Emerson's content: https://linktr.ee/emersongreenHe Sold Out.The Non-Alchemist2024-07-19 | It’s more probable than not that Cameron Bertuzzi sold out on his original principles for money.Christians And Muslims Are TERRIFIED Of This . . .The Non-Alchemist2024-07-15 | Citations:
"Navigating Belief, Skepticism, and the Afterlife | Alex O'Connor @CosmicSkeptic | EP 451" youtu.be/T0KgLWQn5Ts?si=OBvDrXjgpGjICzK7They Thought They Were Defending Their Faith . . .The Non-Alchemist2024-06-18 | It had to be done.
References:
"Questions on Quantum Mechanics, Certainty, and Extreme Resistance | Reasonable Faith Podcast" youtu.be/K-5Q_zx9Etc
******************** See: "Jesus Loves Canaanites: Biblical Genocide in the Light of Moral Intuition" by Dr. Randal Rauser + "Did the Old Testament Endorse Slavery?" by Dr. Joshua Bowen ********************
Michael Coogan (2008), "The Old Testament: A Very Short Introduction", Oxford University Press, p. 157 (Kindle)
Peter Enns (2013), "Response To R. Albert Mohler JR.", In "Five Views on Biblical Inerrancy", Zondervan, p. 61 (Kindle)Ehrman EXPOSES Bad ApologeticsThe Non-Alchemist2024-05-31 | They see what they want to see sometimes
2. Al Mohler (2013), "When The Bible Speaks, God Speaks: The Classic Doctrine Of Biblical Inerrancy", In "Five Views on Biblical Inerrancy", Zondervan, p. 51 (Kindle)
10. Craig Evans (2012), "Mathew (New Cambridge Bible Commentary)", Cambridge University Press, p. 447-449 (Kindle)
11. See "The Death(s) of Judas" by The Amateur Exegete to see these contradictions unpacked at length: amateurexegete.com/2019/05/21/the-deaths-of-judasChristians And Muslims Don’t Want To Think About ThisThe Non-Alchemist2024-03-21 | Let’s talk about religious experience
7. 3. Felipe Leon (2019), "Varieties of Naturalism", in "Is God the Best Explanation of Things?: A Dialogue", Palgrave Macmillan, p. 91Christians Should Be WORRIED About This . . .The Non-Alchemist2024-01-19 | It’s not going away
2. Sermons of Jonathan Edwards (2005), Hendrickson Publishing, p. 407-411 These are a selection of passages combined found on the pages above
3. R.C. Sproul (2014), "Everyone's A Theologian: An Introduction to Systematic Theology", Reformation Trust, Location 4416 (Kindle)
4. I'm aware that people have sometimes used the phrase "eternal conscious torment" to almost refer to CS Lewis style versions of an eternal hell. This is not what most people have meant historically by this phrase. Either way, if you want to use it that way, it's cool - just know there are still a lot of problems with a view like that, which David Bentley Hart points out in his book "That All Shall Be Saved"
5. Peter Enns (2014), "The Bible Tells Me So: Why Defending Scripture Has Made us Unable To Read It", HarperOne, p. 29
6. Peter Enns (2013), "Inerrancy, However Defined, Does Not Describe What The Bible Does", in "Five Views on Biblical Inerrancy", Zondervan Academic, p. 104
9. See Exodus 22:16-17, Leviticus 25:44-46, Exodus 21:2-6, Deut 22:23-24, Lev 19:20-21Apologist FAILS To Defend ChristianityThe Non-Alchemist2023-12-03 | This is Cringe
2. Dale Allison (2021), "The Resurrection of Jesus: Apologetics, Polemics, History", T&T Clark, p. 559 (Kindle)
3. The New Testament is not reliable in the way many Christians need it to be, see: "The McGrew Failure - With Matthew Hartke and The Amateur Exegete" youtu.be/Dn6GR4QFLgo?si=xRpeHclqGYlhpAuL
7. Phillip Goff (2023) "Why? The Purpose of the Universe", Oxford University Press, p. 137 (Kindle)How to DEBUNK Most ApologistsThe Non-Alchemist2023-09-11 | It’s not that complicatedJesus Is DeadThe Non-Alchemist2023-09-04 | Here’s why
Citations:
1. Michael Martin (2005), "The Resurrection As Initially Improbable", in "The Empty Tomb: Jesus BeyondThe Grave", Prometheus Books, Location 458 (Kindle). The argument and style of reasoning put forward in the intro is based on this chapter
2. Michael Huemer (2022), "Understanding Knowledge", Independently Published, p. 221 (Kindle)
3. I heard the Gremlin example used in this kind of context first from Ben Watkins, though I think it originates with Elliot Sober
4. Erik Wielenberg (2008), "God and the Reach of Reason: C. S. Lewis, David Hume, and Bertrand Russell", Cambridge University Press, p. 128-129
14. Michael Huemer (2021), Knowledge, Reality, And Value: A Mostly Common Sense Guide to Philosophy, Independently Published, p. 88 (Kindle)
15. Michael D. Coogan, Marc Z. Brettler, & Carol A. Newsom (2018), The New Oxford Annotated Bible; New Revised Standard Version; An Ecumenical Study Bible, Oxford University Press, p. 1380. This version does not contain the Apocrypha.
