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APhilosophyProfessorAnalyzesGodsNotDeadsCaseforGodMarch27,2014 ByDanielFincke
Introduction
EversinceIinferredtheplotofGodsNotDeadfromthetrailerandwroteapolemicalresponsecalledTheAtheistPhilosophyProfessorStrikesBack!,Ihadbeenextremelycurioustoseeexactlywhatkindofaphilosophicalcasethe
moviewould
try
to
muster
in
order
to
make
it
look
like
the
philosophy
professor
was
really
bested
intellectually
by
his
freshmanstudentbeforeheinevitablyrevealedhisreal,emotional,reasonfornotbelieving(hewasmadatGodfor
killinghismomwithcancerwhenhewas12).
So,now,havingseenthefilm,Iamhappytobeabletogooveralltheinsandoutsofhowitactuallyhandled
philosophy.ThisisthelongestblogpostofmyownwritingIveeverpublished,eighttimesaslongasmynormalposts
and~6,000wordslongerthanmynextlongestposts.
ThereasonIwrotesomuchisbecauseIhopethattherearesomeChristiansouttherewhoreallygenuinelywantto
understandwhethercommonevangelicalChristianwaysofthinkingholdupphilosophicallyandwhetherphilosophyis
reallylikewhatsshowninthemovieGodsNotDead.IwouldntbesurprisedifGodsNotDeadinspiresafewyoungpeopletoexploreapologeticsforthemselves.Iwanttoputontheinternetaresourcethatallowsthemtodealwith
someof
the
strongest
rebuttals
to
what
this
film
claims
about
philosophy
and
apologetics.
All
of
us
should
be
interested
tomakesureourideasstandupagainstthestrongestchallenges.Notjusttheweakest.Itsnotenoughtohaveawitty
comebackorseesomevaguepossibilityforreconcilingyourfaithwithscienceandphilosophyorhavesomefunseeing
thepeopleyoufeelpersecutedbygethumiliatedinthemovies.Ifyouwanttoberight,youneedtofigureoutthatthe
pictureoftheworldyouhaveisactuallythebestonewhentestedagainstcompetitors.SoIamwritingthispostfortheChristianwhowantstoknow,indepth,whatarealliveatheistphilosophyprofessor,
withaPhDinphilosophyand93classestaughtattheuniversitylevel,thoughtoftheworldviewinGodsNotDead.AndIwriteassomeonewhoalsoidentifiedwithJoshWheaton.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.
IntherealworlditisChristianuniversitiesthataloneinAmericarequireofstudentsandfacultythattheysignfaithstatementstoattendorteach.IfProfessorRadissonsactionsbotheredyou,inrealityyoushouldbebotheredbythese
Christianuniversitiesbehavior.Thisisnotapointagainstsecularuniversities.Ifanyatheistphilosophyprofessor(orany
atheistprofessorofanyotherkind)atasecularschoolhaseverhadanyonepledgethatsaysGodisdead,Ivenever
heardofit.Evenifitshappened,itwouldbearareoutlierratherthantheroutinepracticeoffaithstatementsatvariousChristianuniversities.Rareoutliersprovenothingabouttherebeinganinherentprejudiceorpersecutionofpeopleof
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faithbysecularuniversitiesorphilosophyprofessors.YoumightsaythatstatementsofChristianfaithareacceptablefor
Christianuniversitiessincepeopleapplytobetherevoluntarily,knowinginadvanceaboutthefaithstatements,sono
oneisbeingpressuredtoagreetosomethingthatgoesagainsttheirintellectualconsciences.
Butthereis,nonetheless,somethingcompletelycontradictorytothespiritoftrueinquirytohavecollegestudents,in
advanceoftheirhighereducation,committobelievingthingsonpainofhavingtoleavetheschooliftheystopbelieving
them.Howisthatopenminded?Howisthatinterestedinreallyprovingandtestingonesbeliefs?Thatssaying,Come
hereandwewilleducateyouandteachyoutothinkcritically.Butbeforeweeducateyouandteachyoutothink
critically,
please
sign
this
statement
that
you
will
never
come
to
conclusions
different
than
your
current
beliefs
and
our
beliefs.Tosaythattoeighteenyearolds,whoareonlyjustbecomingadultsandonlyjusthavingthechancetothinkoutsidetheirparentsinfluence,isinherentlystifling.Itscontrarytotheentirepointofeducation.ButChristian
universitiesdothis.
Andtheirfacultycanbefirediftheythinkthewrongthings.Imaginethat.Thesearepeoplehiredbecausetheyare
highlyqualifiedexpertsintheirsubjects.Butiftheythinksomethingnotpreapproved,theycanlosetheirjobs.Does
thatsoundlikewhatopenmindednessabouttruthwouldbe?Isthatapolicythatisgoingtoleadpeopletocorrecttheir
mistakesorstartchallengingdiscussionsthatmightleadtogreatertruth.Evenifthefaithweretobevindicatedand
strengthenedafterchallenges,youwillneverknowthatifyouprecludepeopleinadvancefromevenquestioningor
temporarilythinkingwhatlookstruebeforeitcanbeprovenfalse.
Thinkabout
your
whole
life
in
the
church,
being
asked
to
believe
awhole
raft
of
things
about
God
and
the
world
and
yourself,tosignstatementscommittingyourselftoJesusortoabstinencebeforeyouhadanyrealopportunitytofigure
thingsoutforyourself.Youwerenotgiventheotherside.Thewhiteboardatthebeginningofthemoviewithallthose
atheistsnameshowmanyofthemdidyoureadbeforecommittingtobelievebyfaithintheChristianGod?Howmuch
timedidyouspendwithanyoneadvocatingforthosepeoplebeforeyouspentthousandsuponthousandsofhours
beingpreachedChristianity.Didyourpastorsoryouthleadersorparentsevermakesureyouwerethinkingfreelyaboutthesethingswithoutbiasesandfreetomakeupyourmind?Ordidtheytellyouthatsomethingmuchworsethanfailure
wouldhappenifyoudidntbelieveyouwouldgotohell?Doyoureallyfeelsecurethatifyoujustchangedyourmind
yourChristianfriendsandfamilyandchurchwontmeteoutsocialpenaltiesonyou?Isyourwillreallyfreeinthesense
ofuncoercedwhenallthesepressuresmakeitunthinkabletoyouthatyoucouldeverleaveyourfaith?In
the
real
world,
philosophy
courses
are
routinely
the
places
of
freest
inquiry.
Theyre
the
classrooms
where
you
can
questionanything.Youcanspeculate.Youcanpersistinpesteringyourprofessorwithanotheryeah,but,whatabout
thisaftereverythinghesaysandhewilllikelyfindyoutobeoneofhisfavoritestudents.Mystudentschallengedand
challengedandchallengedmeovertheyears.Theyspoketheirminds.Theyfoundtheirownvoices.Forcenturies,stretchingbacktoatleastSocrates,philosophershavebeenatthevanguardoffreethinkingunboundedbytraditional
authorities.Ithasbeenreligiousauthorities,Christianandotherwise,whohavehadthelogsintheireyeshere,they
haveroutinelybeenthemostcensoriousoffreedomofthoughtandexpressionofanyoneuntilthecommunistsand
fascistsgavethemarunfortheirmoneyinthe20thCentury.
WhyLeavingTheologyOutofPhilosophyIsntPersecutingStudents
Nowthereisagrainoftruth,thatthefilmmakersmisrepresentasalogofhypocrisy,insomethingRadissonsayswhen
JoshWheaton
is
firm
in
his
initial
refusal
to
write
down
that
God
is
dead.
Radisson
nastily
suggests
to
Wheaton
that
he
maygobacktohisdormroomsinkto[his]kneesandprayallhewantsonhisowntimeanditsnoneofhis
[Radisson's]businessbutwhatgoesonintheclassroomishisbusiness.
Now,thisisareallyuncharitableanddemonizingwaytodealwitharealissuethatdoescomeupinphilosophyclasseswithreligiousstudents.Occasionallyreligiousstudentsthinkofphilosophyclassesastheologyclasses.Theywanttogivetheologicallyderivedanswerstophilosophicalquestions.Sometimesthisishelpfulandwecanrunwithitbecauseinthe
theologicalconceptissomethinggenuinelyphilosophicalthatwecanallunderstand,appreciate,andanalyzeevenifwe
donotsharethefaiththatformulatedthepointinthatway.Thatsgreat!
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Butitsnotstrictlyspeakingphilosophicaltotrytoanswerphilosophicalquestionsbysimplytakingatheologicalsourceasafinalword.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
behaviorthat
Iaccept
as
an
atheist
even
though,
Ihave
to
admit,
Idont
even
very
much
personally
like
Jesus.
So,eveniftheologycanbeasourceoftruth,itsneitherthesubjectnorthemethodforworkinginaphilosophyclass
anymorethanthemethodsofcarpentryorarchitectureorsoftwareengineeringorbakingorphysicsare.Unlessa
particularphilosophicalproblemhappenstointersectwithaprobleminanotherareaofthought(likecosmological
argumentsaboutGodsexistenceinteractwithphysics),thatotherareaofthoughtsmethodsareillegitimate.
