APhilosophyProfessorAnalyzesGodsNotDeadsCaseforGod

March27,2014 ByDanielFincke

Introduction

EversinceIinferredtheplotofGodsNotDeadfromthetrailerandwroteapolemicalresponsecalledTheAtheist
PhilosophyProfessorStrikesBack!,Ihadbeenextremelycurioustoseeexactlywhatkindofaphilosophicalcasethe
moviewouldtrytomusterinordertomakeitlooklikethephilosophyprofessorwasreallybestedintellectuallybyhis
freshmanstudentbeforeheinevitablyrevealedhisreal,emotional,reasonfornotbelieving(hewasmadatGodfor
killinghismomwithcancerwhenhewas12).
So,now,havingseenthefilm,Iamhappytobeabletogooveralltheinsandoutsofhowitactuallyhandled
philosophy.ThisisthelongestblogpostofmyownwritingIveeverpublished,eighttimesaslongasmynormalposts
and~6,000wordslongerthanmynextlongestposts.
ThereasonIwrotesomuchisbecauseIhopethattherearesomeChristiansouttherewhoreallygenuinelywantto
understandwhethercommonevangelicalChristianwaysofthinkingholdupphilosophicallyandwhetherphilosophyis
reallylikewhatsshowninthemovieGodsNotDead.IwouldntbesurprisedifGodsNotDeadinspiresafewyoung
peopletoexploreapologeticsforthemselves.Iwanttoputontheinternetaresourcethatallowsthemtodealwith
someofthestrongestrebuttalstowhatthisfilmclaimsaboutphilosophyandapologetics.Allofusshouldbeinterested
tomakesureourideasstandupagainstthestrongestchallenges.Notjusttheweakest.Itsnotenoughtohaveawitty
comebackorseesomevaguepossibilityforreconcilingyourfaithwithscienceandphilosophyorhavesomefunseeing
thepeopleyoufeelpersecutedbygethumiliatedinthemovies.Ifyouwanttoberight,youneedtofigureoutthatthe
pictureoftheworldyouhaveisactuallythebestonewhentestedagainstcompetitors.
SoIamwritingthispostfortheChristianwhowantstoknow,indepth,whatarealliveatheistphilosophyprofessor,
withaPhDinphilosophyand93classestaughtattheuniversitylevel,thoughtoftheworldviewinGodsNotDead.AndI
writeassomeonewhoalsoidentifiedwithJoshWheaton.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.
IntherealworlditisChristianuniversitiesthataloneinAmericarequireofstudentsandfacultythattheysignfaith
statementstoattendorteach.IfProfessorRadissonsactionsbotheredyou,inrealityyoushouldbebotheredbythese
Christianuniversitiesbehavior.Thisisnotapointagainstsecularuniversities.Ifanyatheistphilosophyprofessor(orany
atheistprofessorofanyotherkind)atasecularschoolhaseverhadanyonepledgethatsaysGodisdead,Ivenever
heardofit.Evenifitshappened,itwouldbearareoutlierratherthantheroutinepracticeoffaithstatementsatvarious
Christianuniversities.Rareoutliersprovenothingabouttherebeinganinherentprejudiceorpersecutionofpeopleof
faithbysecularuniversitiesorphilosophyprofessors.YoumightsaythatstatementsofChristianfaithareacceptablefor
Christianuniversitiessincepeopleapplytobetherevoluntarily,knowinginadvanceaboutthefaithstatements,sono
oneisbeingpressuredtoagreetosomethingthatgoesagainsttheirintellectualconsciences.
Butthereis,nonetheless,somethingcompletelycontradictorytothespiritoftrueinquirytohavecollegestudents,in
advanceoftheirhighereducation,committobelievingthingsonpainofhavingtoleavetheschooliftheystopbelieving
them.Howisthatopenminded?Howisthatinterestedinreallyprovingandtestingonesbeliefs?Thatssaying,Come
hereandwewilleducateyouandteachyoutothinkcritically.Butbeforeweeducateyouandteachyoutothink
critically,pleasesignthisstatementthatyouwillnevercometoconclusionsdifferentthanyourcurrentbeliefsandour
beliefs.Tosaythattoeighteenyearolds,whoareonlyjustbecomingadultsandonlyjusthavingthechancetothink
outsidetheirparentsinfluence,isinherentlystifling.Itscontrarytotheentirepointofeducation.ButChristian
universitiesdothis.
Andtheirfacultycanbefirediftheythinkthewrongthings.Imaginethat.Thesearepeoplehiredbecausetheyare
highlyqualifiedexpertsintheirsubjects.Butiftheythinksomethingnotpreapproved,theycanlosetheirjobs.Does
thatsoundlikewhatopenmindednessabouttruthwouldbe?Isthatapolicythatisgoingtoleadpeopletocorrecttheir
mistakesorstartchallengingdiscussionsthatmightleadtogreatertruth.Evenifthefaithweretobevindicatedand
strengthenedafterchallenges,youwillneverknowthatifyouprecludepeopleinadvancefromevenquestioningor
temporarilythinkingwhatlookstruebeforeitcanbeprovenfalse.
Thinkaboutyourwholelifeinthechurch,beingaskedtobelieveawholeraftofthingsaboutGodandtheworldand
yourself,tosignstatementscommittingyourselftoJesusortoabstinencebeforeyouhadanyrealopportunitytofigure
thingsoutforyourself.Youwerenotgiventheotherside.Thewhiteboardatthebeginningofthemoviewithallthose
atheistsnameshowmanyofthemdidyoureadbeforecommittingtobelievebyfaithintheChristianGod?Howmuch
timedidyouspendwithanyoneadvocatingforthosepeoplebeforeyouspentthousandsuponthousandsofhours
beingpreachedChristianity.Didyourpastorsoryouthleadersorparentsevermakesureyouwerethinkingfreelyabout
thesethingswithoutbiasesandfreetomakeupyourmind?Ordidtheytellyouthatsomethingmuchworsethanfailure
wouldhappenifyoudidntbelieveyouwouldgotohell?Doyoureallyfeelsecurethatifyoujustchangedyourmind
yourChristianfriendsandfamilyandchurchwontmeteoutsocialpenaltiesonyou?Isyourwillreallyfreeinthesense
ofuncoercedwhenallthesepressuresmakeitunthinkabletoyouthatyoucouldeverleaveyourfaith?
Intherealworld,philosophycoursesareroutinelytheplacesoffreestinquiry.Theyretheclassroomswhereyoucan
questionanything.Youcanspeculate.Youcanpersistinpesteringyourprofessorwithanotheryeah,but,whatabout
thisaftereverythinghesaysandhewilllikelyfindyoutobeoneofhisfavoritestudents.Mystudentschallengedand
challengedandchallengedmeovertheyears.Theyspoketheirminds.Theyfoundtheirownvoices.Forcenturies,
stretchingbacktoatleastSocrates,philosophershavebeenatthevanguardoffreethinkingunboundedbytraditional
authorities.Ithasbeenreligiousauthorities,Christianandotherwise,whohavehadthelogsintheireyeshere,they
haveroutinelybeenthemostcensoriousoffreedomofthoughtandexpressionofanyoneuntilthecommunistsand
fascistsgavethemarunfortheirmoneyinthe20thCentury.
WhyLeavingTheologyOutofPhilosophyIsntPersecutingStudents
Nowthereisagrainoftruth,thatthefilmmakersmisrepresentasalogofhypocrisy,insomethingRadissonsayswhen
JoshWheatonisfirminhisinitialrefusaltowritedownthatGodisdead.RadissonnastilysuggeststoWheatonthathe
maygobacktohisdormroomsinkto[his]kneesandprayallhewantsonhisowntimeanditsnoneofhis
[Radisson's]businessbutwhatgoesonintheclassroomishisbusiness.
Now,thisisareallyuncharitableanddemonizingwaytodealwitharealissuethatdoescomeupinphilosophyclasses
withreligiousstudents.Occasionallyreligiousstudentsthinkofphilosophyclassesastheologyclasses.Theywanttogive
theologicallyderivedanswerstophilosophicalquestions.Sometimesthisishelpfulandwecanrunwithitbecauseinthe
theologicalconceptissomethinggenuinelyphilosophicalthatwecanallunderstand,appreciate,andanalyzeevenifwe
donotsharethefaiththatformulatedthepointinthatway.Thatsgreat!
Butitsnotstrictlyspeakingphilosophicaltotrytoanswerphilosophicalquestionsbysimplytakingatheologicalsource
asafinalword.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
behaviorthatIacceptasanatheisteventhough,Ihavetoadmit,IdontevenverymuchpersonallylikeJesus.
So,eveniftheologycanbeasourceoftruth,itsneitherthesubjectnorthemethodforworkinginaphilosophyclass
anymorethanthemethodsofcarpentryorarchitectureorsoftwareengineeringorbakingorphysicsare.Unlessa
particularphilosophicalproblemhappenstointersectwithaprobleminanotherareaofthought(likecosmological
argumentsaboutGodsexistenceinteractwithphysics),thatotherareaofthoughtsmethodsareillegitimate.
AndinphilosophyclassesIdiscouragedstudentsfrommakingethicalormetaphysicalargumentsthathingedon
theologicalauthorities.Whererelevant,westudiedtheologiansphilosophicalworks.Theywerenotexcludedwithany
prejudice.Anyonewithgreatphilosophicalinsightsisrelevant!Myphilosophyofreligionreadingsfeaturedmany
theisticphilosophers(someofwhomwerealsotheologians)defendingtheism.Thatsparforthecourse.
