Category Archives: Atheism

Notes on Greta Christina

Posted on Friday 13 June 2014 by Mark R. Kelly

As a follow-up to the last post, I’ve read three other books in the past several months about the theist/rationalist divide. Here are some note and comments, one at a time. (The other two, to follow, are books by Adam … Continue reading →

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Notes on A.C. Grayling: The Case Against Religion and for Humanism

Posted on Thursday 12 June 2014 by Mark R. Kelly

A.C. Grayling is a British philosopher whose 2013 book The God Argument: The Case Against Religion and for Humanism, is a clear and concise summary of why religion is best abandoned and why humanism (as he describes it) is a … Continue reading →

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Assorted Links and Quotes: Selective Thinking, Southern Atheists, Creationist Logic, Fox News, Neuroscience

Posted on Tuesday 27 May 2014 by Mark R. Kelly

Assorted links from the past couple days: Neil deGrasse Tyson vs. the right: “Cosmos,” Christians, and the battle for American science, by Sean McElwee. About the selective thinking of the religious right in denying those Enlightenment values that threaten their … Continue reading →

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Philip Kitcher: Soft Atheism?

Posted on Monday 19 May 2014 by Mark R. Kelly

Fascinating interview with Philip Kitcher, a professor of philosophy at Columbia University, about how he rejects religious doctrines but feels nevertheless that religious practice has certain features that are best not abandoned. Some quotes: [emphases mine] So asserting the doctrines … Continue reading →

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Kalam Cosmological Argument

Posted on Tuesday 22 April 2014 by Mark R. Kelly

The Kalam Cosmological Argument is one of the traditional, philosophical, arguments for the existence of God. The idea is that everything must have a beginning; therefore the universe must have a beginning, therefore God. (Which those who use this argument … Continue reading →

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Gopnik on legitimate forms of knowledge and increasing prosperity

Posted on Wednesday 2 April 2014 by Mark R. Kelly

In another article in the same issue of The New Yorker, Alan Gopnik reviews several books that provide both histories of atheism and apologetics of religion. What’s notable about the essay is that Gopnik doesn’t seem to have a horse … Continue reading →

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Religion and Science, Natural or Not

Posted on Tuesday 25 March 2014 by Mark R. Kelly

Connor Wood summarizes the thesis of Robert McCauley’s book Why Religion is Natural and Science is Not. McCauley believes that maturationally natural systems get at the core difference between science and religion – religion relies on them, while science shuns … Continue reading →

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Sam Harris’ Forthcoming Waking Up

Posted on Tuesday 25 March 2014 by Mark R. Kelly

Looking forward to Sam Harris’ next book, especially since I’m skeptical of what it seems to be about. http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/the-path-between-pseudo-spirituality-and-pseudo-science I am often asked what will replace organized religion. The answer, I believe, is nothing and everything. Nothing need replace its … Continue reading →

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Sophisticated Theology, Proofs of God, Humanism, Religious Persecution, Morality

Posted on Thursday 20 March 2014 by Mark R. Kelly

I got the book! You know, the one with the best arguments for God Jerry Coyne lists books to read before criticizing atheism (just as theists keep issuing books about the ‘best’ arguments for god which they insists atheists must … Continue reading →

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S. T. Joshi Work Habits; The Only Common-Sense Position

Posted on Monday 17 March 2014 by Mark R. Kelly

Thinking about this topic of work habits lately, and so keyed on this passage, from this New York Times profile of S.T. Joshi, H.P. Lovecraft scholar and atheist/agnostic writer. Mr. Joshi does not teach, and he rarely lectures. For money, … Continue reading →

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