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Randal Rauser

Home of progressively evangelical, generously orthodox, rigorously analytic, revolutionary Christian thinking (that's what I'm aiming for anyway)

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defense

Is God a user? A response to Nate’s Principle

February 1, 2014 by Randal

It’s Saturday morning, I’m sitting with a coffee by the fireplace, and the balloon is watching me. (He’s hovering over the kitchen table at the moment. At least he’s still smiling.) Now that I have some time I can offer some thoughts on “Evil and Nate’s Principle“. Please click the link to read Nate’s comments. […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: apologetics, defense, Nate, problem of evil, theodicy, utilitarianism

A Martian’s perspective on the problem of evil

January 30, 2014 by Randal

In the following extended excerpt from Wandering in Darkness Eleonore Stump provides a response to the overly dismissive critics of theodicy (and defense) (a theodicy seeks to explain why God allows suffering; a defense offers a possible explanation for why God allows suffering). The passage nicely marginalizes the incredulity of the critic even as it […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: apologetics, defense, Eleonore Stump, problem of evil, suffering, theodicy

Wandering in Darkness: A Review

January 28, 2014 by Randal

Eleonore Stump. Wandering in Darkness: Narrative and the Problem of Suffering. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. There is no greater intellectual and practical objection to Christian faith than the problem of evil. Analytic philosophy offers powerful tools of logical analysis to explain the precise nature of the problem and offer positive solutions. At the same […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: apologetics, defense, Eleonore Stump, epistemology, philosophy, problem of evil, review, theodicy, Wandering in Darkness

Does Greater Goods theodicy undermine moral action?

January 24, 2014 by Randal

“Randal, if God exists and chooses not to intervene (because of the furtherance of a greater good) and “God-permit” the rape/murder of a child, why should you intervene to stop the evil act? If you choose to intervene, how do you know that you have not prevented a greater good from happening?” The Atheist Missionary […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: defense, God, problem of evil, providence, theodicy

Must we apologize for the apologists?

October 17, 2011 by Randal

Note: An earlier version of this article appeared at The Christian Post in 2010. Apologetics is a mainstay of Christianity and for good reason. As 1 Peter 3:15 declares, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: apologetics, argument, defense, evidence, rationality, sophistry, truth

Possible, Plausible, or Probable Points or Special-Pleading?

December 3, 2010 by Randal

I argued that John Loftus is inconsistent when he dismisses the Christian defense response to the problem of evil and instead demands a good ole’ fashioned theodicy. Robert Gressis, it appears, disagrees with me. At least he says he does: “”I agree with John that defense is too low of a standard….” Initially this was […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: defense, John Loftus, natural evil, problem of evil, Robert Gressis, theodicy

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