What can I say, I still hold dear my desire to opine about all things controversial. Lucky for me, the religious, political, and social environment in which I find myself has never been juicier for thought fodder. That being said, I'm going to make an effort to begin anew here on Sifting … [Read more...]
Charlie Hebdo is a rape victim
January 9, 2015 by 7 Comments
By now everyone has heard of the Muslims who exacted revenge for what they considered blasphemy of their prophet on the satire paper Charlie Hebdo. Three masked men opened fire on and killed 12 people, only some of whom were "culpable" for the alleged crime. The social media response to this wasn't … [Read more...]
Free will, determinism, or something in between?
November 25, 2014 by 4 Comments
For the religious adherent, whether we are agents created by the Almighty to freely act according to our desires, or we are under His divine direction will depend on your theology. A case could be made either way I suppose. I think the Atheist has a more difficult time reconciling the … [Read more...]
There is no default position
October 27, 2014 by 204 Comments
In any serious discussion, everyone needs to participate. All people bring an opinion into every discussion and everyone needs to support it. Most people understand this, but sometimes someone comes to the table under the impression that their view is correct by default. Some people like their … [Read more...]
The Ontological Argument: The most underrated argument for the existence of God
October 1, 2014 by 69 Comments
The Ontological Argument for the existence of God is perhaps one of the least satisfying arguments. I also think it's one of the most underrated due to its complex and precise use of terms, but in my opinion, is one of the more philosophically powerful once it's properly understood. Because it is … [Read more...]
Pascal’s Wager and picking the correct God
September 25, 2014 by 9 Comments
Pascal’s Wager isn’t an argument for God’s existence, even though it’s often misunderstood to be one. It’s a cost benefit analysis between believing in or rejecting God. Skeptics, I believe, are far too dismissive because I don’t think its weight is realized. The wager holds no power for skeptics … [Read more...]
When can God take a life?
September 11, 2014 by 353 Comments
Skeptics and Atheists aside, most people can accept -- even if they don't like it -- that God takes life. When it comes to our loved ones, it doesn't matter how much time we had with them, we could have -- should have -- had more. But when it comes to life and death, some causes of death we seem … [Read more...]
Highly skewed NARAL poll still finds the vast majority of Americans believe abortion is immoral
August 20, 2014 by 122 Comments
A poll conducted for ultra-pro abortion group NARAL has found that more registered voters believe abortion is immoral and should be illegal than is morally acceptable. These results still obtained even after 68.7% of the sample group self-identified as pro-choice. I think this is indicative of a … [Read more...]
No true Scotsman: Sometimes they’re just not
August 11, 2014 by 321 Comments
This is really for one kind of reader: Atheists. Often a skeptic will cite some particular Christian, or group of Christians and hold them up as a representative sample of Christians and Christianity. There also exist sects of people who claim for themselves the label of "Christian" yet are … [Read more...]
God and little green men
July 31, 2014 by 29 Comments
Whenever it is thought that an Earth - like planet has been discovered, speculation of the presence of life there is also part of the discussion. With the thought of life on other planets comes the ramifications this might have on religion. My experience is that skeptics and Atheists are under the … [Read more...]
What exactly is religious fundamentalism
July 27, 2014 by 265 Comments
I hear the term "fundamentalist" tossed around as though it's some kind of pejorative. It's as if being a fundamentalist of whatever stripe is a bad thing. When I hear the term, I'm not automatically associating the label negatively. It seems to me that a fundamentalist, is someone who believes … [Read more...]
Liberal memes debunked: I have many leather-bound books
July 25, 2014 by 20 Comments
What makes this so face-palmingingly awesome is the recent compilation by Steve Williams writing for the Examiner who found that of the ten people with the highest recorded IQs, eight are theists and at least six profess Christianity. If that weren't enough, a Yale professor last year found that … [Read more...]
Blog update
June 13, 2014 by 5 Comments
Due to some issues in my personal life, I will not be writing regular posts. I will still interact in comments regularly though. If I have time or a thought I'll get something published, but no on a regular basis. If anyone is interested in helping out and writing for Sifting Reality, let me … [Read more...]
God and coincidence
June 11, 2014 by 21 Comments
Do you believe in fate? Coincidence? Full divine providence? Or maybe a combination? In religious circles a good many people believe God is controlling our lives, in that there are no coincidences. I'm not delving into whether God can do this, or has the right. Rather what is the case. For me, I … [Read more...]
Who was Jesus?
May 28, 2014 by 31 Comments
Taking into consideration how substantial Christianity's impact on the world has been, I think everyone needs to be able to answer this question. If Christianity is true, then answering this question accurately is even more consequential. Skeptics: do you at least concede that knowing exactly who … [Read more...]
ZQTX Q&A
May 27, 2014 by 13 Comments
A semi-regular commenter, ZQTX, wondered aloud what "the precise point where you accept and do not accept the science". I think it's a bit loaded, but asked in good faith nonetheless. He provided a sample list of questions which I'll answer here. It's not likely to interest many other readers, … [Read more...]
Are all religions pretty much the same?
May 22, 2014 by 12 Comments
Broadly speaking, skeptics rarely differentiate between the world's religions. When it comes to the real or perceived evils done in the name of religion, or by religious adherents they're one in the same. This is especially true when discussing Islamic terrorism or the Crusades and Inquisition. … [Read more...]
Is God all-loving? Is He all-forgiving?
May 21, 2014 by 128 Comments
Yesterday morning whilst enjoying my breakfast at my favorite restaurant, a friend of mine made a comment in response to something (I don't recall what) that God is all forgiving, all merciful, and all loving. I actually hear this a lot. It's usually offered as a rejoinder to my claims that some … [Read more...]
What do we deserve?
May 19, 2014 by 13 Comments
Even after having thought about this particular subject for some many years, I'm still not sure how to articulate it adequately. I'm sure you've said, or heard someone else say "I deserve..." or, "I really don't deserve...". These pleadings are usually offered within the context of something the … [Read more...]
You’re just not getting it!
May 15, 2014 by 16 Comments
Issues for which there are essentially two sides have people vociferously arguing for their position. Most often each side simply talks past one another. A while back I asked of those on the pro-life and pro-choice issue to vent on what it is the other side just doesn't get. Now I'm asking my theist … [Read more...]
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