[ Author Index | Subject Index ]
The Modern Library contains material written during or after 1970, which tends to be more scholarly than Kiosk material.
Peter Kirby Tomb
The Historicity of the Empty Tomb Evaluated (2001) Peter Kirby Introduction to the Issue The Case Against the Empty Tomb Argument from Silence Testimony of Paul Dependence on Mark Fictional Characteristics in Mark Improbabilities in Mark Roman Crucifixion and Jewish Burial Burial Traditions Appearance Traditions The Case For the Empty Tomb The Tomb Burial […]
Quentin Smith Uncaused
The Uncaused Beginning of the Universe (1988) Quentin Smith The following article was originally published in PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE in 1988 (Volume 55, No. 1, pp. 39-57). [Note by HTML transcriber: This transcription was performed under HTML 3.0, which was unable to display many mathematic symbols, some types of formatting, or simultaneously display more than […]
Reason Agnosticism
Agnosticism An Agnostic Theology (2010) by Kile Jones Insofar as theology depends upon revelation, can it possibly be agnostic? Kile Jones argues that an “agnostic theology” is not only not a contradiction in terms, but is an intellectually honest position that allows one to provide reasons for possible belief in God while simultaneously allowing reasons […]
Richard Carrier Bigbang
You are probably looking for the article “Was There a Big Bang? I Honestly Don’t Know” by Richard Carrier. It has been removed from the web because I no longer agree with its argument. I have now stated and defended my new position in the essay ” I Was a Big Bang Skeptic” (2002). The […]
Richard Carrier Carrier Wanchick Assessment
Final Assessment by Independent Judges (2006) Welcome to Naturalism vs. Theism: The Carrier-Wanchick Debate. Richard and Tom agreed to have four independent judges read and assess their debate upon its completion according to The Rules We Followed, especially rules (7) and (8). Those judges present their assessments below. Total Assessment Glenn Miller [assessment] Victor […]
Richard Carrier Fish
A Fish Did Not Write This Essay (1995) Richard Carrier [This essay won second prize in a competition and was published in Freethought Today 12:7 (Sept. 1995), p. 8. The Freedom From Religion Foundation which publishes Freethought Today comes highly recommended as a very human, professional, national organization for freethinkers of all varieties, and […]
Richard Carrier Herodotus
William Lane Craig, Herodotus, and Myth Formation (1999) Richard Carrier This essay addresses one specific argument made by William Lane Craig, to the effect that “tests” from Herodotus demonstrate that myths or legends (such as resurrection appearances or an empty tomb) cannot grow within a single generation. A great deal more could be said about […]
Richard Carrier Improbable Intolerant
Was Christianity Too Improbable to be False? (2006) [See Introduction] Richard Carrier 6. Who Would Join an Intolerant Cult? James Holding quotes DeSilva’s comment that “the message about this Christ was incompatible with the most deeply rooted religious ideology of the Gentile world, as well as the more recent message propagated in Roman […]
Richard Carrier Moreland
Does the Christian Theism Advocated by J.P. Moreland Provide a Better Reason to be Moral than Secular Humanism? (1998) Richard Carrier The following essay has been completely improved and superceded by a more accurate version and backed by more detailed analysis in Richard Carrier, Sense and Goodness without God (2005), pp. 291-348. Any critique […]
Richard Carrier Resurrection 1c
This file has been relocated: it is now Section III of General Case for Insufficiency .
Richard Carrier Resurrection 3c
This file has been relocated: it is now Section III of General Case for Spiritual Resurrection: Evidence Against Resurrection of the Flesh.
Richard Carrier Resurrection Introduction
Why I Don’t Buy the Resurrection Story (6th ed., 2006) Richard Carrier Introduction What is the purpose of this collection of essays? Many things could be said which cast doubt on the story of the Resurrection of Jesus by God, but there are three above all that are most decisive in leading me […]
Richard Gale Alston
Why Alston’s Mystical Doxastic Practice Is Subjective (1994) Richard Gale The following article was originally published in PHILOSOPHY AND PHENOMENOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Vol. LIV, No. 4, December 1994. Within each of the great religions there is a well established doxastic practice (DP) of taking experiential inputs consisting of apparent direct perceptions of God (M-experiences) […]
Robert Price Beyond Born Again Chap4
________________________________________ 53 Beyond Born Again Section I– The Born Again Experience: A Brave New World? Chapter 4: The Personal Savior “I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” If you are an Evangelical Christian you can remember saying these words probably more times than you can count. If on the other hand you are not […]
Robert Price Price
From Fundamentalist to Humanist (1997) Robert M. Price Everyone is on a spiritual journey. Most of the time we are glad enough to admit this, but other times we want stability more than anything else, and at those times we are liable to fear religious change lest we fall away from hard-won truth. But […]
Robin Collins Design Defended
