In conclusion I have found this a very interesting research activity. Not for the first time have I had to pick up Dawkins’ ‘The God Delusion’ and fight to get past chapter two! Considering the Humanist approach was probably the most difficult as it meant reading past why there is no god, as opposed to two Christian theodicies and delving deeper into my studies of Buddhism and Hinduism. Having considered which offer the most successful arguments in making their case I find the Irenaen theodicy most successful. Reading further into the topic and John Hicks’ The Philosophy of Religion, I feel that ‘soul-making’ lies at the heart of the argument.
The journey that we take in this life is full of trials and tribulations, some of which do indeed
Brown, Neil. "The New Atheism and The Existence of God.” Compass, 46, no. 3, 2-5. Kensington, Australia: Compass, Spring 2012.
In this paper, I will argue against the problem of evil, and I will give an adequate amount of information to prove why I believe Rowe’s Problem of Evil argument is not cogent, because although it is strong, all the premises are not true. This paper will also include me explaining, discussing, and evaluating Rowe’s Problem of Evil argument. In the argument, he discusses logical reasonings about why there is a strong argument for why atheism is true.
One burning and enduring problem in philosophy to which we have given considerable examination is the question of the existence of God--the superlative being that philosophers have defined and dealt with for centuries. After reading the classic arguments of St. Anselm and St. Thomas Aquinas, the contentious assertions of Ernest Nagel, and the compelling eyewitness accounts of Julian of Norwich, I have been introduced to some of the most revered and referenced arguments for and against God's existence that have been put into text. All of them are well-thought and well-articulated arguments, but they have their holes. The question of God's true existence, therefore, is still not definitively answered and put to rest; the intensity of this
In the article “ On Being an Atheist,” H.J. McCloskey attempts to inform his readers that the belief in atheism is a “much more comfortable belief” by effectively using a disdainful rhetoric towards theists and their faith. McCloskey delves into both the Cosmological and Teleological arguments, which within he criticizes the arguments and to further his argument against theism, he also presents the Problem of Evil and why evil cannot possibly exist with a perfect God being the creator of universe. What will be displayed in this essay are the counter-arguments to McCloskey’s criticisms and the attempt to discredit his claims that regard the “comfortable” position that lies within atheism and its arguments.
What Richard Dawkins is trying to say in this piece of superb rhetoric is that if you’ve read the Old Testament that god is a horrendous monster. He regards the god of the Old Testament as the “worst character in all fiction” and when he says fiction it is an statement to show that he himself does not believe in a god. Dawkins says this as a way of introducing the point that he will be attacking the god of the Old Testament. If you look back in the bible God is directly responsible for many mass-murders. God orders the killing of innocent people like in the story of Noah’s ark even after the Ten Commandments says “Thou shall not kill”. Christians today are quick
This doesn’t mean trials will be absent from your life, instead by understanding God, though scriptures, and prayer you will know what role trials play in your life.
What if there is no heaven? What if there is no hell? John Lennon speculated on this in his song “Imagine”, and many other men in history have produced thought-provoking and controversial works in regards to religious beliefs. We know so little about the world, but yet humans have killed each other in the name of religion. Karl Marx went as far to say that religion is an “opiate of the masses”. In addition to Marx’s statement, Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion raises consciousness at the price of controversy. On one hand, one may be enlightened by a different way of thinking than what is the norm. On the other, people may be inclined to reject the book before they even pick it up simply based on the title. This is the confirmation bias.
In his engaging book, god Is Not Great, Christopher Hitchens is on a mission to combat, what he views as, the “malignant force of religion.” Hitchens considers religion a scourge of society that is responsible for much of what is wrong in the world. “Violent, irrational, intolerant, allied to racism and tribalism and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children: organized religion ought to have a great deal on its conscience.” Ultimately, Hitchens makes the case for a secular approach to life and seeks to engage the reader with his central thesis: religion is “manmade” and “poisons everything.” As a well-accomplished writer and journalist, Hitchens displays his plethora
The patient was brought to the clinic for a clinic visit. She has severe eczema on her arms, legs, and body but the place of concern is her mouth. In her mouth, she has severe ulcers, bleeding gums, and a thick white substance attached to her tongue. Reporter believes she has a severe infection in her mouth. The mother and grandmother were at the visit. They stated the child has been unable to eat or drink. She has lost 3 pounds within the last couple of weeks. Reporter has concerns of ongoing neglect. The child weighs 25 pounds and that's less than the 1st percentile for her age. Reporter advised that she be admitted to the hospital for IV fluids and medications. She appeared to be lethargic, dehydrate, and in severe pain due to her mouth
1. Religion “Religion is humanity’s oldest philosophy, and most controversial.” (p. 188) The rationalist view of faith finds a reason to believe.
William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’, is ranked among the four great tragedies of the world, of ancient as well as of modern times. The concept of the tragedy is Elizabethan. These tragedies are basically tales of suffering that ultimately result in death. The protagonist in these tragedies is not only notably placed socially but is also conspicuous for his qualities of head and heart. In the tragedy, the society is largely affected by the fall of the supremacy of the central character. Like, in Macbeth, the decadence from a hero to a villain greatly affects the fate of the nation, i.e., Scotland. Of all the four tragedies of Shakespeare, Macbeth is the shortest and simplest. The extreme simplicity
God? A Debate Between a Christian and an Atheist The existence or otherwise of God has attracted a seeming countless debates from all classes of people mainly academics, comprising theologians, scientists and philosophers, not to mention laypersons. Consequently, this singular topic has generated many publications and reviews. Of particular interest are the two opposing views brilliantly presented by William Lane Craig, a popular Christian philosopher and apologist who is Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Professor of Philosophy at Dartmouth College. There had been intense rounds of debate on the subject, prominent among which were the one at Dartmouth in 1999 and another at Wooddale Church in 2000. William Lane Craig believes, and firmly too, that God exists while Walter Sinnott-Armstrong would always want to convince his listeners that He does not. These opposing views and more are taken up in the 2003 popular and unique book, God? A Debate Between a Christian and an Atheist. The uniqueness of the book, and in fact, its greatest strength can be found in the fact that it was co-authored by opponents, a christian and an atheist. What makes the book more interesting is that it represents the results of an actual debate, where each side not only presents its succinct and polite views but has the chance to actively respond to its opponent with some succinct theological and philosophical sophistication. While they arrive
Jesus told us before being arrested that “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” The Apostles including Peter, Paul and James also wrote about the coming sufferings and trials of Christian life. To know of the tribulations is one thing, yet to experience them is another. When trials come, we still don’t know how to make meaning out of the injustice and
1. Examine the strengths and weaknesses of the argument for the existence of God based on religious experience. (18) 2. ‘The argument merely indicates the probability of God and this is of little value to a religious believer.’ Discuss. (12)
Law enforcers have always been seen as that in higher authority. They are seen as those who conduct and protect; as those who dominate and keep peace and maintain order. This has always been a nostalgic viewpoint on those who enforce; however, many in the Americas, or rather, around the world, have been subject to provoking thoughts that essentially bash the hierarchy – thoughts that consume the people and its select few or even its vast majority: the satisfied idea that law enforcers of our world can be extremely misleading and corrupted.