In my last article I observed how Robert Hayes proposes that the universe could possibly have arisen from a quantum fluctuation. From there he concludes that “science offers no reason to invoke the extra metaphysical baggage some would lay upon us with ‘god’ hypotheses.” Both Adam Hazzard and Joseph Palazzo are impressed with this kind […]
inference to the best explanation
Forget God. The Multiverse can explain everything!
Atheists like Adam Hazzard argue that God isn’t a good explanation for anything because God can’t be falsified. (Allegedly. Though of course you can demonstrate that God-under-a-particular-description is false, e.g. by demonstrating that the description is incoherent or self-defeating.) But here is the problem. Whatever happens, you can just say Goddidit! And that provides no […]
Did a fairy kill Stephen Law’s apple tree?
Brad asked Stephen Law: “I think you presented probably the most cogent and succinct case that an atheist can give in a debate, but why should I rationally assent when you have no alternative accounts of the universe, design, morality, or the resurrection?” Stephen Law replied: “Does the fact that I can’t explain why my apple tree […]
On putting Matt McCormick’s argument to rest
Let me summarize my arguments against Matt McCormick’s argument to this point. I will then quote his most recent full response and offer a final comment that engages his Salem argument. So first off, where we’ve come so far. As I noted, the central issue was the issue of rational belief. In particular, is it possible […]
James and his resurrected brother
Paul begins 1 Corinthians 15 by recounting a teaching he had given the Corinthians (c. AD 50/51) which he had himself received from others: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance….” This is technical rabbinical phrasing. One does not innovate on the teachings of the tradition. One faithfully passes it […]
Goddidit and The Chatty Skeptic Doll
Is it possible that a historian could invoke divine agency as the best explanation of past events such as the reports of an empty tomb and post resurrection appearances that we find in a number of the documents collected into the New Testament? Robert thinks not. In the thread on “Heathenism, Naturalism, and other unstated […]
Petitionary prayer and the final hours of a Skoal hockey puck
Robert offered the following response to my delightful expostulation on a Bible being so inspired you can’t tell it’s inspired: “And intercessory prayer is so effective it’s effectiveness can’t be tested to have a measurable effect on our world.” Robert then added an explanatory notation for his statement. That qualification is helpful. But I’m going […]
The skeptic meets the demon
After presenting my first person account of putative demonic oppression, Atheist Missionary offered the following hypothesis: somebody slipped acid into my sushi (the kind of acid that makes you hallucinate, not the kind that burns you). It may have been a somewhat tongue-in-cheek suggestion but broadly speaking it is possible. It is just enormously unlikely. […]
