Philosophy

True Freethinker will now consider an odd debate over which is more meaningful: a finite life or an infinite life. This seems like a my life span can beat up your life span spat. However, it is a point that has come up in Christian vs. atheist discussions and it seemed apropos to post on the issue, again.

Atheism postulates an absolutely material existence.

From the "Jobs For Philosophers" files...

It is being reportedt:

The battle lines are being drawn as American philosophers debate which institutions can place ads in Jobs For Philosophers, an industry trade magazine.

This month, the American Philosophical Association (APA), the magazine's publisher, received a petition signed by 1,500 members demanding nine Protestant colleges be banned from advertising in the publication because, they say, the schools single out homosexuals for discrimination.

Bill Honsberger gave an interesting lecture entitled, "Nietzsche, the Death of God, and the Emerging Church Movement."

While is it ultimately about the Emerging Church Movement I thought to post it to True Freethinker because he arrives at that point via a circumlocution which basically consists of a history of philosophy and I thought that some may find it interesting.

Download here -->

I tend to forget to mention here when I post relevant essays elsewhere.

In case anyone is interested, I am posting a five part essay which serves as a, from the horse's mouth, introduction to Atheism, Brights, Freethinkers, Humanism, Naturalism, Rationalism, Skepticism, Philosophical, Skepticism and Universism.

The posts will consist of a basic introduction, definitions, ethics/morals, science and concluding musings.

A few notables floating around on the internet:

The ever-interesting JP Holding reviews Religulous.

Debate over the meaning of "resurrection" in Paul's theology.

One concept, or dictum, that is ubiquitously misunderstood, misinterpreted, misused, and misapplied by atheists is Ockham's/Occam's Razor.

Here are some examples of how some atheist's think they can utilize the Razor:

Christopher Hitchens (during his debate with Alister McGrath), "Ockham's Razor disposes of all the supernatural assumptions that have ever been made."

Atheism and Occam's Razor

Please note that this essay was written by MedicineMan and was also also posted at Gladio Mentis.

NOTE: This was written by Josh and originally posted on Atheism is Dead (True Freethinker's predesesor).

NOTE: this essay was written by Josh for Atheism is Dead (True Freethinker’s predecessor).

"Highly intelligent people are mostly atheists."1

Physicist, and former Chairman of the Department of Materials Science at Stanford, Richard Bube,

1. 1. Wired Magazine online: Gary Wolf, The Church of the Non-Believers (found here and here)
   

Richard Dawkins deals with the issue of abortion in a manner that is sadly indicative of the way in which he deals with every subject. He does not tackle the issue in and of itself but merely dispatches his straw man version of the issue. Rather than covering this sensitive and complicated issue he narrowly concocts his own particular, and peculiar, definitions and then discredits what are merely his own caricatures. In fact, he does not define what an abortion is-what it means to "get an abortion" and what the various procedures actually are.

It is difficult to decide whether the new atheism (a term used in common parlance) is refreshing, terrifying, or both. I suppose that it is refreshing because atheist have come right out and exploited every possible form of media in order to push their agenda. Their message is clear and the same as always: they are right and everyone else is wrong.

It is an honest to God fact that the first, and only, time that I actually heard someone say-and I do not mean a holier than thou "attitude" or anything that one perceives and may be mistaken about-I mean actually stated with all seriousness, belligerence, self-aggrandizing, "I'm more moral than you," it proceeded forth from the mouth of an atheist.

Shoghi Effendi wrote, "The mission of the Founder of their Faith, they conceive it to be to proclaim that religious truth is not absolute but relative."1

1. 1. Compiled by Mouhebat Sobhani, Baha’i Teachings for the New World Order (Approved by the Reviewing Committee of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the USA. New York: Waldorf Enterprises, 1992), p. 39 also Baha’u’llah, `Abdu'l-Baha, Baha’i Revelation (London, UK.: Baha’i Publishing Trust. National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the British Isles, 1970), p. xiii
   

Adherents of atheism may be categorized into various sects and sub-sects.

Jeffery Jay Lowder has written:

the “atheist” movement keeps shooting itself in the foot by failing to reach a consensus regarding the meaning of “atheism.”

Sect 1:

1. There is no God.
Islam's dogmatic statement: There is no God but Allah...
Atheism's dogmatic statement: There is no God.

2. There is no supernatural: no God, no miracles, no soul, no afterlife.

3. The overwhelming majority of the entire planet's population, regardless of chronology, geography, or theology, have been absolutely wrong about that which mattered to them the most: their belief in God and their relationship with Him.

One time atheist, C. S. Lewis, offered a classic response to Hume's arguments against miracles: