Envision in your mind an enormous tree containing many limbs, which branch off into smaller branches, which branch off into twigs, which sprout leaves. The branches and foliage are so thick that you can’t see the trunk of the tree at all. Alexandre Calame, Landscape with Oak (1859) Although you can’t see the trunk, you… Continue reading Of Thick Trees and Morality: An Analogy.
Tag: atheism
Can Objective Morality Exist Without God? (Round 2)
My debate with Steven Dillon on whether objective morality can exist without God continues on Strange Notions. On Wednesday, they posted my rebuttal to Steven’s opening statement, and today, they posted Steven’s rebuttal to my opening statement. From my rebuttal: Is Agony Intrinsically Evil? In my opening statement, I suggested that non-theistic moral systems cannot… Continue reading Can Objective Morality Exist Without God? (Round 2)
Can Objective Morality Exist Without God? (Round 1)
Can objective morality exist without God? That’s the question that Steven Dillon and I are debating over at Strange Notions. The schedule is as follows: Monday (11/4) – Joe’s opening statement (affirmative) Tuesday (11/5) – Steven’s opening statement (negative) Wednesday (11/6) – Joe’s rebuttal (affirmative) Thursday (11/7) – Steven’s rebuttal (negative) Friday (11/8) – Questions… Continue reading Can Objective Morality Exist Without God? (Round 1)
Establishing Absolute, Knowable Truth, in Three Easy Steps
Gorgias Gorgias the Nihilist, an ancient Greek philosopher, was said to have argued the following four points: Nothing exists; Even if something exists, nothing can be known about it; and Even if something can be known about it, knowledge about it can’t be communicated to others. Even if it can be communicated, it cannot be… Continue reading Establishing Absolute, Knowable Truth, in Three Easy Steps
How the NSA Wiretapping Scandal Reveals God’s Immanence and Transcendence
A while back, I was in an Eastern Orthodox church that had two large depictions of Jesus. The first was an enormous depiction on the ceiling, showing Christ in glory. The second was along the back wall, behind the altar: it was a depiction of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child in her womb.… Continue reading How the NSA Wiretapping Scandal Reveals God’s Immanence and Transcendence
How Train Cars and Set Theory Prove the Existence of God
Perhaps the strongest argument against atheism is the argument from contingency. In its barest form, it goes something like this: A. All of reality, without exception, breaks down into one of two possible categories: (1) that which is contingent, and (2) that which is non-contingent. Let me explain what I mean by both the terms,… Continue reading How Train Cars and Set Theory Prove the Existence of God
Does the Immaterial Exist?
One of the most common arguments from atheists is that matter is all that there is, and that the immaterial (God, angels, the human soul, etc.) simply doesn’t exist. This position is generally called “philosophical materialism,” although that term encompasses a number of distinct positions. In any case, here’s one of the clearest presentations of… Continue reading Does the Immaterial Exist?
Turning the Problem of Evil On Its Head
The existence of evil is one of the most powerful arguments against theism (and particularly Christianity): how can an all-powerful, all-loving God permit evil in His Creation? I think that there are two important responses to make to this. First, that Christianity can answer this problem. Second, this argument requires the existence of God, because… Continue reading Turning the Problem of Evil On Its Head
It’s Time to Kill Santa
Thomas Nast, Santa Claus (1881) Today is Christmas Eve, and we’re at a turning point in the year. For Catholics, the Christmas season begins tomorrow with the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. For secular culture, the Christmas season ends tomorrow, having begun last month around Thanksgiving. At the heart of this debate over… Continue reading It’s Time to Kill Santa
A Catholic Reply to “How to Suck At Your Religion”
An anti-religious (and specifically, anti-Catholic) webcomic is making the rounds on the Internet right now. It’s part of a webcomic called The Oatmeal, and is called “How to suck at your religion.” I have to warn anyone clicking that link that it’s really offensive: profane, lewd, and blasphemous, all at once. Honestly, if you don’t… Continue reading A Catholic Reply to “How to Suck At Your Religion”