Category Archives: God

Scott Atran rips open Sam Harris

Posted on December 28, 2006 by acb

Fantastic stuff here, (jump to Scott Atran) pointing towards a scientifically informed study of religion. To get there, of course, it is necessary first to remove the sillinesses of pharyngular atheism and dogmatic assertions about “religion” based on nothing but … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Name that spiritual leader

Posted on December 27, 2006 by acb

Who said at Christmas this year: %(loony)“Many people say I embarrass them with my humility.”%? Please put your guesses in comments before you look up [the answer.]

Posted in God | 5 Comments

Is theology nonsense (no 599968 in an ongoing series)?

Posted on December 21, 2006 by acb

Interesting piece in the TLS (I hope it’s not paywalled) by Thomas Dixon, who has organised a conference to which I think I am going next summer, rounding up a bunch of science-and-theology books. One of them appears to be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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In which I have a dream unlike MLK

Posted on December 21, 2006 by acb

So I was at a conference of some kind, vaguely religious or journalistic: people sat at long benches along refectory tables, and we were discussing the Bishop of Southwark when a slim, dark-haired woman, a friend of mine though unidentifiable … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Thought for the Day

Posted on December 12, 2006 by acb

And in our studio this morning, we have the Bishop of Southwark, with thought for the day. Good morning Tom. “Erm. Thank you, erm. We all have to face questions in life. Some questions fill us with existential horror: ‘Would … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The most perfect proof of God

Posted on December 11, 2006 by acb

This is from Anthony Kenny’s book The Unknown God, a collection of essays on the God of the philosophers: Is the ontological argument valid? Professor Timothy Smiley of Cambridge once offered a succinct and trenchant argument in favour of its … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Optimism wanted

Posted on December 3, 2006 by acb

There is a wonderful essay by Scott Atran up on John Brockman’s website, in which he eviscerates Professor Dawkins and Sam Harris for their way with evidence. I find it fascinating that among the brilliant scientists and philosophers at the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Measuring religion

Posted on November 5, 2006 by acb

[Very odd essay] in the Chronicle of Higher Education arguing that we should not measure the effects of religious practice scientifically even though we could. Why this is oddest is that it assumes that no such measurements of religious practice … Continue reading →

Posted in God, Journalism | 3 Comments

Arrogant, lui?

Posted on November 5, 2006 by acb

“Still, I excuse those who pray for me,” writes Dan Dennett, from his hospital bed in the course of a rather moving and sensible essay about his recent brush with death. Continue reading →

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next, a well-known bridge

Posted on November 3, 2006 by acb

Ruth Gledhill gets very aerated about George Carey being banned from Bangor Cathedral, but she misses the real story, which I found on Google. The Dean, or someone, is actually selling the cathedral. Will those liberals stop at nothing? Continue reading →

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