http://www.patheos.com/blogs/secularoutpost/2013/06/05/did-jesus-exit-part-1/ Introduction to the issue: Did Jesus exist? http://www.patheos.com/blogs/secularoutpost/2013/06/07/did-jesus-exit-part-2/ Outline of Did Jesus Exist? By Bart Ehrman. Various skeptical points by Ehrman, especially the insignificance of non-Christian historical sources. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/secularoutpost/2013/06/10/did-jesus-exit-part-3/ Keith Parson’s advice and Bart Ehrman on the Minimal Jesus … [Read more...]
One Man’s Modus Ponens…Part 6
November 29, 2013 By 14 Comments
In Chapter 3 of Handbook of Christian Apologetics (hereafter: HOCA), Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli present twenty arguments for the existence of God. The very first argument is one of the Five Ways of Aquinas. This is not surprising, since Kreeft is a Catholic: The universe is the sum total of all these moving things, however many there are. The whole universe is in the process of change. But we have already seen that change in any being requires an outside force to actualize it. … [Read more...]
One Man’s Modus Ponens…Part 5
November 27, 2013 By 3 Comments
Here is a creationist argument for the existence of God: 1. If God exists, then it is very likely that the basic kinds of plants and animals all began to exist at the same time. 2. If there is no God, then it is very unlikely that the basic kinds of plants and animals all began to exist at the same time. 3. The basic kinds of plants and animals all began to exist at the same time. Therefore: 4. Other things being equal, it is probable that God exists. Here is another … [Read more...]
One Man’s Modus Ponens…Part 4
November 23, 2013 By 1 Comment
In A Companion to Philosophy of Religion, there is an article by Jeffrey Jordan on "Pragmatic Arguments", that covers Pascal's Wager. According to Jordan, there are at least three versions of Pascal's Wager. In this post I will examine one of the three versions, which goes something like this: 1. Either God exists or it is NOT the case that God exists. 2. If God exists, then a person who believes in God will be much better off than a nonbeliever. 3. If it is NOT the case that God exists, … [Read more...]
One Man’s Modus Ponens…Part 3
November 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Here is a Christian argument for the existence of God: 1. If God raised Jesus from the dead, then God exists. 2. God raised Jesus from the dead. Therefore: 3. God exists. There is no need to make this into a modus tollens, because premise (2) clearly begs the question. The claim that 'God raised Jesus from the dead' assumes that there is a God who is available to perform miracles, such as the resurrection of Jesus. But the question at issue is whether God exists, so (2) assumes what … [Read more...]
One Man’s Modus Ponens…Part 2
November 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Here is another argument for God, based on answered prayers: 1. If God exists, then it is very likely that prayers to God for healing from injury or disease would usually be immediately followed by instantaneous and complete healing, except when the injury or disease was the result of self-destructive, foolish, or morally wrong actions on the part of the person who is suffering from the injury or disease. 2. If it is NOT the case that God exists, then it is very unlikely that prayers to … [Read more...]
One Man’s Modus Ponens…
November 15, 2013 By 24 Comments
Here is an argument for the existence of God: 1. If there is a God, then it is very likely that there is a book that was written many centuries ago that is purported to be a divine revelation, and that is widely known about, and that is filled with nothing but true facts and wisdom and clear and sound moral guidance, and that provides great help for people to live good and happy lives. 2. If there is no God, then it is very unlikely that there is a book that was written many centuries ago … [Read more...]
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