Sunday, December 20, 2009
Angels are not just for Christmas
As the author of The Case for Angels (Paternoster, 2002) I've made angelology one of my sub-specialisms, and I was recently interviewed on the subject at Gimlekollen School of Journalism & Communication in Norway for a staff advent event:
Angels at Advent - Peter S. Williams is interviewed by Dr Lars Dahle, Principal of Gimlekollen School of Journalism & Communication in Norway. 11th Dec 09 (21:06)
In 2008 I participated in a UCB radio show on the topic of angels: Angels - all about them! - 15th Jul 08 (45:09)
More Audio on Angels
Another interesting radio discussion about angels is this episode of Unbelievable from June 7th 2008 with Lorna Byrne, Faith Forster and John Woolmer.
On-Line Writings re Angels (and Demons) by Peter S. Williams
Besides my own, there are few books of a philosophically serious nature written on angels, but I would recommend the following:
Mortimer J. Adler, Angels and Us (Simon & Schuster, 1993) - written by a then-agnostic philosopher
Kenneth D. Boa & Robert M. Bowman, Sense and Nonsense about Angels and Demons (Zondervan, 2007) - good introductory book from apologists Boa & Bowman
Emma Heathcote-Jones, Seeing Angels (Blake, 2002) - PhD study by an agnostic
Peter Kreeft, Angels and Demons (Ignatius, 1995) - Catholic Philosopher answers student's questions
Phillip H. Wiebe, God and Other Spirits: Intimations of Transcendence In Christian Experience, (Oxford University Press, 2004) - phenomenological case for angels
John Woolmer, Angels of Glory and Darkness (Monarch, 2006) - by mathematician turned vicar and exorcist John Woolmer
A Very Happy Christmas to all readers of the ID.Plus Blog!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Meta-Apologetics
Of late I've been putting a lot of my research efforts into meta-apologetics, that is, to thinking about the nature of apologetics, and I've been doing this in the context of on-going research into the nature of Christian Spirituality, Classical Rhetoric, and the Transcendental values of Truth, Goodness and Beauty; all of which has, I think, proven quite fruitful. I've given three talks on different aspects of this research which I'd like to highlight by presenting them here:
‘The Damaris Approach - How Paul in Athens Provides a Biblical Basis for Engaging with Popular Culture through Classical Rhetoric’ (43:00) 1st Sept 09
'Apologetics in 3D' (55:00) 24th Sep 09
'1 Peter 3:15 - Apologetics: What, Where, When, Who, How & Why?' (31:00) 23rd Nov 09
Recommended Resources on Apologetics
(Video) Frank Turek, ‘Do we need proof, or is faith enough?’
(Video) Gregory Koukl, ‘Apologetic Tactics’ Pt 1, Pt 2, Pt 3
(Video) John Lennox, ‘What is Apologetics?’
(Video) John Lennox, ‘Apologetics: An Intellectual Game?’
(Video) John Lennox, ‘Prepare to Defend Christianity’
(Video) John Lennox, ‘The Christian Use of the Mind’
(Video) Lee Strobel, ‘The Adventure of Apologetics’ Part One & Part Two
(Audio) William Lane Craig, ‘Advice to Christian Apologists’
(Audio) Lars Dahle, ‘Biblical Foundations and Models for Contemporary Apologetics’
(Audio) Peter May, ‘The Centrality of Persuasion in Authentic Evangelism’
(Audio) J.P. Moreland, Apologetics Seminar (into by Ronald Larson)
(Audio) Tom Price, ‘Persuasive Evangelism - Apologetics’
(Audio) Francis A. Schaeffer, ‘Apologetics’
(Paper) J. Daryl Charles, ‘Engaging the (Neo)Pagan Mind: Paul’s Encounter with Athenian Culture as a Model for Cultural Apologetics (Acts 17:16–34)’
(Paper) Norman L. Geisler, ‘The Need for Apologetics’
(Paper) Gregory Koukl, ‘Regarding Apologetics, An Apology’
(Paper) Peter May, ‘What is Apologetics?’
(Paper) J.P. Moreland, ‘Philosophical Apologetics, the Church, and Contemporary Culture’
(Papers) Thinking Matter’s Journal, Issue 1, January 2009 – Introducing Apologetics
(Book) Steven B. Cowan (ed.), Five Views on Apologetics (Zondervan, 2000)
(Book) Peter Kreeft & Ronald Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics (IVP, 1994), Chapter 1.
(Book) Alister McGrath, Bridge-Building: Communicating Christianity Effectively (IVP, 1992), Introduction.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
William Lane Craig defends the viability of Intelligent Design Theory in Biology
Christian philosopher, theologian and apologist William Lane Craig has participated in his first ever public debate on the topic of Intelligent Design Theory (cf. the official debate website here). Craig's noted debating partner was theistic evolutionist Francisco J. Ayala. The topic of debate was: Is Intelligent Design Viable?
