Ozy and I discuss whether atheists have faith, and whether it’s naive for atheists to hold a reflexively anti-faith position. We also discuss Hume’s problem of induction, external world skepticism, solipsism, properly basic beliefs, certainty, Alvin Plantinga’s Reformed foundationalism, reliabilism and our belief-forming mechanisms, presuppositionalism, movement atheism, and other various issues in epistemology. You can subscribe to Ozy’s channel here [YouTube] Ozy, Alex Malpass, and Matt Dillahunty [YouTube] Ozy and Matt Dillahunty [YouTube] Ozy on Real Atheology [YouTube] . . .  Subscribe to CA and Walden Pod on YouTube here Listen to our sister show, Walden Pod here Rate the show on iTunes here Support on Patreon here or if you prefer to give a one-time donation, you can do so with Venmo (@emersongreenpodcast) Contact me at emersongreen@protonmail.com or on Facebook

We discuss the A and B theories of time and how they relate to the kalam cosmological argument. Listen to our sister show, Walden Pod here Rate the show on iTunes here Support on Patreon here or give a one-time donation through Venmo (@emersongreenpodcast) Subscribe to CA and Walden Pod on YouTube here Contact me at emersongreen@protonmail.com or on Facebook Transcripts available at emersongreenblog.wordpress.com . . . . .  A and B Theory of Time and the Kalam Argument – William Lane Craig [YouTube] Why William Lane Craig Thinks Einstein Was Wrong – TMM [YouTube] Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology (pgs. 183-184) [PDF] Brian Greene on the B-Theory of Time [YouTube] Sean Carroll on Eternalism vs. Presentism [YouTube] Sean Carroll on the KCA [YouTube] NOVA – How an eclipse proved Einstein right [YouTube] Complete solution to the Twins Paradox – minutephysics [YouTube]

We discuss the relationship between atheism, consciousness, and materialism after debunking arguments from consciousness formulated by Peter Kreeft and William Lane Craig. We also discuss why it’s important for naturalists to think carefully about these issues. I suspect that seemingly unrelated problems arise from our lack of a convincing story about consciousness. Consciousness and related phenomena, like morality and meaning, seem to be a major source of resistance to physicalism, naturalism, and atheism. [Edit] Based on some of the feedback I’ve received, I feel the need to reiterate a major thesis of this episode: there is no incompatibility between atheism and any explanation of consciousness on offer. Atheism is not mutually exclusive to materialism, idealism, dualism, panpsychism, or any other solution to the mind-body problem. There is nothing one could say about the mind-body problem or the hard problem of consciousness that would count as a strike against atheism. Listen to our sister show, Walden Pod for much more on philosophy of mind here Rate the show on iTunes here Support on Patreon here  or if you prefer to give a one-time donation, you can do so through Venmo (@emersongreenpodcast) Transcripts available at emersongreenblog.wordpress.com Subscribe to CA and Walden Pod on YouTube here Contact me at emersongreen@protonmail.com or on Facebook . . . . .  Alvin Plantinga – Against Materialism [PDF] William Lane Craig – Argument from Intentionality [Reasonable Faith]5 Does consciousness point to God? – Unbelievable [YouTube] Neil deGrasse Tyson and Ben Shapiro [YouTube] Thomas Nagel – Mind and Cosmos [Amazon] Arguments from Consciousness [wiki]   Here are modern atheist philosophers who hold very different views on consciousness: Martine Nida-Rümelin, Atheist and Substance Dualist Galen Strawson, Atheist and Panpsychist Dan Dennett, Atheist and Materialist Thomas Nagel, Atheist and Neutral Monist (Young) Bertrand Russell, Atheist and Idealist … Keith Ward, Christian Idealist Sharon Dirckx, Christian Substance Dualist Peter van Inwagen, Christian Materialist

Ben Watkins joins me to discuss the moral argument for god’s existence, objective moral truth, the is/ought gap, meta-ethics, and other related topics. You can listen to Ben’s podcast, Real Atheology, here Moral Non-Naturalism [Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy] Listen to The Bible Says What!? here Listen to our sister show, Walden Pod here Rate the show on iTunes here Support on Patreon here or give a one-time donation through Venmo (@emersongreenpodcast) Subscribe to CA and Walden Pod on YouTube here Transcripts available at emersongreenblog.wordpress.com Contact me at emersongreen@protonmail.com or on Facebook