WhatwasillicitwereargumentsthattooktheformoftheBiblesaysxandtherefore,onthebasisoftheBibles
authorityalone,xmustbetrue.Thosekindsofargumentsarenotwhatphilosophyclassisabout.Inthatlimitedsense,
philosophyprofessorslikememightaskastudentnottobetheologicalinclassor,asIdid,haveageneralexplanationat
thebeginningofthesemesterthatexplainsthesedistinctions.Ifareligiousstudentfeelslikethatmuchbracketingof
theirfaithforthesakeofconversationinwhichwecanallparticipateonneutralphilosophicalgroundsistoomuch,then
theyreallyhavenoplaceinphilosophy.ButtheyarenotbeingpersecutedanymorethanaBiologystudentwhorefuses
todolabworkbutratherquotesscriptureoranengineeringstudentwhorefusestolearnmathematicsandinsteadtries
tousetheBibleindesigningthingswouldbepersecutedforbeingtoldtheyhadtosticktothetoolsandmethodsofthe
disciplinewhileinthatclass.
And,itsworthnotingthatmanysecularphilosophyprofessorsloveandadmirereligionssomuchthattheydontmind
minglingtheologyandphilosophyfreely.AndmystudentsatCatholicschoolsItaughtatoccasionallycomplainedthat
theydwindupwiththeoccasionaloldCatholicprofessorthattookphilosophyclasstobeachancetodogmatically
preachCatholicdogmatothestudents,withlittleinput,dissent,ordialecticwelcome.So,again,thelogisinthe
Christianeyehereinmyrealworldexperience.
PhilosophyIsNotAuthorityBasedTheWayTheologyIs
Thisissueofthedifferencebetweentheologyandphilosophybringsmetothenextmajorproblem.AsaChristian,you
inevitablyrelyonauthoritieswhotellyouthingsthatyoureallycannotbackupwithreasons.Forexample,evenifyou
couldprovesomethingliketheexistenceofGodusingphilosophy,youstillbelieveinwaymorethanjustthe
philosophicalpropositionthatGodexistsinordertobeaChristian.Youbelieveincountlessclaimsabouthowto
interprethistoricalevents,abouttheoccurrenceofparticularmiraculousevents,aboutthenaturesofsupernatural
realmsandrules,etc.YoudomuchmorethantrusttheBibleassomekindofahistoricaldocument.YoutrusttheBible
and/ortheChurchand/orvariousotherprophets,traditions,clergy,etc.totellyouthetheologicalmeaningsofevents,
totellyouthatsupernaturalthingsyouhaventseenforyourselfexist,etc.Evenifyoureasonforyourselfaboutsomeof
theseissues,youuseasdatatheclaimsofotherpeoplethatyoucanneverreallyverifyasbeingactuallytrueusing
philosophy,science,orthetoolsofrigoroushistoricalanalysis.
AgreatdealofwhatyouacceptjustaspartofbeingaChristiancomeswithlittletonoevidenceofthekindsweuse
everywhereelseinlifetoconfirmfacts.Historians,scientists,courtsoflawwouldneverbeabletolookatallthe
inventivespeculationsofholybooksandprophets,etc.,aboutsupernaturalmattersorsupposedmiraculous
occurrencesandsignoffonsuchthingsastrue.Whenhistorians,scientists,andjuristshappentobe
religiousanywayitsbecausetheyapplytotheirreligionandtheologyfarlaxerstandardsofevidence,orsubstantially
waivemostoftheirevidencerequirementaltogetherandsimplybelievebychoice.I.e.,theybelievebyfaith.They
committhemselvestothousandsofpropositionalclaimsthathavelittletonoevidencebecausetheywantto.
So,theologyisveryauthoritybased,ratherthanreasonorevidencebased.Andifyoudonttrusttheauthoritiesofa
givenreligioustradition,itssupereasytojustnotbelievethatreligion.Thatshowyou,asaChristian,dismissthe
entiretiesoftheMuslimandHindutraditions(amongmany,manyothers)withoutasecondworrythatmaybeyouare
missingsomethingtrue.IfyouarelikemostChristianswhodontliveinIndiayouhaveprobablyneverlostanightof
sleepworryingthatmaybetheHindugodsarethetrueones.
NothingabouttheIslamicorHindutraditionscompelsbeliefifyoudontinthefirstplacebuyintotheirarbitrary
authorityclaims.Andifyouwerentbornintoagivenreligion,comparablyfewpeopleeverfeeltheslightest
compulsiontobuyintoit.Mostreligiouspeoplesimplyadheretothereligion(oratleastsomesectwithinthebroader
religion)thattheywerebornintoandindoctrinatedintoorexposedtothroughculturalhegemony.Lateinlife
conversionsfromonereligiontoanotherorfromatheismtotheismaretheanomalies.Mostbelieversaresolidifiedas
suchwhenyoung,whentheswayofarbitraryauthorityiseasytoingrainintheirnaturallyconformistandchildish
minds.So,askyourself,ifyousharethesamereligionyougrewupwith,eitherpreachedtoyousinceyouwereababy
byyourfamilyorbythepredominantlyChristianculturethatsurroundedyouevenifyourparentsweresecular,what
makesyouanydifferentthanaSaudiArabianMuslimoranIndianHindu?Whyareyouanymorelikelytoberightthan
theyarewhenyouarebothjustbelievingthearbitraryauthoritiespoundedintoyourheadbyyourowncultures?
InGodsNotDead,thesupposedlyphilosophicaldiscussionshardlyresemblephilosophy.Theyrecitations
ofauthoritybackandforth.Butthatsnotwhatphilosophersdo.ThismakessenseonJoshWheatonsside.Heisafirst
semesterfreshmaninhisfirsttwoweeksofschool(laughably,allthefilmseventstakeplaceinthattinywindowof
time).ButRadissonisbasicallyanimpotentphilosopherwhoparrotsscientistsandliteraryfiguresandhasnotanideain
hisheadofhisown.Again,itstheChristianwhohasthelogintheeyeforalwayscitingtheBibleor,forlessBible
focusedChristians,theChurchorthegeneralteachingsofChristianity,etc.
TheStudentsintheMovieAlreadyBelievedinGod
Wheatonhastogivespeeches.IfhecanconvincetheclassGodisnotdead,hedoesntfailthe30%unitontheexistence
ofGod.Ifhecannotconvincethem,hedoesfail.Thefilmmakers(unwittingly)actuallyadmitthegameisriggedin
Wheatonsfavor.EventhoughallthestudentsbutWheatonwerewillingtowritedownthatGodisdeadandeven
thoughPastorDaveadvisesWheatonthathemustgivehisspeechesbecauseitmaybetheseclassmatesonlychanceto
hearaboutGodandJesus,thefilmmakersactuallyrightlyassume(andarestatisticallycorrecttodoso)the
studentsdobelieveinGodalready.ItsnosurprisethestudentsallstandupattheendandsayGodisnotdead.80%
97%ofAmericansbelieveinGod.
TheyinitiallywritedownthatGodisdeadatRadissonsbehestnotbecausetheyreatheistsbutbecausetheyvebeen
conditionedbyoureducationalsystemtobespinelessconformistswhodefertoauthorities.Theywillwritedown
whatevertheirprofessorswantifthatswhatwillgetthemtheirgradeandgetthemtowheretheywanttobeinlife.
ThiscynicalindictmentofAmericancollegestudentsunfortunatelyhasagrainoftruth.Studentscanbeshockingly
intellectuallylazyopportunistsobsessedwithgradesandindifferenttothinkingsometimes.Butitsfarfromthewhole
story.Whenprofessorslikemeempowerourstudentstofreelythinkandeffectivelygetstudentstoappreciatewhat
problemsexisttothinkabout,theydohaveopinionsandtheydostanduptous.IwasalwaysveryproudofhowwellI
trainedmystudentstovigorouslyandunapologeticallydisagreewithme.Someofthebestcriticismsanyonesever
givenofmyownpersonalideashavecomefrommystudents,whenIvefloatedthembythem.This,andthefactthatI
basemywholeethicsontheconceptofempoweringpeople,madeitmostupsettingtomewhenRadissonexplicitly
scoffed,WhywouldIempower[mystudents]?
Thegiantlogoflazyintellectualconformismandthoughtlessdeferencetoauthoritiesisstillinthechurchseye.Itis
churchesthatpraisesubmissiontoChrist,overcomingdoubtsnotbyendlessquestioningbutbydeferringtotheSunday
Schoolteacher.IcannottellyouhowmanyatheistsItalktowhorecountbeingtoldtoshutupbytheirreligious
instructorsatchurchorschoolforaskingtoomanyquestions.
ThefilmmakershintthatindicatesthattheyknowthestudentsreallybelieveinGodatthestartisloadedinto
RadissonsominousadvicetojustwritedownGodisdeadsotheycanskiptheunitwherethemoststudentsgettheir
lowestgrades.WhywouldstudentsusuallygetthelowestgradesintheGodunitfromthisGodhaterwhogradespeople
downfordisagreeingwithhim,unlesstheydisagreedwithhimandbelievedinGod?
HowIGradedReligiousStudentsWhoDisagreedWithMe
Now,aquickwordaboutgradingessaysonGodasanatheistphilosophyprofessor.Ihavenevergradedmystudentson
thecontentoftheiropinionsandwhethertheyagreedwithmyown.
