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APhilosophyProfessorAnalyzesGodsNotDeadsCaseforGodMarch27,2014 ByDanielFincke

Introduction

EversinceIinferredtheplotofGodsNotDeadfromthetrailerandwroteapolemicalresponsecalledTheAtheistPhilosophyProfessorStrikesBack!,Ihadbeenextremelycurioustoseeexactlywhatkindofaphilosophicalcasethe

moviewould

try

to

muster

in

order

to

make

it

look

like

the

philosophy

professor

was

really

bested

intellectually

by

his

freshmanstudentbeforeheinevitablyrevealedhisreal,emotional,reasonfornotbelieving(hewasmadatGodfor

killinghismomwithcancerwhenhewas12).

So,now,havingseenthefilm,Iamhappytobeabletogooveralltheinsandoutsofhowitactuallyhandled

philosophy.ThisisthelongestblogpostofmyownwritingIveeverpublished,eighttimesaslongasmynormalposts

and~6,000wordslongerthanmynextlongestposts.

ThereasonIwrotesomuchisbecauseIhopethattherearesomeChristiansouttherewhoreallygenuinelywantto

understandwhethercommonevangelicalChristianwaysofthinkingholdupphilosophicallyandwhetherphilosophyis

reallylikewhatsshowninthemovieGodsNotDead.IwouldntbesurprisedifGodsNotDeadinspiresafewyoungpeopletoexploreapologeticsforthemselves.Iwanttoputontheinternetaresourcethatallowsthemtodealwith

someof

the

strongest

rebuttals

to

what

this

film

claims

about

philosophy

and

apologetics.

All

of

us

should

be

interested

tomakesureourideasstandupagainstthestrongestchallenges.Notjusttheweakest.Itsnotenoughtohaveawitty

comebackorseesomevaguepossibilityforreconcilingyourfaithwithscienceandphilosophyorhavesomefunseeing

thepeopleyoufeelpersecutedbygethumiliatedinthemovies.Ifyouwanttoberight,youneedtofigureoutthatthe

pictureoftheworldyouhaveisactuallythebestonewhentestedagainstcompetitors.SoIamwritingthispostfortheChristianwhowantstoknow,indepth,whatarealliveatheistphilosophyprofessor,

withaPhDinphilosophyand93classestaughtattheuniversitylevel,thoughtoftheworldviewinGodsNotDead.AndIwriteassomeonewhoalsoidentifiedwithJoshWheaton.FewcharactersinfilmcapturewhatIwaslikeat18soclosely.

So,IwriteasaformerJoshWheatontowritetoallyoucurrentornewJoshWheatonsouttheretoexplaininextensive

detailwhatswrongwithwhatthismovieistellingyou.

Ironically,beforewestart.Iwanttopointoutthatoneoftherecurringthemesinthispiecewillbethatitdoesnot

takeJesusseriouslyinMatthew7:35:

3Whydoyoulookatthespeckthatisinyourbrotherseye,butdonotnoticethelogthatisinyourowneye?4Or

howcanyousaytoyourbrother,Letmetakethespeckoutofyoureye,andbehold,thelogisinyourowneye?5You

hypocrite,firsttakethelogoutofyourowneye,andthenyouwillseeclearlytotakethespeckoutofyourbrothers

eye.

ThelogsintheseChristianfilmmakerseyescanprobablybeseenfromspace.

TheHypocrisyofChristianStatementsofFaith

Forexample,ifyouwerelikeme,youweretroubledbytheideaofProfessorRadissonsdesiretohavehisstudentssign

astatementofbeliefthatGodisDeadwiththreatsoffailureiftheydonotdoso.Hewasforcingthemtoagreetoa

conclusionwithoutanydebate.Hewasbeingclosedmindedanddogmatic.

IntherealworlditisChristianuniversitiesthataloneinAmericarequireofstudentsandfacultythattheysignfaithstatementstoattendorteach.IfProfessorRadissonsactionsbotheredyou,inrealityyoushouldbebotheredbythese

Christianuniversitiesbehavior.Thisisnotapointagainstsecularuniversities.Ifanyatheistphilosophyprofessor(orany

atheistprofessorofanyotherkind)atasecularschoolhaseverhadanyonepledgethatsaysGodisdead,Ivenever

heardofit.Evenifitshappened,itwouldbearareoutlierratherthantheroutinepracticeoffaithstatementsatvariousChristianuniversities.Rareoutliersprovenothingabouttherebeinganinherentprejudiceorpersecutionofpeopleof

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faithbysecularuniversitiesorphilosophyprofessors.YoumightsaythatstatementsofChristianfaithareacceptablefor

Christianuniversitiessincepeopleapplytobetherevoluntarily,knowinginadvanceaboutthefaithstatements,sono

oneisbeingpressuredtoagreetosomethingthatgoesagainsttheirintellectualconsciences.

Butthereis,nonetheless,somethingcompletelycontradictorytothespiritoftrueinquirytohavecollegestudents,in

advanceoftheirhighereducation,committobelievingthingsonpainofhavingtoleavetheschooliftheystopbelieving

them.Howisthatopenminded?Howisthatinterestedinreallyprovingandtestingonesbeliefs?Thatssaying,Come

hereandwewilleducateyouandteachyoutothinkcritically.Butbeforeweeducateyouandteachyoutothink

critically,

please

sign

this

statement

that

you

will

never

come

to

conclusions

different

than

your

current

beliefs

and

our

beliefs.Tosaythattoeighteenyearolds,whoareonlyjustbecomingadultsandonlyjusthavingthechancetothinkoutsidetheirparentsinfluence,isinherentlystifling.Itscontrarytotheentirepointofeducation.ButChristian

universitiesdothis.

Andtheirfacultycanbefirediftheythinkthewrongthings.Imaginethat.Thesearepeoplehiredbecausetheyare

highlyqualifiedexpertsintheirsubjects.Butiftheythinksomethingnotpreapproved,theycanlosetheirjobs.Does

thatsoundlikewhatopenmindednessabouttruthwouldbe?Isthatapolicythatisgoingtoleadpeopletocorrecttheir

mistakesorstartchallengingdiscussionsthatmightleadtogreatertruth.Evenifthefaithweretobevindicatedand

strengthenedafterchallenges,youwillneverknowthatifyouprecludepeopleinadvancefromevenquestioningor

temporarilythinkingwhatlookstruebeforeitcanbeprovenfalse.

Thinkabout

your

whole

life

in

the

church,

being

asked

to

believe

awhole

raft

of

things

about

God

and

the

world

and

yourself,tosignstatementscommittingyourselftoJesusortoabstinencebeforeyouhadanyrealopportunitytofigure

thingsoutforyourself.Youwerenotgiventheotherside.Thewhiteboardatthebeginningofthemoviewithallthose

atheistsnameshowmanyofthemdidyoureadbeforecommittingtobelievebyfaithintheChristianGod?Howmuch

timedidyouspendwithanyoneadvocatingforthosepeoplebeforeyouspentthousandsuponthousandsofhours

beingpreachedChristianity.Didyourpastorsoryouthleadersorparentsevermakesureyouwerethinkingfreelyaboutthesethingswithoutbiasesandfreetomakeupyourmind?Ordidtheytellyouthatsomethingmuchworsethanfailure

wouldhappenifyoudidntbelieveyouwouldgotohell?Doyoureallyfeelsecurethatifyoujustchangedyourmind

yourChristianfriendsandfamilyandchurchwontmeteoutsocialpenaltiesonyou?Isyourwillreallyfreeinthesense

ofuncoercedwhenallthesepressuresmakeitunthinkabletoyouthatyoucouldeverleaveyourfaith?In

the

real

world,

philosophy

courses

are

routinely

the

places

of

freest

inquiry.

Theyre

the

classrooms

where

you

can

questionanything.Youcanspeculate.Youcanpersistinpesteringyourprofessorwithanotheryeah,but,whatabout

thisaftereverythinghesaysandhewilllikelyfindyoutobeoneofhisfavoritestudents.Mystudentschallengedand

challengedandchallengedmeovertheyears.Theyspoketheirminds.Theyfoundtheirownvoices.Forcenturies,stretchingbacktoatleastSocrates,philosophershavebeenatthevanguardoffreethinkingunboundedbytraditional

authorities.Ithasbeenreligiousauthorities,Christianandotherwise,whohavehadthelogsintheireyeshere,they

haveroutinelybeenthemostcensoriousoffreedomofthoughtandexpressionofanyoneuntilthecommunistsand

fascistsgavethemarunfortheirmoneyinthe20thCentury.

WhyLeavingTheologyOutofPhilosophyIsntPersecutingStudents

Nowthereisagrainoftruth,thatthefilmmakersmisrepresentasalogofhypocrisy,insomethingRadissonsayswhen

JoshWheaton

is

firm

in

his

initial

refusal

to

write

down

that

God

is

dead.

Radisson

nastily

suggests

to

Wheaton

that

he

maygobacktohisdormroomsinkto[his]kneesandprayallhewantsonhisowntimeanditsnoneofhis

[Radisson's]businessbutwhatgoesonintheclassroomishisbusiness.

Now,thisisareallyuncharitableanddemonizingwaytodealwitharealissuethatdoescomeupinphilosophyclasseswithreligiousstudents.Occasionallyreligiousstudentsthinkofphilosophyclassesastheologyclasses.Theywanttogivetheologicallyderivedanswerstophilosophicalquestions.Sometimesthisishelpfulandwecanrunwithitbecauseinthe

theologicalconceptissomethinggenuinelyphilosophicalthatwecanallunderstand,appreciate,andanalyzeevenifwe

donotsharethefaiththatformulatedthepointinthatway.Thatsgreat!

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Butitsnotstrictlyspeakingphilosophicaltotrytoanswerphilosophicalquestionsbysimplytakingatheologicalsourceasafinalword.Justsayingthatascriptureoraprophetoryourministersayssomethingdoesnotproveit

truephilosophically.Nowthiswasadistinctionmanyreligiousthinkers(theofficialphilosopheroftheCatholicChurch,St.ThomasAquinas,amongthem)understand.WhenIwasabelieverIunderstoodthisandwhenIdidphilosophyItried

toseeifmybeliefscouldworkandvindicatethemselveswhennotjusttheologicallyassumed.Itriedtoseeiftherewere

formulationsofthosebeliefsthatcouldpersuadepeoplewhodidntalreadysharemytheologicalcommitments.And,

mostimportantly,alotoftheologicalissuesareirrelevanttophilosophy.Philosophyisonlyaboutwhatallpeoplecan

reasonabout,likescienceis,notaboutwhatpeoplewithinagivenfaithtraditionthink.

Thisdoesnotnecessarilypresumetheologyorreligionareallfalse.Itsjustthatevenifitstrue,itrequiresarelianceon

beliefinauthoritiesthatisantitheticaltothespecificallyphilosophicalmodeofdiscourse.Religiousthinkersmayargue

thatauthoritybasedreasoningisvalid.Theymayarguetheologyitselfisvalid.Butitnolongerisphilosophywhenyour

argumentscompellingpowerhingesonbeliefinaveryparticularsetofreligiousdocuments,traditions,people,etc.Forexample,ifIsaytoyouthatagivenethicalpreceptistherightonebecausetheUpanishadsindicatethatitis,asa

Christianthiswouldntmoveyouatall.IftheHindushappentoberight,theUpanishadswouldindeedbetrue.They

wouldbethebestsourceoftheologicalwisdom.Buttheyarephilosophicallyuncompellingtoyousincetheyrequire

allegiancetoHinduism(orBuddhism)andyouseenoreasontosimplyadopteitherofthosereligions.IftheBibleorthe

Qransaysomethingthathasphilosophicalforceeventononadherents,thenbyallmeans,bringittobear!Ijust

quotedJesusatopthispostbecausewhathesaidthereisafinebitofadviceforintellectuallyandmorallyscrupulous

behaviorthat

Iaccept

as

an

atheist

even

though,

Ihave

to

admit,

Idont

even

very

much

personally

like

Jesus.

