GOD
Highlights of Part B:
SUPERNATURAL - Chapters 9 to 13
9. SUPERNATURAL BELIEFS
Three classes of arguments are briefly reviewed including discussions about idealized personhood and emotions vs. important godhood problems. Brief FAQ’s are included.
Gap Arguments:
Origin and Organization of the Universe.
Appearance of Life on Earth.
Evolution of Earth’s Life-forms.
Behavioural Arguments:
Personal Experience.
Existence of Altruism, Beauty and Genius.
Provincialism in Geography or Time.
Philosophical Arguments:
Problem of Hiddenness.
Problem of Evil and Suffering.
Pascal’s Wager and Risk Aversion.
Each of the "Frequent Arguments" are briefly answered in this chapter and then are more extensively explained in the later chapters.
The Most Common Basics about Deity:
Unchanging per its character, purpose and knowledge.
A personage interested in the actions of humans.
The creator of everything other than itself.
An undetectable and non-physical spirit.
Omnipresent as it is everywhere at once.
Omnipotent as it can do all that is logically possible.
Omnibenevolent as it only does, and can only do, good.
Omniscient knowing everything, everywhere, at all times.
Frequent Arguments about the Supernatural :
“Evolution could not have spontaneously happened.”
“Archaeology and the Bible both show that a god exists.”
“The world’s beauty must have come from a god.”
“Right, wrong and morality came from a god.”
“Many very smart people believe in a god.”
“A god has talked to me, so I know that a god exists.”
“I feel connected to the universe and that is my god.”
“Everyone has seen sick people healed by a god.”
“Then how do we find purpose in our lives?”
“Religion has no real downside.”
“Religion has a heaven with nice music for eternity.”
“Atheists are rude and arrogant know-it-alls.”
“Atheism is just another belief.”
10. GAP ARGUMENTS
Gap Arguments are unexplained, real and observed events which suggest that the supernatural must exist. These arguments are about well-known events in the physical world that cannot yet be (fully) explained by current science without the hypothesis of a supernatural miracle that fills a “gap” of understanding. Eg: the Watchmaker analogy.
Gap Arguments:
Origin and Organization of the Universe.
Appearance of Life on Earth.
Evolution of Earth’s Life-forms.
11. BEHAVIOURAL ARGUMENTS
Behavioural Arguments relate to purported events and human predispositions. personal experience; existence of altruism, beauty & genius; and finally provincialism per geography and time.
Behavioural Arguments:
Personal Experience.
Existence of Altruism, Beauty and Genius.
Provincialism in Geography or Time.
12. PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENTS
These are the "armchair" arguments that do not relate as closely to empirical evidence.
Also included per Pascal's Wager are "17 god Things to Avoid" with explanatory commentary included per each.
Philosophical Arguments:
Problem of Hiddenness.
Problem of Evil and Suffering.
Pascal’s Wager and Risk Aversion.
17 god Things - A Few “Minor” Drawbacks:
Religion helps to destroy the environment.
Heaven encourages self-sacrifice.
Moderates enable extremists.
Opposition to birth control.
Obedience is supreme.
Faith, mysticism and superstition vs. science and reason.
Discrimination encourages hatred of “outsiders”.
Paternalistic and misogynistic thinking.
Personal resources are wasted.
Faith healing is dangerous.
. . . etc.
. . . etc.
13. BELIEVING WELL
The two obvious questions to ask are:
“Is the god hypothesis reasonable?”
and
“Is the god hypothesis even desirable?”
Believing Well Summary / Analysis / Discussion
(of the last three chapters) including:
Issues of probability (with suggested weightings).
Problems of religion.
Generally how to live with religion.
Meaning, obedience and the supernatural.
Speaking out.