I read a funny story in II Samuel 6 today. (I was reading about what a shit god can be. There’s this bit in II Samuel 6 where David and some friends are transporting the ark of the covenant somewhere in a cart, and Uzzah put his hand on the ark to steady it because the cart was shaking – so god killed him. That makes a lot of sense – Uzzah tries to help and god kills him for it. Nice guy. David gets cold feet then and puts the ark in storage, not wanting to get smited, then he runs some experiments and confirms that god helps people who have the ark [apart from Uzzah, but that’s not … Read the rest
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Ockhamism
Oct 12th, 2008 6:05 pm | By Ophelia BensonI’m writing a review of C S Lewis and the Search for Rational Religion by John Beversluis. It’s a gripping read, at least if you’re interested in argument and belief and arguments for belief in god and the problem of evil and theistic epistemology and the difference between rhetoric and argument. Beversluis shows carefully and in detail what is wrong with Lewis’s various claims. It’s a gripping read if you’re interested in reasons for believing things, and if you’re not interested in that, you ought to be; everyone ought to be.
The most gripping chapter, in my view, is chapter 10, ‘C S Lewis’s Crisis of Faith.’ Beversluis argues (and shows, I think) that in his despair after his … Read the rest
Times Higher on Academic Blogging 
Oct 12th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Many philosophers seem quite happy to post early drafts of their research papers online.… Read the rest
Tom Clark on ‘Misrepresenting Naturalism’
Oct 12th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Naturalism is perfectly supportive of moral responsibility, human flourishing and an open, democratic society.… Read the rest
Steven Poole on ‘Don’t Get Fooled Again’
Oct 12th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The author hopes to give us the tools to avoid being fooled by ‘pseudo-news’ and pseudo-experts.… Read the rest
Monbiot on Wilson on Booker on Asbestos
Oct 12th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Since 2002, [Booker] has published 38 articles on this topic, and every one of them is wrong.’… Read the rest
Are You Right-on Enough to Teach Here?
Oct 12th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Which of your achievements in the area of equity for (____) gives you the most satisfaction?… Read the rest
Religion v Science Round 4,857
Oct 11th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Strident secularists, fanatical fundamentalists, Dawkins, Beattie, Reiss, Baggini, etc.… Read the rest
Maclean’s Wins ‘Hate Speech’ Case
Oct 11th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
BC rights tribunal dismissed the case as did Ontario and Canadian HRC.… Read the rest
Responses to Sam Fleischacker’s Series
Oct 11th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The alternative to ethnic nationalism is civic nationalism and a regime of equal rights for all citizens.’… Read the rest
Anthony Appiah at Philosophy Bites
Oct 11th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
One on experiments in ethics, another on cosmopolitanism.… Read the rest
Stephen Law’s ‘The God Delusion’ Book Club
Oct 11th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Dawkins marshals empirical work on the evolutionary roots of morality to defend godless morality.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo Solve the Problem of Evil
Oct 11th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Free will; appreciation; character formation; mystery. My shout.… Read the rest
Christians, Buddhist ‘Offended’ by Cartoon
Oct 11th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Cartoon seen as mockery of Pentecostals. (And Palin, and McCain, and God.)… Read the rest
Reiki “cannot do harm” – or can it?
Oct 11th, 2008 | By Christopher A. MoyerWhat would it be like to have world-class athletic ability, and to spend years of intensive training honing that ability, only to suddenly lose it all in the instant it takes your physician to utter a few words?
Hayden Roulston, a professional cyclist from New Zealand, has experienced this. After several seasons competing for the top-flight professional teams Cofidis and United States Postal Service, Roulston was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD), a rare and incurable heart disease known to cause sudden death in athletes. Notably, the prognosis is good for ARVD patients who refrain from exercise early in the course of the disease, which is why medical experts advise ARVD patients that they “should not do vigorous exercise.”[1] … Read the rest
Sudan to Chair Millennium Development Program
Oct 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
With support of Group of 77, China, and the OIC, Sudan government is chosen to head anti-poverty program.… Read the rest
Vatican Rejects Proposed French Ambassador
Oct 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He’s gay. Previous candidate refused because he was divorced. Is France teasing Ratzinger?… Read the rest
Lead Prosecutor on Ayers and Obama
Oct 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Amazed and outraged that Obama is being linked to Ayers’s actions; pleased that Ayers is a good citizen.… Read the rest
Malalai Joya Receives Human Rights Award
Oct 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She publicly denounces war criminals, stands up for women’s rights, campaigns on behalf of rape victims.… Read the rest
Sarah Palin and Conservative ‘Feminism’
Oct 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Feminists are being challenged by national organizations that are antifeminist but claim to represent women’s interests. … Read the rest