So,eveniftheologycanbeasourceoftruth,itsneitherthesubjectnorthemethodforworkinginaphilosophyclass

anymorethanthemethodsofcarpentryorarchitectureorsoftwareengineeringorbakingorphysicsare.Unlessa

particularphilosophicalproblemhappenstointersectwithaprobleminanotherareaofthought(likecosmological

argumentsaboutGodsexistenceinteractwithphysics),thatotherareaofthoughtsmethodsareillegitimate.

AndinphilosophyclassesIdiscouragedstudentsfrommakingethicalormetaphysicalargumentsthathingedon

theologicalauthorities.Whererelevant,westudiedtheologiansphilosophicalworks.Theywerenotexcludedwithany

prejudice.Anyonewithgreatphilosophicalinsightsisrelevant!Myphilosophyofreligionreadingsfeaturedmany

theisticphilosophers(someofwhomwerealsotheologians)defendingtheism.Thatsparforthecourse.

WhatwasillicitwereargumentsthattooktheformoftheBiblesaysxandtherefore,onthebasisoftheBiblesauthorityalone,xmustbetrue.Thosekindsofargumentsarenotwhatphilosophyclassisabout.Inthatlimitedsense,philosophyprofessorslikememightaskastudentnottobetheologicalinclassor,asIdid,haveageneralexplanationat

thebeginningofthesemesterthatexplainsthesedistinctions.Ifareligiousstudentfeelslikethatmuchbracketingof

theirfaithforthesakeofconversationinwhichwecanallparticipateonneutralphilosophicalgroundsistoomuch,then

theyreallyhavenoplaceinphilosophy.ButtheyarenotbeingpersecutedanymorethanaBiologystudentwhorefuses

todolabworkbutratherquotesscriptureoranengineeringstudentwhorefusestolearnmathematicsandinsteadtries

tousetheBibleindesigningthingswouldbepersecutedforbeingtoldtheyhadtosticktothetoolsandmethodsofthe

disciplinewhileinthatclass.

And,itsworthnotingthatmanysecularphilosophyprofessorsloveandadmirereligionssomuchthattheydontmind

minglingtheology

and

philosophy

freely.

And

my

students

at

Catholic

schools

Itaught

at

occasionally

complained

that

theydwindupwiththeoccasionaloldCatholicprofessorthattookphilosophyclasstobeachancetodogmatically

preachCatholicdogmatothestudents,withlittleinput,dissent,ordialecticwelcome.So,again,thelogisinthe

Christianeyehereinmyrealworldexperience.

PhilosophyIsNotAuthorityBasedTheWayTheologyIs

Thisissueofthedifferencebetweentheologyandphilosophybringsmetothenextmajorproblem.AsaChristian,you

inevitablyrelyonauthoritieswhotellyouthingsthatyoureallycannotbackupwithreasons.Forexample,evenifyou

couldprovesomethingliketheexistenceofGodusingphilosophy,youstillbelieveinwaymorethanjustthe

philosophicalpropositionthatGodexistsinordertobeaChristian.Youbelieveincountlessclaimsabouthowto

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interprethistoricalevents,abouttheoccurrenceofparticularmiraculousevents,aboutthenaturesofsupernatural

realmsandrules,etc.YoudomuchmorethantrusttheBibleassomekindofahistoricaldocument.YoutrusttheBible

and/ortheChurchand/orvariousotherprophets,traditions,clergy,etc.totellyouthetheologicalmeaningsofevents,

totellyouthatsupernaturalthingsyouhaventseenforyourselfexist,etc.Evenifyoureasonforyourselfaboutsomeof

theseissues,youuseasdatatheclaimsofotherpeoplethatyoucanneverreallyverifyasbeingactuallytrueusing

philosophy,science,orthetoolsofrigoroushistoricalanalysis.

AgreatdealofwhatyouacceptjustaspartofbeingaChristiancomeswithlittletonoevidenceofthekindsweuse

everywhere

else

in

life

to

confirm

facts.

Historians,

scientists,

courts

of

law

would

never

be

able

to

look

at

all

the

inventivespeculationsofholybooksandprophets,etc.,aboutsupernaturalmattersorsupposedmiraculous

occurrencesandsignoffonsuchthingsastrue.Whenhistorians,scientists,andjuristshappentobe

religiousanywayitsbecausetheyapplytotheirreligionandtheologyfarlaxerstandardsofevidence,orsubstantiallywaivemostoftheirevidencerequirementaltogetherandsimplybelievebychoice.I.e.,theybelievebyfaith.They

committhemselvestothousandsofpropositionalclaimsthathavelittletonoevidencebecausetheywantto.So,theologyisveryauthoritybased,ratherthanreasonorevidencebased.Andifyoudonttrusttheauthoritiesofagivenreligioustradition,itssupereasytojustnotbelievethatreligion.Thatshowyou,asaChristian,dismissthe

entiretiesoftheMuslimandHindutraditions(amongmany,manyothers)withoutasecondworrythatmaybeyouare

missingsomethingtrue.IfyouarelikemostChristianswhodontliveinIndiayouhaveprobablyneverlostanightof

sleepworryingthatmaybetheHindugodsarethetrueones.

NothingabouttheIslamicorHindutraditionscompelsbeliefifyoudontinthefirstplacebuyintotheirarbitrary

authorityclaims.Andifyouwerentbornintoagivenreligion,comparablyfewpeopleeverfeeltheslightest

compulsiontobuyintoit.Mostreligiouspeoplesimplyadheretothereligion(oratleastsomesectwithinthebroaderreligion)thattheywerebornintoandindoctrinatedintoorexposedtothroughculturalhegemony.Lateinlife

conversionsfromonereligiontoanotherorfromatheismtotheismaretheanomalies.Mostbelieversaresolidifiedas

suchwhenyoung,whentheswayofarbitraryauthorityiseasytoingrainintheirnaturallyconformistandchildish

minds.So,askyourself,ifyousharethesamereligionyougrewupwith,eitherpreachedtoyousinceyouwereababy

byyourfamilyorbythepredominantlyChristianculturethatsurroundedyouevenifyourparentsweresecular,what

makesyouanydifferentthanaSaudiArabianMuslimoranIndianHindu?Whyareyouanymorelikelytoberightthan

theyarewhenyouarebothjustbelievingthearbitraryauthoritiespoundedintoyourheadbyyourowncultures?

InGodsNotDead,thesupposedlyphilosophicaldiscussionshardlyresemblephilosophy.Theyrecitationsofauthoritybackandforth.Butthatsnotwhatphilosophersdo.ThismakessenseonJoshWheatonsside.Heisafirst

semesterfreshmaninhisfirsttwoweeksofschool(laughably,allthefilmseventstakeplaceinthattinywindowoftime).ButRadissonisbasicallyanimpotentphilosopherwhoparrotsscientistsandliteraryfiguresandhasnotanideain

hisheadofhisown.Again,itstheChristianwhohasthelogintheeyeforalwayscitingtheBibleor,forlessBible

focusedChristians,theChurchorthegeneralteachingsofChristianity,etc.

TheStudentsintheMovieAlreadyBelievedinGod

Wheatonhastogivespeeches.IfhecanconvincetheclassGodisnotdead,hedoesntfailthe30%unitontheexistence

ofGod.Ifhecannotconvincethem,hedoesfail.Thefilmmakers(unwittingly)actuallyadmitthegameisriggedin

Wheatonsfavor.

Even

though

all

the

students

but

Wheaton

were

willing

to

write

down

that

God

is

dead

and

even

thoughPastorDaveadvisesWheatonthathemustgivehisspeechesbecauseitmaybetheseclassmatesonlychanceto

hearaboutGodandJesus,thefilmmakersactuallyrightlyassume(andarestatisticallycorrecttodoso)the

studentsdobelieveinGodalready.ItsnosurprisethestudentsallstandupattheendandsayGodisnotdead.80%97%ofAmericansbelieveinGod.

TheyinitiallywritedownthatGodisdeadatRadissonsbehestnotbecausetheyreatheistsbutbecausetheyvebeen

conditionedbyoureducationalsystemtobespinelessconformistswhodefertoauthorities.Theywillwritedown

whatevertheirprofessorswantifthatswhatwillgetthemtheirgradeandgetthemtowheretheywanttobeinlife.

ThiscynicalindictmentofAmericancollegestudentsunfortunatelyhasagrainoftruth.Studentscanbeshockingly

intellectuallylazyopportunistsobsessedwithgradesandindifferenttothinkingsometimes.Butitsfarfromthewhole

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story.Whenprofessorslikemeempowerourstudentstofreelythinkandeffectivelygetstudentstoappreciatewhat

problemsexisttothinkabout,theydohaveopinionsandtheydostanduptous.IwasalwaysveryproudofhowwellItrainedmystudentsto vigorouslyandunapologeticallydisagreewithme.Someofthebestcriticismsanyonesever

givenofmyownpersonalideashavecomefrommystudents,whenIvefloatedthembythem.This,andthefactthatI

basemywholeethicsontheconceptofempoweringpeople,madeitmostupsettingtomewhenRadissonexplicitly

scoffed,WhywouldIempower[mystudents]?

Thegiantlogoflazyintellectualconformismandthoughtlessdeferencetoauthoritiesisstillinthechurchseye.Itis

churches

that

praise

submission

to

Christ,

overcoming

doubts

not

by

endless

questioning

but

by

deferring

to

the

Sunday

Schoolteacher.IcannottellyouhowmanyatheistsItalktowhorecountbeingtoldtoshutupbytheirreligiousinstructorsatchurchorschoolforaskingtoomanyquestions.

ThefilmmakershintthatindicatesthattheyknowthestudentsreallybelieveinGodatthestartisloadedinto

RadissonsominousadvicetojustwritedownGodisdeadsotheycanskiptheunitwherethemoststudentsgettheir

lowestgrades.WhywouldstudentsusuallygetthelowestgradesintheGodunitfromthisGodhaterwhogradespeople

downfordisagreeingwithhim,unlesstheydisagreedwithhimandbelievedinGod?

HowIGradedReligiousStudentsWhoDisagreedWithMe

Now,aquickwordaboutgradingessaysonGodasanatheistphilosophyprofessor.Ihavenevergradedmystudentson

thecontent

of

their

opinions

and

whether

they

agreed

with

my

own.

Ever.

WhatIgraded,andwhatallprofessorsIhaveencounteredgraded,washowwellthestudentshavelearned,assimilated,

andphilosophicallyskillfullyanalyzedtheideasfromclass,andthoughtcreativelyinphilosophicallyinterestingwaysfor

themselves.NotallideasaboutGodorfaithorreligionareterribleones.Lotsofinterestingphilosophicalargumentscan

bemade.Infact,Ilovebustingmystudentschopstryingtogetthemtoseewhatmightbeplausibleaboutsomeofthe

argumentsforGodsexistence(especiallythecounterintuitiveontologicalargumentswhichIfindveryphilosophicallyprovocativepersonally).AfewstudentssurelymustbetemptedtoforgetthetimeIspendadvocatingforGodwhen,inmyadvocatesstyle,Iswitchtobustingtheirchopsfromanatheisticperspective.ButIalwaysgiveroomtoanygood

argumentIcanthinkofandhavetimefor,whetheritsproGodorantiGod.BecausewhenImteachingphilosophy,allI

careabout

is

that

we

explore

all

the

good

arguments

and

think

creatively

and

critically.

Im

not

preaching,

Im

teaching.

SothereareplentyofwaysforstudentstoearnanAdespitedefendingapositionIthinkis,whenallthingsareconsidered,profoundlywrong.Andthevastmajorityofprofessorsseemtohaveasimilarattitude.Ourclassesarenot

aboutmanipulatingpeopleintobecomingconverts(againstopprojecting,evangelicalChristiansthatsyourloginyoureye,nottheaveragephilosophyprofessorsthingbyamile!),theyreabouttraininginindependentthought.EventherareatheistphilosopherlikeI,whoactuallydoesdesiretodeconvertpeoplegenerally,usuallydoesnotseethatastrumpingtheresponsibilitiestoletstudentsfreelythinkforthemselvesintheclassroomwithoutfearof

badgrades.IwantpeopletobecomeatheistsbecauseIveshownthemeverythingIknow,hiddennothingfromthem,

and,havingseenthebestargumentsonbothsides,theycometotheconclusionsthatIthinkarerighttoo.Imnot

interestedinhavingthembelieveforanybiasedreasonsorduetoaonesidedpresentation.

