have not

Onus Books

Dave Fletcher's Mythological Gods Project - Get Involved!

Dave Fletcher, formerly of the most awesome podcast that ever was - Reasonable Doubts - has written a book. I am in the middle of editing it for release on the Onus Books imprint. We are trying to get some awesome artwork in it, and so he has a polite

aliens

If the Discovery of Alien Life Is Close, How Might This Affect Religion?

The Guardian recently ran an article that provokes some interesting thought and discussion. If we are close to finding alien life (for the sake of argument, though the number of exoplanets discovered is constantly rising), how would this affect the major religions of the world? Santhosh Mathew writes: The interaction

belief

Resurrection did not happen, say quarter of Christians

I meant to write about this the other day, when it came out, but have been so busy that you have probably read this in numerous places elsewhere, and here at Patheos. A BBC survey has looked at Christians' beliefs concerning the Resurrection, and there are some pretty interesting

determinism

God and his Free Will Problem.

I wrote a short piece on God's free will and the issues it can cause with defining himself, and even ideas like the inability for him to commit suicide. Check it out. I threatened a second piece. Here it is (actually a repost from ages ago). Here is

determinism

God: Can He Choose His Own Qualities? Can He Commit Suicide?

The idea of libertarian free will is a contentious one, but let's assume, for the sake of argument, that it exists, because that is the general position of most theists. There is a prevailing idea that if things are great, then they are great-making properties. If they are