18. Luke Timothy Johnson (2010), The New Testament: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, p. 8 (Kindle)Craig’s Moral Argument Will BackfireThe Non-Alchemist2023-08-13 | Trust me.
Links: "How Can We Demonstrate that Objective Moral Values Exist to a Nihilist Who Holds They Are Illusory?" youtu.be/fbeoe2_6qx4
Donald K. McKim (2014), "The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms (2nd Ed)", Westminster John Knox Press, p.32 (Kindle)
Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd Ed), Doubleday, p. 31Atheist Debunks Apologist (in a debate) | Part 7 of 8The Non-Alchemist2023-07-29 | This is a formal debate between myself and Cameron Bertuzzi on whether horrendous suffering disproves God. This is my closing statement.
1. I heard this disturbing example when Joe Schmid cited Sharon Street in this video around the 6hr(!) 50min mark 2. See Rebuttal 1… 3. I was already aware of the Craig post, which is why when I quoted him in my first rebuttal, it was from a 2019 publication. Either he’s changed his mind, thinks these features generally speaking constitute a good argument, doesn’t review popular level books published in his name by other people, or is dishonest (I don’t think this last option is the correct choice btw). 4. Maybe those who experience horrific suffering and feel like they’re growing closer to God because of it are in tune with reality, and those who don’t experience it in this life will in an afterlife. Alternatively, maybe those who are destroyed by horrific suffering are the ones who truly look reality in the face and buckle, and the ones that don’t are just making the best of a bad situation based on predictable human psychological features produced by evolution. Either way, the empirical data of people’s testimony doesn’t seem to be the best way to adjudicate between these two options when considering the kind of argument we’re discussing here. 5. See Erik Wielenberg, A morally unsurpassable God must create the best 6. Taking some inspiration from what Wielenberg said in my interview with him around the 31 min mark. He seems to also endorse the moral principle I have suggested.Atheist Corrects Apologist (in a debate) | Part 5 of 8The Non-Alchemist2023-07-28 | This is a formal debate between myself and Cameron Bertuzzi on whether horrendous suffering disproves God. This is my second rebuttal.
Citations:
1. There is a distinction between 100% certainty and certainty simpliciter. Certainty is just a firm conviction that something is the case. 2. J.L. Schellenberg (2007), The Wisdom To Doubt: A Justification Of Religious Skepticism, Cornell University Press, p. 255 3. Elie Wiesel (2006), Night, Hill and Wang, p. 6 4. Peter Van Inwagen (2006), The Problem of Evil, Oxford University Press, p. 30 5. Stephen Maitzen (2019) “Normative Objections to Theism”, A Companion To Atheism And Philosophy, Wiley Blackwell, p. 208 (Kindle) 6. Ibid, in reference to Eleonore Stump 7. David Lewis (2007), “Divine Evil”, Philosophers Without Gods: Meditations On Atheism And The Secular Life, Oxford University Press, p. 231 (Kindle)Atheist Refutes Apologist (in a debate) | Part 3 of 8The Non-Alchemist2023-07-26 | This is a formal debate between myself and Cameron Bertuzzi on whether horrendous suffering disproves God. This is my first rebuttal.