But,forallthis,therearetwoproblems.Onoccasion,Ihavetaughtasemestersworthofphilosophyofreligioninwhichwecoveredarangeofcomplex,nuancedideas,includingsomeofthemostfamous,Christianapproved,philosophical

advocatesfortheism(Augustine,Aquinas,Swinburne,Plantinga,Craig,etal.)andasdevastatingcounterobjectionsto

themasIcouldmuster(philosophyofreligiontextbooksunderrepresentatheistviewpointscriminallyagain,thelogis

intheisticphilosophersofreligionseyeformarginalizingatheisticones,ratherthantheotherwayaround),onlyto

receivedespairinglymanypapersfromstudentsthatamounttoIbelieveinJesusbecauseheismysaviorandhowcan

youlookatamountainandsaythereisnoGod.

IfaChristianwritesapaperlikethatandreceivesanF(whichIdidntevengivethemthoughtheyprobablydeservedit)

oriftheytrytouseaphilosophyorbiologyclasstowholesaledismissthescientificconsensusonevolutionandargue

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thatcreationismistrueandgetabadgrade,thatsnotreligiouspersecution.Scienceisstilltrue,eveninphilosophyclass.Thereiscertainlymoreroominphilosophyclasstohaverobustdebatesaboutwhatthemetaphysicalimplicationsofthescienceis.Forexample,WhatistheimpactofthefactweevolvedonourdefinitionsofGodor

hypothesesthatGodexists?isamuchmorephilosophicalthanstrictlyscientificquestion.Butitsnotacceptablein

philosophytocontradictscienceasthoughitdoesnotexistandhasnoepistemicweightthatcanoverridewhateveryou

wanttothink.

DemandingPhilosophicalReasonsForBeliefsIsNotPersecution

Andthisgetstotheotherissuewherereligiousstudentsmightwronglyfeelpersecuted.Itsnotpersecutionwhenyouareforcedtogivereasonsforyourpositions.WhenIaskforphilosophicaljustificationsandarguethatfaithisaninvalid

formofreasoning,youhavetoeitherdefendfaithasavalidformofreasoningorstopmakingfaithbased

assertions. Thestandardsoflogic,empiricism,andrationalstandardsofconsistency,conceptualclarity,and

coherencestillapplyinlookingatGodandreligionrelatedquestionsastheydoinalltheotherphilosophicalareasofinquiry.

Tellingly,itisonlyintheGodrelatedareasthatstudentshaveeverstartedturningagainstreasonitselfonme.Only

whentheyencounterchallengestotheirreligiousbeliefsdotheystartturningagainstallthelogicalrulesofreasoning

thattheynaturallyandhappilyoperatedunderallsemesterpriorwithnocomplaints.ThoughIamtoldsooftenby

ChristianitysdefendersthatthereisnocontradictionbetweengoodreasoningandChristianityatall,bycuriouscoincidenceitisonlywhenreligiouslyimportantbeliefs(andnootherkind)comeupagainstvigorouscounterobjectionsthatmystudentseverstarttryingtodenythevalidityofreasonitself.WhyshouldIconcludethatreasonandreligion

arebestfriendswhenitispreciselyreligionthatmakespeopleexplicitlyresentandagitateagainstreasonmorethananythingelse?

So,again,itsnotpersecutionwheninaphilosophyclass,oftenforthefirsttimeinyourlife,youhavetobeconfrontedwithrigorousphilosophicalinterrogationofyourbeliefs.Thisisnotauthoritarianandbullying.Thisisntphilosophy

professorstellingyouwhattothink.Again,thelogisinyourchurcheseyes.Yourchurcheshavebeenindoctrinatingyousincethedayyouwereborninmostcases.Theymanipulateyouatcamps,theypreachatyouconstantly,theymakeexactingdemandsonyoursexuality,theyencourageyoutoputtheirbeliefsbetweenyouandyourfriendsorfamily

wherevertheyconflict(ashappensrepeatedlyinGodsNotDead),andwheneveryouhavedoubtstheyengagein

whatevermeans

of

faith

preserving

rationalization

or

emotional

non

sequitor

necessary

to

get

you

to

believe.

Some

religiouspeoplesaydoubtisagreatthingandafreemindandafreewillaregreatthings.Buttheyhavenointerestwhatsoeverintherealkindsofdoubt,freethinking,orfreewilltheonesthatcoulddecidetoleavethe

church.Thatssin.Ifyouleavethechurch,youwillfindouthownastilyuninterestedinyourfreedomofthoughtthose

fellowChristianswhorightnowclaimtoloveyoucanbecome.

Whenyouretold,Sure!Doubt!Useyourmind!Exerciseyourfreedom!ButallatheistsareliarswhosecretlyhateGod

andwanttosin,andwelldisownyouifyoueverwalkway!Youarenotbeingtrainedtouseyourfreewillortodoubtseriously.

Noonegenuinelyinterestedinthetruthshouldeverconfuseavigorous,honestphilosophicalsetofrejoinderstotheir

beliefsforpersecution.Justbecauseyourprofessordoesnotjoinyouinrationalizingorletyougetawaywitha

rationalizationwith

no

further

follow

ups

to

press

you

to

do

better,

does

notmeansheisabusingherpower.

Yourchurchesarethosewhoabusetheirpoweroveryourmindandhavedonesosinceyouwerelittle.Theyfindthecognitivebiasesandpronenessestowardsconceptualmistakesthatareendemictoallhumanbrainsandinstead

offixingthem,theyexploitthemtopitchtheirreligiousbeliefs.Theyexacerbatenaturalhumanirrationalityratherthan

educateyoutoovercomeit.Thelogisinthechurchseye.

But,then,totheactualarguments.

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ArgumentsOverCosmology(Godvs.NaturalisticEternalism)

WheatonstartswiththeBigBangandarguestwothings.TheweakestthinghearguesisthatGodsbeginningofcreation

withlettherebelightcouldbeseenasametaphorfortheBigBang.Hecitesascientistwhomakesthistendentiousconnection.Butthisprovesnothing.Thisiseasilychalkedtocoincidenceifaccurate.Lettherebelightisinnoway

scientificallyspecific.ThesupposedlyomniscientknowerwhowasbehindthewritingoftheBiblecouldnthaveoffered

anactuallyspecificsetofdetailsthatnoancientpersoncouldhaveknown,whichwouldthenbelaterverifiedby

rigoroussciencethousandsofyearslater?Thatwouldhavebeenimpressive!Butlettherebelightisntanywherenear

such

a

huge

and

unaccountable

bit

of

knowledge

that

had

the

ancients

had

it

might

have

indicated

they

were

getting

special,unguessableinformationfromasupernaturalsource.And,infactitsreallynotverygoodasametaphorsince,

asphysicsPhDstudentAdamFreeseputittome,Forwhatitsworth,thefirst~400,000yearsoftheuniversehadno

freelight.Theentireuniversewasfilledwithelectronicplasma,whichisopaque.Lightfirstappearedaftertheplasma

cooledandformedatoms,whichwascalledrecombination.Sotheuniversedidntstartoutwithlightatall!TheotherargumentdrawsonChristianphilosopherandapologistWilliamLaneCraigwithoutdirectlycitinghim.

WheatoncitesatheistcosmologistsStevenWeinbergandStephenHawkingassayingtheuniverseneededabeginning

and,asCraigdoes,leapstotheconclusionthatthatmeansitcannotbeeternalandrequiresasupernaturalagency

outsideitself,God.Heleapsrightoverthehugechasmbetweenassertingtheuniverseneededacauseoutsideitselfand

believingthatthisistheGodofAbrahamandIsaacandJacobwhowasincarnatedasJesus.Evenweretheretobeaneedforacauseoutsidetheuniverse,itisdubioustopositapersonalbeingandevenifyoucanproveithadtobea

personalbeing

whybelievetheancientpeoplewhowrotetheBiblehadanyspecialrevelationfromthisbeing?

Again,AdamFreeseputsthepointwell,theargumentthatthebigbangtheoryvindicatesareligionisprettycommon,

butitonlyreallyconsistsofclaimingthataholybookpredictedthattheuniversebeganatsomepoint.Itsnotreallyan

impressiveargument,andisaprettyeasythingtoguess,evenwithnotheoreticaljustificationfortheguess;itjustkind

ofmakesintuitivesense.ItwouldhavebeenimpressiveiftheBibleortheKoranpredictedanagefortheuniverse,said

thatlightfirstappeared400kyearsafterthebeginning,mentionedinflation,etc.

But,moreimportantly,thereisahugeleapWheatonmakesinassumingtheuniverse(orthemultiverseifthatswhat

weactuallyexistin)requiresacausalprincipleoutsideitself.Theideathateverythingwithabeginningrequiresacause

outsideofitisjustassertedbypeoplelikeCraigandthisfilmsJoshWheaton.Ithinkitrestsonwhatiscalleda

composition

fallacy.

The

composition

fallacy

is

when

you

mistakenly

take

an

attribute

of

a

part

of

a

thing

to

be

an

attributeofthewholething.Forexample,saysomeoneclaimeddownpillowsmustbesoftbecausetheyarefilledwith

feathersandfeathersaresoft.Thisneglectsthefactthatifyoupackenoughfeatherstogetherinapillowtheycancumulativelybearockhardpillow.Whenwelookatthenaturalworldandwetrytofindcausalconnectionsthatsbecausethatswhatwillmakesenseof

thesequenceofourexperiencesthebest.Particularconfigurationsofmatterareastheyarebecauseofsome

constitutivematerialsthatmakethemupandthatareastheyarebecauseofsomeprocessofinteractionswithother

physicalentities.Thatsnecessarytoexplainthoseparticularconfigurations.Butthatdoesnotmeanthattheuniversesmaterialsthemselvesrequireafurthercause.

CosmologistSeanCarrollrecentlydebatedwithWilliamLaneCraig.1InthedebateCarrollmadeitclear.Cosmologistsare

capableof

giving

accounts

of

the

universe

which

are

coherent

and

potentially

complete

without

the

need

for

some

furthersupernaturalcausalexplanationoutsideofit.Theuniverse,takeninsumtotal,isnotlikethekindsofthingswhichweexperiencewithintheuniversewhichrequiresomefurthercauseandeffectdynamicorsomefurtheraccount

ofwhatsimplerstuffmakesupthemorecomplexstuff.Thefactthatouruniversehasabeginningmomentdoesnot

meanitcannotalsobeeternal.

TheanalogyIsuggestistoimagineaneternallyexistingvideotapewithamovieonit.Themoviehasafinitedurationof

moments.Thebeginningsceneisalwaysthebeginningofthemovieandtheendsceneisalwaystheend.Toaskabout

thescenesinthemoviebeforethefirstsceneistoaskaconfusedquestion.Toaskwhatscenescomeafterthemovieis

1Seethefull2:16video,whichIencourageyoutowatchforyourself,here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0qKZqPy9T8

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consensusofphilosophersagainsttheismisallbecausewesecretlyhateGod.Itscompletelyimplausiblethat83%of

peoplewhostudyphilosophyprofessionallyallcomedownagainsttheismforemotionalreasonsratherthancognitive

ones.Youwouldhavetobeaccusingphilosophyofbeingaprofessionthatdisproportionatelyattractedliarsand

incompetentsatarateseennowhereelseinhumanityexceptforpolitics.Andinpolitics,thelyingandincompetency

makesensetheyremeanstopower!Whatgoodreasondoyoureallythinkthe83%ofprofessionalphilosophershave

tospendtheirliveslyingtothemselves,foraliving,whiledeepdownknowingtheresaGodthattheyjusthate?AndwhereisthehatredforGodinthenumerousoftheseatheistprofessorswhoareactuallyhospitabletoreligionina

numberofotherways,despitetheiratheism?