Ever.
WhatIgraded,andwhatallprofessorsIhaveencounteredgraded,washowwellthestudentshavelearned,assimilated,
andphilosophicallyskillfullyanalyzedtheideasfromclass,andthoughtcreativelyinphilosophicallyinterestingwaysfor
themselves.NotallideasaboutGodorfaithorreligionareterribleones.Lotsofinterestingphilosophicalargumentscan
bemade.Infact,Ilovebustingmystudentschopstryingtogetthemtoseewhatmightbeplausibleaboutsomeofthe
argumentsforGodsexistence(especiallythecounterintuitiveontologicalargumentswhichIfindveryphilosophically
provocativepersonally).AfewstudentssurelymustbetemptedtoforgetthetimeIspendadvocatingforGodwhen,in
myadvocatesstyle,Iswitchtobustingtheirchopsfromanatheisticperspective.ButIalwaysgiveroomtoanygood
argumentIcanthinkofandhavetimefor,whetheritsproGodorantiGod.BecausewhenImteachingphilosophy,allI
careaboutisthatweexploreallthegoodargumentsandthinkcreativelyandcritically.Imnotpreaching,Imteaching.
SothereareplentyofwaysforstudentstoearnanAdespitedefendingapositionIthinkis,whenallthingsare
considered,profoundlywrong.Andthevastmajorityofprofessorsseemtohaveasimilarattitude.Ourclassesarenot
aboutmanipulatingpeopleintobecomingconverts(againstopprojecting,evangelicalChristiansthatsyourlog
inyoureye,nottheaveragephilosophyprofessorsthingbyamile!),theyreabouttraininginindependent
thought.EventherareatheistphilosopherlikeI,whoactuallydoesdesiretodeconvertpeoplegenerally,usuallydoes
notseethatastrumpingtheresponsibilitiestoletstudentsfreelythinkforthemselvesintheclassroomwithoutfearof
badgrades.IwantpeopletobecomeatheistsbecauseIveshownthemeverythingIknow,hiddennothingfromthem,
and,havingseenthebestargumentsonbothsides,theycometotheconclusionsthatIthinkarerighttoo.Imnot
interestedinhavingthembelieveforanybiasedreasonsorduetoaonesidedpresentation.
But,forallthis,therearetwoproblems.Onoccasion,Ihavetaughtasemestersworthofphilosophyofreligioninwhich
wecoveredarangeofcomplex,nuancedideas,includingsomeofthemostfamous,Christianapproved,philosophical
advocatesfortheism(Augustine,Aquinas,Swinburne,Plantinga,Craig,etal.)andasdevastatingcounterobjectionsto
themasIcouldmuster(philosophyofreligiontextbooksunderrepresentatheistviewpointscriminallyagain,thelogis
intheisticphilosophersofreligionseyeformarginalizingatheisticones,ratherthantheotherwayaround),onlyto
receivedespairinglymanypapersfromstudentsthatamounttoIbelieveinJesusbecauseheismysaviorandhowcan
youlookatamountainandsaythereisnoGod.
IfaChristianwritesapaperlikethatandreceivesanF(whichIdidntevengivethemthoughtheyprobablydeservedit)
oriftheytrytouseaphilosophyorbiologyclasstowholesaledismissthescientificconsensusonevolutionandargue
thatcreationismistrueandgetabadgrade,thatsnotreligiouspersecution.Scienceisstilltrue,eveninphilosophy
class.Thereiscertainlymoreroominphilosophyclasstohaverobustdebatesaboutwhatthemetaphysical
implicationsofthescienceis.Forexample,WhatistheimpactofthefactweevolvedonourdefinitionsofGodor
hypothesesthatGodexists?isamuchmorephilosophicalthanstrictlyscientificquestion.Butitsnotacceptablein
philosophytocontradictscienceasthoughitdoesnotexistandhasnoepistemicweightthatcanoverridewhateveryou
wanttothink.
DemandingPhilosophicalReasonsForBeliefsIsNotPersecution
Andthisgetstotheotherissuewherereligiousstudentsmightwronglyfeelpersecuted.Itsnotpersecutionwhenyou
areforcedtogivereasonsforyourpositions.WhenIaskforphilosophicaljustificationsandarguethatfaithisaninvalid
formofreasoning,youhavetoeitherdefendfaithasavalidformofreasoningorstopmakingfaithbased
assertions.Thestandardsoflogic,empiricism,andrationalstandardsofconsistency,conceptualclarity,and
coherencestillapplyinlookingatGodandreligionrelatedquestionsastheydoinalltheotherphilosophicalareasof
inquiry.
Tellingly,itisonlyintheGodrelatedareasthatstudentshaveeverstartedturningagainstreasonitselfonme.Only
whentheyencounterchallengestotheirreligiousbeliefsdotheystartturningagainstallthelogicalrulesofreasoning
thattheynaturallyandhappilyoperatedunderallsemesterpriorwithnocomplaints.ThoughIamtoldsooftenby
ChristianitysdefendersthatthereisnocontradictionbetweengoodreasoningandChristianityatall,bycurious
coincidenceitisonlywhenreligiouslyimportantbeliefs(andnootherkind)comeupagainstvigorouscounterobjections
thatmystudentseverstarttryingtodenythevalidityofreasonitself.WhyshouldIconcludethatreasonandreligion
arebestfriendswhenitispreciselyreligionthatmakespeopleexplicitlyresentandagitateagainstreasonmorethan
anythingelse?
So,again,itsnotpersecutionwheninaphilosophyclass,oftenforthefirsttimeinyourlife,youhavetobeconfronted
withrigorousphilosophicalinterrogationofyourbeliefs.Thisisnotauthoritarianandbullying.Thisisntphilosophy
professorstellingyouwhattothink.Again,thelogisinyourchurcheseyes.Yourchurcheshavebeenindoctrinatingyou
sincethedayyouwereborninmostcases.Theymanipulateyouatcamps,theypreachatyouconstantly,theymake
exactingdemandsonyoursexuality,theyencourageyoutoputtheirbeliefsbetweenyouandyourfriendsorfamily
wherevertheyconflict(ashappensrepeatedlyinGodsNotDead),andwheneveryouhavedoubtstheyengage
inwhatevermeansoffaithpreservingrationalizationoremotionalnonsequitornecessarytogetyoutobelieve.Some
religiouspeoplesaydoubtisagreatthingandafreemindandafreewillaregreatthings.Buttheyhavenointerest
whatsoeverintherealkindsofdoubt,freethinking,orfreewilltheonesthatcoulddecidetoleavethe
church.Thatssin.Ifyouleavethechurch,youwillfindouthownastilyuninterestedinyourfreedomofthoughtthose
fellowChristianswhorightnowclaimtoloveyoucanbecome.
Whenyouretold,Sure!Doubt!Useyourmind!Exerciseyourfreedom!ButallatheistsareliarswhosecretlyhateGod
andwanttosin,andwelldisownyouifyoueverwalkway!Youarenotbeingtrainedtouseyourfreewillortodoubt
seriously.
Noonegenuinelyinterestedinthetruthshouldeverconfuseavigorous,honestphilosophicalsetofrejoinderstotheir
beliefsforpersecution.Justbecauseyourprofessordoesnotjoinyouinrationalizingorletyougetawaywitha
rationalizationwithnofurtherfollowupstopressyoutodobetter,doesnotmeansheisabusingherpower.
Yourchurchesarethosewhoabusetheirpoweroveryourmindandhavedonesosinceyouwerelittle.Theyfindthe
cognitivebiasesandpronenessestowardsconceptualmistakesthatareendemictoallhumanbrainsandinstead
offixingthem,theyexploitthemtopitchtheirreligiousbeliefs.Theyexacerbatenaturalhumanirrationalityratherthan
educateyoutoovercomeit.Thelogisinthechurchseye.
But,then,totheactualarguments.

ArgumentsOverCosmology(Godvs.NaturalisticEternalism)
WheatonstartswiththeBigBangandarguestwothings.TheweakestthinghearguesisthatGodsbeginningofcreation
withlettherebelightcouldbeseenasametaphorfortheBigBang.Hecitesascientistwhomakesthistendentious
connection.Butthisprovesnothing.Thisiseasilychalkedtocoincidenceifaccurate.Lettherebelightisinnoway
scientificallyspecific.ThesupposedlyomniscientknowerwhowasbehindthewritingoftheBiblecouldnthaveoffered
anactuallyspecificsetofdetailsthatnoancientpersoncouldhaveknown,whichwouldthenbelaterverifiedby
rigoroussciencethousandsofyearslater?Thatwouldhavebeenimpressive!Butlettherebelightisntanywherenear
suchahugeandunaccountablebitofknowledgethathadtheancientshaditmighthaveindicatedtheyweregetting
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.Evenweretheretobea
needforacauseoutsidetheuniverse,itisdubioustopositapersonalbeingandevenifyoucanproveithadtobea
personalbeingwhybelievetheancientpeoplewhowrotetheBiblehadanyspecialrevelationfromthisbeing?
Again,AdamFreeseputsthepointwell,theargumentthatthebigbangtheoryvindicatesareligionisprettycommon,
butitonlyreallyconsistsofclaimingthataholybookpredictedthattheuniversebeganatsomepoint.Itsnotreallyan
impressiveargument,andisaprettyeasythingtoguess,evenwithnotheoreticaljustificationfortheguess;itjustkind
ofmakesintuitivesense.ItwouldhavebeenimpressiveiftheBibleortheKoranpredictedanagefortheuniverse,said
thatlightfirstappeared400kyearsafterthebeginning,mentionedinflation,etc.
