Author Bruce Sheiman approaches the debate between theists and atheists about whether God exists from a unique point of view. He is a professed atheist who defends the right of religious people to have their faith. He touts the psychological and physical health benefit one may derive from placing hope and faith in their Creator. Sheiman coined a term to differentiate himself as an atheist (one who doesn’t believe in God personally) to Richard Dawkins and his fan club as antitheists, meaning people with a militant atheistic agenda. Antitheists not only reject God for themselves but actively campaign to eradicate faith in others. It’s very helpful to understand the difference. In a section of his book titled "Scientific Materialism and Relativism" Sheiman writes, In the traditional evolutionary view, there is no difference between humans and animals, since both are driven by the same survival and gene replication imperatives. On the plus side, this may lead many people to respect all living creatures. On the negative side and in the extreme, this can lead to species relativism: the idea that humans are not the pinnacles of creation; we are no different from other creatures. (p41) A little later Sheiman clarifies that point, adding, …[b]ut the second implication is very disturbing. If humans are animals and our lives are not divinely inspired, the edifice of Judeo-Christian morality about the sanctity of human life is discredited. God is dead and we should recognize ourselves as Darwinian primates who enjoy no special status compared to other animals. … [Read more...]
A blind rock maker?
In his 1802 book titled Natural Theology, or Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity Collected from the Appearance of Nature, Anglican Priest and philosopher William Paley made the classic teleological "argument from design" in his famous Watchmaker analogy, which says: In crossing a heath, suppose I pitched my foot against a stone, and asked how that stone came to be there; I might possibly answer that, for anything I knew to the contrary, it has lain there forever. Nor would it perhaps be very easy to show the absurdity of this answer. But suppose I have found a watch upon the ground, and it should be inquired how the watch happened to be in that place; I should hardly think of the answer, which I had before given, that for anything I knew, the watch might have always been there.... The watch must have had a maker: that there must have existed, at some time, and that some place or other, and artificer or artificers, who formed it for the purpose which we find it actually to answer; who comprehended its construction and designed its use.... Every indication of contrivance, every manifestation of design, which existed in the watch, exists in the works of nature; with the difference, on the side of nature, of being greater or more, and that in a degree which exceeds all computation. Granted, rebuttals have been attempted in response to Paley’s argument for Intelligent Design, but the question is: can these counterarguments actually challenge a modernized version of Paley's Watchmaker with any real success? It seems to me that all of these counterarguments … [Read more...]
What is a miracle?
In my previous article about the healing power of the mind, I confessed that I have been praying for my mother to be healed from an incurable disease that has dramatically affected her speech. In that article, I revealed that I had received a most unexpected (but welcome) email from spiritual healer Carol Everett, inspiring me to ask for her help. If you happened to read that article, you might be wondering how my mother is doing. Well, in my honest opinion, she's doing much better. In fact, I'd have to say that my mother's condition has improved significantly. However, if you asked me if my mother has been completely healed, I'd have to say no...at least, not yet. Helped, or improved, absolutely. But completely healed? No. Not yet. What does this mean? How should I interpret what I would describe as good, but not an instantaneous cure? Should I be discouraged? I don't think so. Was I asking too much of God, to heal an elderly woman? Absolutely not. The Creator of this universe from absolutely nothing, the Animator of lifeless matter into a living organism, can literally do anything He wants. This "naturally" includes healing the sick and even resurrecting the dead. However, the phrasing of that sentence was deliberate and crucial to get right...it's what God wants, not what I want, that matters. God is our Creator, not our personal valet. It would be arrogant and foolish to make demands of God. Admittedly, some atheists have created websites asking clever questions like "why won't God heal amputees?" to mock the idea that literally, there is nothing … [Read more...]
The healing power of the mind
In a world where people routinely profit from telling lies by deliberately spreading "fake news", how can we know what is true? Quid est veritas? Before Pilate was born and long after he died, people still ask that same question: what is truth? Perhaps the better question is this: what does it profit a man should he gain the whole world, but lose his own soul? What should a man receive in exchange for his soul? In the big scheme of things, from my perspective money is nothing but a colored piece of paper. Frankly, if I only cared about how much income I can earn as a writer, I'd have set up a Patreon account and solicit donations to support my work. Honestly, I wouldn't even consider writing an article like this if my only concern was making money, because this is the sort of article that could basically alienate my entire audience. While I don't wear my Christianity on my sleeve and I don't try to market myself as a Christian writer, I've also made it crystal clear that I am fairly convinced that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, and God raised him from the dead. The first section of my book Counterargument for God was mostly an argument advocating the idea of intelligent design over blind (and lucky) natural processes and effects, but the second section provided a rather rigorous defense of my Christian faith against the most common and popular criticisms. Of course, if you don't believe the soul exists, then it isn't worth anything to you. A few atheists have even tried to sell their souls on eBay, because they only place value on material wealth. What we choose to … [Read more...]
Carol Everett, psychic healer
[AUTHOR'S NOTE: Several years ago, while writing for the now defunct Examiner.com website as the Atlanta Creationism Examiner, I learned of credible (and incredible) claims about the healing power of the human mind that practically defy the human imagination, and wrote about the allegedly amazing accomplishments of psychic healers such as Geoff Boltwood and Henry Rucker. One of the psychic healers I wrote about was a woman named Carol Everett. In the spirit of full disclosure, before I re-publish my original article or write anything more, I need to share some information with readers: First, I have corresponded with Ms. Everett several times, but we have never met. I have not been offered any financial incentives to intentionally deceive anyone to her benefit. Second, what attracted me to this original story I wrote several years ago was the fact that a respected medical doctor had been willing to put his reputation on the line to scientifically test Carol's reported psychic healing ability. One of the most frequent criticisms my atheist friends offer in regard to my personal beliefs is the purported lack of scientific evidence. Third, and perhaps most important of all, is that the reader should be aware that I'm inclined to believe that Carol's reported abilities are legitimate. For the same reason I'm willing to risk scorn and ridicule for writing about what I honestly believe to be real based on what I've learned from interviews with the people involved. Neither the doctors, patients allegedly cured, nor I have motive to lie on Carol's behalf. I wouldn't … [Read more...]
