Wayfarer

I think obviously we ought to avoid anthropomorphization, but consider this idea. What, according to neo-Darwinism, constitutes 'an intention', or 'a ...

That's precisely what it means in this context. The scientific analysis of the origin of the Universe was consciously differentiated from religious co...

Consider the emergence of the Buddha image in India. For the first several hundred years after the Buddha, his form was not depicted at all - the very...

Meaning that the object being measured might have been otherwise, right? So, not determinate, in that sense, not subject to 'the laws of physics', bec...

Well said.

Do you think, because it's from the Roman empire, that it is therefore an example of a classical work? It might be vernacular or quotidian art - prett...

The BBC article takes it seriously enough to mention it. If it wasn't taken seriously, why would it? Do you think if they did it, that they would then...

That is putting the cart well and truly before the horse. To begin with, even in order to decide what a true theory is, we have to make judgements abo...

See for example Kant and Hume on Causality (SEP), from which:

Absolutely! That was the major impetus for Kant's philosophical project. 'Kant claimed to have logically deduced how causality and other pure concepts...

The import of the fine-tuned universe argument, is simply that the causal chain which gives rise to life, doesn't begin at some arbitrary point, when ...

This is why it is necessary to understand why Kant said that Hume had 'awoken him from his dogmatic slumbers', and what he did as a result. That was c...

I had a conversation years ago with an insightful friend about classical Asian art. He pointed out that all such art is produced according to a strict...

Interesting, from an engineering viewpoint.

I found out about Tillich mainly through the Internet, although since have read more of him. I feel he's a kindred spirit. And, if you don't know what...

I think it's interesting that the 'origin of life' is the one type of event for which the favoured scientific explanation is that it was a chance occu...

One of the reassuring aspects of being an animal is that you can set your sights low, and not worry too much about the 'existential angst' that plague...

Hoyle had his eccentricities but I think he is still widely respected. I don't think he is regarded as a crackpot. But in respect of the origin of DNA...

My favourite theory is 'panspermia'. It is the view that proto-organic material exists throughout the Universe, and that when the right conditions ari...

I wouldn't read it naturalistically, myself, but I don't know if I want to get into Biblical exegesis.

I was only referring to their legendary efficiency and organisational ability. I don't mean that there's anything intrinsically fascist about Germany ...

Well, Germany, in particular, because they had lots of Germans to implement it. X-)

Many mansions, I have heard. Don't know what's said in them, though.

Well, that's right. But recall what the meaning of 'ecstacy' is (not the drug!) - it means, 'ex-' 'stasis', outside normal experience. So, states of '...

Karen Armstrong's book History of God (1), which came out in the early 80's, was really good on this. In Christianity there is a tension between the r...

I think the only real reason is that he's a bit more tactful. Here is a review of Carroll's latest book which might be of interest.

All the more egregiously in the case of Sean Carroll, who is, after all, a physicist.

(Y) Insightful essay on Facism on Aeon. It points out that during the 1930's - before WWII - the appeal of fascism was that it offered employment, gro...

Some are. Stumbled upon an interesting Wiki article called philosophical theism. I think it's quite a prevalent theme in Western philosophy. (Interest...

You're not quick enough to duck! X-) Sorry, that was facetious. I think I've said enough for now.

I am agnostic, but not atheist.

That's why I mentioned Buddhism in my first response. As you no doubt are aware, the Buddha 'put to one side' such questions about whether the Univers...

I'm referring to the post-sexual revolution attitudes towards marriage and sexuality. I have a conservative view. As for cultural and scientific mater...

But, notice, that you've given a reductionist account of revelation, i.e. one might have 'spiritual experiences' but these are 'conditioned by genes a...

This was published around the time of the 2013 'Government Shutdown' crisis: http://media.peakprosperity.com/images/debt-mountain-cartoon.gif

This is pretty close to the verification principle (or the verifiability criterion of meaning) which is the philosophical theory that only statements ...

As does everything. That is called 'relativism'. There are some people who really like it, and others who don't, of course. Who's to say? Seems to hav...

but not, it would seem, by any actual revelation. 'It matters because believers say it matters'. In denying what I said you said, you say it again! An...

This Aeon essay ought to clear a lot of things up in respect of the deficiencies of philosophical materialism.

Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness and dies by chance. Nothing matters. Thus spake Nietzsche.

I have heard it said that there is a strong view in Islam itself that this is not the case - that, first of all, it ought to be read in Arabic, and se...

I'm not confusing anything. I'm drawing out a point, that the easy acceptance of different religions is itself something alien to the believer. From o...

What do you think, if you asked a Muslim, if there were 'such a thing as authentic Islam', that he or she would say? I bet they would not even compreh...

Well, they can't be gun-totin', because of Australian gun laws. But if they want to turn up and form Republican societies to promote conservative poli...

No religions ought to be judged by the example of those who distort its meaning.

considering His former circumstances it might be considered an upgrade X-)

do your ears not hear what your mouth has spoken? You say you don't believe in God but then straight away add that you can't imagine what a world with...

Well that sure is 'damning with faint praise'.

And if they didn't like it - then what? And how do you judge what will benefit 'most people' when they're given no say in the matter?

https://fabricebaudoin.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/photo.jpeg (Sorry, couldn't resist...) I quoted a passage the other day, about Dennett's new book: ...