AndinphilosophyclassesIdiscouragedstudentsfrommakingethicalormetaphysicalargumentsthathingedon
theologicalauthorities.Whererelevant,westudiedtheologiansphilosophicalworks.Theywerenotexcludedwithany
prejudice.Anyonewithgreatphilosophicalinsightsisrelevant!Myphilosophyofreligionreadingsfeaturedmany
theisticphilosophers(someofwhomwerealsotheologians)defendingtheism.Thatsparforthecourse.
WhatwasillicitwereargumentsthattooktheformoftheBiblesaysxandtherefore,onthebasisoftheBiblesauthorityalone,xmustbetrue.Thosekindsofargumentsarenotwhatphilosophyclassisabout.Inthatlimitedsense,philosophyprofessorslikememightaskastudentnottobetheologicalinclassor,asIdid,haveageneralexplanationat
thebeginningofthesemesterthatexplainsthesedistinctions.Ifareligiousstudentfeelslikethatmuchbracketingof
theirfaithforthesakeofconversationinwhichwecanallparticipateonneutralphilosophicalgroundsistoomuch,then
theyreallyhavenoplaceinphilosophy.ButtheyarenotbeingpersecutedanymorethanaBiologystudentwhorefuses
todolabworkbutratherquotesscriptureoranengineeringstudentwhorefusestolearnmathematicsandinsteadtries
tousetheBibleindesigningthingswouldbepersecutedforbeingtoldtheyhadtosticktothetoolsandmethodsofthe
disciplinewhileinthatclass.
And,itsworthnotingthatmanysecularphilosophyprofessorsloveandadmirereligionssomuchthattheydontmind
minglingtheology
and
philosophy
freely.
And
my
students
at
Catholic
schools
Itaught
at
occasionally
complained
that
theydwindupwiththeoccasionaloldCatholicprofessorthattookphilosophyclasstobeachancetodogmatically
preachCatholicdogmatothestudents,withlittleinput,dissent,ordialecticwelcome.So,again,thelogisinthe
Christianeyehereinmyrealworldexperience.
PhilosophyIsNotAuthorityBasedTheWayTheologyIs
Thisissueofthedifferencebetweentheologyandphilosophybringsmetothenextmajorproblem.AsaChristian,you
inevitablyrelyonauthoritieswhotellyouthingsthatyoureallycannotbackupwithreasons.Forexample,evenifyou
couldprovesomethingliketheexistenceofGodusingphilosophy,youstillbelieveinwaymorethanjustthe
philosophicalpropositionthatGodexistsinordertobeaChristian.Youbelieveincountlessclaimsabouthowto
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interprethistoricalevents,abouttheoccurrenceofparticularmiraculousevents,aboutthenaturesofsupernatural
realmsandrules,etc.YoudomuchmorethantrusttheBibleassomekindofahistoricaldocument.YoutrusttheBible
and/ortheChurchand/orvariousotherprophets,traditions,clergy,etc.totellyouthetheologicalmeaningsofevents,
totellyouthatsupernaturalthingsyouhaventseenforyourselfexist,etc.Evenifyoureasonforyourselfaboutsomeof
theseissues,youuseasdatatheclaimsofotherpeoplethatyoucanneverreallyverifyasbeingactuallytrueusing
philosophy,science,orthetoolsofrigoroushistoricalanalysis.
AgreatdealofwhatyouacceptjustaspartofbeingaChristiancomeswithlittletonoevidenceofthekindsweuse
everywhere
else
in
life
to
confirm
facts.
Historians,
scientists,
courts
of
law
would
never
be
able
to
look
at
all
the
inventivespeculationsofholybooksandprophets,etc.,aboutsupernaturalmattersorsupposedmiraculous
occurrencesandsignoffonsuchthingsastrue.Whenhistorians,scientists,andjuristshappentobe
religiousanywayitsbecausetheyapplytotheirreligionandtheologyfarlaxerstandardsofevidence,orsubstantiallywaivemostoftheirevidencerequirementaltogetherandsimplybelievebychoice.I.e.,theybelievebyfaith.They
committhemselvestothousandsofpropositionalclaimsthathavelittletonoevidencebecausetheywantto.So,theologyisveryauthoritybased,ratherthanreasonorevidencebased.Andifyoudonttrusttheauthoritiesofagivenreligioustradition,itssupereasytojustnotbelievethatreligion.Thatshowyou,asaChristian,dismissthe
entiretiesoftheMuslimandHindutraditions(amongmany,manyothers)withoutasecondworrythatmaybeyouare
missingsomethingtrue.IfyouarelikemostChristianswhodontliveinIndiayouhaveprobablyneverlostanightof
sleepworryingthatmaybetheHindugodsarethetrueones.
NothingabouttheIslamicorHindutraditionscompelsbeliefifyoudontinthefirstplacebuyintotheirarbitrary
authorityclaims.Andifyouwerentbornintoagivenreligion,comparablyfewpeopleeverfeeltheslightest
compulsiontobuyintoit.Mostreligiouspeoplesimplyadheretothereligion(oratleastsomesectwithinthebroaderreligion)thattheywerebornintoandindoctrinatedintoorexposedtothroughculturalhegemony.Lateinlife
conversionsfromonereligiontoanotherorfromatheismtotheismaretheanomalies.Mostbelieversaresolidifiedas
suchwhenyoung,whentheswayofarbitraryauthorityiseasytoingrainintheirnaturallyconformistandchildish
minds.So,askyourself,ifyousharethesamereligionyougrewupwith,eitherpreachedtoyousinceyouwereababy
byyourfamilyorbythepredominantlyChristianculturethatsurroundedyouevenifyourparentsweresecular,what
makesyouanydifferentthanaSaudiArabianMuslimoranIndianHindu?Whyareyouanymorelikelytoberightthan
theyarewhenyouarebothjustbelievingthearbitraryauthoritiespoundedintoyourheadbyyourowncultures?
InGodsNotDead,thesupposedlyphilosophicaldiscussionshardlyresemblephilosophy.Theyrecitationsofauthoritybackandforth.Butthatsnotwhatphilosophersdo.ThismakessenseonJoshWheatonsside.Heisafirst
semesterfreshmaninhisfirsttwoweeksofschool(laughably,allthefilmseventstakeplaceinthattinywindowoftime).ButRadissonisbasicallyanimpotentphilosopherwhoparrotsscientistsandliteraryfiguresandhasnotanideain
hisheadofhisown.Again,itstheChristianwhohasthelogintheeyeforalwayscitingtheBibleor,forlessBible
focusedChristians,theChurchorthegeneralteachingsofChristianity,etc.
TheStudentsintheMovieAlreadyBelievedinGod
Wheatonhastogivespeeches.IfhecanconvincetheclassGodisnotdead,hedoesntfailthe30%unitontheexistence
ofGod.Ifhecannotconvincethem,hedoesfail.Thefilmmakers(unwittingly)actuallyadmitthegameisriggedin
Wheatonsfavor.
Even
though
all
the
students
but
Wheaton
were
willing
to
write
down
that
God
is
dead
and
even
thoughPastorDaveadvisesWheatonthathemustgivehisspeechesbecauseitmaybetheseclassmatesonlychanceto
hearaboutGodandJesus,thefilmmakersactuallyrightlyassume(andarestatisticallycorrecttodoso)the
studentsdobelieveinGodalready.ItsnosurprisethestudentsallstandupattheendandsayGodisnotdead.80%97%ofAmericansbelieveinGod.
TheyinitiallywritedownthatGodisdeadatRadissonsbehestnotbecausetheyreatheistsbutbecausetheyvebeen
conditionedbyoureducationalsystemtobespinelessconformistswhodefertoauthorities.Theywillwritedown
whatevertheirprofessorswantifthatswhatwillgetthemtheirgradeandgetthemtowheretheywanttobeinlife.
ThiscynicalindictmentofAmericancollegestudentsunfortunatelyhasagrainoftruth.Studentscanbeshockingly
intellectuallylazyopportunistsobsessedwithgradesandindifferenttothinkingsometimes.Butitsfarfromthewhole
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story.Whenprofessorslikemeempowerourstudentstofreelythinkandeffectivelygetstudentstoappreciatewhat
problemsexisttothinkabout,theydohaveopinionsandtheydostanduptous.IwasalwaysveryproudofhowwellItrainedmystudentsto vigorouslyandunapologeticallydisagreewithme.Someofthebestcriticismsanyonesever
givenofmyownpersonalideashavecomefrommystudents,whenIvefloatedthembythem.This,andthefactthatI
basemywholeethicsontheconceptofempoweringpeople,madeitmostupsettingtomewhenRadissonexplicitly
scoffed,WhywouldIempower[mystudents]?
