Tag: Atheism

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Joshua R. Farris
Date
May 1, 2024

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence

Tagged
Agency, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Atheism, ChatGPT, Consciousness, free will, Materialism, Matter, mind, Oxford, Sean Carroll}

No, Chatbots Are Not Conscious

_{The arguments in favor of computer consciousness remain weak} _{Joshua R. Farris
May 1, 2024

3

Artificial Intelligence}

In the midst of all the chatter surrounding AI and chatbots, one might be led to believe that the concepts of consciousness or even the soul, let alone the afterlife, are simply relics of outdated beliefs. This sentiment is often echoed by some scientists, raising the question: Is this truly the case? And should we readily accept this perspective? In a recent episode of Mindscape, renowned philosopher and cognitive scientist Raphael Millerie, who boasts an Oxford education and is now a fellow at the Center of Science and Society, teamed up with Sean Carroll, a prominent theoretical physicist known for debunking notions of the soul and the afterlife, to delve into the world of chatbots and AI (see episode 230). Read More ›

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News
Date
October 3, 2023

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Angus Menuge, Atheism, brain, Brian R. Krouse, Consciousness, Materialism, Mental, Minding the Brain, Physicalism, Robert J. Marks}

The Big Problem for Physicalism

_{One physicalist theory after another has either ignored or falsified the central characteristics of consciousness} _{News
October 3, 2023

3

Philosophy of Mind}

Editor’s note: We are delighted to welcome the new book from Discovery Institute Press, Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science, edited by Angus J. L. Menuge, Brian R. Krouse, and Robert J. Marks. Below is an excerpt from Chapter 2. Look for more information at MindingtheBrain.org. By Angus Menuge The history of physicalism is one of extraordinary diversity: a wide variety of theories, with multiple versions, have jockeyed for dominance. Yet it is also a tale of persistent failure. One physicalist theory after another has either ignored or falsified the central characteristics of consciousness, intentionality, and rationality that define our mental life. We will begin by tracing the history of physicalism from the early varieties of behaviorism Read More ›

Adorable little girl shopping for toys. Cute female in toy store. Happy young girl selecting toy

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Richard W. Stevens
Date
July 3, 2023

Categorized
Natural Intelligence

Tagged
AI, Atheism, Cause and effect, children, Electricity, intelligence, Kids, Mass and energy, Materialism, Matter, science, Theism, Toddlers, Toy Store, Universe}

How a Toddler in a Toy Store Refutes Materialism

_{This everyday observation yields insight into a fundamental truth} _{Richard W. Stevens
July 3, 2023

5

Natural Intelligence}

I’m a magnet for materialists. I often get into discussions with people who tell me that the universe is nothing but matter and energy. These folks believe in materialism. They say I’m nutty and wrong to think there is anything else. Something like: “Silly theist! Gods are for kids!” Let’s follow that thought. A grandparent of 11 humans, I’ve journeyed with their parents through the young ones’ toddlerhood many times. There’s a lot to learn about reality from toddlers’ learning and growing. It leads to understanding Toddler Truth. Take a toddler to a game arcade, a toy store, or another kid’s house to play. There’s one thing you can count on hearing: “I want that!” We parents start tuning out Read More ›

A room with round glass window overlooking beautiful landscape background . Hotel futuristic showroom with modern interior . Sublime Generative AI image .

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Wesley J. Smith
Date
April 10, 2023

Categorized
Transhumanism

Tagged
Artificial Intelligence, Atheism, Christianity, Easter, Eastern Orthodox, Materialism, Nihilism, religion, Technology, transhumanism, Wesley J. Smith, Wesley J. Smith on transhumanism}

Transhumanism’s Vain Search for Immortality

_{Transhumanism promotes its own defeat-of-death eschatology} _{Wesley J. Smith
April 10, 2023

2

Transhumanism}

April 9th was Easter Sunday for the Western churches. Next Sunday, for Eastern Orthodox churches. For believing Christians, whether Eastern or Western, celebrating Christ’s Resurrection joyfully commemorates the permanent defeat of death and entrance into eternal life. Transhumanism, which is a quasi-religion that worships at the altar of technology, promotes its own defeat-of-death eschatology. Instead of the New Jerusalem for which Christians yearn, transhumanists hope to live indefinitely — if not forever — in the corporeal world through the wonders of AI and other human-invented methods of technologically defeating death. And it could be here by 2050! From the Daily Mail story: Despite the setback, that same year, a prominent futurist predicted that ‘electronic immortality’ would be available to humans by 2050. Dr Read More ›