But,moreimportantly,thereisahugeleapWheatonmakesinassumingtheuniverse(orthemultiverseifthatswhat
weactuallyexistin)requiresacausalprincipleoutsideitself.Theideathateverythingwithabeginningrequiresacause
outsideofitisjustassertedbypeoplelikeCraigandthisfilmsJoshWheaton.Ithinkitrestsonwhatiscalleda
compositionfallacy.Thecompositionfallacyiswhenyoumistakenlytakeanattributeofapartofathingtobean
attributeofthewholething.Forexample,saysomeoneclaimeddownpillowsmustbesoftbecausetheyarefilledwith
feathersandfeathersaresoft.Thisneglectsthefactthatifyoupackenoughfeatherstogetherinapillowthey
cancumulativelybearockhardpillow.
Whenwelookatthenaturalworldandwetrytofindcausalconnectionsthatsbecausethatswhatwillmakesenseof
thesequenceofourexperiencesthebest.Particularconfigurationsofmatterareastheyarebecauseofsome
constitutivematerialsthatmakethemupandthatareastheyarebecauseofsomeprocessofinteractionswithother
physicalentities.Thatsnecessarytoexplainthoseparticularconfigurations.Butthatdoesnotmeanthattheuniverses
materialsthemselvesrequireafurthercause.
CosmologistSeanCarrollrecentlydebatedwithWilliamLaneCraig.
1
InthedebateCarrollmadeitclear.Cosmologistsare
capableofgivingaccountsoftheuniversewhicharecoherentandpotentiallycompletewithouttheneedforsome
furthersupernaturalcausalexplanationoutsideofit.Theuniverse,takeninsumtotal,isnotlikethekindsofthings
whichweexperiencewithintheuniversewhichrequiresomefurthercauseandeffectdynamicorsomefurtheraccount
ofwhatsimplerstuffmakesupthemorecomplexstuff.Thefactthatouruniversehasabeginningmomentdoesnot
meanitcannotalsobeeternal.
TheanalogyIsuggestistoimagineaneternallyexistingvideotapewithamovieonit.Themoviehasafinitedurationof
moments.Thebeginningsceneisalwaysthebeginningofthemovieandtheendsceneisalwaystheend.Toaskabout
thescenesinthemoviebeforethefirstsceneistoaskaconfusedquestion.Toaskwhatscenescomeafterthemovieis

1
Seethefull2:16video,whichIencourageyoutowatchforyourself,here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0qKZqPy9T8
overisaconfusedquestion.Thevideotapecouldexisteternally,evenasthebeginningwouldalwaysbethefirst
sequentialmomentthathappenswithinthemovieandtheendingthelastsequentialmoment.
Thinkaboutitlikethis.Rightnowineverydigitalfileorvideotapeofeverymovie,boththebeginningandtheending
arethere.Theybothexist.Youcouldrightnowwatchtheendorthebeginning.Youcouldevenwatchitbackwardsif
youwant.Nonetheless,eachmoment,thoughsimultaneouslyexistentinonesense(andsoanalogoustoeternally
existinghere)isinanothersensesequential.Thebeginningisorderedbeforetheend.Theyrebothhererightnow.The
beginningdoesntmaketheendhappen.Theybothsimultaneouslyarethere.Butinacertainorder.Theuniversemay
beasetofmomentsalleternallyexisting,eveniftheyhaveatemporalorderandsequencewhereonegoesfirstandis
thebeginningandanothergoeslastandistheend.
Theuniversecouldbeeternal.Ifsomethingmustbeeternal(asIamtentativelypersuadedseemstobethecase)thenI
seenoreasonnottosimplyapplythiseternalistinterpretationtotheuniverse.Itisonethatneitherphysicistsnor
philosophersoftimeruleout.Itrequiresnounnecessaryleapstowholerealmsofsupernaturalbeings.And,although
thisdoesnotaddanythingtotruthvalue,Ipersonallyfinditprofoundlyemotionallysatisfyingbecauseitsaysevery
momentoftheuniverseexistseternally.Ifthatstrue,thatmeansthatourlivesneverwinkoutofexistence.Every
momentofthemisapermanentpartofaneternalreality.Thatwedieonlymeanswearenotpartofthewholeuniverse
(whichisabummer)andthatwedonothaveasmanymomentsasmightallowustoexperiencemoreofthegood
thingsaboutourlives(whichisalsoashame).Buteverysinglemomentofourliveseternallyhappens,ifthisistrue.That
meansthepastneverreallygoesaway.Yourpastselfisstillbackthereexperiencingitandeternallyisexperiencingit.
Yourfutureselfisalreadyexperiencingthefutureandeternallyisexperiencingit.Thepassageoftimeisjustanillusion
onthisview.
Idontknowatallthatthisistrue.SoIonlytentativelyputthisforwardasaplausiblehypothesisthatIfindvery
meaningfultocontemplate.
WhenWheatonclaimstheuniverseneededGodtocreateit,RadissonsaidexactlywhatI(andprobablymostatheists)in
theaudienceimmediatelythought,thenwhocreatedGod?WhycanGodbeaspecialuncausedthingifyoujustsaid
thateverythingneedsacause.(But,thisbeingauthorityobsessedGodsNotDead,Radissoncitesthis
asDawkinsschallenge.)Inreply,Wheatonfollowsstandardtheisticretortshereandcompletelybegsthequestion.He
saysthatonlycreatedthingsneedanexplanationandnotuncreatedthingslikeGod.(Bytheway,sinceIjustusedthe
phrasebegthequestionImremindedatonepointWheatonmisusesbegsthequestionwherehemeantraisesthe
questionandIcringed.Thewritersofphilosophyclassroomscenesdontapparentlyknowbasiclogicterminology.)
Again,Wheatonassumestheuniverseisacreatedthingandnotitselfthethingthatcanbeuncreated.Theuniverse
havingafirstsequentiallyexistingmomentinasequenceisnotthesamethingastheuniverseeverhavingnotexisted,
anymorethanhighernumbersmusthavebeencreatedafterlowernumbersifnumbersareeternal.Eternallyexisting
sequencescanbewhattheyareeternally.
Atthispoint,ProfessorRadissonpatheticallyargueslikeabully.HecitesStephenHawkingsaying,Becausethereisa
lawsuchasgravity,theuniversecanandwillcreateitselffromnothing.Spontaneouscreationisthereasonthereis
somethingratherthannothing,whytheuniverseexists,whyweexist.ItisnotnecessarytoinvokeGodtolighttheblue
touchpaperandsettheuniversegoing.Wheatonhadntcomeacrossthisinhismerecoupleofdaysthathehadto
preparethisspeech(unrealisticallygivenontheseconddayofclass)andliketheworstphilosopherandteacherinworld
historyRadisson,ratherthanteachinghim,holdsWheatonscompletelyexcusableignoranceagainsthimfornogood
reason.HerubsitinWheatonsfacewhenWheatonadmitshedoesnotknowhowtorespond.Insteadofpraisinghis
honesty,Radissonabuseshimoverit.Itsatotalstrawman.Itsantitheticaltothewholespiritandnatureofphilosophy.
CreatingAStrawmanofPhilosophersisaLazyCopout
Christianswhofeelembattled,listentome.Ifyouwanttodealwithyouranxietiesaboutphilosophyshostilitytowards
yourreligion,youneedtoaddressitsnaturehonestly.Philosophersdontmakeyoufeeluncomfortablebecausethey
playgotcha!withyouandpulloutauthoritiesyoucantdealwithandthenmakefunofyouforsayingyoudontknow.
Wealsoarenotauthoritarianswhojusttellpeopletoaffirmwhatgoesagainsttheirintellectualconsciences.Wedonot
takeawaypeoplesfreedomofthoughtortheirfreewill.Anditisacompletejoketosuggestthatthestrongmajority
consensusofphilosophersagainsttheismisallbecausewesecretlyhateGod.Itscompletelyimplausiblethat83%of
peoplewhostudyphilosophyprofessionallyallcomedownagainsttheismforemotionalreasonsratherthancognitive
ones.Youwouldhavetobeaccusingphilosophyofbeingaprofessionthatdisproportionatelyattractedliarsand
incompetentsatarateseennowhereelseinhumanityexceptforpolitics.Andinpolitics,thelyingandincompetency
makesensetheyremeanstopower!Whatgoodreasondoyoureallythinkthe83%ofprofessionalphilosophershave
tospendtheirliveslyingtothemselves,foraliving,whiledeepdownknowingtheresaGodthattheyjusthate?And
whereisthehatredforGodinthenumerousoftheseatheistprofessorswhoareactuallyhospitabletoreligionina
numberofotherways,despitetheiratheism?
Ifyouwanttopresentusinalltheseludicrousandimplausibleways,embodiedandrepresentedbyProfessorRadisson,
youarebasicallysayingthewholereasonphilosophyseemsagainstyouisthat83%ofthosewhogointophilosophy
hateGodsomuchtheywanttospendtheirlivesphilosophicallylyingtopeopleandbullyingChristiansoutoftheirfaith
againsttheirfreewill.Thatsapreposteroushypothesis.
So,stickingittothestrawmanofProfessorRadissonavoidshonestlydealingwithsincereandrationalphilosophers.