Thegiantlogoflazyintellectualconformismandthoughtlessdeferencetoauthoritiesisstillinthechurchseye.Itis
churches
that
praise
submission
to
Christ,
overcoming
doubts
not
by
endless
questioning
but
by
deferring
to
the
Sunday
Schoolteacher.IcannottellyouhowmanyatheistsItalktowhorecountbeingtoldtoshutupbytheirreligiousinstructorsatchurchorschoolforaskingtoomanyquestions.
ThefilmmakershintthatindicatesthattheyknowthestudentsreallybelieveinGodatthestartisloadedinto
RadissonsominousadvicetojustwritedownGodisdeadsotheycanskiptheunitwherethemoststudentsgettheir
lowestgrades.WhywouldstudentsusuallygetthelowestgradesintheGodunitfromthisGodhaterwhogradespeople
downfordisagreeingwithhim,unlesstheydisagreedwithhimandbelievedinGod?
HowIGradedReligiousStudentsWhoDisagreedWithMe
Now,aquickwordaboutgradingessaysonGodasanatheistphilosophyprofessor.Ihavenevergradedmystudentson
thecontent
of
their
opinions
and
whether
they
agreed
with
my
own.
Ever.
WhatIgraded,andwhatallprofessorsIhaveencounteredgraded,washowwellthestudentshavelearned,assimilated,
andphilosophicallyskillfullyanalyzedtheideasfromclass,andthoughtcreativelyinphilosophicallyinterestingwaysfor
themselves.NotallideasaboutGodorfaithorreligionareterribleones.Lotsofinterestingphilosophicalargumentscan
bemade.Infact,Ilovebustingmystudentschopstryingtogetthemtoseewhatmightbeplausibleaboutsomeofthe
argumentsforGodsexistence(especiallythecounterintuitiveontologicalargumentswhichIfindveryphilosophicallyprovocativepersonally).AfewstudentssurelymustbetemptedtoforgetthetimeIspendadvocatingforGodwhen,inmyadvocatesstyle,Iswitchtobustingtheirchopsfromanatheisticperspective.ButIalwaysgiveroomtoanygood
argumentIcanthinkofandhavetimefor,whetheritsproGodorantiGod.BecausewhenImteachingphilosophy,allI
careabout
is
that
we
explore
all
the
good
arguments
and
think
creatively
and
critically.
Im
not
preaching,
Im
teaching.
SothereareplentyofwaysforstudentstoearnanAdespitedefendingapositionIthinkis,whenallthingsareconsidered,profoundlywrong.Andthevastmajorityofprofessorsseemtohaveasimilarattitude.Ourclassesarenot
aboutmanipulatingpeopleintobecomingconverts(againstopprojecting,evangelicalChristiansthatsyourloginyoureye,nottheaveragephilosophyprofessorsthingbyamile!),theyreabouttraininginindependentthought.EventherareatheistphilosopherlikeI,whoactuallydoesdesiretodeconvertpeoplegenerally,usuallydoesnotseethatastrumpingtheresponsibilitiestoletstudentsfreelythinkforthemselvesintheclassroomwithoutfearof
badgrades.IwantpeopletobecomeatheistsbecauseIveshownthemeverythingIknow,hiddennothingfromthem,
and,havingseenthebestargumentsonbothsides,theycometotheconclusionsthatIthinkarerighttoo.Imnot
interestedinhavingthembelieveforanybiasedreasonsorduetoaonesidedpresentation.
But,forallthis,therearetwoproblems.Onoccasion,Ihavetaughtasemestersworthofphilosophyofreligioninwhichwecoveredarangeofcomplex,nuancedideas,includingsomeofthemostfamous,Christianapproved,philosophical
advocatesfortheism(Augustine,Aquinas,Swinburne,Plantinga,Craig,etal.)andasdevastatingcounterobjectionsto
themasIcouldmuster(philosophyofreligiontextbooksunderrepresentatheistviewpointscriminallyagain,thelogis
intheisticphilosophersofreligionseyeformarginalizingatheisticones,ratherthantheotherwayaround),onlyto
receivedespairinglymanypapersfromstudentsthatamounttoIbelieveinJesusbecauseheismysaviorandhowcan
youlookatamountainandsaythereisnoGod.
IfaChristianwritesapaperlikethatandreceivesanF(whichIdidntevengivethemthoughtheyprobablydeservedit)
oriftheytrytouseaphilosophyorbiologyclasstowholesaledismissthescientificconsensusonevolutionandargue
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thatcreationismistrueandgetabadgrade,thatsnotreligiouspersecution.Scienceisstilltrue,eveninphilosophyclass.Thereiscertainlymoreroominphilosophyclasstohaverobustdebatesaboutwhatthemetaphysicalimplicationsofthescienceis.Forexample,WhatistheimpactofthefactweevolvedonourdefinitionsofGodor
hypothesesthatGodexists?isamuchmorephilosophicalthanstrictlyscientificquestion.Butitsnotacceptablein
philosophytocontradictscienceasthoughitdoesnotexistandhasnoepistemicweightthatcanoverridewhateveryou
wanttothink.
DemandingPhilosophicalReasonsForBeliefsIsNotPersecution
Andthisgetstotheotherissuewherereligiousstudentsmightwronglyfeelpersecuted.Itsnotpersecutionwhenyouareforcedtogivereasonsforyourpositions.WhenIaskforphilosophicaljustificationsandarguethatfaithisaninvalid
formofreasoning,youhavetoeitherdefendfaithasavalidformofreasoningorstopmakingfaithbased
assertions. Thestandardsoflogic,empiricism,andrationalstandardsofconsistency,conceptualclarity,and
coherencestillapplyinlookingatGodandreligionrelatedquestionsastheydoinalltheotherphilosophicalareasofinquiry.
Tellingly,itisonlyintheGodrelatedareasthatstudentshaveeverstartedturningagainstreasonitselfonme.Only
whentheyencounterchallengestotheirreligiousbeliefsdotheystartturningagainstallthelogicalrulesofreasoning
thattheynaturallyandhappilyoperatedunderallsemesterpriorwithnocomplaints.ThoughIamtoldsooftenby
ChristianitysdefendersthatthereisnocontradictionbetweengoodreasoningandChristianityatall,bycuriouscoincidenceitisonlywhenreligiouslyimportantbeliefs(andnootherkind)comeupagainstvigorouscounterobjectionsthatmystudentseverstarttryingtodenythevalidityofreasonitself.WhyshouldIconcludethatreasonandreligion
arebestfriendswhenitispreciselyreligionthatmakespeopleexplicitlyresentandagitateagainstreasonmorethananythingelse?
So,again,itsnotpersecutionwheninaphilosophyclass,oftenforthefirsttimeinyourlife,youhavetobeconfrontedwithrigorousphilosophicalinterrogationofyourbeliefs.Thisisnotauthoritarianandbullying.Thisisntphilosophy
professorstellingyouwhattothink.Again,thelogisinyourchurcheseyes.Yourchurcheshavebeenindoctrinatingyousincethedayyouwereborninmostcases.Theymanipulateyouatcamps,theypreachatyouconstantly,theymakeexactingdemandsonyoursexuality,theyencourageyoutoputtheirbeliefsbetweenyouandyourfriendsorfamily
wherevertheyconflict(ashappensrepeatedlyinGodsNotDead),andwheneveryouhavedoubtstheyengagein
whatevermeans
of
faith
preserving
rationalization
or
emotional
non
sequitor
necessary
to
get
you
to
believe.
Some
religiouspeoplesaydoubtisagreatthingandafreemindandafreewillaregreatthings.Buttheyhavenointerestwhatsoeverintherealkindsofdoubt,freethinking,orfreewilltheonesthatcoulddecidetoleavethe
church.Thatssin.Ifyouleavethechurch,youwillfindouthownastilyuninterestedinyourfreedomofthoughtthose
fellowChristianswhorightnowclaimtoloveyoucanbecome.
Whenyouretold,Sure!Doubt!Useyourmind!Exerciseyourfreedom!ButallatheistsareliarswhosecretlyhateGod
andwanttosin,andwelldisownyouifyoueverwalkway!Youarenotbeingtrainedtouseyourfreewillortodoubtseriously.
Noonegenuinelyinterestedinthetruthshouldeverconfuseavigorous,honestphilosophicalsetofrejoinderstotheir
beliefsforpersecution.Justbecauseyourprofessordoesnotjoinyouinrationalizingorletyougetawaywitha
rationalizationwith
no
further
follow
ups
to
press
you
to
do
better,
does
notmeansheisabusingherpower.
Yourchurchesarethosewhoabusetheirpoweroveryourmindandhavedonesosinceyouwerelittle.Theyfindthecognitivebiasesandpronenessestowardsconceptualmistakesthatareendemictoallhumanbrainsandinstead
offixingthem,theyexploitthemtopitchtheirreligiousbeliefs.Theyexacerbatenaturalhumanirrationalityratherthan
educateyoutoovercomeit.Thelogisinthechurchseye.
But,then,totheactualarguments.