Ifyouwanttopresentusinalltheseludicrousandimplausibleways,embodiedandrepresentedbyProfessorRadisson,

youarebasicallysayingthewholereasonphilosophyseemsagainstyouisthat83%ofthosewhogointophilosophy

hateGodsomuchtheywanttospendtheirlivesphilosophicallylyingtopeopleandbullyingChristiansoutoftheirfaith

againsttheirfreewill.Thatsapreposteroushypothesis.

So,stickingittothestrawmanofProfessorRadissonavoidshonestlydealingwithsincereandrationalphilosophers.DoesChristianitypreachintellectuallaziness?Doesitpreachthatthebestwaytoreasonistoavoidthebestalternative

ideasandinsteadonlyaddresstheweakestones?Doesitreallypreachthateverytimeyouencounteratoughchallenge

fromanatheistwhichyoucantintellectuallyanswerthatyoumustdodgethequestionandmaketheatheistsheartthe

issueinstead?Ifyou,whotrulybelieve,cantansweratheistsobjections,whydoyouassumeatheistsarenotatheistsbecausetheythemselvescantdefendtheismagainsttheobjectionstheyoffertoit.Inotherwords,whatssoimplausible

about

the

idea

that

atheists

are

just

convinced

by

atheistic

arguments

on

the

merits?

Why

are

you

so

afraid

totakethisseriously?

WhyDoChristiansSayAtheistsDisbelieveforEmotionalReasons?

Onehypothesisaboutwhyyoukeepchangingthesubjectfromtheintellectualreasonstotheatheistsheartsisthatits

anotherinstanceofprojection.Itsanotherinstanceofyouaccusingatheistsofdoingwhatyouyourselvesdoonlyten

timesworse.Theloginmanyreligiousbelieverseyesisthattheybelieveforemotionalreasonsratherthanrational

ones.Youguysevenadmitthisregularly.Yousayyouareinitforthehope,becausetheydontwanttostaydeadwhenyoudie,becauseyoufearlifewouldbemeaninglesswithoutGod,becauseyouwerehurtingfrombadrelationshipswith

otherpeoplesofoundrefugeinJesus,onandon.Partofwhyyouprojectontoatheiststhatwearepeoplewhohavean

emotional

need

for

God

that

were

secretly

hiding

is

because

thats

how

you

convert.

Thats

how

you

live

your

faith.

But

itsnothowmostatheistsfeel.

Eveninthefilm,attheend,theNewsboyssaytheybelievebecauseitgivesthemhopeandtheatheist(Amy,playedby

TrishaLaFache)theyaretalkingtoisspeechlesswhenaskedwhereshegetsherhope.Shecavesinandconvertsonthe

spotnotbecauseofreasonbutbecauseofhopelessness.ItisevangelicalChristianswhoexploitpeoplesirrational,

emotionalweaknesseswithadisgustingshamelessnessinordertomanipulatethemintoconversionsthatdontmakesense.Whyisthedesireforasupernaturalsourceofhopeareasontobelieveinone?Itsnot.

Thisisnottosayyoucanteverpsychologizeatheists.Ipsychologizedmyselfandexploredtheinteractionsbetweenmy

psychologyandmyatheismhere,butitsanevasionofallourargumentswhenyoupsychologizeusinideologicalways

ratherthanhonestonesandwhenyouconfusepsychologizingusforrefutingtheforceofouractualarguments.

EvenwereweallclaimingtobeatheistsbecausewehatedGod,therestillmaynotbeaGodandtheargumentswegive

maystillindicatethereasonstothinkthereisntone.WhoReallyAretheHumbleOnesMoreLikelytoSayIDontKnow?TheChristiansortheatheists?

AndtheconversionofAmyunderminesthefilmspretensionstocelebrateadmittingyoudontknow.Intheclassroom

Wheaton,representingChristians,isadmirablyunafraidtosaywhenhedoesnotknowhowtoanswerProfessor

Radisson.Infact,attheclassroomclimax,heclaimsnoonecaneitherproveordisproveGodsexistence.Thephilosophy

professorandantitheistisaccusedofbeingadogmatistuninterestedinfreethoughtorfreewill.TheChristianis

someoneunafraidtoadmithedoesntknowandwhojustwantstogiveyouchoices.

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Andyet,again,thelog,inreality,isintheChristianseye.Intherealworld,whenatheistsroutinelysay,wedontknow

howtheuniversecameintobeing,itjustseemstosimplyexistthetheistsaretheoneswholeapdogmaticallyto

IthadtobethesupernaturalbeingrevealedintheBibleandtheBiblemustbe100%trueandreliableandtheChristian

faithmustbeworthlivingby110%!Wherebiologistssaytheydontknowhowlifeoriginated,theyarewaitingforan

actualexplanatoryaccount.Routinely,Christianstriumphalistically[sic]trytosaythatGodexplainsitwhenjustsaying

Goddiditdoesnothumblywaitforareal,scientificallyverifiableanswerthatcanactuallybeproven.

Inreality,itistheatheistswhoaremockedbytheChristiansforadmittingWedontknow.Philosophyandscienceonly

tell

us

so

much.

Christians

leap

dogmatically

to

a

completely

unprovable

(and

wildly

unlikely)

answer

that

a

God

who

incarnatedhimselfashumananddiedfortheirsinsexplainseverything.Andtheninthismovietheytrytocast

themselvesashonestpeoplewhoadmitwhattheydontknow?

AndwhenAmyreallydoesntknowwheretofindhope,herhonestyisnotaffirmedbytheChristians.Itstakenas

anopeningtoconverthertoChristianity.

WhyDoSomeAtheistsSayTheyDoKnowTheresNoGod?AreAtheistsHypocriticallyPeopleofFaithToo?

Alsoalongtheselines,letmenoteanotherhypocrisy.Christiansregularlyinsistthatanyonewhodoesntknowwith

absolutely100%certaintythatthereisnoGodisnotreallyanatheistbutanagnosticandshouldbehonestandcall

themselvesthatinstead.ButwhydontyouChristianswhosayyoudontknow100%certainlythereisaGod

callyourselves

agnostics?

Why

is

someone

only

allowed

to

be

called

an

atheist

if

they

have

an

impossible

standard

of

knowledge(100%certaintysomethingweactuallyhaveinhardlyanyofthecasesofsayingIknow)butChristianscan

callthemselvestheistswhentheyadmittheyonlybelievebyfaith?

Andatheismisnotjustafaithposition.Manyatheistsareverycarefultosaytheyonlylackbeliefingods,noteven

thattheyknowtherearenogods.Theyareagnosticatheists(agnosticinthesensethattheyclaimnottoknowexactly,

butatheistsinthattheythinkthemostrationaldefaultisnonbelief).Thoseofus(likeme)whoaremoregnostic

atheistssayweknowthereisnoGodnotbecausewemakealeapoffaithbutbecausepositionswithnogoodreasonto

believeinthem,whichareriddledwithrationalcontradictions,antiscientificsupernaturalisms,andhistorical

fabrications,canbedismissedas99.999%likelytobefalse.Christiansdontgiveasecondthoughttodismissingthe

existenceof99.99%ofgodseveryproposedbyhumans.YoudontjusthavefaiththereisnoZeusorGaneshorApollo

Youdontjusthavefaiththerearenoleprechaunsorunicornsorabominablesnowmen.Youknowtherearentaswell

asyouknowthereisntadragonintheroomwithyourightnow.Sure,theresaninfinitesimalpossibilityyourewrong.

Butnotenoughtorefusetosayyouknowthesethingsdontexist.Weatheists,hardasthismaybetofathomtoyou,

simplydonotshareyourarbitrary,culturallyandpsychologicallyengraineddoublestandardbywhichyougivetheGod

oftheBibleapassonthesamelogic.Thatsit.WedonothavefaithyourGoddoesnotexist.Somesay,theresno

reasontothinkitsowejustdontbelieveorlackbelief.Othersofussay,yeah,weknowyourewrong.

IfAntitheistsAreBadPeople,EvangelicalsAreDownrightAwful

ThisalsodoesnotmeanthatbeinganantitheistisbeingpersecutoryofChristians.Wheatontriestoarguethat

whatsreallywrongwithProfessorRadissonisneitherhisphilosophyoratheismbuthisantitheism.Thedesirefor

othersnottobetheistsiscastasauthoritarian.Butwhy?Ifwereallythinkitsfalseandharmfultoopposeit,why

shouldntwe

make

our

rational

arguments?

Granted

we

shouldnt

be

dogmatic

bullies

like

Professor

Radisson.

Granted

weshouldntletthatinterferewithourresponsibilitiestofirstandforemostbeempoweringeducatorstoourstudents

whenweareprofessors.Butthatsanuncharitablepresentationofantitheists.Itpicksontheworstofusbutnotthe

best.Whyshouldcivilbutadamantatheistshavetobeanylessaggressiveaboutpromotingourviewsandvaluesthan

youareaboutpromotingyours?WhyisitaokayforJoshtoexplicitlyseektousehisphilosophyclasstopreachJesus

butitsnotokayforanatheisttochallengeastudentsChristianfaith?WhenattheendofthemovietheNewsboys

encouragetheaudiencememberstotexteveryonetheyknowwiththemessagethatGodsNotDead,inhopesof

reachingamillionpeople,isthatnotobnoxious?Withyourthinskins,youwouldfeelpersecutedtothenthdegreeif

atheiststextedeveryonetheyknewthatGodisDead.

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Whyisitpersecutionwhenwevigorouslychallengeyouandtrytochangeyourmindsbutitisnotpersecutionofus

whenyouvigorouslytrytosaveoursouls?Andwhichgroupismoreaggressiveaboutthis?Whohasatwothousand

yearhistoryofdemandingconversionsfromeveryonearoundthem?Atheists?OrChristians?Whoexactlyhasthelogin

theireyehereifproselytizingisaterriblesin?

Andifwecanagree(asIdo,asanevangelicalatheistunashamedtowanttoconvinceotherstoatheism)thatitsokayto

disputewitheachotheroverourviewsandvalues,evenonesrelatedtofaith,whichgroupexplicitlyadvocates

persuadingpeoplebyreasonandwhichonewilluseanyemotionalreasonwhatsoever?Whichgroupregularlycanbe

found

telling

people

they

have

to

let

go

of

their

reason

and

just

accept

things

by

faith?

That

log

is

in

your

eyes,

not

ours.

IfProfessorRadissonsABadGuy,TheChristianGodistheWorstPossibleBadGuy

TheprojectionofthesinsofChristianityontoatheistscontinuesafterWheatonspresentationoncosmological

argumentsforGod.Radissonactsincrediblyinsecureandpettily.Withthemostvulnerableegoofanyoneinpowerever

heaccusesWheatonoftryingtoshowhimupandthinkinghessmarterthanhim.Andthen,amazingly,hetells

Wheaton,InthatclassroomthereisaGodandIamhim.Then,astoundingly,hesayshesajealousGod.Andhe

threatensvindictivelytogobeyondjustfailingWheatoninhisclass,forinsolentlydisagreeingwithhimaboutGodin

frontoftheclass,buttoevengosofarastodestroyhishopesofbeingalawyeraltogether.

Again,theprojectionisbreathtaking.RadissonsconceptionofGodistheChristianone.ThelogisinyourGodseye,Christians!

When

you

loathe

the

way

Professor

Radisson

leverages

his

power

to

pick

on

someone

smaller

than

him,

you

shouldbeloathingyourGodfordoingthattothehumansHecreatesanddemandsobediencefrom.Whenyoure

appalledatRadissonsjealousyandvindictiveness,youshoulddisownwhenyourownGodcallhimselfajealousGod

whopunishesthosewhodontworshipHimsinglemindedly.WhenRadissonthreatensdisproportionatepunishments

forexpressingfreedomofconscience(whichisreallydoingnothingwrongatall)youshouldunderstandthatyourBible,

whichdemandspeoplesubmittothearbitrarywillofsomearbitrarilypositeddeity,threatenspeoplewitheternalhell

simplyfornotbelievinginyourGod.Whathappenedtopeoplesfreeintellectualconscience?

