Rationality of Religious Belief

I've always have found it curious that there's a need to validate and justify religious belief. Some, like Augustine, claim religious belief to be innate. His 'God-shaped hole' analogy depicts a chasm with in each person that can only be filled by God. Writing at the turn of the last century, William James' The Varieties of Religious Experiences, again attempted to justify religious leanings. His efforts in describing the Russian Tolstoy's conversion, stands out as a validation of sorts towards religion. Recently, works by Yale's Nicholas Wolterstorff and Notre Dame's Alvin Plantinga have helped to reinforce the cognitive ascension of religious belief.

This week, Stanley Fish Op-Ed piece in the New York Times, attracted considerable attention. He details a philosophical shift of the German philosopher Jurger Habermas. While this may seem innocuous to most, Habermas throws an insider's attack against the postmodernism's belittling view of religion.

Read the article and add your thoughts.

Dead Sea Scrolls

Had a delightful visit to see the Dead Sea Scroll exhibit at the Milwaukee Public Museum. This was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon over 2010's Easter Break. Impressive displays and clear descriptions helped to make this an insightful visit. Curious as to how our 10 year old son would enjoy this exhibit, so kudos to Jacob for reading everything and for engaging the material. Have you seen this exhibit and what struck you about it?

The Resurrection

The Resurrection of Jesus, 2000 years ago, presents modernity with a massive challenge. If it is true, then Jesus must be true… if it is false, then Christianity as we know it is built on a lie. Author Lisa Miller’s new book, Heaven: Our Enduring Fascination with the Afterlife, which is excerpted in the latest Newsweek, provides the rationale for both rejecting and accepting the resurrection.

It is fashionable to construct religious observances along the lines of sociologically explained phenomenon. The argument states that the desire to believe in something greater is woven into our psyche, as a means of securing a social contract with the greater culture.

Crashing this generic social-religion is the resurrection, which truly stands the world on its ear, causing all to reevaluate not only their life, but all life as we know it.

Sonar

Sonar from Renaud Hallée on Vimeo.

Overheard: Starbucks thinks Truck Drivers are ugly.

On a recent Saturday morning, I found myself at a local Starbucks, when a beautiful woman walks in and orders a coffee… she mentions to the clerk behind the counter that she has a long day of driving her truck ahead of her. The clerk is somewhat astonished that she’s talking to a truck driver and exclaims, ‘You’re much to pretty to be a truck driver.’

The Collapse of Journalism

I admit, I don’t have cable. I’m not a Luddite, but just don’t need it. Once while traveling through BWI, I looked up to the ubiquitous television monitors, which were broadcasting a live press conference by the head of the World Health Organization. The amount of scrawl and moving images superimposed on the presser triggered in my head the thought ‘wow, this must be something very important.’ After watching it for a little while, I realized that I had been suckered…
The passing of Walter Cronkite on July 17th, 2009, brought about the predictable laments of modern day news organizations. Mark Bowden’s piece in the October 2009 Atlantic must be one of the finest explanations of the shift that is occurring within most American newsrooms. He uses the Sotomayer coverage as an example of the propagandizing of modern day news media. Read his full article HERE.

Haiti: Pat Robertson's Hell

Haiti suffered a devastating earthquake on Tuesday, January 12th, 2009. The global community responded with significant amounts of aid, resources, prayers and assistance. Predictably, within a day of this tragedy, religious conservative Pat Robertson, television host of The 700 Club, claimed that Haiti was ‘cursed, because it swore a pact with the devil.’
Tragic remarks to say the least… let me offer a few thoughts…

1. Consider the source. Robertson blamed 9/11 on ‘Democrats, Feminists, and the ACLU.’ The Indonesian Tsunami was ‘God’s punishment.’ Hurricane Katrina the result of a city that had ‘turned its back on God.’
2. The Bible does speak of judgment, but judgment that is directed toward the individual that rejects God, rather then a political entity.
3. Robertson’s comments increase the calamity for regardless of the source of tragedy, Christians are called to care, love and to provide compassion.

It is difficult to be charitable and model Christian love to someone who is so brashly nothing more then an opportunist garbed in religious clothing.

Human nature constantly draws us backwards, searching for an answer to the great ‘why’ questions in life… Jesus constantly pulls us forward, reminding us that each positive event, each devastating tragedy can be redeemed if it draws us closer to Him.

Update: best response so far: author Don Miller... Read it here