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ArgumentsOverCosmology(Godvs.NaturalisticEternalism)
WheatonstartswiththeBigBangandarguestwothings.TheweakestthinghearguesisthatGodsbeginningofcreation
withlettherebelightcouldbeseenasametaphorfortheBigBang.Hecitesascientistwhomakesthistendentiousconnection.Butthisprovesnothing.Thisiseasilychalkedtocoincidenceifaccurate.Lettherebelightisinnoway
scientificallyspecific.ThesupposedlyomniscientknowerwhowasbehindthewritingoftheBiblecouldnthaveoffered
anactuallyspecificsetofdetailsthatnoancientpersoncouldhaveknown,whichwouldthenbelaterverifiedby
rigoroussciencethousandsofyearslater?Thatwouldhavebeenimpressive!Butlettherebelightisntanywherenear
such
a
huge
and
unaccountable
bit
of
knowledge
that
had
the
ancients
had
it
might
have
indicated
they
were
getting
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.Evenweretheretobeaneedforacauseoutsidetheuniverse,itisdubioustopositapersonalbeingandevenifyoucanproveithadtobea
personalbeing
whybelievetheancientpeoplewhowrotetheBiblehadanyspecialrevelationfromthisbeing?
Again,AdamFreeseputsthepointwell,theargumentthatthebigbangtheoryvindicatesareligionisprettycommon,
butitonlyreallyconsistsofclaimingthataholybookpredictedthattheuniversebeganatsomepoint.Itsnotreallyan
impressiveargument,andisaprettyeasythingtoguess,evenwithnotheoreticaljustificationfortheguess;itjustkind
ofmakesintuitivesense.ItwouldhavebeenimpressiveiftheBibleortheKoranpredictedanagefortheuniverse,said
thatlightfirstappeared400kyearsafterthebeginning,mentionedinflation,etc.
But,moreimportantly,thereisahugeleapWheatonmakesinassumingtheuniverse(orthemultiverseifthatswhat
weactuallyexistin)requiresacausalprincipleoutsideitself.Theideathateverythingwithabeginningrequiresacause
outsideofitisjustassertedbypeoplelikeCraigandthisfilmsJoshWheaton.Ithinkitrestsonwhatiscalleda
composition
fallacy.
The
composition
fallacy
is
when
you
mistakenly
take
an
attribute
of
a
part
of
a
thing
to
be
an
attributeofthewholething.Forexample,saysomeoneclaimeddownpillowsmustbesoftbecausetheyarefilledwith
feathersandfeathersaresoft.Thisneglectsthefactthatifyoupackenoughfeatherstogetherinapillowtheycancumulativelybearockhardpillow.Whenwelookatthenaturalworldandwetrytofindcausalconnectionsthatsbecausethatswhatwillmakesenseof
thesequenceofourexperiencesthebest.Particularconfigurationsofmatterareastheyarebecauseofsome
constitutivematerialsthatmakethemupandthatareastheyarebecauseofsomeprocessofinteractionswithother
physicalentities.Thatsnecessarytoexplainthoseparticularconfigurations.Butthatdoesnotmeanthattheuniversesmaterialsthemselvesrequireafurthercause.
CosmologistSeanCarrollrecentlydebatedwithWilliamLaneCraig.1InthedebateCarrollmadeitclear.Cosmologistsare
capableof
giving
accounts
of
the
universe
which
are
coherent
and
potentially
complete
without
the
need
for
some
furthersupernaturalcausalexplanationoutsideofit.Theuniverse,takeninsumtotal,isnotlikethekindsofthingswhichweexperiencewithintheuniversewhichrequiresomefurthercauseandeffectdynamicorsomefurtheraccount
ofwhatsimplerstuffmakesupthemorecomplexstuff.Thefactthatouruniversehasabeginningmomentdoesnot
meanitcannotalsobeeternal.
TheanalogyIsuggestistoimagineaneternallyexistingvideotapewithamovieonit.Themoviehasafinitedurationof
moments.Thebeginningsceneisalwaysthebeginningofthemovieandtheendsceneisalwaystheend.Toaskabout
thescenesinthemoviebeforethefirstsceneistoaskaconfusedquestion.Toaskwhatscenescomeafterthemovieis
1Seethefull2:16video,whichIencourageyoutowatchforyourself,here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0qKZqPy9T8
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consensusofphilosophersagainsttheismisallbecausewesecretlyhateGod.Itscompletelyimplausiblethat83%of
peoplewhostudyphilosophyprofessionallyallcomedownagainsttheismforemotionalreasonsratherthancognitive
ones.Youwouldhavetobeaccusingphilosophyofbeingaprofessionthatdisproportionatelyattractedliarsand
incompetentsatarateseennowhereelseinhumanityexceptforpolitics.Andinpolitics,thelyingandincompetency
makesensetheyremeanstopower!Whatgoodreasondoyoureallythinkthe83%ofprofessionalphilosophershave
tospendtheirliveslyingtothemselves,foraliving,whiledeepdownknowingtheresaGodthattheyjusthate?AndwhereisthehatredforGodinthenumerousoftheseatheistprofessorswhoareactuallyhospitabletoreligionina
numberofotherways,despitetheiratheism?
Ifyouwanttopresentusinalltheseludicrousandimplausibleways,embodiedandrepresentedbyProfessorRadisson,
youarebasicallysayingthewholereasonphilosophyseemsagainstyouisthat83%ofthosewhogointophilosophy
hateGodsomuchtheywanttospendtheirlivesphilosophicallylyingtopeopleandbullyingChristiansoutoftheirfaith
againsttheirfreewill.Thatsapreposteroushypothesis.
So,stickingittothestrawmanofProfessorRadissonavoidshonestlydealingwithsincereandrationalphilosophers.DoesChristianitypreachintellectuallaziness?Doesitpreachthatthebestwaytoreasonistoavoidthebestalternative
ideasandinsteadonlyaddresstheweakestones?Doesitreallypreachthateverytimeyouencounteratoughchallenge
fromanatheistwhichyoucantintellectuallyanswerthatyoumustdodgethequestionandmaketheatheistsheartthe
issueinstead?Ifyou,whotrulybelieve,cantansweratheistsobjections,whydoyouassumeatheistsarenotatheistsbecausetheythemselvescantdefendtheismagainsttheobjectionstheyoffertoit.Inotherwords,whatssoimplausible
about
the
idea
that
atheists
are
just
convinced
by
atheistic
arguments
on
the
merits?
Why
are
you
so
afraid
totakethisseriously?
WhyDoChristiansSayAtheistsDisbelieveforEmotionalReasons?
Onehypothesisaboutwhyyoukeepchangingthesubjectfromtheintellectualreasonstotheatheistsheartsisthatits
anotherinstanceofprojection.Itsanotherinstanceofyouaccusingatheistsofdoingwhatyouyourselvesdoonlyten
timesworse.Theloginmanyreligiousbelieverseyesisthattheybelieveforemotionalreasonsratherthanrational
ones.Youguysevenadmitthisregularly.Yousayyouareinitforthehope,becausetheydontwanttostaydeadwhenyoudie,becauseyoufearlifewouldbemeaninglesswithoutGod,becauseyouwerehurtingfrombadrelationshipswith
otherpeoplesofoundrefugeinJesus,onandon.Partofwhyyouprojectontoatheiststhatwearepeoplewhohavean
emotional
need
for
God
that
were
secretly
hiding
is
because
thats
how
you
convert.
Thats
how
you
live
your
faith.
But
itsnothowmostatheistsfeel.
Eveninthefilm,attheend,theNewsboyssaytheybelievebecauseitgivesthemhopeandtheatheist(Amy,playedby
TrishaLaFache)theyaretalkingtoisspeechlesswhenaskedwhereshegetsherhope.Shecavesinandconvertsonthe
spotnotbecauseofreasonbutbecauseofhopelessness.ItisevangelicalChristianswhoexploitpeoplesirrational,
emotionalweaknesseswithadisgustingshamelessnessinordertomanipulatethemintoconversionsthatdontmakesense.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.
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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
tell
us
so
much.
Christians
leap
dogmatically
to
a
completely
unprovable
(and
wildly
unlikely)
answer
that
a
God
who
incarnatedhimselfashumananddiedfortheirsinsexplainseverything.Andtheninthismovietheytrytocast
themselvesashonestpeoplewhoadmitwhattheydontknow?
AndwhenAmyreallydoesntknowwheretofindhope,herhonestyisnotaffirmedbytheChristians.Itstakenas
anopeningtoconverthertoChristianity.
WhyDoSomeAtheistsSayTheyDoKnowTheresNoGod?AreAtheistsHypocriticallyPeopleofFaithToo?
Alsoalongtheselines,letmenoteanotherhypocrisy.Christiansregularlyinsistthatanyonewhodoesntknowwith
absolutely100%certaintythatthereisnoGodisnotreallyanatheistbutanagnosticandshouldbehonestandcall
themselvesthatinstead.ButwhydontyouChristianswhosayyoudontknow100%certainlythereisaGod
callyourselves
agnostics?
