Reasons for God

Is Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Responsible?

Now that Boston is secured, Tamerlan Tsarnaev is dead, and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is in custody, people are starting to ask: what is the best punishment for Dzhokhar?

Many want to hold him responsible for his actions. But did you know that leading atheist thinkers would disagree?

For instance, as Richard Dawkins has argued,

As scientists, we believe that human brains, though they may not work in the same way as man-made computers, are as surely governed by the laws of physics. When a computer malfunctions, we do not punish it. We track down the problem and fix it, usually by replacing a damaged component, either in hardware or software. Isn’t the murderer or the rapist just a machine with a defective component? Or a defective upbringing? Defective education? Defective genes?
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Why Naturalism Is False (or Irrational)

“Why Naturalism Is False (or Irrational)” is a talk given to student organizations at both Harvard University and Boston College Law School in April 2013. The following notes reflect the substance of my talk after introductory comments:

Our first task tonight is to define naturalism. What idea is it that I believe is false or irrational?

What is Naturalism?

There are certainly different varieties of naturalism. Words can be defined in different ways. So to be clear, I will identify a particular definition for naturalism and use this definition throughout my talk tonight. If you find some or all of these arguments successful, but believe another version of naturalism is still an intellectually legitimate option, it is important that you clearly define what you mean by ‘naturalism’ so that we use our primary terms in a consistent manner.

How Can I Be Prepared To Defend My Faith?

Do you ever feel overwhelmed about defending the truth of Christianity? It seems like there’s a lot of information to remember! Philosophy is complicated. Sometimes apologetics feels like math (with apologies to my readers who find math easy and enjoyable).

In my cultural context, the default, assumed position is that atheism is true and Christianity is false. So everyone assumes the burden of proof is on me to show otherwise. That makes my job a lot harder.

Having read widely and deeply on these subjects for over a decade, I think atheism faces tremendous intellectual and existential challenges and is very likely false. And I think Christianity can be demonstrated as true from philosophical, historical, and existential considerations.

Did Jesus Claim To Be God?

Many feel that Jesus was just a good moral teacher. Others believe Jesus was a prophet. Some are unsure, but don’t think Jesus was crazy enough to think he was divine. Perhaps Jesus was an inspiring teacher.

However, a close reading of the New Testament documents makes it clear that these theories are more about our feelings and speculations than the facts of the historical record. We have to ask: what weight should we give our own interior spiritual sensibilities and how much should we prioritize the facts of history? As we look at the historical record, the case is clear: Jesus claimed to be God.

Do You Love Your Skeptical Neighbors?

Do you love your skeptical neighbors?

Its a question I don’t hear very often, but one that Christians need to regularly ask one another. According to some studies, up to 20% of Americans are not religious. The level of skepticism varies around the world, but if you live in a cultural context where many people have doubts about God, you need to ask the question: do you love your skeptical neighbors? And a closely related question: does your church love people with doubts, questions, and different beliefs?

What does it mean to love our skeptical neighbors? To figure that out, first we need to think about why and how we love our neighbors in general. And then we can think more clearly about what it means to love our skeptical neighbors.

Evangelism Is A Conversation

badevangelism As a Christian, I have been the recipient of some really bad attempts at evangelism.

One of the most puzzling was a fairly long airplane ride. I don’t recall talking to the person next to me at all – perhaps we each read a book, did Sudoku puzzles, or flipped through the SkyMall brochure to make fun of the amusing products for sale (like an Alien Flying Saucer Statue – seriously).

Anyways, after we landed, she stood up, got her bag from the overhead bin, dropped an evangelistic tract into my lap, and then walked off the plan without saying a word. I suppose I looked like I really needed salvation. So why didn’t she at least introduce herself?

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Is Christianity Too Good to be True?

Intellectually honest people don’t want to believe something because they find it comforting. Rather, they want to believe whatever is true, no matter the consequences. However, this very good commitment to ‘the truth, whatever the consequences,’ can create an intellectual dilemma, because many true beliefs are also comforting.

So let’s consider what to make of the claim that “Christianity is too good to be true.”

Is Faith Opposed to Reason?

The idea that faith is opposed to reason is a popular one. But is it true?

For instance, some Christians feel that “faith needs no reasons.” I mean, if you really believe in God, what is the point of explaining this belief with evidence, facts, and logic? When you already have a strong belief in God, what’s the point of adding reason? If a truck has four good wheels, why add five more?

In a formal sense, among Christians, this position is known as fideism. Alvin Plantinga, one of the most eminent Christian philosophers of our time, explains that fideism is the “exclusive or basic reliance upon faith alone, accompanied by a consequent disparagement of reason and utilized especially in the pursuit of philosophical or religious truth… [a fideist] urges reliance on faith rather than reason, in matters philosophical and religious…[and] may go on to disparage and denigrate reason.”

A Christian fideist is one who says “I just believe because I believe! I don’t need or want reasons for my faith in God!”

How Philosophy Can Help Atheists and Christians Understand Each Other

One of the most common misunderstandings, in even the most gracious and empathetic conversations between Christians and atheists, occurs because of the difference between ontology and epistemology. But with a little philosophical reflection, we can clear up this confusion and help atheists and Christians understand one another.

Really.

Those are hundred-dollar words, so let’s break them down into simple (really simple) definitions:

The Circular Reasoning of Atheists

A common idea is that Christians are particularly prone to circular reasoning. For instance, Winston Wu pulls no punches at DebunkingSkeptics.com, saying, “Christian beliefs are based on 100 percent circular reasoning that lack any valid initial basis or foundation, which Christians do not see due to brainwashing and mind-control.” (Keep Winston in mind – we’ll return to him in a minute). At de-conversion.com, a similar line: “I’m always fascinated by the circular reasoning of Christian scholarship. In fact, some of the more entertaining reading on the web are Christian Apologetics sites.”

There’s no doubt about it: circular reasoning is illogical and irrational. So when Christians use this fallacious method to establish their points, that is unpersuasive, embarrassing, and worthy of criticism.