What if You’re Wrong?

I’m fairly certain I understand what the Liberty University student was really trying to ask Richard Dawkins when she said, “What if you’re wrong?” Here’s that link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mmskXXetcg. I may be wrong, of course, but as a former fundamentalist, that question is just code for, “You’d better repent and get some faith because you’re going to hell.” Dawkins’s answer was actually pretty debilitating to Christians.

Some thoughts on Buddhism

When I was 18 and left the mission field and came to the US for college, no longer a Christian but with a vague belief in God and a possible afterlife, I acquired access to a large number of books at the university library. At the time, having endured and escaped the Christian world, I was not searching for religion but for knowledge about religion.

The Arguments of C. S. Lewis

Fortunately, it is a rare occasion for me to hear a Christian use Pascal’s Wager when trying to convince me to return to the open arms of Christ. However, it appears that C. S. Lewis’ works of Chrisitian apologetics are still helping to convince many that reason and religion go hand in hand. In fact, only two days ago a friend of mine mentioned the great C. S. Lewis. Well, actually, he was making an argument from authority appeal (much like the appeal made by Gatorade in their ads that feature Michael Jordan). Still, I was interested to see there is a new book out that addresses the specific arguments Lewis made for the existence of God. The book is by John Beversluis and is titled C. S. Lewis and the Search for Rational Religion. Here is a review of the book on the Butterflies and Wheels website.

Geneology of Fanaticism

In themselves, all ideas are neutral, or ought to be; but man animates them, projects onto them his ardor and his madness. Rendered impure, transformed into beliefs, they are inserted into time, acquire the status of events: a transition from logic to epilepsy is consummated….Thus are born ideologies, doctrines, bloody farces.

Idolatrous by instinct,

10 Myths and 10 Truths About Atheism

Do we need absolute truth to have meaning? Do we need to have an identity that will continue forever? Do we fear no one will accept or understand us if we don’t share their beliefs, their opinions? Isn’t it possible to have a sweet life without certainty?

What if our self image wasn’t affected so strongly by sin ideation as children—the idea that only through guilt do we become moral beings—would things be different now?

The question of immortality

One of the main preaching points for Christians is the destiny of your immortal soul– When you die, where will you go? To an eternity in heaven or an eternity in hell? Christians believe they will live forever.

I went to a fundamentalist Christian boarding school for missionary kids in Africa.

Why I Am Not A Christian

This is, of course, the title of Bertrand Russell’s essay. I wanted to post the following excerpt, as it is well worth reading:

We want to stand upon our own feet and look fair and square at the world — its good facts, its bad facts, its beauties, and its ugliness; see the world as it is and be not afraid of it.