Why
is
someone
only
allowed
to
be
called
an
atheist
if
they
have
an
impossible
standard
of
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
shouldntwe
make
our
rational
arguments?
Granted
we
shouldnt
be
dogmatic
bullies
like
Professor
Radisson.
Granted
weshouldntletthatinterferewithourresponsibilitiestofirstandforemostbeempoweringeducatorstoourstudents
whenweareprofessors.Butthatsanuncharitablepresentationofantitheists.Itpicksontheworstofusbutnotthe
best.Whyshouldcivilbutadamantatheistshavetobeanylessaggressiveaboutpromotingourviewsandvaluesthan
youareaboutpromotingyours?WhyisitaokayforJoshtoexplicitlyseektousehisphilosophyclasstopreachJesus
butitsnotokayforanatheisttochallengeastudentsChristianfaith?WhenattheendofthemovietheNewsboys
encouragetheaudiencememberstotexteveryonetheyknowwiththemessagethatGodsNotDead,inhopesof
reachingamillionpeople,isthatnotobnoxious?Withyourthinskins,youwouldfeelpersecutedtothenthdegreeif
atheiststextedeveryonetheyknewthatGodisDead.
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Whyisitpersecutionwhenwevigorouslychallengeyouandtrytochangeyourmindsbutitisnotpersecutionofus
whenyouvigorouslytrytosaveoursouls?Andwhichgroupismoreaggressiveaboutthis?Whohasatwothousand
yearhistoryofdemandingconversionsfromeveryonearoundthem?Atheists?OrChristians?Whoexactlyhasthelogin
theireyehereifproselytizingisaterriblesin?
Andifwecanagree(asIdo,asanevangelicalatheistunashamedtowanttoconvinceotherstoatheism)thatitsokayto
disputewitheachotheroverourviewsandvalues,evenonesrelatedtofaith,whichgroupexplicitlyadvocates
persuadingpeoplebyreasonandwhichonewilluseanyemotionalreasonwhatsoever?Whichgroupregularlycanbe
found
telling
people
they
have
to
let
go
of
their
reason
and
just
accept
things
by
faith?
That
log
is
in
your
eyes,
not
ours.
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!
When
you
loathe
the
way
Professor
Radisson
leverages
his
power
to
pick
on
someone
smaller
than
him,
you
shouldbeloathingyourGodfordoingthattothehumansHecreatesanddemandsobediencefrom.Whenyoure
appalledatRadissonsjealousyandvindictiveness,youshoulddisownwhenyourownGodcallhimselfajealousGod
whopunishesthosewhodontworshipHimsinglemindedly.WhenRadissonthreatensdisproportionatepunishments
forexpressingfreedomofconscience(whichisreallydoingnothingwrongatall)youshouldunderstandthatyourBible,
whichdemandspeoplesubmittothearbitrarywillofsomearbitrarilypositeddeity,threatenspeoplewitheternalhell
simplyfornotbelievinginyourGod.Whathappenedtopeoplesfreeintellectualconscience?
AlltheauthoritarianvicesofRadissonareinherentintheGodofwrathwhosendspeopletohellinChristianity.
But,yousay,Godisrighteousandonlysendspeopletohellbecausetheydeserveit.
Imsure
Professor
Radisson
thinks
he
is
right
to
do
what
he
does
too.
But
that
doesnt
make
it
true.
We
need
objective
waystoassesstheclaimstorighteousnessofpeopleinauthority.AndtheGodoftheBiblefailsthemostimportant
moraltestswehave.HecondemnsthewholehumanraceforAdamandEvessincursinguswithoriginalsinandwith
suffering.Itsimmoraltopunishpeopleforotherssins.IntheOldTestamentHecommandsgenocides,commands
slavery,commandsstoningpeopleforpettyinfractions,anddrownseveryoneontheplanet(eventheinnocentbabies).
IntheNewTestamenttheideaofhellisintroducedinfinitepunishmentforfinitesins,whichistheheightofcruel
injustice.
TheonlywaytosayGodisrighteousistoignoreeverythingwehavecometorealizeaboutmoralityinthelast2,000
yearsandfornogoodreason,byfaith,declarealltheevilsintheBiblegoodoutofthedogmaticassertionGodmustbe
goodsowhateverGoddidmustberight.ThatsnotprovingyourGodisgood,itsignoringalltheclearcounterevidenceand
warping
all
your
moral
judgments
accordingly,
even
ifit
means
making
excuses
for
the
most
heinous
crimes
imaginable.Thatisarbitrarinessandauthoritarianism,thetotalantithesisofobjectivemorality.Sayingthatwickedness
canbejusticeifonlyGodsayssoistheheightofsubjectivisminmorality.Itsmightmakesrightasatheology.Yousay
weneedChristianityinordertoknowrightfromwrong?YousayweneedChristianityinordertoknowrightfrom
wrong?IsayitsChristianitysfaultYOUcanttellrightfromwrongwheneveryourownGoddoesevil.Whyintheworld
wouldItrustyoutotellmerightfromwrong?
Anobjectivemoralitywouldbeoneobjectivelydemonstrablefromrationalreasonsopentoanyone,notonethat
requiredstumblingupontherightarbitraryreligionandbelievingitonfaith,eventhoughitsGodhaswickedandupside
downvaluesallthroughoutitsholybook.
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GodoftheGapsandtheOriginofLife
Whentheargumentsresume,Wheatonmakesanothertendentious,arbitraryattempttolinkametaphorfromGenesis
toascientifictruth.ThistimeevolutionissomehowindicatedbyGenesisbecauseplantsandanimalsasweknowthem
areanextremelylatedevelopmentinevolutionarytime,whichmakesitliketheyhappenedonalatedaylikethefifth
andsixthinGenesis.Thisproveslessthannothing.ItdoesntshowthattheBiblehadanythinglikeanyspecial
knowledgelatervindicatedbyscience.
Wheaton
tries
to
argue
that
because
scientists
do
not
have
an
account
yet
of
the
origin
of
life
that
perhaps
it
was
God
thatoriginatedit.WhatissotediousaboutthisisthatitisaGodoftheGapsargumentantitheticaltotheentirespirit
ofscience.GodoftheGapsisanexpressionusedtopointoutthattheistsusedtothinkofGod(orgods)asexplaining
agreatnumberofphenomenathatarenowexplicableinscientificways.Assciencehasfilledinmoreandmoreofour
understandingoftheworld,Godkeepsbeingproposedbytheistsassupposedlynecessarytoexplainwhateverhappens
tobeleftunexplained.Itseemsimplausiblethatscientific(andcorrelatephilosophical)advanceswouldkeephappening
andhappeningandreplacingGodexplanationafterGodexplanationandyetwhateverwehappentohavenotfigured
outyetiswhatGodalonecanaccountfor.
Godhasbeenoverturnedoverandoveragainasbestexplanationwehavescienceandphilosophy.Itrepeatedlyproves
tobeabadexplanation.SothereisnoreasontostopdoingscienceandphilosophyandjustsayGoddidit.Had
scientistsandphilosophersstoppedanyofthousandsofothertimeswithandherewestopthinkingandjustsaythat
Goddid
it,
enormous
leaps
of
understanding
would
have
never
happened.
If
we
start
doing
that
now
because
we
all
becometheists,howmuchprogresswillwelose?
ChristianssometimestrytosolvethisbysayingGodisnotjustabeingamongotherbeingsbynatureitselforbeing
itself,somehowthebeinginwhichandthroughwhichallothersexist.Butthatroadistheroadtopantheism.Thatis
compellingonlyifwejustmakeNatureandGodsynonyms.AttributingtothatGodpersonalityandinterventionsinto
historylikereadintheBibleisjustnonsense.ThatsjustsayingNatureitselfislikeahumanbeing.Thatsasarbitraryas
sayingNatureitselftastesliketomatosauce.
So,itissillywhenChristianssaythatsincewearemissinganexact,verifiablescientificaccountofthedynamicsbywhich
theoriginsoflifehappened,thatsomehowthismeansitcouldhavebeenGodorthatthescientificmethodisflawedor
limited.Scienceislimitedherenotbyaconceptualimpossibility(i.e.,notbecauseitmakesnosenseforlifetocomeintobeingthroughanaturalisticprocess,butratherbecauselifesoriginshappenedverylongagoandithappenedwithsuch
tinyrudimentaryorganismsthattheydidntleavefossiltraces.Therearearangeofwaysabiogenesis(theoriginof
life)couldhavehappenedthatscientistscandreamupthatareplausible.Whenscientistssaytheydontknowhowlife
beganitsnotbecausetheycantimaginethingsorthatnothingwouldmakesense,whereasChristianshaveaprofound
imaginationortheonlysensiblepossibility.Rather,itsthatunlikeChristians,scientistsarepatientlywaitingforevidenceratherthanjustmakingsomethingup.Theyrebeinghumbleandwaitingtoactuallyknow.Christiansarenotsmarterormorerationalforjustinsistingtheyknowandnotwaitingforevidence.Wereallscienceto
worklikethat,theredbenoscience.Dontblamescientistsforembodyingthepatienceandtemporarycomfortability
withnotknowingthatroutinelyleadstoactualscientificsuccess.YoucantsayscienceandChristianityarecompatible
andthenshowthatinyourownthinkingyouadvocaterushingtoconclusionsandstoppinginquiriesandsettlingfor
Goddid
it
explanations
and
disparaging
the
patience
of
scientists.
