Monday, May 18, 2009

Evolutionary Argument Against Naturalism

I'm fascinated with Alvin Plantinga's Evolutionary Argument Against Naturalism, and the dialogues that it has created. Some links to some of the pieces that I like:

Plantinga's Argument (Unpublished)

Wikipedia Page on EAAN

William Alston's Critique of the Argument (from Naturalism Defeated?)

There was a debate in February between Plantinga and Dennett, unfortunately it seems from what I have read of it that Dennett was more interested in stereotype than real dialogue. There is audio of the debate available but what I've heard has been pretty poor quality.

More coming as I come across new articles.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

The Great Decline

"Jonathan Edwards is sometimes criticized for having too dim a view of human nature, but it may be helpful to be reminded that his grandmother was an incorrigible profligate, his great-aunt committed infanticide, and his great-uncle was an ax-murderer."

-George Marsden, Jonathan Edwards: A Life

Saturday, May 9, 2009

New Tillich Companion


I saw the new Tillich book in the campus bookstore and really like the cover design. Not sure what painting that is from though.

I saw that the new NT Wright book, Justification, is out also. Horrible cover but I can't wait to read it.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

The Devil Reads Derrida


Some of James K.A. Smith's popular pieces have been compounded into his new book, The Devil Reads Derrida, available in early May.

From the editor site:

Smith’s work as a Christian public intellectual brings theological wisdom into the service of lived discipleship. Whether grappling with the Wild at Heart phenomenon or the challenges of secularization, dealing with sex or consumerism, or commenting on The Devil Wears Prada or American Beauty, Smith tackles each issue with clarity and insight, with scholarly rigor — but always with an eye to Christian discipleship and the life of the church.

More info can be found here.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Lessing

This is german philosopher Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. He was a prominent philosopher of the 18th century, as well as art critic and dramatist. Kierkeegard spent much time in his Concluding Unscientific Postscript dealing with Lessing's thoughts on epistemological leaps to faith.

Judging from his picture, Lessing also had an almost perfectly symmetrical triangular head, which unfortunately was never discussed in Kierkegaard's work.

I'm about halfway through with ...Postscript, and finding great freedom in Kierkegaard's subjective Christianity. I'm also wondering if there's any sort of hard connection from S.K. to reformed epistemology and other postfoundational ideas of rationality.

new thoughts:

"Christianity does not lend itself to objective observation, precisely because it proposes to intensify subjectivity to the utmost; and when the subject has thus put himself in the right attitude, he cannot attach his eternal happiness to speculative philosophy."
-S.K.

and also...

Belief in God is properly basic
.

Such a joy to read and know!!