Clarifying the Case for Cosmic Design (2008) Robin Collins Clarifying My Argument Draper’s “Understated Evidence” Objection The Idea of Probabilistic Tension Beauty of the Laws of Nature Final Comments: The Intrinsic Probabilities of Theism and Naturalism Clarifying My Argument First, I would like to thank Quentin Smith and Paul Draper for participating in this […]
Sally Morem Guthrie Review
Peering at Faces in the Clouds (1996) Sally Morem [This article was originally published in Secular Nation September/October 1996, pp. 2-5.] Review of Stewart Elliott Guthrie: Faces in the Clouds: A New Theory of Religion (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993) $30.00. What is religion and why does it pervade human thought and culture? […]
Stewart Goetz Against Physicalism
Objections to Melnyk’s Case for Physicalism (2007) Stewart Goetz and Charles Taliaferro 1. Philosophy of Mind We are grateful for this opportunity to reply to Professor Melnyk’s systematic, clear paper entitled “A Case for Physicalism about the Human Mind.” According to Melnyk (henceforth M), “An individual item (object, property-instance, or process) is physical in […]
Testimonials Price
From Fundamentalist to Humanist (1997) Robert M. Price Everyone is on a spiritual journey. Most of the time we are glad enough to admit this, but other times we want stability more than anything else, and at those times we are liable to fear religious change lest we fall away from hard-won truth. But […]
Theism Christianity
Christianity Biblical Criticism Biblical Errancy Bible Codes Character of Jesus Christian Worldview Christian Apologetics & Apologists’ Web Sites Criticisms of Christian Apologetics & Apologists Ex-Christians Historicity of Jesus Jesus Seminar Prophecy Resurrection Shroud of Turin Why I Am Not a Christian General Argument from Insufficient Knowledge of the Bible for the Nonexistence of the God […]
Theism Christianity Shroud
Shroud of Turin Special thanks to Steven Schafersman, author of the Skeptical Shroud of Turin Website for inspiring this page. New “Shroud” Claims Challenged as Spurious (Off Site) (1996) (CSICOP) Replies of skeptical scientists and investigators to “The Authentication of the Turin Shroud” (Off Site) Shroud of Turin Exhibition Renews False Claims of Authenticity (Off […]
Theism Judaism
Judaism Elucidation of Genesis 1 (Off Site) by Shlomi Tal This article is a secular-minded elucidation of the first chapter of the book of Genesis based on the original Hebrew text, with translation and commentary. Genealogical Saga of Judaism (2001) by Shlomi Tal According to Orthodox Judaism, nothing has value unless it is for the sake […]
Theism Reviews
Theistic Arguments: Reviews/Critiques Formal debates between theists and nontheists on topics relating to the theistic arguments: Scripture Miracles Design Cosmological Moral Experience Other To purchase related reading, go to the Secular Web Book Store. Argument from Holy Scripture: Book Review: The Jesus Puzzle (2000) by James Still Still reviews the work by Earl Doherty, […]
Thomas Sheehan Firstcoming One
The First Coming: How the Kingdom of God Became Christianity (1986–electronic edition 2000) Thomas Sheehan I How Jesus Lived and Died In popular Christian teaching, Jesus often comes across as a divine visitor to our planet, a supernatural being who dropped into history disguised as a Jewish carpenter, performed some miracles, died on a cross […]
Tyler Wunder Davis 2
II. Supernaturalism’s Best Case: Core Facts This section will outline the argument that will represent the supernaturalist’s best case for the resurrection: Habermas’ Core Facts. I think some initial justificatory comments are required to defend using Habermas in this manner, specifically focussing on how Habermas and Davis differ to determine whether any differences between […]
Wesley Robbins Moreland
Secular Humanism, Christian Theism, and the Meaning of Life J. Wesley Robbins In chapter Four of his 1987 book Scaling the Secular City,[1] J. P. Moreland poses a question which he says is the one that most people have in mind when they ask whether life is worth living or has meaning. The question is: […]
Anachronist Why I Believe 89ab End
The Rest of the Book The remainder of this commentary will touch on a few issues in the remainder of the book. I had collected sufficient notes for a detailed review of each chapter, but these were lost when my computer died forever, before I finished with chapter 7 (though I have a few hand-scribbled […]
Bart Klink New Atheism
Review of God and the New Atheism (2009) Bart Klink Review: John F. Haught. 2007. God and the New Atheism: A Critical Response to Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press. 156 pp. The term “the new atheism” is used quite often lately to denote the current revival of popular atheism, especially […]
At the Intersection of “Metaphysical Naturalism” and “Intelligent Design”
At the Intersection of “Metaphysical Naturalism” and “Intelligent Design” by Bill Schultz Table of Contents Introduction God Is What We Define God To Be Dimensions Beyond Our Senses TANSTAAFL A Brief Romp Through Flatland Our Universe As Art Into The Extra-Dimensional Reality “Metaphysical Naturalism” and “Intelligent Design” Some Conclusions Further Reading Acknowledgements Footnotes Introduction I […]
Brian Holtz Naturalism
The Compatibility of Naturalism and Scientific Realism (2003) Brian Holtz In “The Incompatibility of Naturalism and Scientific Realism” (1998), the U.T. Austin philosopher Robert Koons argues that “Nature is comprehensible scientifically only if nature is not a causally closed system–only if nature is shaped by supernatural forces.” Koons’ fundamental mistake in his paper is […]