This Halloween, we’ll be discussing the life and work of the great horror author, H.P. Lovecraft.  Lovecraft’s atheism 00:00 – 07:38 Biography 07:39 – 12:50 Lovecraft’s reanimation and influence on culture 12:51 – 18:02 Lovecraft and the unknown 18:03 – 20:22 Forbidden knowledge and a New Dark Age 20:23 – 26:14 Fast zombies 26:15 – 27:27 More on the Lovecraftian mythos 27:28 – 29:13 Lovecraft’s writing style 29:14 – 38:54 Lovecraft’s racism 38:55 – 43:19 Art and the Old Church Lady 43:20 – 45:46 Horror and its critics 45:47 – 48:20 . . . . . Dagon – HP Lovecraft [YouTube]  The Call of Cthulhu – HP Lovecraft [YouTube] The Shadow Out Of Time – HP Lovecraft [YouTube] The Rats in the Walls [YouTube] Lovecraft Literary Podcast [HP Podcraft] Against Religion – HP Lovecraft [Amazon] The Portable Atheist – Christopher Hitchens [Amazon] Emma Stefansky – Primer on the works of HP Lovecraft [Polygon] HP Lovecraft’s 125th Birthday [The Atlantic] Nnedi Okorafor – Lovecraft Award [blogspot] Criticism of Lovecraft’s Writing Style [The Guardian]   Criticism/Praise for Lovecraft [The Guardian] The Philosophy of Horror – Noel Carroll [PhilPapers] Dark Lofi (outro song) [YouTube]  Patton Oswalt [HP Podcraft] Patton Oswalt with Chapo Trap House [Patreon] Chapo Trap House – H.P. Lovecraft [YouTube] . . . . .  Contact me at emersongreen@protonmail.com or on Facebook  Rate the show on iTunes Listen to our sister show, Walden Pod Support on Patreon  or give a one-time donation through Venmo (@emersongreenpodcast)  emersongreenblog.wordpress.com Subscribe on YouTube

Why is the demand for exorcism on the rise? We discuss the belief in demonic possession, the concurrent rise of anti-science attitudes, the cultural role of religious psychology, and the evolutionary origins of demons.  Tracie Harris of The Atheist Experience – Exorcisms and Anthropology [YouTube] Vatican to hold exorcist training course after ‘rise in possessions’ [The Guardian]  Exorcisms are on the rise [Atlantic]  A man drowned his 6-year-old son while trying to cast out a demon, police say [Washington Post] ‘Like being raped’: three claims of coerced exorcism in the UK [The Guardian]  Demonic Possessions – Here and How Podcast [Stitchr]  . . . . .  Contact me at emersongreen@protonmail.com or on Facebook  Rate the show on iTunes Listen to our sister show, Walden Pod Support on Patreon  or give a one-time donation through Venmo (@emersongreenpodcast)  emersongreenblog.wordpress.com Subscribe on YouTube  Listen to Magic Tricks by Whalers

Slavery, the practice of owning people as property, is never condemned in the Holy Bible. In fact, it’s endorsed by God personally in Leviticus 25. We discuss the character of Biblical slavery, and respond to seven common apologetics in defense of the slavery in the Bible.  Nonstampcollector – Context [YouTube] Matt Dillahunty – Biblical Slavery [YouTube] Sam Harris and Ben Shapiro [YouTube]  Christopher Hitchens and Alister McGrath [YouTube] Rationality Rules – Biblical Slavery [YouTube] Contact me at emersongreen@protonmail.com or on Facebook  Rate the show on iTunes   Listen to our sister show, Walden Pod Support on Patreon  or give a one-time donation through Venmo (@emersongreenpodcast)  emersongreenblog.wordpress.com Subscribe on YouTube  Listen to Magic Tricks by Whalers

We discuss relativism, Kierkegaard’s “leap of faith,” the argument from personal experience, certainty, and how it all relates to Plantinga’s Reformed epistemology.  To those of you who may be wondering why we’re covering Reformed epistemology: Alvin Plantinga is one of the most respected Christian philosophers alive. He once served as the president of the American Philosophical Association, and he’s been awarded the Templeton Prize. Notre Dame’s Center for Philosophy of Religion renamed its Distinguished Scholar Fellowship the Alvin Plantinga Fellowship. And in 2012, the University of Pittsburgh’s Philosophy Department, History and Philosophy of Science Department, and the Center for the History and Philosophy of Science co-awarded Plantinga the Nicholas Rescher Prize for Systematic Philosophy. William Lane Craig has described Reformed epistemology as “one of the most significant developments in contemporary religious epistemology.”  What I’m trying to convey is that Plantinga is a Sophisticated Apologist and is taken very seriously by the religious and non-religious alike. According to many apologists and theologians, he’s the best they have. We should take the time to attempt to debunk their best offerings. Even though these two episodes have been comparatively dense to the usual CA episode, I think they were undoubtedly worth it. If for no other reason than to see how underwhelming the best they have turns out to be. As Jerry Coyne put it, “I’m starting to realize that there is no sophisticated theology; there are merely evasions and fancy language to get around the problematic lack of evidence for God and the palpably immoral statements in scripture.” . . . . .  Atheism: A Philosophical Justification – Michael Martin (pgs. 266-278) [Amazon] Tyler McNabb vs. Stephen Law on Reformed Epistemology [Unbelievable?]  William “In my heart” Craig [YouTube]  Daniel Hill on Reformed Epistemology [Panpsycast] Alvin Plantinga – Is Belief in God Properly Basic? [PDF]  Contact me at emersongreen@protonmail.com or on Facebook  Rate the show on iTunes   Listen to our sister show, Walden Pod Support on Patreon  or give a one-time donation through Venmo (@emersongreenpodcast)  Emerson’s Blog Subscribe on YouTube  Listen to Magic Tricks by Whalers

