philosophy « fruitful faith

fundamental distinction

By Dale, on October 22nd, 2010%

If we take words patiently and technically, asking if God ‘exists’ or not is like asking if God is physically alive or dead, moving or still, blind or seeing, takes up space or not, heavy or light, hot or cold, tall or short, hard or soft, or any other question which could be asked about things we see, touch, feel, . . . → Read More: fundamental distinction

uncreated thing

By Dale, on September 15th, 2009%

Those who hold that all things (the universe/multiverse/whatever) began to exist and were created (by an ultimate Creator or First/bottom Cause), and those who hold that all things (the universe/multiverse/whatever) ‘have always existed in some form/state’ agree on (at least) one point…

…namely that there is indeed an uncreated ‘thing’ which cannot be questioned, caused, created, ‘got behind’, etc.

The . . . → Read More: uncreated thing

‘big question’ essays

By Dale, on September 14th, 2009%

Cheers to Bryson for directing me to an essay, which I discovered was one over several over at The John Templeton Foundation.

The essays are comprised answers to ‘big questions’ from a variety of perspectives – theist, atheist and agnostic. They make for interesting reading whatever your beliefs are.

Two of the ‘big questions‘ essays were of particular interest to . . . → Read More: ‘big question’ essays

is nature ‘natural’?

By Dale, on September 10th, 2009%

what do we mean by ‘nature’? what do we mean by ‘natural’? how do we account for either? what do we mean by ‘account for’?

explaining nature

By Dale, on September 3rd, 2009%

1. nature demands an explanation

2. a ‘natural’ explanation of nature… isn’t.

thanks ian…

By Dale, on September 2nd, 2009%

Thanks, Ian Luxmoore…

…for a friendly, respectful, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable conversation about life, god, the universe, morality and all the rest.

mixed responses

By Dale, on September 2nd, 2009%

The Christian response to the ‘Faithful Science’ day-conference have been mixed.

Most of the appreciative and complementary feedback has been email or verbal. As for the less-appreciative feedback, unfortunately it’s been more public.

First, the Christian newspaper “Challenge Weekly” published a (to say it kindly) selective and less-than-inaccurate piece entitled “Conference fuels Controversy” (which can be viewed here – scroll . . . → Read More: mixed responses

two thomist tasters

By Dale, on July 29th, 2009%

Just a couple quotables I’ve read recently by James Chastek at Just Thomism:

…the best arguments for naturalism are that we should get out of the armchair, stop using abstract language and start giving quantitative, statistical, and experimental arguments… But the arguments are all made from the armchair, using abstract terms, without quantitative, statistical, or experimental arguments. (from here)

and…

. . . → Read More: two thomist tasters

god is not a ‘thing’…

By Dale, on June 25th, 2009%

…and that is one of the first ‘things’ I believe about God.

teleology & ethics

By Dale, on May 26th, 2009%

The word ‘teleology’ (from Greek τελος ‘telos’ – meaning ‘goal’, ‘end’, ‘purpose’ or ‘that toward which things tend’) is not a street-level term. However, the concept of a purpose, goal, function or ‘end’ to things most certainly is. It’s a common as anything. Teleology is blindingly relevant.

. . . → Read More: teleology & ethics

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