AlltheauthoritarianvicesofRadissonareinherentintheGodofwrathwhosendspeopletohellinChristianity.

But,yousay,Godisrighteousandonlysendspeopletohellbecausetheydeserveit.

Imsure

Professor

Radisson

thinks

he

is

right

to

do

what

he

does

too.

But

that

doesnt

make

it

true.

We

need

objective

waystoassesstheclaimstorighteousnessofpeopleinauthority.AndtheGodoftheBiblefailsthemostimportant

moraltestswehave.HecondemnsthewholehumanraceforAdamandEvessincursinguswithoriginalsinandwith

suffering.Itsimmoraltopunishpeopleforotherssins.IntheOldTestamentHecommandsgenocides,commands

slavery,commandsstoningpeopleforpettyinfractions,anddrownseveryoneontheplanet(eventheinnocentbabies).

IntheNewTestamenttheideaofhellisintroducedinfinitepunishmentforfinitesins,whichistheheightofcruel

injustice.

TheonlywaytosayGodisrighteousistoignoreeverythingwehavecometorealizeaboutmoralityinthelast2,000

yearsandfornogoodreason,byfaith,declarealltheevilsintheBiblegoodoutofthedogmaticassertionGodmustbe

goodsowhateverGoddidmustberight.ThatsnotprovingyourGodisgood,itsignoringalltheclearcounterevidenceand

warping

all

your

moral

judgments

accordingly,

even

ifit

means

making

excuses

for

the

most

heinous

crimes

imaginable.Thatisarbitrarinessandauthoritarianism,thetotalantithesisofobjectivemorality.Sayingthatwickedness

canbejusticeifonlyGodsayssoistheheightofsubjectivisminmorality.Itsmightmakesrightasatheology.Yousay

weneedChristianityinordertoknowrightfromwrong?YousayweneedChristianityinordertoknowrightfrom

wrong?IsayitsChristianitysfaultYOUcanttellrightfromwrongwheneveryourownGoddoesevil.Whyintheworld

wouldItrustyoutotellmerightfromwrong?

Anobjectivemoralitywouldbeoneobjectivelydemonstrablefromrationalreasonsopentoanyone,notonethat

requiredstumblingupontherightarbitraryreligionandbelievingitonfaith,eventhoughitsGodhaswickedandupside

downvaluesallthroughoutitsholybook.

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GodoftheGapsandtheOriginofLife

Whentheargumentsresume,Wheatonmakesanothertendentious,arbitraryattempttolinkametaphorfromGenesis

toascientifictruth.ThistimeevolutionissomehowindicatedbyGenesisbecauseplantsandanimalsasweknowthem

areanextremelylatedevelopmentinevolutionarytime,whichmakesitliketheyhappenedonalatedaylikethefifth

andsixthinGenesis.Thisproveslessthannothing.ItdoesntshowthattheBiblehadanythinglikeanyspecial

knowledgelatervindicatedbyscience.

Wheaton

tries

to

argue

that

because

scientists

do

not

have

an

account

yet

of

the

origin

of

life

that

perhaps

it

was

God

thatoriginatedit.WhatissotediousaboutthisisthatitisaGodoftheGapsargumentantitheticaltotheentirespirit

ofscience.GodoftheGapsisanexpressionusedtopointoutthattheistsusedtothinkofGod(orgods)asexplaining

agreatnumberofphenomenathatarenowexplicableinscientificways.Assciencehasfilledinmoreandmoreofour

understandingoftheworld,Godkeepsbeingproposedbytheistsassupposedlynecessarytoexplainwhateverhappens

tobeleftunexplained.Itseemsimplausiblethatscientific(andcorrelatephilosophical)advanceswouldkeephappening

andhappeningandreplacingGodexplanationafterGodexplanationandyetwhateverwehappentohavenotfigured

outyetiswhatGodalonecanaccountfor.

Godhasbeenoverturnedoverandoveragainasbestexplanationwehavescienceandphilosophy.Itrepeatedlyproves

tobeabadexplanation.SothereisnoreasontostopdoingscienceandphilosophyandjustsayGoddidit.Had

scientistsandphilosophersstoppedanyofthousandsofothertimeswithandherewestopthinkingandjustsaythat

Goddid

it,

enormous

leaps

of

understanding

would

have

never

happened.

If

we

start

doing

that

now

because

we

all

becometheists,howmuchprogresswillwelose?

ChristianssometimestrytosolvethisbysayingGodisnotjustabeingamongotherbeingsbynatureitselforbeing

itself,somehowthebeinginwhichandthroughwhichallothersexist.Butthatroadistheroadtopantheism.Thatis

compellingonlyifwejustmakeNatureandGodsynonyms.AttributingtothatGodpersonalityandinterventionsinto

historylikereadintheBibleisjustnonsense.ThatsjustsayingNatureitselfislikeahumanbeing.Thatsasarbitraryas

sayingNatureitselftastesliketomatosauce.

So,itissillywhenChristianssaythatsincewearemissinganexact,verifiablescientificaccountofthedynamicsbywhich

theoriginsoflifehappened,thatsomehowthismeansitcouldhavebeenGodorthatthescientificmethodisflawedor

limited.Scienceislimitedherenotbyaconceptualimpossibility(i.e.,notbecauseitmakesnosenseforlifetocomeintobeingthroughanaturalisticprocess,butratherbecauselifesoriginshappenedverylongagoandithappenedwithsuch

tinyrudimentaryorganismsthattheydidntleavefossiltraces.Therearearangeofwaysabiogenesis(theoriginof

life)couldhavehappenedthatscientistscandreamupthatareplausible.Whenscientistssaytheydontknowhowlife

beganitsnotbecausetheycantimaginethingsorthatnothingwouldmakesense,whereasChristianshaveaprofound

imaginationortheonlysensiblepossibility.Rather,itsthatunlikeChristians,scientistsarepatientlywaitingforevidenceratherthanjustmakingsomethingup.Theyrebeinghumbleandwaitingtoactuallyknow.Christiansarenotsmarterormorerationalforjustinsistingtheyknowandnotwaitingforevidence.Wereallscienceto

worklikethat,theredbenoscience.Dontblamescientistsforembodyingthepatienceandtemporarycomfortability

withnotknowingthatroutinelyleadstoactualscientificsuccess.YoucantsayscienceandChristianityarecompatible

andthenshowthatinyourownthinkingyouadvocaterushingtoconclusionsandstoppinginquiriesandsettlingfor

Goddid

it

explanations

and

disparaging

the

patience

of

scientists.

When

you

do

those

things,

you

embody

and

promoteantiscientificattitudesinpractice.Youhurtthecauseofscience.Thereismoretosupportingsciencethanjustmouthingthewords,Isupportscience.

WhyExplainingEvolutionwithGodisAntiScience

Ialso,morecontroversially,thinkitissimilarlyunscientifictosaythatbothGodandevolutiongotogetherbecauseGod

makesevolutionhappen.Thereasonthisisunscientificisthatitspitsinthefaceofthediscoveryofnaturalselection.

Theideathatspeciesevolvefromancestorstodescendantswasalreadyunderstoodintheideaofbreeding.Weknew

wecouldartificiallyselectfortraitsinanimalsandplantstomakethemhavethetraitswewantedtobycontrolling

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whichonesmatedwitheachother.WhatwassoamazingandparadigmshiftingaboutDarwinsdiscoverywasthatjust

thedynamicsofnaturealonecouldhavethesameeffectasintelligentbreeders.Whatwasamazingwasthatan

environmentjustbeinginhospitabletoatraitandaccidentallymakingitsothebearersofthattraitjustcouldntlivelong

enoughtoreproduceoffspringwiththesametraitcouldweedoutthattraitaseffectivelyashumanschoosingtonotletdogswithagiventraitreproduce.

Theamazingrealizationofevolutionbynaturalselectionisthattheinteractionofenvironmentswithtraitscanallby

itself,overmillionsandmillionsofyearsmakethechangeshappenwithnointelligentagencyatallnecessary.And,infact,

many

of

the

ways

the

designs

that

resulted

from

these

dynamics

came

out,

it

is

clear

that

theyre

not

always

perfectorlogical.Theyinvolveallsortsofinefficienciesandnonidealdesignsandsuperfluousdimensionsallbecause

theywerethetraitsandcombinationsoftraitsthathappenedtoevolveandfitwellenoughtotheenvironmentthattheyworked.Theydontbespeakaperfectdesignerwhoforesawwhatmaximumefficiencywouldrequireand

implementedit.Theylookexactlyastheywouldifrandommutationsandrandomchangesinenvironmentwere

selectedbywhicheverhappenedtofitthebest,thoughnotperfectly.

SayingIacceptevolutionhappensbecauseofGod!becomesassuperfluousandunscientificassayingIacceptthat

lightninghappensbecauseofThor!OrIacceptthatifIfalloutthewindowIwillfallbecauseofthenaturallawof

gravityandbecauseGodpushedme!Theelectrostaticdischargeissufficienttoexplainthelightningallbyitself,

naturalistically.PositingThoraddsnothingbutmisunderstanding.Gravityexplainswhyyoufall.PositingGodadds

nothingbutmisunderstanding.aturalselectionexplainswhyorganismsevolve.PositingGodaddsnothingbut

misunderstanding.

HowScienceandPhilosophyVindicateMetaphysicalNaturalismandtheExistenceofReligiousScientistsDoesnt

VindicateTheism

SciencedoesnotjustassumeGoddoesntexists.Scientistshavejustfoundthatsaying,well,maybeitsbecauseof

Godisuselessinthelaboratoryandintheorymaking.Evenreligiousscientistswhomakegreatdiscoveriesorbuild

greattechnologiesunderstandthattheyhavetoessentiallyleaveGodandholybookscompletelyoutoftheirscientific

workbecausetheonlyaccountsthatcanreallybemeaningfularethosethatareempiricallyandmathematicallyprecise

andGodisnotthosethings.Thisispartofwhythemereexistenceofreligiousscientistsdoesnotprovethatreligionand

sciencegotogether.Religiouspeoplearegoodscientistsonlywhentheyleavetheirreligiousbeliefsoutoftheirscienceand

engineering.

As

people,

this

means

they

are

living

with

cognitive

dissonance.

In

the

laboratory

they

think

as

though

therewerenoGod,thatis,theythinkasthoughtheywereatheists,andpreciselybecauseofthattheyaresuccessful.

Butinchurchandpersonalpietytheyliveasthoughtherewerenone.Theyabandonallthecategoriesofrigorous

thinkingthattheyemployinthelabwhenlookingattheirScriptures.Theycanonlybebothreligiousandscientificby

beingcategoricallyunscientificandacceptingbaselessreligiousauthoritieswhenbeingreligious.

SomeChristianapologistsconcedethatwehavetobemethodologicalnaturalistsinthelaboratory(thatis,people

whoassumethenaturalworldandnaturalexplanationsalltherearebutwhoonlyassumethiswhendoingscience)but

thatdoesntmeanweshouldbemetaphysicalnaturalists(peoplewhothinkreallyallthereisisnatureandnatural

explanations).Theyaccusemetaphysicalnaturalismofbeinganunwarrantedassumption.ButIseeitasafinding,aninferencewehavecometo(ratherthanassumed)byseeingtheenormousexplanatorypowerthatopensupwhenwe

assumethatnatureisallthereis.Ifthatholdingthatpositionissounprecedentedlypowerfulforgeneratingtruthsin

thelaboratory,

whynotthinkitsbecauseitsalsometaphysicallytrue.

