A Bible for A Thoughtfull Skeptic, the Natural History of Intelligence
A Bible for A Thoughtfull Skeptic, the Natural History of Intelligence

Author: Thom Pain, Jr.

Publisher: Thom Pain Jr.

Published: 2005-02

Total Pages: 344

ISBN-13: 1413478859

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This book makes the case for realistic faith in the power of intelligence as opposed to blind faith in the pronouncements of those who claim infallibility or divine guidance. The author, Thom Pain, identifies the discoveries of systems and information theory early in the twentieth century as the key to a naturalistic explanation of purposeful life and intelligence and to the last stage in the emancipation of science from theology. He begins his story with the discoveries that revealed the memory mechanism as a built-in "tropisms for truth" that gave even primitive creatures a logical tool for improving their decisions and solving their problems. It is a story that reveals a surprisingly early version of intelligence and an amazing versatility in the types and range of intelligence. When one species developed symbolic languages, it becomes the story of the cultural developments of the human species. As civilization evolved, Thom identifies the rulers and the ruling classes as both the leaders and the obstacles to intellectual progress. In their new role, the rulers either claimed to be gods or the representative of the gods and often led the exploitation that had become the privilege of conquers and of the ruling classes. Indoctrinated faith and loyalty became authoritarian tools of aggression and oppression. In this cruel environment, religion also became a source of moral strength and initiative for the oppressed and religious rebels were often the leaders in the struggles for political and intellectual freedom. These struggles were not about the belief in God but about the abuses of authority by those who claimed to be the representatives of God. Thom follows this story as it sharpened the distinction between reason and theology and led to the modern concepts of democracy and personal and religious freedom.

Intelligent Design
Intelligent Design

Author: William A. Dembski

Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Published: 2002-07-12

Total Pages: 316

ISBN-13: 9780830823147

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In this book William A. Dembski brilliantly argues that intelligent design provides a crucial link between science and theology. This is a pivotal work from a thinker whom Phillip Johnson calls "one of the most important of the `design' theorists."

Skeptic
Skeptic

Author: Michael Shermer

Publisher: Macmillan + ORM

Published: 2016-01-12

Total Pages: 300

ISBN-13: 1627791396

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Collected essays from bestselling author Michael Shermer's celebrated columns in Scientific American For fifteen years, bestselling author Michael Shermer has written a column in Scientific American magazine that synthesizes scientific concepts and theory for a general audience. His trademark combination of deep scientific understanding and entertaining writing style has thrilled his huge and devoted audience for years. Now, in Skeptic, seventy-five of these columns are available together for the first time; a welcome addition for his fans and a stimulating introduction for new readers.

Scripture, Skepticism, and the Character of God
Scripture, Skepticism, and the Character of God

Author: Dane Neufeld

Publisher: McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP

Published: 2019-07-11

Total Pages: 284

ISBN-13: 0773558268

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During a period of great religious upheaval, Anglican philosopher and ecclesiastic Henry Longueville Mansel (1820–1871) became famous for his 1858 Bampton Lectures, which sought to defend traditional faith by employing a skeptical philosophy. Understanding Mansel and the passionate debate that surrounded his career provides insight into the current struggle for ancient religions to articulate their traditions in a modern world. In Scripture, Skepticism, and the Character of God Dane Neufeld explores the life and thought of the now forgotten nineteenth-century theologian. Examining the ideological differences between this philosopher and his contemporaries, Neufeld makes a case for the coherence of Mansel's position and traces the vestiges of his thought through the generations that followed him. Mansel found himself at the centre of an explosive debate concerning the Christian scriptures and the moral character of the God they described. Though the rise of science is often credited with provoking a crisis of doubt, shifting ideas about humanity and God were just as central to the spiritual unrest of the nineteenth century. Mansel's central argument, that the entire Bible must be read as a unified witness to the reality of God, provoked disagreement among theologians, churchmen, and free thinkers alike who were uncomfortable with certain aspects of the scriptural portrayal of God's activity and character. Mansel's attempt to reconcile theological skepticism with scripturalism was misunderstood. He was branded a hopeless fideist by the free thinkers and a dangerous skeptic by high, broad, and evangelical churchmen alike. Many of the controversies in contemporary Christianity concern the collision between modern morality and biblical renderings of God. Neufeld argues that Henry Mansel, while a deeply polarizing figure, brought clarity and precision to this debate by exposing what was at stake for Christian belief and biblical interpretation in the Victorian period.

The Bible Of Bibles Or, Twenty-Seven "Divine" Revelations
The Bible Of Bibles Or, Twenty-Seven

Author: Kersey Graves

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2024-01-02

Total Pages: 396

ISBN-13: 9361158562

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"The Bible of Bibles" by means of Kersey Graves is a contentious painting that questions traditional spiritual ideas. Graves' book provides a critical have a look at of twenty-seven spiritual books that declare to be divine revelations. Graves' exam calls into doubt the legitimacy and reliability of those non secular scriptures, examining each their similarities and variances. The author investigates the ancient historical past of those works, seeking out cultural and societal forces that can have impacted their evolution. Graves encourages readers to assume severely approximately spiritual concepts, thinking the essence of god and the legitimacy of various religious claims. "The Bible of Bibles" is referred to for its skeptical stance and is seemed as a work that challenges traditional spiritual beliefs. Its aim is to urge readers to impeach and investigate the roots in their faith, fostering a severe and open-minded assessment of non-secular beliefs. While the book can be contentious and spark controversy, it remains a critical contribution to the problem of spiritual variety and the interpretation of divine revelation.

Believing Is Seeing
Believing Is Seeing

Author: Michael Guillen, PhD

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Published: 2021-09-07

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 1496455606

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Is your worldview enlightened enough to accommodate both science and God at the same time? Dr. Michael Guillen, a best-selling author, Emmy award–winning journalist and former physics instructor at Harvard, used to be an Atheist—until science changed his mind. Once of the opinion that people of faith are weak, small-minded folks who just don’t understand science, Dr. Guillen ultimately concluded that not only does science itself depend on faith, but faith is actually the mightiest power in the universe. In Believing Is Seeing, Dr. Guillen recounts the fascinating story of his journey from Atheism to Christianity, citing the latest discoveries in neuroscience, physics, astronomy, and mathematics to pull back the curtain on the mystery of faith as no one ever has. Is it true that “seeing is believing?” Or is it possible that reality can be perceived most clearly with the eyes of faith—and that truth is bigger than proof? Let Dr. Guillen be your guide as he brilliantly argues for a large and enlightened worldview consistent with both God and modern science.