This week John W. Loftus, my agent and I chose one of two covers proposed by Baker for God or Godless. You can see it at John’s blog here. Generally speaking it is a handsome cover, I think. But I had one misgiving: does the world need yet another book featuring a detail from Michelangelo’s […]
John W. Loftus
John Loftus challenges me to define faith
John Loftus has challenged me to respond to the following: Christian theists make two claims about faith: 1) That atheists define the concept of faith wrong, and 2) That atheists have faith just like Christian theists do. So here’s my challenge: Define faith in such a way that it fulfills both requirements! Let’s see you try. […]
Must we know the definitions of terms before we use them? A reply to Robert Gressis
This is one of those “blogging is eating into my worktime productivity” kind of days. But I have to take a bit more time out to respond to the ever clear thinking and diplomatic Robert Gressis. In reply to my persistent attempt to get John Loftus to explain what he means when he uses terms […]
When rationality becomes a club (in two ways)
In his latest salvo John Loftus writes: “So let me put it to you again, Randal, when you conclude more than the probabilities allow you are being irrational.” When I read that I get a mental visual of William Hung (of American Idol infamy) saying “So you didn’t like my rendition of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’? Well let […]
If a child can do it, why can’t John Loftus?
Here is John’s latest response, titled “Even a child can do it,” in full: “Let’s say a recognized expert on cats claims one of them talked. People do not have to be experts in cats to say they need to see the evidence. Nor do any of us need a theory of knowledge to doubt it. But […]
A lament over laughing John Loftus
I have been asking John Loftus to explain his epistemology. Based on what does he judge a person rational or irrational, epistemically justified or unjustified, having knowledge or lacking it? One would think these are blushingly basic questions for a person who constantly disparages entire groups of people as being irrational, unjustified and deluded. Think […]
Believers and skeptics and lots of baloney
Fifteen years ago when I lived in Vancouver I used to frequent a sandwich shop in Port Kells that was famous for its massive sub sandwiches. I remember in particular the breathtakingly generous slabs of baloney. I thought of that shop, and its endless supply of baloney, as I read John Loftus’ latest reply to my […]
Should you have faith in John W. Loftus?
Yesterday I received an email from my co-author (God or Godless, Baker, 2013), atheist John W. Loftus. He said in the email “I wrote something with you in mind” and then provided a link to the following article in his blog: Faith is an Irrational Leap over the Probabilities Good ole’ John. Let’s go to the […]
God or Godless nears completion
Things have been relatively quiet at randalrauser.com this past week, and for good reason. John Loftus and I have been working hard to finish the manuscript for our debate book God or Godless. And the way the work is progressing, we should be finished within the next 4 or 5 days. At that point I’ll have […]
God or Godless a step closer to publication
Yesterday I got word from my agent that we are a step closer to signing a contract on the debate book God or Godless that I’m writing with John Loftus. John announces it here: http://debunkingchristianity.blogspot.com/2011/11/guess-what-my-newest-book-will-be-in.html As he observes, the proposed completion date from the publisher is January 1. That should make for a busy Christmas. As I […]
The debating strategy of John Loftus
This week John published what he described as part of his introduction to the book he’s co-writing with me. That came as news to me. He starts the article like this: Dr. Rauser has by-passed what I consider the proper protocol. He has unfairly placed himself in the so-called final championship game by jumping in […]
The Edsel of Christianity?
I have now completed Part II of The End of Christianity, a section which aimed through the essays of Hector Avalos, Jaco Gericke and Valerie Tarico, to establish on biblical grounds why Christianity needs to end. At this point I’d like to take a look back at the section by identifying a set of assumptions […]
Is this the most John Loftus has to say?
Today John Loftus posted the following in his blog: The Criticisms Are Coming Faster Than I Can Respond I cannot respond to even the most intelligent and scholarly criticisms of my writings. They are coming fast and furious. The deluded are coming up with the most contorted reasons to continue believing despite my arguments. That’s […]
Is John W. Loftus “dumber than a box of rocks”?
In The End of Christianity John W. Loftus describes the following Christian belief which he finds very implausible: “That the highest created being known as Satan or the devil, led an angelic rebellion against an omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, omnipresent God … and expected to win. This makes Satan out to be suicidal, inexplicably evil, and […]