When
you
do
those
things,
you
embody
and
promoteantiscientificattitudesinpractice.Youhurtthecauseofscience.Thereismoretosupportingsciencethanjustmouthingthewords,Isupportscience.
WhyExplainingEvolutionwithGodisAntiScience
Ialso,morecontroversially,thinkitissimilarlyunscientifictosaythatbothGodandevolutiongotogetherbecauseGod
makesevolutionhappen.Thereasonthisisunscientificisthatitspitsinthefaceofthediscoveryofnaturalselection.
Theideathatspeciesevolvefromancestorstodescendantswasalreadyunderstoodintheideaofbreeding.Weknew
wecouldartificiallyselectfortraitsinanimalsandplantstomakethemhavethetraitswewantedtobycontrolling
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whichonesmatedwitheachother.WhatwassoamazingandparadigmshiftingaboutDarwinsdiscoverywasthatjust
thedynamicsofnaturealonecouldhavethesameeffectasintelligentbreeders.Whatwasamazingwasthatan
environmentjustbeinginhospitabletoatraitandaccidentallymakingitsothebearersofthattraitjustcouldntlivelong
enoughtoreproduceoffspringwiththesametraitcouldweedoutthattraitaseffectivelyashumanschoosingtonotletdogswithagiventraitreproduce.
Theamazingrealizationofevolutionbynaturalselectionisthattheinteractionofenvironmentswithtraitscanallby
itself,overmillionsandmillionsofyearsmakethechangeshappenwithnointelligentagencyatallnecessary.And,infact,
many
of
the
ways
the
designs
that
resulted
from
these
dynamics
came
out,
it
is
clear
that
theyre
not
always
perfectorlogical.Theyinvolveallsortsofinefficienciesandnonidealdesignsandsuperfluousdimensionsallbecause
theywerethetraitsandcombinationsoftraitsthathappenedtoevolveandfitwellenoughtotheenvironmentthattheyworked.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.Religiouspeoplearegoodscientistsonlywhentheyleavetheirreligiousbeliefsoutoftheirscienceand
engineering.
As
people,
this
means
they
are
living
with
cognitive
dissonance.
In
the
laboratory
they
think
as
though
therewerenoGod,thatis,theythinkasthoughtheywereatheists,andpreciselybecauseofthattheyaresuccessful.
Butinchurchandpersonalpietytheyliveasthoughtherewerenone.Theyabandonallthecategoriesofrigorous
thinkingthattheyemployinthelabwhenlookingattheirScriptures.Theycanonlybebothreligiousandscientificby
beingcategoricallyunscientificandacceptingbaselessreligiousauthoritieswhenbeingreligious.
SomeChristianapologistsconcedethatwehavetobemethodologicalnaturalistsinthelaboratory(thatis,people
whoassumethenaturalworldandnaturalexplanationsalltherearebutwhoonlyassumethiswhendoingscience)but
thatdoesntmeanweshouldbemetaphysicalnaturalists(peoplewhothinkreallyallthereisisnatureandnatural
explanations).Theyaccusemetaphysicalnaturalismofbeinganunwarrantedassumption.ButIseeitasafinding,aninferencewehavecometo(ratherthanassumed)byseeingtheenormousexplanatorypowerthatopensupwhenwe
assumethatnatureisallthereis.Ifthatholdingthatpositionissounprecedentedlypowerfulforgeneratingtruthsin
thelaboratory,
whynotthinkitsbecauseitsalsometaphysicallytrue.
Thereisalsoarationalconsiderationthatmakesmeanaturalist.Idonotunderstandhowsupernaturalismcanbe
coherentlyconceived.Idonotknowhowanythingcouldexistwithoutanature.EvenifthereistheChristianGod,God
seemslikeHecannotbesupernaturallyabovelogic.HowcouldHebe?TosayHewasbeyondlogicwouldbetosayHe
couldbothexistandnotexistatthesametime.Hecouldbebothabsolutelyomniscientandsimultaneouslyknow
nothing.Inotherwords,ifGodisnotboundbylogic,HewouldbothhavetheclassicalattributesascribedtoGodandnothavethematthesametime.Thatsnonsense.Godwouldhavetobeboundbylogicasmuchasanythingelseandbesomekindofthingorother.Godwould,inotherwords,haveanaturemoredeepthanwhatitsubsequently
creates.So,themostfundamentalrealityevenforChristiansseemstobenature.Andeverysupernaturaleventwould
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beasuspensionofonesetoflawsforanotheraccordingtoGodswill,butstillthethingsthatseemedsupernatural
tous,beingaccustomedtoourworldsnormallawswouldoperatebynaturesofsomesortratherthanchaotically.
IsPhilosophyDead?
WheatonreturnstotheHawkingquoteandcitesJohnLennox,ProfessorofMathematicsatOxfordUniversity,claiming
thatHawkingisguiltyofcircularreasoning.Hawkingwantstoacceptauniversewithnofurthercauseoutsideofit,sohe
simplypositsthatitmustbeselfcreating.Inreply,insteadofreasoningabouttheobjectionlikeaphilosopher,Radisson
just
intones
imperiously
asking
whether
Wheaton
is
daring
to
challenge
the
great
physicist
Stephen
Hawking.
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,Wheaton
quickly
rubs
in
Radissons
face
Hawkings
misguided
dig
that
philosophy
is
dead.
Gods
not
dead,
philosophyisdead.Nicebumpersticker.Thisisoneofmanyreasonsitisignorant,antiintellectual,andcounter
productivetothecauseofcriticalthinkingandatheismwhenscientistsmouthoffinantiphilosophyways.Indoingthis
scientistslikeHawkingandKraussgiveundeservedammunitiontopeoplewhowanttoattackreasoningeneralsinceso
muchreasoningingeneralismorephilosophicalthanquantifiablyscientificincharacter.
Philosophyisunavoidable.Sciencedoesnotanswereveryquestion,becausesomequestionsarenotamenableto
strictlyscientificanalyses.Orotherquestionsthatarecapableofscientificanalysisstillrequiretimeandscientificprogressandnewdiscoveriesbeforetheycanbescientific.Thisdoesnotmeanthattheologyistheanswer.Theologicalanswersarejustancientguesseswithnomagicplausibilityjustbecausebetterscientificonesdontyetexist.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
uponscientific
questions
better
than
scientists
can.
Our
problem
in
this
culture
is
not
afailure
to
do
good
science,
its
a
failureofthepopulacetounderstandphilosophysothatitknowswhattomakeofwhatscienceistellingit.Our
populacedoesnotknowhowtocontextualizesciencewithinatheoryofknowledgeandrealitythatiscoherent.Forall
ourscientificunderstanding,peoplestillbelieve,inparallel,insuperstitionsofimmaterialsoulsandfaithbased
epistemology,andoutdatedmetaphysicaldogmasthatgoodphilosophyrefutes.
Ourfightsovergayandtranspeoplesrightsorwomensrightsorhowtoethicallystructureourrelationshipsbetween
menandwomenbeyondmerelylegalissues?Theseareallfundamentallyphilosophicalproblems.
Secularpeoplesquestionsofhoworwhethertoreplacereligiousinstitutionsinpeoplesliveswithsufficientsecular
alternatives.Ourproblemsaboutthenumeroussocialscienceissueshave(sofar)intractablephilosophicalissues
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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.The
film,
like,
in
my
reading,
much
of
the
Bible,
assumes
almost
everyone
believes
in
God
and
that
the
real
challenge
of
faithisthechallengetotrustGod.Thefilmmakersthentreatalltheatheists(exceptpossiblyMark,playedbyDeanCain)
likesecretChristiansindenial.Theythinktheproblemofevilistherealissueandsothewholefilmisreallystructured
aboutmakingtheargumentthatGodisgooddespiteevil.
ProfessorRadissonisnotreallyanatheist.Hesamisotheist someonewhobelievesinthegods(orGod)buthates
them(orHim).AmyhoundsChristiansasagotchajournalistbecauseshesecretlyenviestheirhope.Thestudentsall
writedownthatGodisdeadbecauseofpressuretoconformbydenyingGod.
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TheProblemofEvil
ThefilmtriesseveralwaystoswaypeopletoacceptGodisgooddespiteevil.