DoesChristianitypreachintellectuallaziness?Doesitpreachthatthebestwaytoreasonistoavoidthebestalternative
ideasandinsteadonlyaddresstheweakestones?Doesitreallypreachthateverytimeyouencounteratoughchallenge
fromanatheistwhichyoucantintellectuallyanswerthatyoumustdodgethequestionandmaketheatheistsheartthe
issueinstead?Ifyou,whotrulybelieve,cantansweratheistsobjections,whydoyouassumeatheistsarenotatheists
becausetheythemselvescantdefendtheismagainsttheobjectionstheyoffertoit.Inotherwords,whatsso
implausibleabouttheideathatatheistsarejustconvincedbyatheisticargumentsonthemerits?Whyareyousoafraid
totakethisseriously?
WhyDoChristiansSayAtheistsDisbelieveforEmotionalReasons?
Onehypothesisaboutwhyyoukeepchangingthesubjectfromtheintellectualreasonstotheatheistsheartsisthatits
anotherinstanceofprojection.Itsanotherinstanceofyouaccusingatheistsofdoingwhatyouyourselvesdoonlyten
timesworse.Theloginmanyreligiousbelieverseyesisthattheybelieveforemotionalreasonsratherthanrational
ones.Youguysevenadmitthisregularly.Yousayyouareinitforthehope,becausetheydontwanttostaydeadwhen
youdie,becauseyoufearlifewouldbemeaninglesswithoutGod,becauseyouwerehurtingfrombadrelationshipswith
otherpeoplesofoundrefugeinJesus,onandon.Partofwhyyouprojectontoatheiststhatwearepeoplewhohavean
emotionalneedforGodthatweresecretlyhidingisbecausethatshowyouconvert.Thatshowyouliveyourfaith.But
itsnothowmostatheistsfeel.
Eveninthefilm,attheend,theNewsboyssaytheybelievebecauseitgivesthemhopeandtheatheist(Amy,playedby
TrishaLaFache)theyaretalkingtoisspeechlesswhenaskedwhereshegetsherhope.Shecavesinandconvertsonthe
spotnotbecauseofreasonbutbecauseofhopelessness.ItisevangelicalChristianswhoexploitpeoplesirrational,
emotionalweaknesseswithadisgustingshamelessnessinordertomanipulatethemintoconversionsthatdontmake
sense.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.
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
tellussomuch.Christiansleapdogmaticallytoacompletelyunprovable(andwildlyunlikely)answerthataGodwho
incarnatedhimselfashumananddiedfortheirsinsexplainseverything.Andtheninthismovietheytrytocast
themselvesashonestpeoplewhoadmitwhattheydontknow?
AndwhenAmyreallydoesntknowwheretofindhope,herhonestyisnotaffirmedbytheChristians.Itstakenas
anopeningtoconverthertoChristianity.
WhyDoSomeAtheistsSayTheyDoKnowTheresNoGod?AreAtheistsHypocriticallyPeopleofFaithToo?
Alsoalongtheselines,letmenoteanotherhypocrisy.Christiansregularlyinsistthatanyonewhodoesntknowwith
absolutely100%certaintythatthereisnoGodisnotreallyanatheistbutanagnosticandshouldbehonestandcall
themselvesthatinstead.ButwhydontyouChristianswhosayyoudontknow100%certainlythereisaGod
callyourselvesagnostics?Whyissomeoneonlyallowedtobecalledanatheistiftheyhaveanimpossiblestandardof
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
shouldntwemakeourrationalarguments?GrantedweshouldntbedogmaticbullieslikeProfessorRadisson.Granted
weshouldntletthatinterferewithourresponsibilitiestofirstandforemostbeempoweringeducatorstoourstudents
whenweareprofessors.Butthatsanuncharitablepresentationofantitheists.Itpicksontheworstofusbutnotthe
best.Whyshouldcivilbutadamantatheistshavetobeanylessaggressiveaboutpromotingourviewsandvaluesthan
youareaboutpromotingyours?WhyisitaokayforJoshtoexplicitlyseektousehisphilosophyclasstopreachJesus
butitsnotokayforanatheisttochallengeastudentsChristianfaith?WhenattheendofthemovietheNewsboys
encouragetheaudiencememberstotexteveryonetheyknowwiththemessagethatGodsNotDead,inhopesof
reachingamillionpeople,isthatnotobnoxious?Withyourthinskins,youwouldfeelpersecutedtothenthdegreeif
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!WhenyouloathethewayProfessorRadissonleverageshispowertopickonsomeonesmallerthanhim,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
goodsowhateverGoddidmustberight.ThatsnotprovingyourGodisgood,itsignoringalltheclearcounterevidence
andwarpingallyourmoraljudgmentsaccordingly,evenifitmeansmakingexcusesforthemostheinouscrimes
imaginable.Thatisarbitrarinessandauthoritarianism,thetotalantithesisofobjectivemorality.Sayingthatwickedness
canbejusticeifonlyGodsayssoistheheightofsubjectivisminmorality.Itsmightmakesrightasatheology.Yousay
weneedChristianityinordertoknowrightfromwrong?YousayweneedChristianityinordertoknowrightfrom
wrong?IsayitsChristianitysfaultYOUcanttellrightfromwrongwheneveryourownGoddoesevil.Whyintheworld
wouldItrustyoutotellmerightfromwrong?
Anobjectivemoralitywouldbeoneobjectivelydemonstrablefromrationalreasonsopentoanyone,notonethat
requiredstumblingupontherightarbitraryreligionandbelievingitonfaith,eventhoughitsGodhaswickedandupside
downvaluesallthroughoutitsholybook.
GodoftheGapsandtheOriginofLife
Whentheargumentsresume,Wheatonmakesanothertendentious,arbitraryattempttolinkametaphorfromGenesis
toascientifictruth.ThistimeevolutionissomehowindicatedbyGenesisbecauseplantsandanimalsasweknowthem
areanextremelylatedevelopmentinevolutionarytime,whichmakesitliketheyhappenedonalatedaylikethefifth
andsixthinGenesis.Thisproveslessthannothing.ItdoesntshowthattheBiblehadanythinglikeanyspecial
knowledgelatervindicatedbyscience.
WheatontriestoarguethatbecausescientistsdonothaveanaccountyetoftheoriginoflifethatperhapsitwasGod
thatoriginatedit.WhatissotediousaboutthisisthatitisaGodoftheGapsargumentantitheticaltotheentirespirit
ofscience.GodoftheGapsisanexpressionusedtopointoutthattheistsusedtothinkofGod(orgods)asexplaining
agreatnumberofphenomenathatarenowexplicableinscientificways.Assciencehasfilledinmoreandmoreofour
understandingoftheworld,Godkeepsbeingproposedbytheistsassupposedlynecessarytoexplainwhateverhappens
tobeleftunexplained.Itseemsimplausiblethatscientific(andcorrelatephilosophical)advanceswouldkeephappening
andhappeningandreplacingGodexplanationafterGodexplanationandyetwhateverwehappentohavenotfigured
outyetiswhatGodalonecanaccountfor.
Godhasbeenoverturnedoverandoveragainasbestexplanationwehavescienceandphilosophy.Itrepeatedlyproves
tobeabadexplanation.SothereisnoreasontostopdoingscienceandphilosophyandjustsayGoddidit.Had
scientistsandphilosophersstoppedanyofthousandsofothertimeswithandherewestopthinkingandjustsaythat
Goddidit,enormousleapsofunderstandingwouldhaveneverhappened.Ifwestartdoingthatnowbecauseweall
becometheists,howmuchprogresswillwelose?
ChristianssometimestrytosolvethisbysayingGodisnotjustabeingamongotherbeingsbynatureitselforbeing
itself,somehowthebeinginwhichandthroughwhichallothersexist.Butthatroadistheroadtopantheism.Thatis
compellingonlyifwejustmakeNatureandGodsynonyms.AttributingtothatGodpersonalityandinterventionsinto
historylikereadintheBibleisjustnonsense.ThatsjustsayingNatureitselfislikeahumanbeing.Thatsasarbitraryas
sayingNatureitselftastesliketomatosauce.
So,itissillywhenChristianssaythatsincewearemissinganexact,verifiablescientificaccountofthedynamicsbywhich
theoriginsoflifehappened,thatsomehowthismeansitcouldhavebeenGodorthatthescientificmethodisflawedor
limited.Scienceislimitedherenotbyaconceptualimpossibility(i.e.,notbecauseitmakesnosenseforlifetocomeinto
beingthroughanaturalisticprocess,butratherbecauselifesoriginshappenedverylongagoandithappenedwithsuch
tinyrudimentaryorganismsthattheydidntleavefossiltraces.Therearearangeofwaysabiogenesis(theoriginof
life)couldhavehappenedthatscientistscandreamupthatareplausible.Whenscientistssaytheydontknowhowlife
beganitsnotbecausetheycantimaginethingsorthatnothingwouldmakesense,whereasChristianshaveaprofound
imaginationortheonlysensiblepossibility.Rather,itsthatunlikeChristians,scientistsarepatientlywaitingforevidence
ratherthanjustmakingsomethingup.Theyrebeinghumbleandwaitingtoactuallyknow.