Person Reaching Through Broken Window Towards Helping Hand

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Michael Egnor
Date
September 12, 2022

Categorized
Ethics, Philosophy, Religion

Tagged
Atheism, Atheism and logic, Featured, Moral law (as proof of God), P.Z. Myers}

Atheists Who Scold Us on Morality Acknowledge God’s Existence

_{For example, every time internet-famous atheist P. Z. Myers scolds humanity on morality and immorality, he demonstrates the point} _{Michael Egnor
September 12, 2022

4

Ethics, Philosophy, Religion}

P.Z. Myers detests challenges to his atheism based on the reality of Objective Moral Law: There is a common line of attack Christians use in debates with atheists, and I genuinely detest it. It’s to ask the question, “where do your morals come from?” I detest it because it is not a sincere question at all — they don’t care about your answer, they’re just trying to get you to say that you do not accept the authority of a deity, so that they can then declare that you are an evil person because you do not derive your morals from the same source they do, and therefore you are amoral. It is, of course, false to declare that someone Read More ›

Man atheist throws all religions in the trash

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Denyse O'Leary
Date
September 4, 2022

Categorized
Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality

Tagged
Atheism, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Communitarian atheism, Infidel (book 2007), New Atheism, Scott Alexander, Zeeshan Aleem}

Analysis: Can “Communitarian Atheism” Really Work?

_{Ex-Muslim journalist Zeeshan Aleem, fearing that we are caught between theocracy and social breakdown, sees it as a possible answer} _{Denyse O'Leary
September 4, 2022

6

Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality}

Zeeshan Aleem, an American journalist raised as a Muslim — but now an atheist — views his country as caught between “the twin crises of creeping theocracy and the death of conventional religion.” He seeks a new kind of atheism — communitarian atheism — as part of a solution: A rapidly increasing share of Americans are detaching from religious communities that provide purpose and forums for moral contemplation, and not necessarily finding anything in their stead. They’re dropping out of church and survey data suggests they’re disproportionately like to be checked out from civic life. Their trajectory tracks with a broader decades-long trend of secular life defined by plunging social trust, faith in institutions, and participation in civil society. My Read More ›

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News
Date
October 15, 2021

Categorized
Ethics, Philosophy, Religion

Tagged
Atheism, Atheism (and ethics), Atheism (tenets disputed), Dalai Lama, Featured, Matt Dillahunty, Matt Dillahunty (atheism questioned), Michael Egnor, Michael Egnor (questioning Dillahunty's atheism), Theology Unleashed}

9. Michael Egnor Explains Why Matt Dillahunty Is Not an Atheist

_{Not really, anyway, Egnor insists, because he keeps invoking a moral standard that can’t exist if materialist atheism is true} _{News
October 15, 2021

13

Ethics, Philosophy, Religion}

In the “Does God exist?” debate between theist neurosurgeon Michael Egnor and atheist broadcaster Matt Dillahunty (September 17, 2021), we find Egnor questioning Dillahunty’s atheism. Readers may recall that the debate opened with Egnor explaining why, as former atheist, he became a theist. Then Dillahunty explained why, as a former theist, he became an atheist. Michael Egnor then made his opening argument, offering ten proofs for the existence of God. Matt Dillahunty responded in his own opening argument that the propositions were all unfalsifiable. When, in Section 4, it was Egnor’s turn to rebut Dillahunty, Dillahunty was not easily able to recall Aquinas’s First Way (the first logical argument for the existence of God). Then, turning to the origin of Read More ›

Demolition of hotel collapse following bomb blast explosion

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News
Date
October 5, 2021

Categorized
Ethics, Philosophy, Science

Tagged
Atheism, Featured, Matt Dillahunty, Michael Egnor, Moral law (as proof of God), Raping babies (ethics illustration), Theism, Theology Unleashed}

