So Sorry, So Sad Redux

In my article So Sorry, So Sad, I addressed the issue of a particularly Christian disease, albeit one that infects religious folks of many stripes. Last time it was a sadly aggressive Anglican Priest (go figure.)

Now somebody cut from the cloth of science, apparently, has fallen victim. This was from a friend of my former Pastor, Chuck. Chuck had asked “Bob” to peruse my site, seeking his assistance in understanding some Quantum Physics concepts central to our discussion of R.C. Sproul’s book, Not a Chance.

He did chat a little about that, which I addressed here, but then he leaped across the line and said this:

Extreme Makeover – WINLB Edition

So I finally got around to revamping the look of Why I No Longer Believe. I set up a new theme, spent actual money on header graphics (wut!?) and tightened up the main page with excerpts of all but the shortest entries.

What do y’all think?

I think it’s sex-aayyyyy…

Science, Schmience

As my little cadre of readers know, my former pastor Chuck and I are engaged in a little debate around R.C. Sproul’s Not a Chance, in which Sproul takes on the idea of Chance as a factor in Existence. In doing so he contacted a scientist buddy or two, one of whom at least is also a bible-believing Christian, it seems. This guy, “Bob,” provided some commentary after reading through my blog that was half interesting, half a festering lump of offensive arrogance.

I’ll deal with the latter in a subsequent post, but I’m going to reproduce his comments here then address the points he brings up to see if they hold water.

Series of Series

Well, in order to present a better dialogue, my former pastor and I are going to read through Sproul’s Not a Chance, before reviewing/commenting further. Hopefully that will make for a more lively discussion and a deeper dive than just my own take on the material.

In the meantime I’ll be doing a couple things. First, I’m doing some light reading on Chance and Probability in Quantum Physics, as well as boning up on the topic in general. This is also requiring me to do a brief refresher on Linear Algebra, which is, believe it or not, rather fun.

Yeah, I’m a sicko.

Games of Chance – Ch. 2 – More Straw?

This post will be relatively brief, as there isn’t much going on in Chapter 2 save Sproul doing his best to stuff as much straw into his strawman as he can before he begins tilting at the windmill of Quantum Physics. That said, there a few items in this chapter I would like to address.

Sproul’s main aim in this chapter is to imply… well, never mind, he asserts that the entire global community of scientists has abandoned logic and reason, and that it’s up to philosophers like himself to bring them around. Good thing he’s not arrogant about it or anything, eh?

Who Flew The Coop? The “Deconversion” of Antony Flew

Back in 2007 a book landed in the front windows of bookstores across the country, announcing that the “world’s most notorious atheist” had changed his mind and now believed in “God.”

This atheist’s name? Antony Flew.

Atheists and apologetics-minded believers everywhere turned to each other and said:

“Who?”

Well, throughout the second half of the 20th century, Mister Flew had written some philosophical papers in support of atheism and had broken some new ground in the conversation. To be fair, he was somewhat prototypical to Dawkins, Hitchens, and Dennett. But most notorious? The hyperbole runs thick sometimes.

Games of Chance – Ch. 1 – Rocks and Pillows

Let’s dive into chapter one.

First, I’m not going to hide my disdain for what I’ve read so far. I’m not an expert in physics by any stretch. For that reason I expected, or at least hoped, to be challenged by Sproul’s presentation.

Sadly, that is not the case.

In this first chapter, Sproul attempts to completely redefine chance to serve his preconceptions, then disparage science and scientists based on those preconceptions, though perhaps misconceptions is a better word.

My Story – Redux

After a flurry of writing, I’ve completed telling the story of my Christian experience as best I can.

I hope you find it interesting. I hope seekers find something they can identify with, realize that they aren’t the only ones walking the uncertain path of doubt.

I hope Christians will read it and recognize themselves in there, and at least see that there just might be some things they should consider.

I hope those who are already out, like me, will be encouraged that more and more of us are finding our way out of that pretend world and into the real one, ready to make a difference.

Games of Chance – A New Series

I’ve been a busy boy on the blog this week. I guess I’ve got a lot on my mind lately.

A couple weeks ago, on my birthday, in fact, an old pastor, who I still count as a friend, wished me a happy birthday and encouraged me to take a look at a book he feels provides a strong challenge to the secular scientific view of the world and the universe – Not a Chance by R.C. Sproul

The premise of the book is that the universe and nature could not have arisen by chance, and therefore must have been created by God.