Monthly Archives: June 2009

The Wisdom of Haldane?

Posted on June 28, 2009 by Michael

New Atheists are often proud of the fact that their familiarity with theology is so superficial. For example, philosopher Anthony Grayling rationalizes flippant dismissal of theology as follows: For example, if one concludes on the basis of rational investigation that … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Jerry Coyne, Miracles, Science | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Fringe views of science

Posted on June 25, 2009 by Michael

To make the case that science can determine whether or not God exists, Coyne believes that miracles can be part of a science. Yet the majority of scientists and philosophers insist that miracles can never truly be part of science. … Continue reading →

Posted in Jerry Coyne, Religion, Science | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Coyne’s willing to include miracles in science

Posted on June 24, 2009 by Michael

Coyne writes: “In a common error, Giberson confuses the strategic materialism of science with an absolute commitment to a philosophy of materialism. He claims that “if the face of Jesus appeared on Mount Rushmore with God’s name signed underneath, geologists … Continue reading →

Posted in Jerry Coyne, Religion, Science | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Science and metaphysical commitments

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Michael

Jerry Coyne writes, “Scientists do indeed rely on materialistic explanations of nature, but it is important to understand that this is not an a priori philosophical commitment.” Yet this is a rather odd assertion given what Coyne claimed toward the … Continue reading →

Posted in God, Jerry Coyne, Science | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Coyne and the nine-hundred-foot-tall Jesus

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Michael

Prof. Jerry Coyne writes, “Despite Gould’s claims to the contrary, supernatural phenomena are not completely beyond the realm of science. All scientists can think of certain observations that would convince them of the existence of God or supernatural forces.” We’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in God, Jerry Coyne, Science | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen

Posted on June 21, 2009 by Michael

Robert Sapolsky is professor of Biological Sciences and Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford University. Below is a video of a talk he gave to the graduating class on June 13, 2009. It’s very interesting, as Sapolsky explains … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Science | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Jerry Coyne’s Argument Derails

Posted on June 20, 2009 by Michael

Jerry Coyne is a professor in the department of ecology and evolution at the University of Chicago. He is also the latest high profile scientist to join the New Atheist Movement. He wrote an essay for The New Republic entitled, … Continue reading →

Posted in God, Jerry Coyne, New Atheism, Religion, Science | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Religion linked to happy life

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Michael

Religious people are better able to cope with shocks such as losing a job or divorce, claims the study presented to a Royal Economic Society conference. Data from thousands of Europeans revealed higher levels of “life satisfaction” in believers. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Religion | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Defeating Another Criticism

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Michael

Let me now directly answer the following complaint raised, and endorsed, in the comments section of this blog: it makes no sense to imagine that an all-powerful God would need to devise this vast universal Rube Goldberg contrivance for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, God, time | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

The Patient Creator

Posted on June 17, 2009 by Michael

If the Universe is 14 billion years old, and humans evolved only about 300 million years ago, then Creation existed without humans for 13.7 billion years. For some, this is a problem for Christian faith: “it makes no sense to … Continue reading →

Posted in God, Nature | Tagged , | 9 Comments