7. Dillahunty Asks 2nd Oldest Question: If God Exists, Why Evil?

_{In the debate between Christian neurosurgeon Michael Egnor and atheist broadcaster Matt Dillahunty, the question of raping a baby was bound to arise.} _{News
October 5, 2021

19

Ethics, Philosophy, Science}

In the “Does God exist?” debate between theist neurosurgeon Michael Egnor and atheist broadcaster Matt Dillahunty (September 17, 2021), we have at last got round to the Problem of Evil. Readers may recall that the debate opened with Egnor explaining why, as former atheist, he became a theist. Then Dillahunty explained why, as a former theist, he became an atheist. Michael Egnor then made his opening argument, offering ten proofs for the existence of God. Matt Dillahunty responded in his own opening argument that the propositions were all unfalsifiable. When, in Section 4, it was Egnor’s turn to rebut Dillahunty, Dillahunty was not easily able to recall Aquinas’s First Way (the first logical argument for the existence of God). Then, Read More ›

Planet with numerous prominent ring system

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News
Date
September 28, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy, Science

Tagged
Aquinas's First Way, Aristotle (on causation), Aristotle (on time), Atheism, Big Bang (as singularity), Causation (and universe), Change (and time), David Hume (on cause and effect), Featured, God (and singularity), Infinite regress, Matt Dillahunty, Michael Egnor, Singularity (in science), Theism, Theology Unleashed}

5. Egnor, Dillahunty Dispute the Basic Causes Behind the Universe

_{In a peppery exchange, Egnor argues that proofs of God’s existence follow the same logical structure as proofs in science} _{News
September 28, 2021

18

Philosophy, Science}

At this point in the “Does God exist?” debate between theist neurosurgeon Michael Egnor and atheist broadcaster Matt Dillahunty (September 17, 2021), readers may recall that the debate opened with Egnor explaining why, as a former atheist, he became a theist. Then Dillahunty explained why, as a former theist, he became an atheist. Michael Egnor then made his opening argument, offering ten proofs for the existence of God. Matt Dillahunty responded in his own opening argument that the propositions were all unfalsifiable. When, in Section 4, it was Egnor’s turn to rebut Dillahunty, Dillahunty was not easily able to recall Aquinas’s First Way (the first logical argument for the existence of God). No matter, they agreed to keep talking. The Read More ›

Knights on a chessboard. Business, strategy, conflict and leadership concept.

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News
Date
September 27, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy

Tagged
Aquinas's First Way, Atheism, Featured, Matt Dillahunty (Aquinas's First Way), Michael Egnor (Aquinas's First Way), Theism, Theology Unleashed}

4: Egnor Now Tries To Find Out What Dillahunty Actually Knows…

_{About philosophical arguments for the existence of God, as he begins a rebuttal} _{News
September 27, 2021

15

Philosophy}

Readers and viewers who have been following this debate, “Does God exist?” (September 17, 2021), between theist neurosurgeon Michael Egnor and atheist broadcaster Matt Dillahunty may recall that it opened with Egnor explaining why, as former atheist, he became a theist. Then Dillahunty explained why, as a former theist, he became an atheist. Michael Egnor then stated his case, offering ten proofs for the existence of God. Matt Dillahunty responded that they wre all unfalsifiable propositions. Now it is Egnor’s turn to rebut Dillahunty. The conversation was somewhat rambunctious and has been condensed for print: A partial transcript (beginning at 36:30) and notes follow: Michael Egnor: Well, first of all, you mentioned that you don’t defend the existence of leprechauns Read More ›

Brain mind way soul and hope concept art, illustration, surreal mystery artwork, imagination painting, conceptual idea of success

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News
Date
July 28, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Science

Tagged
Aboutness concept, Arjuna Das, Atheism, Featured, Franz Brentano, Materialism, Michael Egnor, Scientism, Theology Unleashed}

How we can know mental states are real?