Citations:
1. Joshua Rasmussen & Felipe Leon (2019), Is God the Best Explanation of Things? A Dialogue, Palgrave Macmillan, p. 202 (Kindle) 2. Graham Oppy (2006), Arguing About Gods, Cambridge University Press, p. 288-289 (Kindle) 3. William Lane Craig (2019) Does God Exist?, Impact 360 Institute, Location 91 (Kindle) 4. J.L. Schellenberg (2007), The Wisdom To Doubt: A Justification Of Religious Skepticism, Cornell University Press, p. 253-254 5. J.L. Schellenberg (2015) The Hiddenness Argument: Philosophy’s New Challenge to Belief in God, Oxford University Press, p. 47 (Kindle) 6. J.L. Schellenberg (2007), p. 255 7. Ibid, P. 253-254 8. Ibid 9. J.L. Schellenberg (2013), A New Logical Problem of Evil, in "The Blackwell Companion to the Problem of Evil", Wiley-Blackwell, p. 37 (He is quoting Peter van Inwagen in this specific instance) 10. Ibid, p. 38Atheist Disproves God (in a debate) | Part 1 of 8The Non-Alchemist2023-07-24 | This is a formal debate between myself and Cameron Bertuzzi on whether horrendous suffering disproves God. This is my Opening Statement.
Citations:
1. Elie Wiesel (2006), Night, Hill and Wang, p. 64-65 2. J.L. Schellenberg (2019), Progressive Atheism: How Moral Evolution Changes the God Debate, Bloomsbury Academic, p. 14 (Kindle) 3. J.L. Schellenberg (2007), The Wisdom To Doubt: A Justification Of Religious Skepticism, Cornell University Press, p. 243-244 4. Ibid, p. 244 5. Ibid 6. Ibid, p. 253-254 7. Ibid, p. 249 8. Ibid 9. Ibid 10. Ibid 11. Ben Watkins, Personal Correspondence 12. Schellenberg (2007), p. 253-254
As a side note, there are other ways to cash these ideas out in more probabilistic terms. I did not do that here, so what I present stands or falls on its own merits. However, if you are curious to see this stuff defended slightly differently, See "The Holocaust is Strong Evidence Against Theism" by Jeff Lowder: naturalisticatheism.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-holocaust-is-strong-evidence.htmlCraig’s Profound Answer To “Absurd” QuestionThe Non-Alchemist2023-07-22 | Double standards galore!
1. Richard Dawkins (2006), "The God Delusion", Mariner Books, Location 2560 (Kindle)
2. Erik Wielenberg, "Dawkins’s Gambit, Hume’s Aroma, and God’s Simplicity" philpapers.org/archive/WIEDGHWhy I Left ChristianityThe Non-Alchemist2023-07-15 | I explain my storyPowerful Reasons To Doubt ChristianityThe Non-Alchemist2023-07-08 | A manual for doubting Christianity
Citations:
1. See "The Best Argument Against God" by Graham Oppy. You can also just search his name on YouTube and you'll be able to get a sense of what he's arguing
2. See the chapter "A Perfectly Good Personal Foundation: Some Reasons for Doubt", in "Is God the Best Explanation of Things?: A Dialogue" by Felipe Leon.
3. See "The Everlasting Check: Hume on Miracles" by Alexander George. He unpacks Hume's reasoning really well, even though he has some reservations about it.
4. See "The New Testament: A Very Short Introduction" by Luke Timothy Johnson
The Amateur Exegete has an excellent blog on Biblical topics that you can check out as well: amateurexegete.com
5. See "Why Apologists Don't Talk About the Ascension" by Matthew Hartke: youtu.be/u-tU3Ea8IGM
6. See the chapter "Jesus Was Wrong or, It's the End of the World as We Know it and I Feel Fine" in "The Human Faces of God: What Scripture Reveals When It Gets God Wrong (And Why Inerrancy Tries To Hide It)" by Thom Stark
And/or watch Matthew Hartke's video "The Forgotten Meaning of Jesus' Resurrection" youtu.be/CFezkNxbOMQ
7. See Rom 13:11-12; 16:20 1 Cor 7:27-31 1 Cor 10:11 Phil 4:5 1 Thess 4:15-17 2 Thess 1:5-10; 2:1-12 Jas 5:1-9 (ESV)
8. See "How Cognitive Dissonance Explains Christianity" by Matthew Hartke for an in depth discussion of this youtu.be/_x8SB_gy8jg
9. See "Inspiration And Incarnation" by Peter Enns. He's an honest Christian, so show some love
10. I go over an argument against divine inspiration in more depth here: youtu.be/TD1du3UmuMo
11. Dale Tuggy is another Christian of the non-traditional variety - he has some good material regarding the implausibility of the Trinity/Incarnation on his website (both Biblical reasons and philosophical reasons) trinities.org/blogAtheist Answers Apologist’s QuestionsThe Non-Alchemist2023-07-04 | Short, sweet, and to the point.