Christiansarenotsmarterormorerationalforjustinsistingtheyknowandnotwaitingforevidence.Wereallscienceto
worklikethat,theredbenoscience.Dontblamescientistsforembodyingthepatienceandtemporarycomfortability
withnotknowingthatroutinelyleadstoactualscientificsuccess.YoucantsayscienceandChristianityarecompatible
andthenshowthatinyourownthinkingyouadvocaterushingtoconclusionsandstoppinginquiriesandsettlingfor
Goddiditexplanationsanddisparagingthepatienceofscientists.Whenyoudothosethings,youembodyand
promoteantiscientificattitudesinpractice.Youhurtthecauseofscience.Thereismoretosupportingsciencethanjust
mouthingthewords,Isupportscience.
WhyExplainingEvolutionwithGodisAntiScience
Ialso,morecontroversially,thinkitissimilarlyunscientifictosaythatbothGodandevolutiongotogetherbecauseGod
makesevolutionhappen.Thereasonthisisunscientificisthatitspitsinthefaceofthediscoveryofnaturalselection.
Theideathatspeciesevolvefromancestorstodescendantswasalreadyunderstoodintheideaofbreeding.Weknew
wecouldartificiallyselectfortraitsinanimalsandplantstomakethemhavethetraitswewantedtobycontrolling
whichonesmatedwitheachother.WhatwassoamazingandparadigmshiftingaboutDarwinsdiscoverywasthatjust
thedynamicsofnaturealonecouldhavethesameeffectasintelligentbreeders.Whatwasamazingwasthatan
environmentjustbeinginhospitabletoatraitandaccidentallymakingitsothebearersofthattraitjustcouldntlivelong
enoughtoreproduceoffspringwiththesametraitcouldweedoutthattraitaseffectivelyashumanschoosingtonotlet
dogswithagiventraitreproduce.
Theamazingrealizationofevolutionbynaturalselectionisthattheinteractionofenvironmentswithtraitscanallby
itself,overmillionsandmillionsofyearsmakethechangeshappenwithnointelligentagencyatallnecessary.And,in
fact,manyofthewaysthedesignsthatresultedfromthesedynamicscameout,itisclearthattheyrenotalways
perfectorlogical.Theyinvolveallsortsofinefficienciesandnonidealdesignsandsuperfluousdimensionsallbecause
theywerethetraitsandcombinationsoftraitsthathappenedtoevolveandfitwellenoughtotheenvironmentthat
theyworked.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.Religiouspeoplearegoodscientistsonlywhentheyleavetheirreligiousbeliefsoutoftheirscience
andengineering.Aspeople,thismeanstheyarelivingwithcognitivedissonance.Inthelaboratorytheythinkasthough
therewerenoGod,thatis,theythinkasthoughtheywereatheists,andpreciselybecauseofthattheyaresuccessful.
Butinchurchandpersonalpietytheyliveasthoughtherewerenone.Theyabandonallthecategoriesofrigorous
thinkingthattheyemployinthelabwhenlookingattheirScriptures.Theycanonlybebothreligiousandscientificby
beingcategoricallyunscientificandacceptingbaselessreligiousauthoritieswhenbeingreligious.
SomeChristianapologistsconcedethatwehavetobemethodologicalnaturalistsinthelaboratory(thatis,people
whoassumethenaturalworldandnaturalexplanationsalltherearebutwhoonlyassumethiswhendoingscience)but
thatdoesntmeanweshouldbemetaphysicalnaturalists(peoplewhothinkreallyallthereisisnatureandnatural
explanations).Theyaccusemetaphysicalnaturalismofbeinganunwarrantedassumption.ButIseeitasafinding,an
inferencewehavecometo(ratherthanassumed)byseeingtheenormousexplanatorypowerthatopensupwhenwe
assumethatnatureisallthereis.Ifthatholdingthatpositionissounprecedentedlypowerfulforgeneratingtruthsin
thelaboratory,whynotthinkitsbecauseitsalsometaphysicallytrue.
Thereisalsoarationalconsiderationthatmakesmeanaturalist.Idonotunderstandhowsupernaturalismcanbe
coherentlyconceived.Idonotknowhowanythingcouldexistwithoutanature.EvenifthereistheChristianGod,God
seemslikeHecannotbesupernaturallyabovelogic.HowcouldHebe?TosayHewasbeyondlogicwouldbetosayHe
couldbothexistandnotexistatthesametime.Hecouldbebothabsolutelyomniscientandsimultaneouslyknow
nothing.Inotherwords,ifGodisnotboundbylogic,HewouldbothhavetheclassicalattributesascribedtoGodand
nothavethematthesametime.Thatsnonsense.Godwouldhavetobeboundbylogicasmuchasanythingelse
andbesomekindofthingorother.Godwould,inotherwords,haveanaturemoredeepthanwhatitsubsequently
creates.So,themostfundamentalrealityevenforChristiansseemstobenature.Andeverysupernaturaleventwould
beasuspensionofonesetoflawsforanotheraccordingtoGodswill,butstillthethingsthatseemedsupernatural
tous,beingaccustomedtoourworldsnormallawswouldoperatebynaturesofsomesortratherthanchaotically.
IsPhilosophyDead?
WheatonreturnstotheHawkingquoteandcitesJohnLennox,ProfessorofMathematicsatOxfordUniversity,claiming
thatHawkingisguiltyofcircularreasoning.Hawkingwantstoacceptauniversewithnofurthercauseoutsideofit,sohe
simplypositsthatitmustbeselfcreating.Inreply,insteadofreasoningabouttheobjectionlikeaphilosopher,Radisson
justintonesimperiouslyaskingwhetherWheatonisdaringtochallengethegreatphysicistStephenHawking.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,WheatonquicklyrubsinRadissonsfaceHawkingsmisguideddigthatphilosophyisdead.Godsnotdead,
philosophyisdead.Nicebumpersticker.Thisisoneofmanyreasonsitisignorant,antiintellectual,andcounter
productivetothecauseofcriticalthinkingandatheismwhenscientistsmouthoffinantiphilosophyways.Indoingthis
scientistslikeHawkingandKraussgiveundeservedammunitiontopeoplewhowanttoattackreasoningeneralsinceso
muchreasoningingeneralismorephilosophicalthanquantifiablyscientificincharacter.
Philosophyisunavoidable.Sciencedoesnotanswereveryquestion,becausesomequestionsarenotamenableto
strictlyscientificanalyses.Orotherquestionsthatarecapableofscientificanalysisstillrequiretimeandscientific
progressandnewdiscoveriesbeforetheycanbescientific.Thisdoesnotmeanthattheologyistheanswer.Theological
answersarejustancientguesseswithnomagicplausibilityjustbecausebetterscientificonesdontyetexist.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
uponscientificquestionsbetterthanscientistscan.Ourprobleminthiscultureisnotafailuretodogoodscience,itsa
failureofthepopulacetounderstandphilosophysothatitknowswhattomakeofwhatscienceistellingit.Our
populacedoesnotknowhowtocontextualizesciencewithinatheoryofknowledgeandrealitythatiscoherent.Forall
ourscientificunderstanding,peoplestillbelieve,inparallel,insuperstitionsofimmaterialsoulsandfaithbased
epistemology,andoutdatedmetaphysicaldogmasthatgoodphilosophyrefutes.
Ourfightsovergayandtranspeoplesrightsorwomensrightsorhowtoethicallystructureourrelationshipsbetween
menandwomenbeyondmerelylegalissues?Theseareallfundamentallyphilosophicalproblems.
Secularpeoplesquestionsofhoworwhethertoreplacereligiousinstitutionsinpeoplesliveswithsufficientsecular
alternatives.Ourproblemsaboutthenumeroussocialscienceissueshave(sofar)intractablephilosophicalissues
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.
Thefilm,like,inmyreading,muchoftheBible,assumesalmosteveryonebelievesinGodandthattherealchallengeof
faithisthechallengetotrustGod.Thefilmmakersthentreatalltheatheists(exceptpossiblyMark,playedbyDeanCain)
likesecretChristiansindenial.Theythinktheproblemofevilistherealissueandsothewholefilmisreallystructured
aboutmakingtheargumentthatGodisgooddespiteevil.
ProfessorRadissonisnotreallyanatheist.Hesamisotheistsomeonewhobelievesinthegods(orGod)buthates
them(orHim).AmyhoundsChristiansasagotchajournalistbecauseshesecretlyenviestheirhope.Thestudentsall
writedownthatGodisdeadbecauseofpressuretoconformbydenyingGod.

TheProblemofEvil
ThefilmtriesseveralwaystoswaypeopletoacceptGodisgooddespiteevil.
Oneargumentcomesfromthesuddenpropheticutterancesofanelderlywomansufferingdementiaandcominginand
outoflucidity.Shehasasuddenmomentofclaritywhereshelectureshersmug,materialistic,unabashedlyselfishson
MarkwhogloatsaboutgettingawaywithbeingrottenwhileshesuffersafteralifeofdevotiontoGod.Inherspeech,as
thoughchannelingsomesupernaturalentitybeforesuddenlysnappingoutofitandnotevenknowingwhosheistalking
toagain,shetalksabouthowbadpeopleprosperinthisworldbecausethedevilwantsitthatway.Hemakestheir
sinfulnesssocomfortableonEarththattheyneverrepent.Theyarepeopleactuallyinaspiritualjailcellwhocanleave
atanymoment.Thedoorsopen.Buttheyneverwalkout.Then,whentheydie,thedoorslamsshutandtheyre
trappedandtheylearnthetruenatureofwhattheyvechosen.
Thisiswishfulfantasy.Notmuchofanargument.ItalsoraisesquestionsofwhyGodletspeoplebedeceivedlikethat.