Thereisalsoarationalconsiderationthatmakesmeanaturalist.Idonotunderstandhowsupernaturalismcanbe

coherentlyconceived.Idonotknowhowanythingcouldexistwithoutanature.EvenifthereistheChristianGod,God

seemslikeHecannotbesupernaturallyabovelogic.HowcouldHebe?TosayHewasbeyondlogicwouldbetosayHe

couldbothexistandnotexistatthesametime.Hecouldbebothabsolutelyomniscientandsimultaneouslyknow

nothing.Inotherwords,ifGodisnotboundbylogic,HewouldbothhavetheclassicalattributesascribedtoGodandnothavethematthesametime.Thatsnonsense.Godwouldhavetobeboundbylogicasmuchasanythingelseandbesomekindofthingorother.Godwould,inotherwords,haveanaturemoredeepthanwhatitsubsequently

creates.So,themostfundamentalrealityevenforChristiansseemstobenature.Andeverysupernaturaleventwould

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beasuspensionofonesetoflawsforanotheraccordingtoGodswill,butstillthethingsthatseemedsupernatural

tous,beingaccustomedtoourworldsnormallawswouldoperatebynaturesofsomesortratherthanchaotically.

IsPhilosophyDead?

WheatonreturnstotheHawkingquoteandcitesJohnLennox,ProfessorofMathematicsatOxfordUniversity,claiming

thatHawkingisguiltyofcircularreasoning.Hawkingwantstoacceptauniversewithnofurthercauseoutsideofit,sohe

simplypositsthatitmustbeselfcreating.Inreply,insteadofreasoningabouttheobjectionlikeaphilosopher,Radisson

just

intones

imperiously

asking

whether

Wheaton

is

daring

to

challenge

the

great

physicist

Stephen

Hawking.

Again,

so

pathetic.ThelogofappealstoauthorityandmajestythattrumpactualreasonsisintheChristianeye.

Thisisalsosymptomaticofanothertrendinthefilmnophilosophersareactuallycited(exceptforNietzschesconcept

ofthedeathofGodatthebeginning)andnostrictlyphilosophicalcasesarecentraltoanything.(Bytheway,ifyoudlike

tolearnaboutNietzsche,hesmyspecialty,youcanreadmorestartinghere.)Theassumptionofthefilmisthatallthe

realactionisinscience.Sotherearenointerestingphilosophicaldiscussionsatall.Therearejustquotesoftwo

toweringEnglishacademicsinmathandscience,anappealtoDawkins,areferencetocosmologistStevenWeinberg,

somehandwaivingaboutevolutionandhowsincebiologistshaventfiguredouttheexactnatureofabiogenesis(the

processbywhichthefirstlifeformed),maybeitsGod!

Thisisbasicallyaphilosophyclassthathasnointerestinphilosophyitself.And,inoneoftheraremomentsof

cleverness,Wheaton

quickly

rubs

in

Radissons

face

Hawkings

misguided

dig

that

philosophy

is

dead.

Gods

not

dead,

philosophyisdead.Nicebumpersticker.Thisisoneofmanyreasonsitisignorant,antiintellectual,andcounter

productivetothecauseofcriticalthinkingandatheismwhenscientistsmouthoffinantiphilosophyways.Indoingthis

scientistslikeHawkingandKraussgiveundeservedammunitiontopeoplewhowanttoattackreasoningeneralsinceso

muchreasoningingeneralismorephilosophicalthanquantifiablyscientificincharacter.

Philosophyisunavoidable.Sciencedoesnotanswereveryquestion,becausesomequestionsarenotamenableto

strictlyscientificanalyses.Orotherquestionsthatarecapableofscientificanalysisstillrequiretimeandscientificprogressandnewdiscoveriesbeforetheycanbescientific.Thisdoesnotmeanthattheologyistheanswer.Theologicalanswersarejustancientguesseswithnomagicplausibilityjustbecausebetterscientificonesdontyetexist.Thereare

philosophicalwaystodealwithahugerangeofissuesthatpeoplethinkabout.Applyingtestsoflogic,consistency,

coherence,conceptualclarification,thoughtexperiments,extrapolationsfromscientificfindingstophilosophical

implications,andusingcommonsensereasoning,wecanrationallyapproachthehugepanoplyofquestionsthatright

nowdonthavespecificallyscientificanswers.Thelimitsofsciencearenotthedoortointellectualanarchyandtheology

Wemustgrapplewithotherquestionsthanscientificonessometimesandwhendoingsowemustdosoasrigorously

aspossible,ratherthanascarelessly.Sayingphilosophyisdeadisonlyaninvitationtoignorecrucialquestionsand,so,

answerthemthoughtlessly,withwhoknowswhatconsequencesforourlives.Ourculturesuffersfromafailuretodo

goodphilosophy.

Themajorpoliticalandsocialandreligiousandethicaldebatesofourtimeareasbadastheyarebecauseof

philosophicalignoranceandincompetenceamongthepublicasmuchasanything.Scienceisdoingswimmingly.Its

philosophicalerrorsamongthepopulaceinepistemology,inpoliticaltheory,inethics,inmetaphysics,thatmakepeople

thinkthatreligiousauthoritiescantrumpscientificones,thatmakeuninformedlaypeoplethinktheycanpronounce

uponscientific

questions

better

than

scientists

can.

Our

problem

in

this

culture

is

not

afailure

to

do

good

science,

its

a

failureofthepopulacetounderstandphilosophysothatitknowswhattomakeofwhatscienceistellingit.Our

populacedoesnotknowhowtocontextualizesciencewithinatheoryofknowledgeandrealitythatiscoherent.Forall

ourscientificunderstanding,peoplestillbelieve,inparallel,insuperstitionsofimmaterialsoulsandfaithbased

epistemology,andoutdatedmetaphysicaldogmasthatgoodphilosophyrefutes.

Ourfightsovergayandtranspeoplesrightsorwomensrightsorhowtoethicallystructureourrelationshipsbetween

menandwomenbeyondmerelylegalissues?Theseareallfundamentallyphilosophicalproblems.

Secularpeoplesquestionsofhoworwhethertoreplacereligiousinstitutionsinpeoplesliveswithsufficientsecular

alternatives.Ourproblemsaboutthenumeroussocialscienceissueshave(sofar)intractablephilosophicalissues

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involved.Howtodemarcatewhatisamentalillness?Whatisracism?Howdoesmoralitywork?Theseandnumerous

otherhugeproblemsinpsychologyandsociologyhavemajorphilosophicaldimensionstothemthatarenotmerely

empirical.

ThemanytheistsandatheiststryingtodebateGodsexistencearenotmerelypublishingfindingsinsciencejournalsat

thatpoint.Theyreextrapolatingfromthesciencetoallsortsoffurthermetaphysicalandepistemologicalconclusions

abouttheplausibilityofnaturalism,thelimitsofneedsforcausalexplanations,thenatureofknowledgeaboutquestions

thatarenotstrictlysettleablewithconceptsthatreducetomathematicalformulas.

Ifyouregoingtorespondtopeoplesdesiresforacoherentrationalitybasedethicsforapproachingtheworld(orto

theistsbarbsaccusingsuchathingofbeingimpossible),youregoingtobeengagedinphilosophy.Ifyouregoingto

puzzleoutthenatureandlimitsoffreespeech,separationofchurchandstate,orotherrights,youaregoingtobe

engagingwithdifficultphilosophicalproblems.Ifyouaregoingtopuzzleoutthenatureofobjectivediscourseitself,or

whocanprovideinsightintowhatquestionsandwhy,orwhethersomequestionsaretoodangeroustoaskorwhether

everythingmustbequestioned,youregoingtobeengagedinphilosophy.Ifyouregoingtohaveathoughtfuland

carefulgraspofwhenwarisjustifiedorwhy,youregoingtobeengagedinphilosophy.Ifyouregoingtotrytofigure

outhowtocrackthenutofwhetherortowhatextentweparadoxicallymusttoleratetheintolerant,youregoingtobe

doingphilosophy.Whenyourefacedwithexcruciatingendoflifedecisionsrelatedtoactiveorpassiveeuthanasia,

youregoingtobedoingphilosophy.WhenyouretryingtobuildAIasacomputerscientist,youregoingtohaveto

solveanimmenseamountofphilosophicalproblemsortheAIwillbeeverythingsciencefictionnightmaresaremadeof.

Ifyouaregoingtohavetofigureouthowtounderstandtheroleofyouremotionsinyourlife,thechallengetorank

prioritiesinlife,thewaystoassesscompetingvaluesofurgentexistentialimportinyourlifeyouaregoingtobedoing

philosophy.

Thereareplentyofconstructivedebatestobehadaboutexactlyhowtodophilosophyappropriately,howtoimprove

ourmethods,howtosituateitsrolewithinthelargerprojectofknowledgedevelopment.Butitsadangerousworld

wherepeoplearephilosophicallyincompetent.AndImdisgustedanddisappointedbymysupposedfellowdefendersof

reasonwhentheyshortsightedlyandignorantlyturnonphilosophyand,tomymind,betraytheverycausewewere

supposedtobealliedtogetherin.

WhyTheFilmDidntActuallyCareAboutProvingGodsExistence

WheatondoesnotthinkcitingLennoxwinshimthecaseforGod.Heisjusthappytobeabletotellthestudents,look,a

supersmartguybelievesinGodtoo,soitsnotintellectualsuicidetobelieve.Wheatonsnotouttoprovetohis

classmatesthattheargumentforGodisreallyoverwhelminglyrational.Thefilmmakersjustwanthimtoconvincethe

classandtheviewingaudiencethatreasonisinconclusive.Why?Because,again,thefilmmakersknowmostpeople

alreadydo,andwantto,believeinGod.So,thepretenseatdoingphilosophyorengagingwithscienceishalfhearted.

Itsjustpresentingtheappearanceofsomesmartreasonstodoubtatheists.AlotofChristiansfeelpressuredto

conformtoatheistpressureforfearofbeingcalledstupid.Thatstheonlyanxietyhere.Theviewerisassumednotto

reallycareaboutbeingsuretheyreright.Theyjustwantpermissiontobelievewithoutworryingtheyredumbtodoso.

Well,Iagree,Christians,youarenotstupid.Butthatsnotenoughtobejustifiedinbelievingwhateveryouwant.The

film,

like,

in

my

reading,

much

of

the

Bible,

assumes

almost

everyone

believes

in

God

and

that

the

real

challenge

of

faithisthechallengetotrustGod.Thefilmmakersthentreatalltheatheists(exceptpossiblyMark,playedbyDeanCain)

likesecretChristiansindenial.Theythinktheproblemofevilistherealissueandsothewholefilmisreallystructured

aboutmakingtheargumentthatGodisgooddespiteevil.

ProfessorRadissonisnotreallyanatheist.Hesamisotheist someonewhobelievesinthegods(orGod)buthates

them(orHim).AmyhoundsChristiansasagotchajournalistbecauseshesecretlyenviestheirhope.Thestudentsall

writedownthatGodisdeadbecauseofpressuretoconformbydenyingGod.

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TheProblemofEvil

ThefilmtriesseveralwaystoswaypeopletoacceptGodisgooddespiteevil.

Oneargumentcomesfromthesuddenpropheticutterancesofanelderlywomansufferingdementiaandcominginand

outoflucidity.Shehasasuddenmomentofclaritywhereshelectureshersmug,materialistic,unabashedlyselfishson

MarkwhogloatsaboutgettingawaywithbeingrottenwhileshesuffersafteralifeofdevotiontoGod.Inherspeech,as

thoughchannelingsomesupernaturalentitybeforesuddenlysnappingoutofitandnotevenknowingwhosheistalking

to

again,

she

talks

about

how

bad

people

prosper

in

this

world

because

the

devil

wants

it

that

way.

He

makes

their

sinfulnesssocomfortableonEarththattheyneverrepent.Theyarepeopleactuallyinaspiritualjailcellwhocanleave

atanymoment.Thedoorsopen.Buttheyneverwalkout.Then,whentheydie,thedoorslamsshutandtheyre

trappedandtheylearnthetruenatureofwhattheyvechosen.

