More Sophisticated Theology: a religious scholar ponders whether Neanderthals had immortal souls

Lest you think that Sophisticated Theology™ has fallen on hard times, here we have an article pondering at great and tedious length the immensely important question, “Did Christ die for Neanderthals?” That can be rephrased, according to author Simon Francis Gaine, as “Did the Neanderthals have immortal souls?” (The “OP” after his name stands for … Continue reading More Sophisticated Theology: a religious scholar ponders whether Neanderthals had immortal souls

Weekend reading: three easy pieces

I commend three items to your attention for weekend reading, assuming that you’re not gallivanting about this Labor Day weekend, mingling with crowds and spreading viruses. You can access each article by clicking on the screenshot of its title. First up we have an attack on science, seen as “scientism”, from Catholic philosopher Edward Feser, … Continue reading Weekend reading: three easy pieces

Two bits of Irish woo

There’s a time when “blarney” becomes crazy and harmful, and we have two cases that appeared at the same time.  The first represents the New York Times‘s recent presentation of woo in extenso, with almost no critical remarks. The editors are soft on astrology, they’re soft on dowsing, they’re soft on religion, and now they’re … Continue reading Two bits of Irish woo

Neologism wanted

I’m looking for readers to help invent a new word, since the concept I want to encapsulate isn’t represented by any words or phrases I know. And here’s the concept. You’re all familiar with the ploy that theologians use when you criticize their ideas. Many of them—most notably Edward Feser, but also Alvin Plantinga and … Continue reading Neologism wanted

A mundane Sunday sermon on the nonexistence of the afterlife

While driving back from the grocery store (I shop early), I was forced to listen to Krista Tippett’s “On Being” show on NPR. It’s the show I love to hate, and because my radio dial is set on the local public radio station, I have to hear her on Sunday morning drives.  What I love … Continue reading A mundane Sunday sermon on the nonexistence of the afterlife

Edward Feser godsplains why atheists don’t understand religion, and why there is absolutely, positively a God (the Catholic one)

Edward “Dogs Don’t Go to Heaven” Feser is able to discern the most extraordinary conclusions about reality from simply plumbing his brain and channeling revelations, being sure to weed the true revelations from God’s Fake News (see the first link). In other words, he’s a theologian: a Catholic who’s an associate professor of philosophy at … Continue reading Edward Feser godsplains why atheists don’t understand religion, and why there is absolutely, positively a God (the Catholic one)