Oneargumentcomesfromthesuddenpropheticutterancesofanelderlywomansufferingdementiaandcominginand
outoflucidity.Shehasasuddenmomentofclaritywhereshelectureshersmug,materialistic,unabashedlyselfishson
MarkwhogloatsaboutgettingawaywithbeingrottenwhileshesuffersafteralifeofdevotiontoGod.Inherspeech,as
thoughchannelingsomesupernaturalentitybeforesuddenlysnappingoutofitandnotevenknowingwhosheistalking
to
again,
she
talks
about
how
bad
people
prosper
in
this
world
because
the
devil
wants
it
that
way.
He
makes
their
sinfulnesssocomfortableonEarththattheyneverrepent.Theyarepeopleactuallyinaspiritualjailcellwhocanleave
atanymoment.Thedoorsopen.Buttheyneverwalkout.Then,whentheydie,thedoorslamsshutandtheyre
trappedandtheylearnthetruenatureofwhattheyvechosen.
Thisiswishfulfantasy.Notmuchofanargument.ItalsoraisesquestionsofwhyGodletspeoplebedeceivedlikethat.
Romans9wouldtellusthatitsbecauseHemakessomepeoplewiththeexpresspurposeofneversavingthem,thatHe
activelyhardenssomepeoplesheartsagainstHim,andthatHecreatestheminthefirstplacetobedestroyed.John
12:40explainstheunbeliefpeopleexperienceevenwhenseeingJesusperformmiraclesbysayingthisistofulfillIsaiahs
prophecythatTheLordhasblindedtheireyesandhardenedtheirheartssothattheireyescannotsee,andtheir
heartscannotunderstand,andtheycannotturntomeandhavemehealthem.WhohasblindedthepeoplesotheycannotturntoJesus?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,hinderingthemintheirabilitiestothinkforthemselvesortothinkwithproperinformationandmakethebestdecisionsforthemselves.
WhenweremadwerenotbetrayingthatwesecretlybelieveinGod.Ratherwereangrywiththeeffectsofreligious
institutionsand
beliefs
we
think
are
harmful.
We
also
may
get
angry
when
we
hear
all
the
evils
that
we
see
praised
in
theChristianGodtreatedaswonderfulthings.Weassailthedeificationoftraitswehavegoodreasontothinkare
terrible.WeassailtheperversionofethicsandpoliticsandmetaphysicsrepresentedbytheGodconceptwhenweattack
it.Andsomeofusmournfromthedisillusionmentofhavingbeenfalselypromiseddivineprotectionasbeliversonlyto
comeviscerallytounderstandthatnosuchthingexists.
ButIdigress,theunintendedactualeffectofthefilmsclosingattempttoshowushowwonderfultheworldcanlookif
onlyyouseeitthroughtheeyesoffaithisactuallytomakethefilmsChristianslookcultishlydangerous,inhumanly
capableofpleasureatotherpeoplesdeaths,andvulturelikeintheirwillingnesstopreyuponadyingdoubtertotryto
gethimtoprayoutofterror.Again,myfullexplanationofwhyisinmyotherreview.
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TheAppealtoNeedforAbsoluteMorality
Finally,letmeaddresstheargumentfrommoralityraisedbrieflynclass.WheatonclaimedthatProfessorRadissonwasa
moralrelativistwhobelievedtherecouldbenomoralabsolutesbutinconsistentlywouldsurelyapplymoralstandards
wereastudenttocheat.Thefactofthematteristhat,despitebeing83%nontheists,philosopherswhobelievemorality
isrealoutnumberthosethinkitisnotrealatarateof2to1.
Iwillalsostressthatitsafalsedichotomytoimplythatformoralitytobeobjective,rational,andcompellingithastobe
absolute.
For
my
full
argument
about
why
Christians
again
have
the
log
in
their
eye
and
really
believe
in
the
most
subjectivistversionofmoralitypossibleandwhyitiseitherirrationalorsuperfluoustosayGodisthesourceof
goodness,IimploreyoutoreadmypostcalledGodandGoodnesswhichisanindepthdialogueonthisverytopic.
OnAntitheism,Sciencevs.God,andWhetherPhilosophyisDead
YesterdayspostansweringallthewaysthemovieGodsNotDeadarguedforGodandrepresentedphilosophywassolongsomepeoplecouldntreadallofit.So,Iaddedatableofcontents.Youcangobacktothatpostnowandclickon
linkstothepostssubsectionsandtheywillsendyoutotheexactpartsofthepostyouremostinterestedin.
Ialso
added
new
material
today
to
that
post.
In
this
post,
Im
presenting
justthatnewmaterial(nothingalready
covered).Youcaneitherreadallofthisnewmaterialor,ifyouwanttoreadonlywhatIveaddedonspecificmajor
topics,justclickonanyofthefollowinglinksandyoullbesenttothenewmaterialonthattopic:
NewResponsestoGodsNotDead
WhyDoSomeAtheistsSayTheyDoKnowTheresNoGod?AreAtheistsHypocriticallyPeopleofFaithToo?
Alsoalongtheselines,letmenoteanotherhypocrisy.Christiansregularlyinsistthatanyonewhodoesntknowwith
absolutely100%certaintythatthereisnoGodisnotreallyanatheistbutanagnosticandshouldbehonestandcall
themselvesthatinstead.ButwhydontyouChristianswhosayyoudontknow100%certainlythereisaGod
callyourselves
agnostics?
Why
is
someone
only
allowed
to
be
called
an
atheist
if
they
have
an
impossible
standard
of
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
You
dont
just
have
faith
there
are
no
leprechauns
or
unicorns
or
abominable
snowmen.
You
know
there
arent
as
wellasyouknowthereisntadragonintheroomwithyourightnow.Sure,theresaninfinitesimalpossibilityyourewrong.
Butnotenoughtorefusetosayyouknowthesethingsdontexist.Weatheists,hardasthismaybetofathomtoyou,
simplydonotshareyourarbitrary,culturallyandpsychologicallyengraineddoublestandardbywhichyougivetheGod
oftheBibleapassonthesamelogic.Thatsit.WedonothavefaithyourGoddoesnotexist.Somesay,theresno
reasontothinkitsowejustdontbelieveorlackbelief.Othersofussay,yeah,weknowyourewrong.
IfAntitheistsAreBadPeople,EvangelicalsAreDownrightAwful
ThisalsodoesnotmeanthatbeinganantitheistisbeingpersecutoryofChristians.Wheatontriestoarguethat
whatsreallywrongwithProfessorRadissonisneitherhisphilosophyoratheismbuthisantitheism.Thedesirefor
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othersnottobetheistsiscastasauthoritarian.Butwhy?Ifwereallythinkitsfalseandharmfultoopposeit,why
shouldntwemakeourrationalarguments?GrantedweshouldntbedogmaticbullieslikeProfessorRadisson.Granted
weshouldntletthatinterferewithourresponsibilitiestofirstandforemostbeempoweringeducatorstoourstudents
whenweareprofessors.Butthatsanuncharitablepresentationofantitheists.Itpicksontheworstofusbutnotthe
best.Whyshouldcivilbutadamantatheistshavetobeanylessaggressiveaboutpromotingourviewsandvaluesthan
youareaboutpromotingyours?WhyisitaokayforJoshtoexplicitlyseektousehisphilosophyclasstopreachJesus
butitsnotokayforanatheisttochallengeastudentsChristianfaith?WhenattheendofthemovietheNewsboys
encouragetheaudiencememberstotexteveryonetheyknowwiththemessagethatGodsNotDead,inhopesof
reachingamillion
people,
is
that
not
obnoxious?
With
your
thin
skins,
you
would
feel
persecuted
to
the
nth
degree
if
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!When
you
loathe
the
way
Professor
Radisson
leverages
his
power
to
pick
on
someone
smaller
than
him,
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
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goodsowhateverGoddidmustberight.ThatsnotprovingyourGodisgood,itsignoringalltheclearcounterevidenceandwarpingallyourmoraljudgmentsaccordingly,evenifitmeansmakingexcusesforthemostheinouscrimes
imaginable.Thatisarbitrarinessandauthoritarianism,thetotalantithesisofobjectivemorality.Sayingthatwickedness
canbejusticeifonlyGodsayssoistheheightofsubjectivisminmorality.Itsmightmakesrightasatheology.Yousay
weneedChristianityinordertoknowrightfromwrong?IsayitsChristianitysfaultYOUcanttellrightfromwrong
wheneveryourownGoddoesevil.WhyintheworldwouldItrustyoutotellmerightfromwrong?
Anobjectivemoralitywouldbeoneobjectivelydemonstrablefromrationalreasonsopentoanyone,notonethat
requiredstumbling
upon
the
right
arbitrary
religion
and
believing
it
on
faith,
even
though
its
God
has
wicked
and
upside
downvaluesallthroughoutitsholybook.
GodoftheGapsandtheOriginofLife
Whentheargumentsresume,Wheatonmakesanothertendentious,arbitraryattempttolinkametaphorfromGenesis
toascientifictruth.ThistimeevolutionissomehowindicatedbyGenesisbecauseplantsandanimalsasweknowthem
areanextremelylatedevelopmentinevolutionarytime,whichmakesitliketheyhappenedonalatedaylikethefifth
andsixthinGenesis.Thisproveslessthannothing.ItdoesntshowthattheBiblehadanythinglikeanyspecial
knowledgelatervindicatedbyscience.
