tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609541124817386376.post6452073886776171799..comments2023-12-03T03:00:17.598-06:00Comments on Atheism & Philosophy: Group 1: Blackford - "Unbelievable!"Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02115141650963300011noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609541124817386376.post-89163221344974967802012-02-22T12:50:02.666-06:002012-02-22T12:50:02.666-06:00The limited number of arguments FOR theism is laug...The limited number of arguments FOR theism is laughable to me as a nonbeliever. I cannot, however, remember my "a-ha" moment. I've always been a doubter and a questioner. I remember asking questions in church while under the guise of faith. I don't think I ever really had any faith in a deity, though I've always had faith in humanity...both negative and positive. We will always undo ourselves as well as pull through. Predictable creatures indeed.<br /><br />I agree that the problem of evil is one that needs to be addressed--bold faced and without remorse. If we don't start pressing the topic without accepting "It's a faith issue" or "God works in mysterious ways," we may find ourselves dealing with an abundance of fundamentalism that we just cannot afford to have these days. I doubt highly that fundamentalism will die out completely in my lifetime, but we can hope that if enough of us challenge radical behavior, it will subside at least for the time being. <br /><br />I'm getting tired of being forced to respect those that give me nothing but judgement.<br /><br />I really liked the call to arms notion at the end. If I have a metaphorical (verbal) sword to brandish, I shall do so! For logic! :PKat Kolbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10968368202896952638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609541124817386376.post-8234847315329483692012-02-21T22:14:02.878-06:002012-02-21T22:14:02.878-06:00Dr. Oliver, I'm wondering what you mean by ...Dr. Oliver, I'm wondering what you mean by 'psuedo-sophisticated barrel-scraping treatment' by philosophers, or 'mystifying' the issue? I mean, it's clear there's some way of treating the problem that you don't really like, but I'm not sure what approach/approaches it is you're specifically having problems with here and why. I'd be genuinely interested to see/hear a full opinion, being a future Religious Studies PhD myself! ;)Jamie Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03585832830511543796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609541124817386376.post-20333305100531189232012-02-21T12:14:36.941-06:002012-02-21T12:14:36.941-06:00I have half a dozen of Ehrman's books, but not...I have half a dozen of Ehrman's books, but not that one. I'll have to put it on my Amazon wishlist.<br /><br />I agree that the problem of evil is devastating. I have had an immense amount of fun quoting facebook apologists' words back at them, trying to defend or justify some of the evil stuff in the Bible. They will go to literally unbelievable lengths to rationalize away God's responsibility with one breath, and then condemn far less objectionable behavior on the part of people the next. I probably find it more entertaining than I should, given the influence that religion holds in our world.Super Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17232031019529024050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7609541124817386376.post-87326420165734414752012-02-21T12:08:41.596-06:002012-02-21T12:08:41.596-06:00I know some of us get tired of returning incessant...I know some of us get tired of returning incessantly to the PoE, but it really is devastating. Bart Ehrman's "God's Problem" is the best book on the subject I know, largely because it shuns the pseudo-sophisticated barrel-scraping treatment many philosophers have felt obliged to give it. "God's Problem"* just lays it out in unadorned, straightforward English. But I'll be lots of Religious Studies programs will shun it for not mystifying the issue. Too bad for them.<br /><br />* http://books.google.com/books?id=uOCx_wcDkbYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=god's+problem&hl=en&src=bmrr&ei=ld1DT4-SJ4bGtgfJpZm8BQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-thumbnail&resnum=1&ved=0CDwQ6wEwAAPhilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02115141650963300011noreply@blogger.com