Felipe Leon (2019), "A Perfectly Good Personal Foundation: Some Reasons for Doubt", in "Is God the Best Explanation of Things?: A Dialogue", Palgrave Macmillan, p. 192-217 (Kindle)The Worst Christian On The Internet?The Non-Alchemist2023-06-30 | Strike 2 for Ruslan 😢
I responded to Craig on these comments about Hume here: "Atheist Corrects Ehrman & Craig" youtu.be/DFM2YJ8UxMU
The Craig clips displayed while the audio is playing are from here: youtu.be/yqaHXKLRKzg
The Mike Winger clips displayed while I talk over him are from here: "A powerful argument against Christianity." youtu.be/IDgZ5JPI6kM
I respond to him here: "Apologist Might Not Be A Real Christian?" youtu.be/sEhfVPTCpyo
"Circular Reasoning? We Know the Bible Is Inspired Because It Says It Is?" youtu.be/7khhojzNw6sApologist Doesn’t Know What Words MeanThe Non-Alchemist2023-06-25 | These things are very complicated!
1. Michael Huemer (2022), "Understanding Knowledge", Independently Published, p. 221 (Kindle)
2. "Licona vs. Cavin: Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?" youtu.be/-tlCIqDPxwcAtheist Corrects Ehrman & CraigThe Non-Alchemist2023-06-22 | Ehrman is less wrong, but still
Links:
"Bart Ehrman & Justin Bass • Did Jesus of Nazareth rise from the dead?" youtu.be/LVUQAVQS1-U
The Craig clips displayed while the audio is playing are from here: youtu.be/yqaHXKLRKzg
Citation:
John Earman (2000), "Hume's Abject Failure: The Argument Against Miracles", Oxford University Press, Location 1002 (Kindle)A Powerful Argument Against GodThe Non-Alchemist2023-06-10 | The Hiddenness of God is a problem
Citations:
1. J.L. Schellenberg (2019), "Progressive Atheism: How Moral Evolution Changes the God Debate", Bloomsbury Academic, p.97-107 (Kindle). This portion is a summary of what was stated in the chapter.
2. Ibid, p. 102-103
3. Ibid, p. 97-107 (resuming the summary of the chapter)
4. J.L. Schellenberg (2015), "The Hiddenness Argument: Philosophy's New Challenge to Belief in God", Oxford University Press, p. 103 (Kindle)
5. "John Schellenberg: The Hiddenness Argument and the Contribution of Philosophy (1/5)" youtu.be/7hBpZ-ystOg
6. See here for a quick overview: youtu.be/srUC_gPcA5MApologist Might Not Be A Real Christian?The Non-Alchemist2023-06-02 | Don’t hold double standards
1. J.L. Schellenberg (2015), "The Hiddenness Argument: Philosophy's New Challenge to Belief in God", Oxford University Press, p. 103 (Kindle)
2. J.L. Schellenberg (2019), "Progressive Atheism: How Moral Evolution Changes the God Debate", Bloomsbury Academic, p.183 (Kindle)
3. J.L. Schellenberg (2007), "The Wisdom To Doubt: A Justification Of Religious Skepticism", Cornell University Press, p. 227-242Frank Turek Is WrongThe Non-Alchemist2023-05-27 | Don’t Defend Him…
5. David Bentley Hart (2016), "A Splendid Wickedness: and Other Essays", Eerdmans Publishing, p. 3 (Kindle)The Bible Gets This WrongThe Non-Alchemist2023-05-26 | Is it really surprising?
2. Bryan Chapell (2012), "1–2 Timothy and Titus: To Guard the Deposit (Preaching the Word)", Crossway, p. 68
3. Ibid, p. 73
4. Thom Stark (2011), "The Human Faces of God: What Scripture Reveals When It Gets God Wrong (and Why Inerrancy Tries To Hide It)", Wipf & Stock, Location 1338-1352 (Kindle)
6. John Calvin (2009), "Sermons on Genesis: Chapters 1-11", Banner of Truth, p. 239-240Apologist Hopes You Don’t Think Too HardThe Non-Alchemist2023-05-24 | Let’s talk about the fall
2. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary "Abstract of Principles" https://www.sbts.edu/about/abstract/
3. Josh Mcdowell & Sean Mcdowell (2012), "77 FAQs About God And The Bible", Harvest House Publishers, p. 54-55 (Kindle)
4. John Hick (2013), "Problems with the Doctrine of Atonement", in "Debating Christian Theism", Oxford University Press, p. 375 (Kindle)God Won’t Convince Atheists?The Non-Alchemist2023-05-20 | Let’s talk about miraclesBIGGEST Problem With Atheism?The Non-Alchemist2023-05-14 | William Lane Craig thinks atheism is terrible.