We discuss Alvin Plantinga’s reformed epistemology, and ask whether belief in god is “properly basic.” We also discuss Cartesian skepticism, the notion of a divine sense or “sensus divinitatis,” and which beliefs should be considered properly basic. We also spend some time on the age-old question of “What is the difference between god and trees?” We discuss various types of trees, and which trees are the most reasonable to believe in, and why I don’t appear to have a sensus ghostatis.  Contact me at emersongreen@protonmail.com or on Facebook  Rate the show on iTunes   Listen to our sister show, Walden Pod Support on Patreon or give a one-time donation through Venmo (@emersongreenpodcast)  Emerson’s Blog Subscribe on YouTube  Listen to Magic Tricks by Whalers CA42 The Argument From Personal Experience could be a supplement to this episode. . . . . .  Alvin Plantinga – Is Belief in God Properly Basic? [PDF]  Daniel Hill on Reformed Epistemology [Panpsycast] Cartesian Skepticism — Crash Course Philosophy [YouTube]  Properly Basic Beliefs — Ozymandias Ramses II [YouTube]  Atheism: A Philosophical Justification – Michael Martin (pgs. 266-278) [Amazon] To those of you who may be wondering why we’re covering Reformed epistemology: Alvin Plantinga is one of the most respected Christian philosophers alive. William Lane Craig described Reformed epistemology as “one of the most significant developments in contemporary religious epistemology.” Plantinga once served as the president of the American Philosophical Association. In 2017, he was awarded the Templeton Prize. The University of Notre Dame’s Center for Philosophy of Religion renamed its Distinguished Scholar Fellowship as the Alvin Plantinga Fellowship. In 2012, the University of Pittsburgh’s Philosophy Department, History and Philosophy of Science Department, and the Center for the History and Philosophy of Science co-awarded Plantinga the Nicholas Rescher Prize for Systematic Philosophy.  I’m trying to convey that Plantinga is a Sophisticated Apologist and is taken very seriously by the religious and non-religious alike. According to many apologists and theologians, he’s the best they have. We should take the time to attempt to debunk their best offerings. Even though these two episodes have been comparatively dense to the usual CA episode, I think it was worthwhile for many reasons. To quote Jerry Coyne, “I’m starting to realize that there is no sophisticated theology; there are merely evasions and fancy language to get around the problematic lack of evidence for God and the palpably immoral statements in scripture.”

Does Christianity, and religion generally, naturally lead to skepticism and apathy towards climate change? We discuss the apocalypticism, otherworldliness, and the just-world belief of Christianity, and their effects on our priorities and beliefs.  Blinded by Eschatological Light – William Bradford Nichols [Humanist] Climate Change and Religion (Special Issue) – Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture [PDF] Climate Change Skepticism and Denial – Riley Dunlap [PDF] ​​The Politics of Climate Change in the U.S. [Pew Research]  GOP rep: If climate change is real, God will ‘take care of it’ [TheHill] Jesus Christ’s Return to Earth [Pew Research] Predictions and claims for the Second Coming of Christ [wiki] Trump will start the end of the world, claim Evangelicals who support him [Newsweek]  Charles MacKay – Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds [PDF] Nietzsche and the Other World [YouTube]  Philosophize This – Nietzsche and Otherworldliness [YouTube] Potholer54 – Climate Change Playlist [YouTube] . . . . .  Contact me at emersongreen@protonmail.com or on Facebook Help out by rating the show on iTunes here You can support the show on Patreon here or give a one-time donation through Venmo (@emersongreenpodcast)  Subscribe on YouTube  Subscribe to Walden Pod, our sister podcast Listen to Magic Tricks by Whalers Check out the movie First Reformed . . . . .  Though this episode focuses on the religious contribution to climate denial, that focus shouldn’t obscure the political and economic causes. My position is that Christianity, by its very nature, is fertile soil for climate denial, and that it makes the potential destruction of human life on earth seem like no big deal. The religion, by its various doctrines and dogmas, naturally leads to apathy, and to disbelief towards anything like climate change. However, I think climate change and our insane reaction to it so far is first and foremost a result of our political and economic system. You can’t disentangle religion from our political and economic system, and it deserves to be singled out because it does play a consequential role in the story that’s too often overlooked. If we weren’t so religious, I think we would be in significantly better shape regarding climate change.  “Dark Money” Funds Climate Change Denial Effort [ScientificAmerican] Following the Money that Undermines Climate Science [NYT]