Thisiswishfulfantasy.Notmuchofanargument.ItalsoraisesquestionsofwhyGodletspeoplebedeceivedlikethat.

Romans9wouldtellusthatitsbecauseHemakessomepeoplewiththeexpresspurposeofneversavingthem,thatHe

activelyhardenssomepeoplesheartsagainstHim,andthatHecreatestheminthefirstplacetobedestroyed.John

12:40explainstheunbeliefpeopleexperienceevenwhenseeingJesusperformmiraclesbysayingthisistofulfillIsaiahs

prophecythatTheLordhasblindedtheireyesandhardenedtheirheartssothattheireyescannotsee,andtheir

heartscannotunderstand,andtheycannotturntomeandhavemehealthem.WhohasblindedthepeoplesotheycannotturntoJesus?Notthedevil,buttheLord.Somuchforfreewill,Christians!Wheatontriestocitetheexistenceofevilasnecessaryforthesakeoffreewill.Radissonhasexactlytherightreplybut

thefilm(liketoomanyChristians)leapstopicsinsteadofdirectlyaddressingthepoint.Radissonpointsoutitisexcessive

andirrelevanttofreewillthatwehavetodealwithsuchexcessiveevilsastsunamis,genocides,etc.AndRadisson

mocksthatthenextthingyouknowWheatonwillbetalkingaboutabsolutemorality.Wheatonjumpsonthisopeningto

talkaboutmorality.ButthepointRadissoncouldhavebeenmakingisthatifabsolutemoralityisreal,thensurelyit

mustholdGodaccountableforallthegratuitousevilsHeallowsgowellbeyondwhatisactuallynecessaryforfreewillto

belegitimatelypresentintheworld.Thisisastrongcaseagainstbelievingthereisanomnibenevolentandmorally

perfectGodatall.

ThefinalwaythefilmtriestomakethecasethatevilisnotsobadisinitshorribledeathsceneforProfessorRadisson,

whichIcriticizedasthecruxofapreviousreviewofthefilm.Tosumupquicklyhere,thecharacterswringarepentance

outofRadisson,ashelaysdying,andthencelebrate,expressingenvytowardshimthathegetstogotoheavenand

notingthathispainbeforedyingmercifullylastedmeremomentswhilethejoysofheavenwillbeendless.Inthisway

thefilmmakerstrytomodelforushowwearesupposedtoreadjustthewayweinterpreteverythingsoweseeitasall

wonderfulinthebiggercontextofGodsgrace.IfonlytheycantraintheirfellowChristianstoseeeverythingintheway

thatmakesitevidenceofGodsgrace,whythen,theywonthaveanguished,bitterrejectionsofGodthatsupposedly

accountsforsomuchatheism.

Itdoesntreally,ofcourse,accountformuchatheismatall.Atheistsarenotmisotheists.WedonthateGod.Wejust

dontbelieveinGod.WhatsomeofushateisthatwethinkChristianityandotherreligionslietopeople,hinderingthemintheirabilitiestothinkforthemselvesortothinkwithproperinformationandmakethebestdecisionsforthemselves.

WhenweremadwerenotbetrayingthatwesecretlybelieveinGod.Ratherwereangrywiththeeffectsofreligious

institutionsand

beliefs

we

think

are

harmful.

We

also

may

get

angry

when

we

hear

all

the

evils

that

we

see

praised

in

theChristianGodtreatedaswonderfulthings.Weassailthedeificationoftraitswehavegoodreasontothinkare

terrible.WeassailtheperversionofethicsandpoliticsandmetaphysicsrepresentedbytheGodconceptwhenweattack

it.Andsomeofusmournfromthedisillusionmentofhavingbeenfalselypromiseddivineprotectionasbeliversonlyto

comeviscerallytounderstandthatnosuchthingexists.

ButIdigress,theunintendedactualeffectofthefilmsclosingattempttoshowushowwonderfultheworldcanlookif

onlyyouseeitthroughtheeyesoffaithisactuallytomakethefilmsChristianslookcultishlydangerous,inhumanly

capableofpleasureatotherpeoplesdeaths,andvulturelikeintheirwillingnesstopreyuponadyingdoubtertotryto

gethimtoprayoutofterror.Again,myfullexplanationofwhyisinmyotherreview.

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TheAppealtoNeedforAbsoluteMorality

Finally,letmeaddresstheargumentfrommoralityraisedbrieflynclass.WheatonclaimedthatProfessorRadissonwasa

moralrelativistwhobelievedtherecouldbenomoralabsolutesbutinconsistentlywouldsurelyapplymoralstandards

wereastudenttocheat.Thefactofthematteristhat,despitebeing83%nontheists,philosopherswhobelievemorality

isrealoutnumberthosethinkitisnotrealatarateof2to1.

Iwillalsostressthatitsafalsedichotomytoimplythatformoralitytobeobjective,rational,andcompellingithastobe

absolute.

For

my

full

argument

about

why

Christians

again

have

the

log

in

their

eye

and

really

believe

in

the

most

subjectivistversionofmoralitypossibleandwhyitiseitherirrationalorsuperfluoustosayGodisthesourceof

goodness,IimploreyoutoreadmypostcalledGodandGoodnesswhichisanindepthdialogueonthisverytopic.

OnAntitheism,Sciencevs.God,andWhetherPhilosophyisDead

YesterdayspostansweringallthewaysthemovieGodsNotDeadarguedforGodandrepresentedphilosophywassolongsomepeoplecouldntreadallofit.So,Iaddedatableofcontents.Youcangobacktothatpostnowandclickon

linkstothepostssubsectionsandtheywillsendyoutotheexactpartsofthepostyouremostinterestedin.

Ialso

added

new

material

today

to

that

post.

In

this

post,

Im

presenting

justthatnewmaterial(nothingalready

covered).Youcaneitherreadallofthisnewmaterialor,ifyouwanttoreadonlywhatIveaddedonspecificmajor

topics,justclickonanyofthefollowinglinksandyoullbesenttothenewmaterialonthattopic:

NewResponsestoGodsNotDead

WhyDoSomeAtheistsSayTheyDoKnowTheresNoGod?AreAtheistsHypocriticallyPeopleofFaithToo?

Alsoalongtheselines,letmenoteanotherhypocrisy.Christiansregularlyinsistthatanyonewhodoesntknowwith

absolutely100%certaintythatthereisnoGodisnotreallyanatheistbutanagnosticandshouldbehonestandcall

themselvesthatinstead.ButwhydontyouChristianswhosayyoudontknow100%certainlythereisaGod

callyourselves

agnostics?

Why

is

someone

only

allowed

to

be

called

an

atheist

if

they

have

an

impossible

standard

of

knowledge(100%certaintysomethingweactuallyhaveinhardlyanyofthecasesofsayingIknow)butChristianscan

callthemselvestheistswhentheyadmittheyonlybelievebyfaith?

Andatheismisnotjustafaithposition.Manyatheistsareverycarefultosaytheyonlylackbeliefingods,noteven

thattheyknowtherearenogods.Theyareagnosticatheists(agnosticinthesensethattheyclaimnottoknowexactly,

butatheistsinthattheythinkthemostrationaldefaultisnonbelief).Thoseofus(likeme)whoaremoregnostic

atheistssayweknowthereisnoGodnotbecausewemakealeapoffaithbutbecausepositionswithnogoodreasonto

believeinthem,whichareriddledwithrationalcontradictions,antiscientificsupernaturalisms,andhistorical

fabrications,canbedismissedas99.999%likelytobefalse.Christiansdontgiveasecondthoughttodismissingthe

existenceof99.99%ofgodseveryproposedbyhumans.YoudontjusthavefaiththereisnoZeusorGaneshorApollo

You

dont

just

have

faith

there

are

no

leprechauns

or

unicorns

or

abominable

snowmen.

You

know

there

arent

as

wellasyouknowthereisntadragonintheroomwithyourightnow.Sure,theresaninfinitesimalpossibilityyourewrong.

Butnotenoughtorefusetosayyouknowthesethingsdontexist.Weatheists,hardasthismaybetofathomtoyou,

simplydonotshareyourarbitrary,culturallyandpsychologicallyengraineddoublestandardbywhichyougivetheGod

oftheBibleapassonthesamelogic.Thatsit.WedonothavefaithyourGoddoesnotexist.Somesay,theresno

reasontothinkitsowejustdontbelieveorlackbelief.Othersofussay,yeah,weknowyourewrong.

IfAntitheistsAreBadPeople,EvangelicalsAreDownrightAwful

ThisalsodoesnotmeanthatbeinganantitheistisbeingpersecutoryofChristians.Wheatontriestoarguethat

whatsreallywrongwithProfessorRadissonisneitherhisphilosophyoratheismbuthisantitheism.Thedesirefor

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othersnottobetheistsiscastasauthoritarian.Butwhy?Ifwereallythinkitsfalseandharmfultoopposeit,why

shouldntwemakeourrationalarguments?GrantedweshouldntbedogmaticbullieslikeProfessorRadisson.Granted

weshouldntletthatinterferewithourresponsibilitiestofirstandforemostbeempoweringeducatorstoourstudents

whenweareprofessors.Butthatsanuncharitablepresentationofantitheists.Itpicksontheworstofusbutnotthe

best.Whyshouldcivilbutadamantatheistshavetobeanylessaggressiveaboutpromotingourviewsandvaluesthan

youareaboutpromotingyours?WhyisitaokayforJoshtoexplicitlyseektousehisphilosophyclasstopreachJesus

butitsnotokayforanatheisttochallengeastudentsChristianfaith?WhenattheendofthemovietheNewsboys

encouragetheaudiencememberstotexteveryonetheyknowwiththemessagethatGodsNotDead,inhopesof

reachingamillion

people,

is

that

not

obnoxious?

With

your

thin

skins,

you

would

feel

persecuted

to

the

nth

degree

if

atheiststextedeveryonetheyknewthatGodisDead.

Whyisitpersecutionwhenwevigorouslychallengeyouandtrytochangeyourmindsbutitisnotpersecutionofus

whenyouvigorouslytrytosaveoursouls?Andwhichgroupismoreaggressiveaboutthis?Whohasatwothousand

yearhistoryofdemandingconversionsfromeveryonearoundthem?Atheists?OrChristians?Whoexactlyhasthelogin

theireyehereifproselytizingisaterriblesin?

Andifwecanagree(asIdo,asanevangelicalatheistunashamedtowanttoconvinceotherstoatheism)thatitsokayto

disputewitheachotheroverourviewsandvalues,evenonesrelatedtofaith,whichgroupexplicitlyadvocates

persuadingpeoplebyreasonandwhichonewilluseanyemotionalreasonwhatsoever?Whichgroupregularlycanbe

foundtellingpeopletheyhavetoletgooftheirreasonandjustacceptthingsbyfaith?Thatlogisinyoureyes,notours.

IfProfessorRadissonsABadGuy,TheChristianGodistheWorstPossibleBadGuy

TheprojectionofthesinsofChristianityontoatheistscontinuesafterWheatonspresentationoncosmological

argumentsforGod.Radissonactsincrediblyinsecureandpettily.Withthemostvulnerableegoofanyoneinpowerever

heaccusesWheatonoftryingtoshowhimupandthinkinghessmarterthanhim.Andthen,amazingly,hetells

Wheaton,InthatclassroomthereisaGodandIamhim.Then,astoundingly,hesayshesajealousGod.Andhe

threatensvindictivelytogobeyondjustfailingWheatoninhisclass,forinsolentlydisagreeingwithhimaboutGodin

frontoftheclass,buttoevengosofarastodestroyhishopesofbeingalawyeraltogether.