_{Mental states are always “about” something; physical states are not “about” anything} _{News
July 28, 2021

8

Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Science}

Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor did a recent podcast with Arjuna Das at Theology Unleashed, “where Eastern theology meets Western skepticism.” In this section, they talk about how we can know that the mind is real and how materialist philosophy has just plain gone bad: Here is a partial transcript and notes for the twenty to thirty-one minute mark: Michael Egnor: There was a philosopher named Franz Brentano (1838–1917) in the 19th century who proposed what I think is the best definition of what distinguishes a mental state from a physical state. Brentano asks, is there any unique thing that all mental states have that no physical state has? He said, it’s intentionality, and by intentionality he meant that every mental state Read More ›

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News
Date
April 11, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy, Religion, Science

Tagged
Atheism, Big Bang, Biological information, Carl Sagan, Contact (book), Contact (film), Cosmic fine-tuning, DNA, Featured, Fine-tuning, Michael Egnor, Multiverse, Return of the God Hypothesis (book), Steve Meyer}

Why Should We Believe Atheists on the Subject of God?

_{Logic and evidence both point to the existence of God, whatever atheists may think} _{News
April 11, 2021

4

Philosophy, Religion, Science}

Noting a recent article by philosopher Steve Meyer at The Federalist, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor comments, The public square is replete with books and articles written by atheist scientists claiming that cosmology or genetics or evolution properly understood disproves the existence of God. These atheist scientists profoundly misunderstand the implications of their science; they couldn’t be more wrong. As in his new book, The Return of the God Hypothesis, Dr. Meyer points to three particularly clear advances in modern science. Michael Egnor, “The God Hypothesis Versus Atheist Science Denial” at Evolution News and Science Today (April 5, 2021) The three arguments he addresses are ● The Big Bang: “The existence of a moment of beginning of our universe in an almost Read More ›

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News
Date
February 28, 2021

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy, Religion, Surveillance

Tagged
1984 (book), 2084 (book), Atheism, C. S. Lewis, Featured, George Orwell, God's existence, immortality, John Lennox, Revelation (book in Bible), Robert J. Marks, Techno-immortality, That Hideous Strength (book), transhumanism}

Why Oxford’s John Lennox Wrote a Book on AI Promises and Threats

_{His book 2084 leans on George Orwell’s 1984 but takes its inspiration from C. S. Lewis’s That Hideous Strength} _{News
February 28, 2021

12

Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy, Religion, Surveillance}

Recently, Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks interviewed Oxford mathematician John Lennox on his latest book 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity (2020). He focused on why Lennox chose that theme and how far we have caught up with George Orwell’s 1984. Here are some excerpts from the combined interviews in “John Lennox on Artificial Intelligence and Humanity”: https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-123-John-Lennox.mp3 A partial transcript follows, along with highlights, Show Notes, and Resources: Robert J. Marks (starting at roughly 1:40 min): Many of Orwell’s predictions about communism were proven. So what will be the effects of AI a century later in the year 2084? Replacing George Orwell is Dr. John Lennox who has written 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future Read More ›

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Michael Egnor
Date
February 28, 2021

Categorized
Philosophy, Religion, Science

Tagged
Atheism, Cosmic fine-tuning, Featured, Fine-tuning, God's existence, Inverse gambler's fallacy, Multiverse, Philip Goff, Physics (laws), Steven Novella, Universe}

We Don’t Live in a Multiverse Because the Concept Makes No Sense

_{Neurologist Steven Novella and philosopher Philip Goff, both atheists, agree that there are many universes besides the one we live in} _{Michael Egnor
February 28, 2021

5

Philosophy, Religion, Science}

Cosmic fine-tuning is the observation that many of the values of the variables in the fundamental laws of physics specifically permit the existence of sentient life (life like us) within a very narrow margin of error. The likelihood of this happening by chance seems vanishingly small. It seems as if Someone expected us. How can we explain this? The fact that God created the universe explains fine-tuning. But for atheists, it’s a real conundrum. As a result, at Neurologica blog, neurologist Steven Novella (pictured) and philosopher Philip Goff have been discussing the most popular atheist explanation for fine-tuning, the “multiverse.” That is, there are countless universes out there, each with its own parameters, and ours just happens to be one Read More ›

China flag and praying patriot man with crossed hands. Holding cross, hoping and wishing.