Romans9wouldtellusthatitsbecauseHemakessomepeoplewiththeexpresspurposeofneversavingthem,thatHe
activelyhardenssomepeoplesheartsagainstHim,andthatHecreatestheminthefirstplacetobedestroyed.John
12:40explainstheunbeliefpeopleexperienceevenwhenseeingJesusperformmiraclesbysayingthisistofulfillIsaiahs
prophecythatTheLordhasblindedtheireyesandhardenedtheirheartssothattheireyescannotsee,andtheir
heartscannotunderstand,andtheycannotturntomeandhavemehealthem.Whohasblindedthepeoplesothey
cannotturntoJesus?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,hinderingthem
intheirabilitiestothinkforthemselvesortothinkwithproperinformationandmakethebestdecisionsforthemselves.
WhenweremadwerenotbetrayingthatwesecretlybelieveinGod.Ratherwereangrywiththeeffectsofreligious
institutionsandbeliefswethinkareharmful.Wealsomaygetangrywhenwehearalltheevilsthatweseepraisedin
theChristianGodtreatedaswonderfulthings.Weassailthedeificationoftraitswehavegoodreasontothinkare
terrible.WeassailtheperversionofethicsandpoliticsandmetaphysicsrepresentedbytheGodconceptwhenweattack
it.Andsomeofusmournfromthedisillusionmentofhavingbeenfalselypromiseddivineprotectionasbeliversonlyto
comeviscerallytounderstandthatnosuchthingexists.
ButIdigress,theunintendedactualeffectofthefilmsclosingattempttoshowushowwonderfultheworldcanlookif
onlyyouseeitthroughtheeyesoffaithisactuallytomakethefilmsChristianslookcultishlydangerous,inhumanly
capableofpleasureatotherpeoplesdeaths,andvulturelikeintheirwillingnesstopreyuponadyingdoubtertotryto
gethimtoprayoutofterror.Again,myfullexplanationofwhyisinmyotherreview.
TheAppealtoNeedforAbsoluteMorality
Finally,letmeaddresstheargumentfrommoralityraisedbrieflynclass.WheatonclaimedthatProfessorRadissonwasa
moralrelativistwhobelievedtherecouldbenomoralabsolutesbutinconsistentlywouldsurelyapplymoralstandards
wereastudenttocheat.Thefactofthematteristhat,despitebeing83%nontheists,philosopherswhobelievemorality
isrealoutnumberthosethinkitisnotrealatarateof2to1.
Iwillalsostressthatitsafalsedichotomytoimplythatformoralitytobeobjective,rational,andcompellingithastobe
absolute.FormyfullargumentaboutwhyChristiansagainhavethelogintheireyeandreallybelieveinthemost
subjectivistversionofmoralitypossibleandwhyitiseitherirrationalorsuperfluoustosayGodisthesourceof
goodness,IimploreyoutoreadmypostcalledGodandGoodnesswhichisanindepthdialogueonthisverytopic.

OnAntitheism,Sciencevs.God,andWhetherPhilosophyisDead
YesterdayspostansweringallthewaysthemovieGodsNotDeadarguedforGodandrepresentedphilosophywasso
longsomepeoplecouldntreadallofit.So,Iaddedatableofcontents.Youcangobacktothatpostnowandclickon
linkstothepostssubsectionsandtheywillsendyoutotheexactpartsofthepostyouremostinterestedin.
Ialsoaddednewmaterialtodaytothatpost.Inthispost,Impresentingjustthatnewmaterial(nothingalready
covered).Youcaneitherreadallofthisnewmaterialor,ifyouwanttoreadonlywhatIveaddedonspecificmajor
topics,justclickonanyofthefollowinglinksandyoullbesenttothenewmaterialonthattopic:
NewResponsestoGodsNotDead
WhyDoSomeAtheistsSayTheyDoKnowTheresNoGod?AreAtheistsHypocriticallyPeopleofFaithToo?
Alsoalongtheselines,letmenoteanotherhypocrisy.Christiansregularlyinsistthatanyonewhodoesntknowwith
absolutely100%certaintythatthereisnoGodisnotreallyanatheistbutanagnosticandshouldbehonestandcall
themselvesthatinstead.ButwhydontyouChristianswhosayyoudontknow100%certainlythereisaGod
callyourselvesagnostics?Whyissomeoneonlyallowedtobecalledanatheistiftheyhaveanimpossiblestandardof
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
shouldntwemakeourrationalarguments?GrantedweshouldntbedogmaticbullieslikeProfessorRadisson.Granted
weshouldntletthatinterferewithourresponsibilitiestofirstandforemostbeempoweringeducatorstoourstudents
whenweareprofessors.Butthatsanuncharitablepresentationofantitheists.Itpicksontheworstofusbutnotthe
best.Whyshouldcivilbutadamantatheistshavetobeanylessaggressiveaboutpromotingourviewsandvaluesthan
youareaboutpromotingyours?WhyisitaokayforJoshtoexplicitlyseektousehisphilosophyclasstopreachJesus
butitsnotokayforanatheisttochallengeastudentsChristianfaith?WhenattheendofthemovietheNewsboys
encouragetheaudiencememberstotexteveryonetheyknowwiththemessagethatGodsNotDead,inhopesof
reachingamillionpeople,isthatnotobnoxious?Withyourthinskins,youwouldfeelpersecutedtothenthdegreeif
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!WhenyouloathethewayProfessorRadissonleverageshispowertopickonsomeonesmallerthanhim,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
goodsowhateverGoddidmustberight.ThatsnotprovingyourGodisgood,itsignoringalltheclearcounterevidence
andwarpingallyourmoraljudgmentsaccordingly,evenifitmeansmakingexcusesforthemostheinouscrimes
imaginable.Thatisarbitrarinessandauthoritarianism,thetotalantithesisofobjectivemorality.Sayingthatwickedness
canbejusticeifonlyGodsayssoistheheightofsubjectivisminmorality.Itsmightmakesrightasatheology.Yousay
weneedChristianityinordertoknowrightfromwrong?IsayitsChristianitysfaultYOUcanttellrightfromwrong
wheneveryourownGoddoesevil.WhyintheworldwouldItrustyoutotellmerightfromwrong?
Anobjectivemoralitywouldbeoneobjectivelydemonstrablefromrationalreasonsopentoanyone,notonethat
requiredstumblingupontherightarbitraryreligionandbelievingitonfaith,eventhoughitsGodhaswickedandupside
downvaluesallthroughoutitsholybook.
GodoftheGapsandtheOriginofLife
Whentheargumentsresume,Wheatonmakesanothertendentious,arbitraryattempttolinkametaphorfromGenesis
toascientifictruth.ThistimeevolutionissomehowindicatedbyGenesisbecauseplantsandanimalsasweknowthem
areanextremelylatedevelopmentinevolutionarytime,whichmakesitliketheyhappenedonalatedaylikethefifth
andsixthinGenesis.Thisproveslessthannothing.ItdoesntshowthattheBiblehadanythinglikeanyspecial
knowledgelatervindicatedbyscience.
WheatontriestoarguethatbecausescientistsdonothaveanaccountyetoftheoriginoflifethatperhapsitwasGod
thatoriginatedit.WhatissotediousaboutthisisthatitisaGodoftheGapsargumentantitheticaltotheentirespirit
ofscience.GodoftheGapsisanexpressionusedtopointoutthattheistsusedtothinkofGod(orgods)asexplaining
agreatnumberofphenomenathatarenowexplicableinscientificways.Assciencehasfilledinmoreandmoreofour
understandingoftheworld,Godkeepsbeingproposedbytheistsassupposedlynecessarytoexplainwhateverhappens
tobeleftunexplained.Itseemsimplausiblethatscientific(andcorrelatephilosophical)advanceswouldkeephappening
andhappeningandreplacingGodexplanationafterGodexplanationandyetwhateverwehappentohavenotfigured
outyetiswhatGodalonecanaccountfor.
Godhasbeenoverturnedoverandoveragainasbestexplanationwehavescienceandphilosophy.Itrepeatedlyproves
tobeabadexplanation.SothereisnoreasontostopdoingscienceandphilosophyandjustsayGoddidit.Had
scientistsandphilosophersstoppedanyofthousandsofothertimeswithandherewestopthinkingandjustsaythat
Goddidit,enormousleapsofunderstandingwouldhaveneverhappened.Ifwestartdoingthatnowbecauseweall
becometheists,howmuchprogresswillwelose?
ChristianssometimestrytosolvethisbysayingGodisnotjustabeingamongotherbeingsbynatureitselforbeing
itself,somehowthebeinginwhichandthroughwhichallothersexist.Butthatroadistheroadtopantheism.Thatis
compellingonlyifwejustmakeNatureandGodsynonyms.AttributingtothatGodpersonalityandinterventionsinto
historylikereadintheBibleisjustnonsense.ThatsjustsayingNatureitselfislikeahumanbeing.Thatsasarbitraryas
sayingNatureitselftastesliketomatosauce.
So,itissillywhenChristianssaythatsincewearemissinganexact,verifiablescientificaccountofthedynamicsbywhich
theoriginsoflifehappened,thatsomehowthismeansitcouldhavebeenGodorthatthescientificmethodisflawedor
limited.Scienceislimitedherenotbyaconceptualimpossibility(i.e.,notbecauseitmakesnosenseforlifetocomeinto
beingthroughanaturalisticprocess,butratherbecauselifesoriginshappenedverylongagoandithappenedwithsuch
tinyrudimentaryorganismsthattheydidntleavefossiltraces.Therearearangeofwaysabiogenesis(theoriginof
life)couldhavehappenedthatscientistscandreamupthatareplausible.Whenscientistssaytheydontknowhowlife
beganitsnotbecausetheycantimaginethingsorthatnothingwouldmakesense,whereasChristianshaveaprofound
imaginationortheonlysensiblepossibility.Rather,itsthatunlikeChristians,scientistsarepatientlywaitingforevidence
ratherthanjustmakingsomethingup.Theyrebeinghumbleandwaitingtoactuallyknow.