Again,theprojectionisbreathtaking.RadissonsconceptionofGodistheChristianone.ThelogisinyourGodseye,

Christians!When

you

loathe

the

way

Professor

Radisson

leverages

his

power

to

pick

on

someone

smaller

than

him,

you

shouldbeloathingyourGodfordoingthattothehumansHecreatesanddemandsobediencefrom.Whenyoure

appalledatRadissonsjealousyandvindictiveness,youshoulddisownwhenyourownGodcallhimselfajealousGod

whopunishesthosewhodontworshipHimsinglemindedly.WhenRadissonthreatensdisproportionatepunishments

forexpressingfreedomofconscience(whichisreallydoingnothingwrongatall)youshouldunderstandthatyourBible,

whichdemandspeoplesubmittothearbitrarywillofsomearbitrarilypositeddeity,threatenspeoplewitheternalhell

simplyfornotbelievinginyourGod.Whathappenedtopeoplesfreeintellectualconscience?

AlltheauthoritarianvicesofRadissonareinherentintheGodofwrathwhosendspeopletohellinChristianity.

But,yousay,Godisrighteousandonlysendspeopletohellbecausetheydeserveit.

ImsureProfessorRadissonthinksheisrighttodowhathedoestoo.Butthatdoesntmakeittrue.Weneedobjective

waystoassesstheclaimstorighteousnessofpeopleinauthority.AndtheGodoftheBiblefailsthemostimportant

moraltestswehave.HecondemnsthewholehumanraceforAdamandEvessincursinguswithoriginalsinandwith

suffering.Itsimmoraltopunishpeopleforotherssins.IntheOldTestamentHecommandsgenocides,commands

slavery,commandsstoningpeopleforpettyinfractions,anddrownseveryoneontheplanet(eventheinnocentbabies).

IntheNewTestamenttheideaofhellisintroducedinfinitepunishmentforfinitesins,whichistheheightofcruel

injustice.

TheonlywaytosayGodisrighteousistoignoreeverythingwehavecometorealizeaboutmoralityinthelast2,000

yearsandfornogoodreason,byfaith,declarealltheevilsintheBiblegoodoutofthedogmaticassertionGodmustbe

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goodsowhateverGoddidmustberight.ThatsnotprovingyourGodisgood,itsignoringalltheclearcounterevidenceandwarpingallyourmoraljudgmentsaccordingly,evenifitmeansmakingexcusesforthemostheinouscrimes

imaginable.Thatisarbitrarinessandauthoritarianism,thetotalantithesisofobjectivemorality.Sayingthatwickedness

canbejusticeifonlyGodsayssoistheheightofsubjectivisminmorality.Itsmightmakesrightasatheology.Yousay

weneedChristianityinordertoknowrightfromwrong?IsayitsChristianitysfaultYOUcanttellrightfromwrong

wheneveryourownGoddoesevil.WhyintheworldwouldItrustyoutotellmerightfromwrong?

Anobjectivemoralitywouldbeoneobjectivelydemonstrablefromrationalreasonsopentoanyone,notonethat

requiredstumbling

upon

the

right

arbitrary

religion

and

believing

it

on

faith,

even

though

its

God

has

wicked

and

upside

downvaluesallthroughoutitsholybook.

GodoftheGapsandtheOriginofLife

Whentheargumentsresume,Wheatonmakesanothertendentious,arbitraryattempttolinkametaphorfromGenesis

toascientifictruth.ThistimeevolutionissomehowindicatedbyGenesisbecauseplantsandanimalsasweknowthem

areanextremelylatedevelopmentinevolutionarytime,whichmakesitliketheyhappenedonalatedaylikethefifth

andsixthinGenesis.Thisproveslessthannothing.ItdoesntshowthattheBiblehadanythinglikeanyspecial

knowledgelatervindicatedbyscience.

Wheaton

tries

to

argue

that

because

scientists

do

not

have

an

account

yet

of

the

origin

of

life

that

perhaps

it

was

God

thatoriginatedit.WhatissotediousaboutthisisthatitisaGodoftheGapsargumentantitheticaltotheentirespirit

ofscience.GodoftheGapsisanexpressionusedtopointoutthattheistsusedtothinkofGod(orgods)asexplaining

agreatnumberofphenomenathatarenowexplicableinscientificways.Assciencehasfilledinmoreandmoreofour

understandingoftheworld,Godkeepsbeingproposedbytheistsassupposedlynecessarytoexplainwhateverhappens

tobeleftunexplained.Itseemsimplausiblethatscientific(andcorrelatephilosophical)advanceswouldkeephappening

andhappeningandreplacingGodexplanationafterGodexplanationandyetwhateverwehappentohavenotfigured

outyetiswhatGodalonecanaccountfor.

Godhasbeenoverturnedoverandoveragainasbestexplanationwehavescienceandphilosophy.Itrepeatedlyproves

tobeabadexplanation.SothereisnoreasontostopdoingscienceandphilosophyandjustsayGoddidit.Had

scientistsandphilosophersstoppedanyofthousandsofothertimeswithandherewestopthinkingandjustsaythat

Goddid

it,

enormous

leaps

of

understanding

would

have

never

happened.

If

we

start

doing

that

now

because

we

all

becometheists,howmuchprogresswillwelose?

ChristianssometimestrytosolvethisbysayingGodisnotjustabeingamongotherbeingsbynatureitselforbeing

itself,somehowthebeinginwhichandthroughwhichallothersexist.Butthatroadistheroadtopantheism.Thatis

compellingonlyifwejustmakeNatureandGodsynonyms.AttributingtothatGodpersonalityandinterventionsinto

historylikereadintheBibleisjustnonsense.ThatsjustsayingNatureitselfislikeahumanbeing.Thatsasarbitraryas

sayingNatureitselftastesliketomatosauce.

So,itissillywhenChristianssaythatsincewearemissinganexact,verifiablescientificaccountofthedynamicsbywhich

theoriginsoflifehappened,thatsomehowthismeansitcouldhavebeenGodorthatthescientificmethodisflawedor

limited.Science

is

limited

here

not

by

aconceptual

impossibility

(i.e.,

not

because

it

makes

nosenseforlifetocomeinto

beingthroughanaturalisticprocess,butratherbecauselifesoriginshappenedverylongagoandithappenedwithsuch

tinyrudimentaryorganismsthattheydidntleavefossiltraces.Therearearangeofwaysabiogenesis(theoriginof

life)couldhavehappenedthatscientistscandreamupthatareplausible.Whenscientistssaytheydontknowhowlife

beganitsnotbecausetheycantimaginethingsorthatnothingwouldmakesense,whereasChristianshaveaprofound

imaginationortheonlysensiblepossibility.Rather,itsthatunlikeChristians,scientistsarepatientlywaitingforevidenceratherthanjustmakingsomethingup.Theyrebeinghumbleandwaitingtoactuallyknow.Christiansarenotsmarterormorerationalforjustinsistingtheyknowandnotwaitingforevidence.Wereallscienceto

worklikethat,theredbenoscience.Dontblamescientistsforembodyingthepatienceandtemporarycomfortability

withnotknowingthatroutinelyleadstoactualscientificsuccess.YoucantsayscienceandChristianityarecompatible

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andthenshowthatinyourownthinkingyouadvocaterushingtoconclusionsandstoppinginquiriesandsettlingfor

Goddiditexplanationsanddisparagingthepatienceofscientists.Whenyoudothosethings,youembodyand

promoteantiscientificattitudesinpractice.Youhurtthecauseofscience.Thereismoretosupportingsciencethanjustmouthingthewords,Isupportscience.

WhyExplainingEvolutionwithGodisAntiScience

Ialso,morecontroversially,thinkitissimilarlyunscientifictosaythatbothGodandevolutiongotogetherbecauseGod

makesevolution

happen.

The

reason

this

is

unscientific

is

that

it

spits

in

the

face

of

the

discovery

of

natural

selection.

Theideathatspeciesevolvefromancestorstodescendantswasalreadyunderstoodintheideaofbreeding.Weknew

wecouldartificiallyselectfortraitsinanimalsandplantstomakethemhavethetraitswewantedtobycontrolling

whichonesmatedwitheachother.WhatwassoamazingandparadigmshiftingaboutDarwinsdiscoverywasthatjust

thedynamicsofnaturealonecouldhavethesameeffectasintelligentbreeders.Whatwasamazingwasthatan

environmentjustbeinginhospitabletoatraitandaccidentallymakingitsothebearersofthattraitjustcouldntlivelong

enoughtoreproduceoffspringwiththesametraitcouldweedoutthattraitaseffectivelyashumanschoosingtonotletdogswithagiventraitreproduce.

Theamazingrealizationofevolutionbynaturalselectionisthattheinteractionofenvironmentswithtraitscanallby

itself,

over

millions

and

millions

of

years

make

the

changes

happen

with

no

intelligent

agency

atall

necessary.

And,

in

fact,manyofthewaysthedesignsthatresultedfromthesedynamicscameout,itisclearthattheyrenotalways

perfectorlogical.Theyinvolveallsortsofinefficienciesandnonidealdesignsandsuperfluousdimensionsallbecause

theywerethetraitsandcombinationsoftraitsthathappenedtoevolveandfitwellenoughtotheenvironmentthattheyworked.Theydontbespeakaperfectdesignerwhoforesawwhatmaximumefficiencywouldrequireand

implementedit.Theylookexactlyastheywouldifrandommutationsandrandomchangesinenvironmentwere

selectedbywhicheverhappenedtofitthebest,thoughnotperfectly.

SayingIacceptevolutionhappensbecauseofGod!becomesassuperfluousandunscientificassayingIacceptthat

lightninghappensbecauseofThor!OrIacceptthatifIfalloutthewindowIwillfallbecauseofthenaturallawof

gravityandbecauseGodpushedme!Theelectrostaticdischargeissufficienttoexplainthelightningallbyitself,

naturalistically.PositingThoraddsnothingbutmisunderstanding.Gravityexplainswhyyoufall.PositingGodadds

nothingbut

misunderstanding.

Natural

selection

explains

why

organisms

evolve.

Positing

God

adds

nothing

but

misunderstanding.

HowScienceandPhilosophyVindicateMetaphysicalNaturalismandtheExistenceofReligiousScientistsDoesnt

VindicateTheism

SciencedoesnotjustassumeGoddoesntexists.Scientistshavejustfoundthatsaying,well,maybeitsbecauseof

Godisuselessinthelaboratoryandintheorymaking.Evenreligiousscientistswhomakegreatdiscoveriesorbuild

greattechnologiesunderstandthattheyhavetoessentiallyleaveGodandholybookscompletelyoutoftheirscientific

workbecausetheonlyaccountsthatcanreallybemeaningfularethosethatareempiricallyandmathematicallyprecise

andGodisnotthosethings.Thisispartofwhythemereexistenceofreligiousscientistsdoesnotprovethatreligionand

sciencego

together.

Religious

people

are

good

scientists

onlywhentheyleavetheirreligiousbeliefsoutoftheirscience

andengineering.Aspeople,thismeanstheyarelivingwithcognitivedissonance.Inthelaboratorytheythinkasthough

therewerenoGod,thatis,theythinkasthoughtheywereatheists,andpreciselybecauseofthattheyaresuccessful.

Butinchurchandpersonalpietytheyliveasthoughtherewerenone.Theyabandonallthecategoriesofrigorous

thinkingthattheyemployinthelabwhenlookingattheirScriptures.Theycanonlybebothreligiousandscientificby

beingcategoricallyunscientificandacceptingbaselessreligiousauthoritieswhenbeingreligious.

SomeChristianapologistsconcedethatwehavetobemethodologicalnaturalistsinthelaboratory(thatis,people

whoassumethenaturalworldandnaturalexplanationsalltherearebutwhoonlyassumethiswhendoingscience)but

thatdoesntmeanweshouldbemetaphysicalnaturalists(peoplewhothinkreallyallthereisisnatureandnatural

explanations).Theyaccusemetaphysicalnaturalismofbeinganunwarrantedassumption.ButIseeitasafinding,an

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otherhugeproblemsinpsychologyandsociologyhavemajorphilosophicaldimensionstothemthatarenotmerely

empirical.

ThemanytheistsandatheiststryingtodebateGodsexistencearenotmerelypublishingfindingsinsciencejournalsat

thatpoint.Theyreextrapolatingfromthesciencetoallsortsoffurthermetaphysicalandepistemologicalconclus