She was skeptical, but Mariana went with a friend to a multi-denominational religious convention. A Christian healer laid his hands on her and exclaimed, “In the name of Jesus Christ our Savior, you will walk today!” “But I’m not paralyzed,” Mariana said politely, turning away. Then a rabbi laid his hands on her head and […]
A skeptic goes to a religious convention … Read More »
Some questions: Has religion helped or hindered the development of modern free societies? Did the Protestant work-ethic make capitalism? Do Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox explain why the PIIGS (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, and Spain) have been among the most economically-troubled European nations? Is the economic backwardness of much of the Middle East due to Islam?
Religion and capitalism? Alvaro Vargas Llosa Read More »
At Britain’s CHURCH and STATE site, my article “Is Political Evil Built Into Religion?” has been republished. It is common in debates for atheists to cite the long history of fanaticism, torture, and war that religion has caused and for theists to respond that such evils are aberrations and that their own preferred religion, properly
“Is Political Evil Built Into Religion?” [CHURCH and STATE] Read More »
My “No Reformation for Islam, Please” is now republished at Britain’s Church and State site: “Islam needs reforming but definitely not a Reformation. “The history matters here, so consider first what the Reformation activists were fighting against. During the Renaissance, the dominant Catholic religion had become worldly. Its thinkers read the naturalistic Greeks and Romans
“No Reformation for Islam, Please” [CHURCH and STATE] Read More »
Crossing Martin off my next party-invitation list. “As many paces as the man takes in his dance, so many steps he takes toward Hell.” Quoted here. I like to contrast Luther with John Locke who, in his thoughts on education, mentions dancing first as an essential element of a child’s formal instruction. My explication is
Martin Luther on Dancing Read More »
At Britain’s CHURCH and STATE site, my article “Is Religion Worth Arguing About?” has been republished. Thanks to Declan and Lola Heavey for selecting it. The article is followed by a series of video clips with me on postmodernism and real education. [Related: “How to Tame Religious Terrorists.” All of my articles at CHURCH and
“Is Religion Worth Arguing About?” [CHURCH and STATE] Read More »
The core idea of the Design Argument is that to explain the cause-and-effect order of the natural world, we must appeal to a divine Designer: the complexity of reality cannot be the product of random chance, so there must be a powerful intelligence behind it all that brought order into existence and keeps the operation
The Design Argument — six critical questions Read More »
I’ve always smiled at the thoughtfulness of St. Benedict’s very detailed rules for monastic living. Chapter 22 of The Rule takes up “The Sleeping Arrangements of the Monks.” In keeping with the spirit of communalism, Benedict stipulates: “If possible, all are to sleep in one place, but should the size of the community preclude this,
St. Benedict on monks sleeping together communally Read More »