Christiansarenotsmarterormorerationalforjustinsistingtheyknowandnotwaitingforevidence.Wereallscienceto
worklikethat,theredbenoscience.Dontblamescientistsforembodyingthepatienceandtemporarycomfortability
withnotknowingthatroutinelyleadstoactualscientificsuccess.YoucantsayscienceandChristianityarecompatible
andthenshowthatinyourownthinkingyouadvocaterushingtoconclusionsandstoppinginquiriesandsettlingfor
Goddiditexplanationsanddisparagingthepatienceofscientists.Whenyoudothosethings,youembodyand
promoteantiscientificattitudesinpractice.Youhurtthecauseofscience.Thereismoretosupportingsciencethanjust
mouthingthewords,Isupportscience.
WhyExplainingEvolutionwithGodisAntiScience
Ialso,morecontroversially,thinkitissimilarlyunscientifictosaythatbothGodandevolutiongotogetherbecauseGod
makesevolutionhappen.Thereasonthisisunscientificisthatitspitsinthefaceofthediscoveryofnaturalselection.
Theideathatspeciesevolvefromancestorstodescendantswasalreadyunderstoodintheideaofbreeding.Weknew
wecouldartificiallyselectfortraitsinanimalsandplantstomakethemhavethetraitswewantedtobycontrolling
whichonesmatedwitheachother.WhatwassoamazingandparadigmshiftingaboutDarwinsdiscoverywasthatjust
thedynamicsofnaturealonecouldhavethesameeffectasintelligentbreeders.Whatwasamazingwasthatan
environmentjustbeinginhospitabletoatraitandaccidentallymakingitsothebearersofthattraitjustcouldntlivelong
enoughtoreproduceoffspringwiththesametraitcouldweedoutthattraitaseffectivelyashumanschoosingtonotlet
dogswithagiventraitreproduce.
Theamazingrealizationofevolutionbynaturalselectionisthattheinteractionofenvironmentswithtraitscanallby
itself,overmillionsandmillionsofyearsmakethechangeshappenwithnointelligentagencyatallnecessary.And,in
fact,manyofthewaysthedesignsthatresultedfromthesedynamicscameout,itisclearthattheyrenotalways
perfectorlogical.Theyinvolveallsortsofinefficienciesandnonidealdesignsandsuperfluousdimensionsallbecause
theywerethetraitsandcombinationsoftraitsthathappenedtoevolveandfitwellenoughtotheenvironmentthat
theyworked.Theydontbespeakaperfectdesignerwhoforesawwhatmaximumefficiencywouldrequireand
implementedit.Theylookexactlyastheywouldifrandommutationsandrandomchangesinenvironmentwere
selectedbywhicheverhappenedtofitthebest,thoughnotperfectly.
SayingIacceptevolutionhappensbecauseofGod!becomesassuperfluousandunscientificassayingIacceptthat
lightninghappensbecauseofThor!OrIacceptthatifIfalloutthewindowIwillfallbecauseofthenaturallawof
gravityandbecauseGodpushedme!Theelectrostaticdischargeissufficienttoexplainthelightningallbyitself,
naturalistically.PositingThoraddsnothingbutmisunderstanding.Gravityexplainswhyyoufall.PositingGodadds
nothingbutmisunderstanding.Naturalselectionexplainswhyorganismsevolve.PositingGodaddsnothingbut
misunderstanding.
HowScienceandPhilosophyVindicateMetaphysicalNaturalismandtheExistenceofReligiousScientistsDoesnt
VindicateTheism
SciencedoesnotjustassumeGoddoesntexists.Scientistshavejustfoundthatsaying,well,maybeitsbecauseof
Godisuselessinthelaboratoryandintheorymaking.Evenreligiousscientistswhomakegreatdiscoveriesorbuild
greattechnologiesunderstandthattheyhavetoessentiallyleaveGodandholybookscompletelyoutoftheirscientific
workbecausetheonlyaccountsthatcanreallybemeaningfularethosethatareempiricallyandmathematicallyprecise
andGodisnotthosethings.Thisispartofwhythemereexistenceofreligiousscientistsdoesnotprovethatreligionand
sciencegotogether.Religiouspeoplearegoodscientistsonlywhentheyleavetheirreligiousbeliefsoutoftheirscience
andengineering.Aspeople,thismeanstheyarelivingwithcognitivedissonance.Inthelaboratorytheythinkasthough
therewerenoGod,thatis,theythinkasthoughtheywereatheists,andpreciselybecauseofthattheyaresuccessful.
Butinchurchandpersonalpietytheyliveasthoughtherewerenone.Theyabandonallthecategoriesofrigorous
thinkingthattheyemployinthelabwhenlookingattheirScriptures.Theycanonlybebothreligiousandscientificby
beingcategoricallyunscientificandacceptingbaselessreligiousauthoritieswhenbeingreligious.
SomeChristianapologistsconcedethatwehavetobemethodologicalnaturalistsinthelaboratory(thatis,people
whoassumethenaturalworldandnaturalexplanationsalltherearebutwhoonlyassumethiswhendoingscience)but
thatdoesntmeanweshouldbemetaphysicalnaturalists(peoplewhothinkreallyallthereisisnatureandnatural
explanations).Theyaccusemetaphysicalnaturalismofbeinganunwarrantedassumption.ButIseeitasafinding,an
inferencewehavecometo(ratherthanassumed)byseeingtheenormousexplanatorypowerthatopensupwhenwe
assumethatnatureisallthereis.Ifthatholdingthatpositionissounprecedentedlypowerfulforgeneratingtruthsin
thelaboratory,whynotthinkitsbecauseitsalsometaphysicallytrue.
Thereisalsoarationalconsiderationthatmakesmeanaturalist.Idonotunderstandhowsupernaturalismcanbe
coherentlyconceived.Idonotknowhowanythingcouldexistwithoutanature.EvenifthereistheChristianGod,God
seemslikeHecannotbesupernaturallyabovelogic.HowcouldHebe?TosayHewasbeyondlogicwouldbetosayHe
couldbothexistandnotexistatthesametime.Hecouldbebothabsolutelyomniscientandsimultaneouslyknow
nothing.Inotherwords,ifGodisnotboundbylogic,HewouldbothhavetheclassicalattributesascribedtoGodand
nothavethematthesametime.Thatsnonsense.Godwouldhavetobeboundbylogicasmuchasanythingelse
andbesomekindofthingorother.Godwould,inotherwords,haveanaturemoredeepthanwhatitsubsequently
creates.So,themostfundamentalrealityevenforChristiansseemstobenature.Andeverysupernaturaleventwould
beasuspensionofonesetoflawsforanotheraccordingtoGodswill,butstillthethingsthatseemedsupernatural
tous,beingaccustomedtoourworldsnormallawswouldoperatebynaturesofsomesortratherthanchaotically.
IsPhilosophyDead?
Inoneoftheraremomentsofcleverness,WheatonquicklyrubsinRadissonsfaceHawkingsmisguideddigthat
philosophyisdead.Godsnotdead,philosophyisdead.Nicebumpersticker.Thisisoneofmanyreasonsitisignorant,
antiintellectual,andcounterproductivetothecauseofcriticalthinkingandatheismwhenscientistsmouthoffinanti
philosophyways.IndoingthisscientistslikeHawkingandKraussgiveundeservedammunitiontopeoplewhowantto
attackreasoningeneralsincesomuchreasoningingeneralismorephilosophicalthanquantifiablyscientificin
character.
Philosophyisunavoidable.Sciencedoesnotanswereveryquestion,becausesomequestionsarenotamenableto
strictlyscientificanalyses.Orotherquestionsthatarecapableofscientificanalysisstillrequiretimeandscientific
progressandnewdiscoveriesbeforetheycanbescientific.Thisdoesnotmeanthattheologyistheanswer.Theological
answersarejustancientguesseswithnomagicplausibilityjustbecausebetterscientificonesdontyetexist.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
uponscientificquestionsbetterthanscientistscan.Ourprobleminthiscultureisnotafailuretodogoodscience,itsa
failureofthepopulacetounderstandphilosophysothatitknowswhattomakeofwhatscienceistellingit.Our
populacedoesnotknowhowtocontextualizesciencewithinatheoryofknowledgeandrealitythatiscoherent.Forall
ourscientificunderstanding,peoplestillbelieve,inparallel,insuperstitionsofimmaterialsoulsandfaithbased
epistemology,andoutdatedmetaphysicaldogmasthatgoodphilosophyrefutes.
Ourfightsovergayandtranspeoplesrightsorwomensrightsorhowtoethicallystructureourrelationshipsbetween
menandwomenbeyondmerelylegalissues?Theseareallfundamentallyphilosophicalproblems.
Secularpeoplesquestionsofhoworwhethertoreplacereligiousinstitutionsinpeoplesliveswithsufficientsecular
alternatives.Ourproblemsaboutthenumeroussocialscienceissueshave(sofar)intractablephilosophicalissues
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.