Go check out Mr. Dawntreader’s site. What sold me on his blog is the sheer breadth of his blog. Check out the mile-long tags list! It’s quite a cornucopia of topics. I’m impressed with everything, but especially his attention to worldview. That is something that a lot of people miss, but it wields so much power. I’m glad he’s got a nose for it.
This is yet another blogger that I’m glad to have on Christ’s side.
Posted in Uncategorized
A few days ago, Peter posted a video by Pen Jillette (of Penn and Teller fame), in which Penn, an avowed atheist, really puts us 21st century Christians in our place.
No, he doesn’t come down on us for being narrow minded or “shoving the Bible down his throat.” He doesn’t rail on us for being judgmental. He doesn’t come down on us for focusing too much on theology and apologetics, nor does he put down the idea of hell and God’s judgment. Quite the opposite….quite the opposite. It’s a very counter-cultural take on hate and love. I’ll just say that I don’t hear this much coming from the pulpit these days, and I don’t hear very many Christians saying it.
I’m not that familiar with Penn’s work, but this video alone has earned him tremendous respect in my book.
Just check out the video and you’ll see what I mean.
Posted in religion
Tagged Atheism, Christianity, Evangelism, Faith, Penn Jillette, religion
Yesterday I posted on God’s foreknowledge and our free acts. Bottom line: God’s foreknowledge does not eradicate our free will.
photo credit: elfwood.com
Today, I’m going more on the offensive. From time to time in my philosophical meanderings, I encounter a determinist, someone who believes we do not have free will. They offer a few reasons for this. Belief in Naturalism or some form of Scientism is most often the culprit (Determinism follows quite nicely from a naturalist worldview.).
I’ve always marveled at those who declare determinism from the rooftops, then go about arguing for it. They write blog posts about it. They start discussions about it. They muse over it in philosophy class. They trade punches about it online. They even question it over coffee.
I wonder: what, exactly, do determinists in such circumstances actually think they are accomplishing? If it’s true, my beliefs, thoughts, questions, emotions, etc are causally determined by atoms, brain chemistry, particles colliding, and such. Isn’t it, well, a moot point to argue, discuss, persuade, question, and muse about it?
Somethin’s got to give: either determinism, or our normal way of operating in life.
I could go on and talk about other demerits of the view in more detail. Suffice it to say: it is virtually impossible to live it out. A determinist must make a Scheafferian upper story leap of faith to get along in life.
That alone doesn’t bode too well for the view.
Next question: which worldview makes the best sense of free will?
The answer to that doesn’t bode too well for Naturalism.
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Posted in philosophy
Tagged determinism, freewill, God, Naturalism, philosophy, religion