The above is a really funny compilation of WLC talking about the devil, very funny
Citations:
1. C.M. Lorkowski (2021), "Atheism Considered: A Survey of the Rational Rejection of Religious Belief", Palgrave Macmilan, p. 251 (Kindle) 2. J.L. Schellenberg (2005), "Prolegomena to a Philosophy of Religion", Cornell University Press, p. 212-213 (Kindle)Arrogant Apologist Calls Atheism ArrogantThe Non-Alchemist2023-05-07 | Atheism is not uniquely arrogant or dismissive
Felipe Leon (2019), "A Perfectly Good Personal Foundation: Some Reasons for Doubt", in "Is God the Best Explanation of Things?: A Dialogue", Palgrave Macmillan, p. 216
Erik Wielenberg (2005), "Value And Virtue In A Godless Universe", Cambridge University Press, p. 9-10 (Kindle)The Bible Isn’t SpecialThe Non-Alchemist2023-04-13 | The Bible isn’t that unique
Link:
"What Makes the Bible So Special? SeanMcDowell.org" youtu.be/CpHiDdNgFS8Your Religion (probably) Isn’t TrueThe Non-Alchemist2023-04-08 | Think about it
1. Timothy Keller (2008), "The Reason for God", Penguin Books, p. 9 (Kindle)
2. Stephen Law (2011), "Believing Bullshit: How Not to Get Sucked into an Intellectual Black Hole", Prometheus Books, p. 14-19 (Kindle)
3. Felipe Leon (2019), "A Perfectly Good Personal Foundation: Some Reasons for Doubt", in "Is God the Best Explanation of Things?: A Dialogue", Palgrave Macmillan, p. 212-213
See the above for a defense of why a perfect being would desire equalityWould Atheists Believe With Enough Evidence?The Non-Alchemist2023-04-01 | Apparently not
Link: "Would Atheists REALLY Believe if They got Proof w/ Michael Jones" youtu.be/9nvYeV4zoM4
Citations: 1. J.L. Schellenberg (2019), "Progressive Atheism: How Moral Evolution Changes the God Debate", Bloomsbury Academic, p.173 (Kindle)
2. Ibid, p.102-103
3. J.L. Schellenberg (2015), "The Hiddenness Argument: Philosophy's New Challenge to Belief in God", Oxford University Press, p. 81-82 (Kindle)The Best Argument For God?The Non-Alchemist2023-03-25 | Is this the best argument for God’s existence?
Links:
"Christopher Hitchens Impressed With The Fine Tuned Universe Argument" youtu.be/YL3wwlh5KS0
1. C.M. Lorkowski (2021), "Atheism Considered: A Survey of the Rational Rejection of Religious Belief", Palgrave Macmilan, p. 109 (Kindle)
2. Quoted in Nicholas Everitt (2004), "The Non-Existence of God", Routledge, p. 95 (Kindle)
3. Elliot Sober, "Fine-Tuning is Not Evidence that God Exists", in Michael L. Peterson & Raymond J. VanArragon (2020) "Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Religion (2nd Ed)", Wiley Blackwell, p. 40-46 (Kindle)
4. The Non-Existence of God, p. 94
5. Graham Oppy (2013), "The Best Argument Against God", Palgrave Macmillan, p.28 (Kindle)
6. Neil Sinhababu, "Divine Fine-Tuning Vs. Electrons In Love" philpapers.org/archive/SINFAP.pdfApologist Tells Christians They’re In A Cult?!The Non-Alchemist2023-03-18 | David Wood says a little too much about cult tactics
Links:
"Did Richard Dawkins Start a Cult? (The Psychology of the New Atheism)" youtu.be/KbS5KfVWDyM
"With all this suffering, how could there be a God? | Tim Keller at Columbia University" youtu.be/dkn5lfutSrY
"Penn Jillette: Reading the Bible (Or the Koran, Or the Torah) Will Make You an Atheist | Big Think" youtu.be/E3rGev6OZ3wThey Keep Making This Mistake About AtheismThe Non-Alchemist2023-03-01 | Will it never end?