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Heather Zeiger
Date
October 18, 2020

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Religion, Social Media, Surveillance, Technocracy

Tagged
___longform, Atheism, Bitter Winter (online magazine), Chinese Communist Party (CCP), COVID-19, Falun Gong, Featured, internet, Online church services, Religion in China, Religious persecution (China), WeChat, Xi Lian}

How China’s Technocracy Uses the Pandemic to Suppress Religion

_{The pandemic provided a pretext to install surveillance equipment in churches and surveil believers online} _{Heather Zeiger
October 18, 2020

9

Artificial Intelligence, Religion, Social Media, Surveillance, Technocracy}

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought out the ways that technology can lead either to greater accessibility or greater oppression. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is now using the same technologies that have given many people around the world access to religious materials and church services during the pandemic to forcibly stop religious gatherings and restrict the distribution of religious materials within China. Although the CCP is officially atheist, over 60% of the population adheres to a recognized religion; 30.8% practice Chinese folk religions, 16.6% Buddhism, 7.4% Christianity, 4.2% ethnic religion, and 1.8% Islam. Authentic numbers may be higher, given the risk of punishment for practicing certain religions in China. The Chinese government has persecuted, tortured, and imprisoned Falun Gong members Read More ›

3D rendering abstract round light background

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News
Date
July 17, 2020

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind, Religion

Tagged
Atheism, Featured, John Lennox, John Polkinghorne, science}

Oxford Mathematician: Atheism Detracts from Science

_{The problem, as John Lennox sees it, is that atheism does not provide grounds for believing in rationality} _{News
July 17, 2020

2

Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind, Religion}

Today, Evolution News and Science Today published an excerpt from Oxford mathematician John Lennox’s 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity (Zondervan 2020): in which Lennox discusses some of the ways in which atheism detracts from science: Science proceeds on the basis of the assumption that the universe is, at least to a certain extent, accessible to the human mind. No science can be done without the scientist believing this, so it is important to ask for grounds for this belief. Atheism gives us none, since it posits a mindless, unguided origin of the universe’s life and consciousness. John Lennox, “Why Science and Atheism Don’t Mix” at Evolution News and Science Today: He offers physicist John Polkinghorne’s explanation of Read More ›

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Michael Egnor
Date
June 2, 2020

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
___longform, Anterior commissure, Atheism, brain, brain hemispheres, corpus callosotomy, Featured, human brain, Massa intermedia, split-brain surgery}

My Right Hemisphere Is An Atheist! No, Wait …

_{In reality, split-brain surgery does not split consciousness in any meaningful sense} _{Michael Egnor
June 2, 2020

7

Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

The atheist neuroscientist who has made bizarre claims about the outcomes of split brain surgery appears not to know much about neurosurgery.

St Francis Outpatient Center in Federal Way, Washington State

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Michael Egnor
Date
June 1, 2020

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Religion

Tagged
Afterlife, Alex Berezow, Atheism, China, COVID-19, Featured, Pandemic, Reign of Terror, Rodney Stark, Steven Pinker}

COVID-19: Atheism Went Viral As Well

_{Atheists are uniquely unsuited to accuse others of devaluing human life} _{Michael Egnor
June 1, 2020

6

Medicine and Health, Religion}

Professor Steven Pinker’s quickly deleted tweet provides a window into anti-religious hate. In health and medicine, he is entirely mistaken.

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Michael Egnor
Date
March 22, 2020

Categorized
Religion

Tagged
Aristotle, Atheism, Five Ways, Jerry Coyne, Logic, Philosophy, science, Theism, Thomas Aquinas}

God’s Existence Is Proven by Science

_{Arguments for God’s existence can be demonstrated by the ordinary method of scientific inference} _{Michael Egnor
March 22, 2020

10

Religion}

If we approach the arguments logically, as the ancient philosophers did, we will see that it is more certain that God exists than that anything else does. Atheist evolutionary biologist Jerry Coyne should consider the arguments more carefully before assuming that prayer is foolish.

Be Reasonable written in neon on a brick wall

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Michael Egnor
Date
May 24, 2019

Categorized
Natural Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Animal Mind, Atheism, Featured, Justin E.H. Smith, Natural Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind, reason}

An Atheist Argues Against Reason

_{And thinks it is the reasonable thing to do} _{Michael Egnor
May 24, 2019

9

Natural Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind}

Justin Smith is leading the way to the abandonment of rationality. There’s not a shred of reason in his essay.