In the modern world, naturalism exerts a potent influence on our way of thinking. The exuberance produced by the success of science caused an overconfidence in its ability to explain the world. As scientific discoveries accumulated, people assumed this trend would continue indefinitely. Eventually, science would discover the Theory of Everything, a complete description of… Continue reading The Substance of Reality – Consciousness filtered through space-time
Author: Prudence Louise
The Inner Dimensions of Nature
There is a lot of debate about the characteristics of nature and the existence of the supernatural, but through it all the concept of nature is often obscure. We may use the same word, but often we’re not talking about the same thing. For the materialist, nature consists of the objective properties studied by science… Continue reading The Inner Dimensions of Nature
The Law of Karma – cosmic justice or natural law?
The doctrine of karma is sometimes interpreted as a system of cosmic justice. God is the chief prosecutor enforcing his laws through reward and punishment. Suffering is divine retribution for sin, and sin is disobeying God’s commands. With this interpretation of karma, it follows logically that people deserve to suffer. Their suffering is a just… Continue reading The Law of Karma – cosmic justice or natural law?
How to Construct a Worldview – A blueprint for building tolerance and humility.
Human beings need a worldview to function. A worldview isn’t a single belief or even a collection of beliefs. It’s the widest possible view we can take of reality. A worldview is an interpretative framework, a conceptual map containing all the various facts about the world. It orientates us to the world and informs us… Continue reading How to Construct a Worldview – A blueprint for building tolerance and humility.
Can all the Different Religions be True?
The harmonious outlook of religious pluralism. There is a wide diversity of religious claims and practices. Conceptions of the divine range from the God of Abraham to Hinduism’s impersonal Brahman. This diversity exists between religions and within religions. Many of the different claims seem contradictory. Some people think this means only one religion can be… Continue reading Can all the Different Religions be True?
Universes from Nothing?
Scientific euphemisms and equivocations The question of cosmic origins is a perennially popular question, but most theists think the answer has been known for thousands of years. God is the ultimate cause of the cosmos. While there’s room to disagree with that theistic conclusion, there are rational limits on the valid ways to reject it.… Continue reading Universes from Nothing?
Reflections on the Nature of Faith – Transcending the limits of the intellect.
Faith is sometimes described as belief without evidence. Non-believers promote this idea, but many believers also say this is the substance of faith. If we had evidence, why would we need faith? But this is a shallow understanding of faith. If that was the substance of faith, faith would be irrational. But the deeper understanding… Continue reading Reflections on the Nature of Faith – Transcending the limits of the intellect.
In Pursuit of the Good Life
The search for the foundation of ethics. Everyone wants to live a good life, but what does that mean? Generally we picture a life with enough money to make us independent, time to pursue activities we enjoy, and opportunity for sensual pleasures. But can you live a good life even if you don’t have the… Continue reading In Pursuit of the Good Life
The Fingerprints of God – A finely tuned universe
Modern physics has produced some amazing insights into the nature of the universe. One of the most astonishing is the discovery the fundamental forces of nature are balanced with a delicate precision. Upset this delicate balance and the universe could have collapsed in on itself before getting started. No atoms could form, which means no… Continue reading The Fingerprints of God – A finely tuned universe
The Presumption of Atheism on Trial
It’s become fashionable to say atheism has no burden of proof. It’s said atheism is the default assumption and the onus is on the theist to prove, not on the atheist to disprove. While this idea has the superficial gloss of rationality, under a critical cross-examination it falls apart. Rather than promoting rational methods, it… Continue reading The Presumption of Atheism on Trial
Prudence Louise 