Wheaton
tries
to
argue
that
because
scientists
do
not
have
an
account
yet
of
the
origin
of
life
that
perhaps
it
was
God
thatoriginatedit.WhatissotediousaboutthisisthatitisaGodoftheGapsargumentantitheticaltotheentirespirit
ofscience.GodoftheGapsisanexpressionusedtopointoutthattheistsusedtothinkofGod(orgods)asexplaining
agreatnumberofphenomenathatarenowexplicableinscientificways.Assciencehasfilledinmoreandmoreofour
understandingoftheworld,Godkeepsbeingproposedbytheistsassupposedlynecessarytoexplainwhateverhappens
tobeleftunexplained.Itseemsimplausiblethatscientific(andcorrelatephilosophical)advanceswouldkeephappening
andhappeningandreplacingGodexplanationafterGodexplanationandyetwhateverwehappentohavenotfigured
outyetiswhatGodalonecanaccountfor.
Godhasbeenoverturnedoverandoveragainasbestexplanationwehavescienceandphilosophy.Itrepeatedlyproves
tobeabadexplanation.SothereisnoreasontostopdoingscienceandphilosophyandjustsayGoddidit.Had
scientistsandphilosophersstoppedanyofthousandsofothertimeswithandherewestopthinkingandjustsaythat
Goddid
it,
enormous
leaps
of
understanding
would
have
never
happened.
If
we
start
doing
that
now
because
we
all
becometheists,howmuchprogresswillwelose?
ChristianssometimestrytosolvethisbysayingGodisnotjustabeingamongotherbeingsbynatureitselforbeing
itself,somehowthebeinginwhichandthroughwhichallothersexist.Butthatroadistheroadtopantheism.Thatis
compellingonlyifwejustmakeNatureandGodsynonyms.AttributingtothatGodpersonalityandinterventionsinto
historylikereadintheBibleisjustnonsense.ThatsjustsayingNatureitselfislikeahumanbeing.Thatsasarbitraryas
sayingNatureitselftastesliketomatosauce.
So,itissillywhenChristianssaythatsincewearemissinganexact,verifiablescientificaccountofthedynamicsbywhich
theoriginsoflifehappened,thatsomehowthismeansitcouldhavebeenGodorthatthescientificmethodisflawedor
limited.Science
is
limited
here
not
by
aconceptual
impossibility
(i.e.,
not
because
it
makes
nosenseforlifetocomeinto
beingthroughanaturalisticprocess,butratherbecauselifesoriginshappenedverylongagoandithappenedwithsuch
tinyrudimentaryorganismsthattheydidntleavefossiltraces.Therearearangeofwaysabiogenesis(theoriginof
life)couldhavehappenedthatscientistscandreamupthatareplausible.Whenscientistssaytheydontknowhowlife
beganitsnotbecausetheycantimaginethingsorthatnothingwouldmakesense,whereasChristianshaveaprofound
imaginationortheonlysensiblepossibility.Rather,itsthatunlikeChristians,scientistsarepatientlywaitingforevidenceratherthanjustmakingsomethingup.Theyrebeinghumbleandwaitingtoactuallyknow.Christiansarenotsmarterormorerationalforjustinsistingtheyknowandnotwaitingforevidence.Wereallscienceto
worklikethat,theredbenoscience.Dontblamescientistsforembodyingthepatienceandtemporarycomfortability
withnotknowingthatroutinelyleadstoactualscientificsuccess.YoucantsayscienceandChristianityarecompatible
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andthenshowthatinyourownthinkingyouadvocaterushingtoconclusionsandstoppinginquiriesandsettlingfor
Goddiditexplanationsanddisparagingthepatienceofscientists.Whenyoudothosethings,youembodyand
promoteantiscientificattitudesinpractice.Youhurtthecauseofscience.Thereismoretosupportingsciencethanjustmouthingthewords,Isupportscience.
WhyExplainingEvolutionwithGodisAntiScience
Ialso,morecontroversially,thinkitissimilarlyunscientifictosaythatbothGodandevolutiongotogetherbecauseGod
makesevolution
happen.
The
reason
this
is
unscientific
is
that
it
spits
in
the
face
of
the
discovery
of
natural
selection.
Theideathatspeciesevolvefromancestorstodescendantswasalreadyunderstoodintheideaofbreeding.Weknew
wecouldartificiallyselectfortraitsinanimalsandplantstomakethemhavethetraitswewantedtobycontrolling
whichonesmatedwitheachother.WhatwassoamazingandparadigmshiftingaboutDarwinsdiscoverywasthatjust
thedynamicsofnaturealonecouldhavethesameeffectasintelligentbreeders.Whatwasamazingwasthatan
environmentjustbeinginhospitabletoatraitandaccidentallymakingitsothebearersofthattraitjustcouldntlivelong
enoughtoreproduceoffspringwiththesametraitcouldweedoutthattraitaseffectivelyashumanschoosingtonotletdogswithagiventraitreproduce.
Theamazingrealizationofevolutionbynaturalselectionisthattheinteractionofenvironmentswithtraitscanallby
itself,
over
millions
and
millions
of
years
make
the
changes
happen
with
no
intelligent
agency
atall
necessary.
And,
in
fact,manyofthewaysthedesignsthatresultedfromthesedynamicscameout,itisclearthattheyrenotalways
perfectorlogical.Theyinvolveallsortsofinefficienciesandnonidealdesignsandsuperfluousdimensionsallbecause
theywerethetraitsandcombinationsoftraitsthathappenedtoevolveandfitwellenoughtotheenvironmentthattheyworked.Theydontbespeakaperfectdesignerwhoforesawwhatmaximumefficiencywouldrequireand
implementedit.Theylookexactlyastheywouldifrandommutationsandrandomchangesinenvironmentwere
selectedbywhicheverhappenedtofitthebest,thoughnotperfectly.
SayingIacceptevolutionhappensbecauseofGod!becomesassuperfluousandunscientificassayingIacceptthat
lightninghappensbecauseofThor!OrIacceptthatifIfalloutthewindowIwillfallbecauseofthenaturallawof
gravityandbecauseGodpushedme!Theelectrostaticdischargeissufficienttoexplainthelightningallbyitself,
naturalistically.PositingThoraddsnothingbutmisunderstanding.Gravityexplainswhyyoufall.PositingGodadds
nothingbut
misunderstanding.
Natural
selection
explains
why
organisms
evolve.
Positing
God
adds
nothing
but
misunderstanding.
HowScienceandPhilosophyVindicateMetaphysicalNaturalismandtheExistenceofReligiousScientistsDoesnt
VindicateTheism
SciencedoesnotjustassumeGoddoesntexists.Scientistshavejustfoundthatsaying,well,maybeitsbecauseof
Godisuselessinthelaboratoryandintheorymaking.Evenreligiousscientistswhomakegreatdiscoveriesorbuild
greattechnologiesunderstandthattheyhavetoessentiallyleaveGodandholybookscompletelyoutoftheirscientific
workbecausetheonlyaccountsthatcanreallybemeaningfularethosethatareempiricallyandmathematicallyprecise
andGodisnotthosethings.Thisispartofwhythemereexistenceofreligiousscientistsdoesnotprovethatreligionand
sciencego
together.
Religious
people
are
good
scientists
onlywhentheyleavetheirreligiousbeliefsoutoftheirscience
andengineering.Aspeople,thismeanstheyarelivingwithcognitivedissonance.Inthelaboratorytheythinkasthough
therewerenoGod,thatis,theythinkasthoughtheywereatheists,andpreciselybecauseofthattheyaresuccessful.
Butinchurchandpersonalpietytheyliveasthoughtherewerenone.Theyabandonallthecategoriesofrigorous
thinkingthattheyemployinthelabwhenlookingattheirScriptures.Theycanonlybebothreligiousandscientificby
beingcategoricallyunscientificandacceptingbaselessreligiousauthoritieswhenbeingreligious.
SomeChristianapologistsconcedethatwehavetobemethodologicalnaturalistsinthelaboratory(thatis,people
whoassumethenaturalworldandnaturalexplanationsalltherearebutwhoonlyassumethiswhendoingscience)but
thatdoesntmeanweshouldbemetaphysicalnaturalists(peoplewhothinkreallyallthereisisnatureandnatural
explanations).Theyaccusemetaphysicalnaturalismofbeinganunwarrantedassumption.ButIseeitasafinding,an
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otherhugeproblemsinpsychologyandsociologyhavemajorphilosophicaldimensionstothemthatarenotmerely
empirical.
ThemanytheistsandatheiststryingtodebateGodsexistencearenotmerelypublishingfindingsinsciencejournalsat
thatpoint.Theyreextrapolatingfromthesciencetoallsortsoffurthermetaphysicalandepistemologicalconclus