You can watch Craig's opening speech on video @ http://winteryknight.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/video-of-william-lane-craigs-opening-speech-from-his-debate-on-id-with-ayala/
Listen to the full Ayala/Craig debate and Q&A time on MP3 Audio here
Craig (who endorses big bang cosmology and who says he is genuinely open to evidence for macro-evolution) stated that he is agnostic about the truth of a design inference from biology, but that he thinks such an inference is at least a viable hypothesis that should be given a place at the table, and that the attacks being made on the theory aren't sound.
Craig offers his view of how the debate went here
Interestingly, the debate and Q&A time was moderated by Bradley Monton, an atheist philosopher of science and the author of Seeking God in Science: An Atheist Defends Intelligent Design. In essence, Craig was arguing the same general thesis as Monton (although he is more positive than Monton about biology-based ID arguments), whilst being a theist rather than an atheist.
Monton has blogged on the debate here.
It's well worth reading Monton's book, and listening to his lecture defending ID:
Bradley Monton, 'An Atheist Philosopher Defends Intelligent Design - Lecture'
You can watch Craig's opening speech on video @ http://winteryknight.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/video-of-william-lane-craigs-opening-speech-from-his-debate-on-id-with-ayala/
Listen to the full Ayala/Craig debate and Q&A time on MP3 Audio here
Craig (who endorses big bang cosmology and who says he is genuinely open to evidence for macro-evolution) stated that he is agnostic about the truth of a design inference from biology, but that he thinks such an inference is at least a viable hypothesis that should be given a place at the table, and that the attacks being made on the theory aren't sound.
Craig offers his view of how the debate went here
Interestingly, the debate and Q&A time was moderated by Bradley Monton, an atheist philosopher of science and the author of Seeking God in Science: An Atheist Defends Intelligent Design. In essence, Craig was arguing the same general thesis as Monton (although he is more positive than Monton about biology-based ID arguments), whilst being a theist rather than an atheist.
Monton has blogged on the debate here.
It's well worth reading Monton's book, and listening to his lecture defending ID:
Bradley Monton, 'An Atheist Philosopher Defends Intelligent Design - Lecture'
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
What does discovery of planet with a 'remarkable resemblance to Earth' mean for Rare Earth hypothesis?
As reported by the Metro paper (Sept 17, 2009):
'A newly discovered planet that is the smallest yet found outside our solar system bears a remarkable resemblance to Earth...'
How 'remarkable' is this 'resemblance to Earth'? Does this discovery threaten to overturn the Rare Earth hypothesis?
'"Corot-7B is a rocky "super-Earth" with a solid surface and similar density to our terrestrial home.'
So, pretty Earth-like then?
Not a bit of it.
Corot-7B is '80 percent larger and five times heavier' than Earth.
Moreover, the Metro adds: 'don't pack your bags just yet - its much closer to its star than we are to the Sun, meaning the temperature on the surface is up to 1,500 [degrees Celsius] and no known life could survive there.'
And, remember, that's a planet that 'bears a remarkable resemblance to Earth'!
'A newly discovered planet that is the smallest yet found outside our solar system bears a remarkable resemblance to Earth...'
How 'remarkable' is this 'resemblance to Earth'? Does this discovery threaten to overturn the Rare Earth hypothesis?
'"Corot-7B is a rocky "super-Earth" with a solid surface and similar density to our terrestrial home.'
So, pretty Earth-like then?
Not a bit of it.
Corot-7B is '80 percent larger and five times heavier' than Earth.
Moreover, the Metro adds: 'don't pack your bags just yet - its much closer to its star than we are to the Sun, meaning the temperature on the surface is up to 1,500 [degrees Celsius] and no known life could survive there.'
And, remember, that's a planet that 'bears a remarkable resemblance to Earth'!
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Evangelical Alliance Slipstream Podcast on 'A Sceptic's Guide to Atheism'
The latest episode of the EA (Evangelical Alliance) Slipstream podcast (aimed at church leaders) features an interview with me about A Sceptic's Guide to Atheism (Paternoster 2009) and the 'new atheism', as well as a glowing review of the book by EA's 'Public Theology Researcher' Susannah Clark (cf. her written review).
Here's a link to the specific podcast page (episode 17), which also includes a link to an excerpt from A Sceptic's Guide to Atheism as well as some other relevant resources.
Thanks to one and all at Slipstream - I suspect I have you to thank for A Sceptic's Guide to Atheism bouncing up the following www.amazon.co.uk best-selling-in-category lists:
| Books > Mind, Body & Spirit > Other Religious & Spiritual Practices > Agnosticism & Atheism | |
| Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Philosophy > Topics > Religion | |
| Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Theology > Philosophy |
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Podcasts from Norway Trip Aug 09
Podcasts from my recent trip to Gimlekollen in Norway -
You can subscribe to this podcast from iTunes by adding the following URL (Under Advanced Menu): http://www.damaris.org/cm/rss/podcasts/peterswilliams.xml
'Margunn Dahle introduces Peter S. Williams' (08:14) Download
Short Interview.
'The Damaris Approach - How Paul in Athens Provides a Biblical Basis for Engaging with Popular Culture through Classical Rhetoric’ – Lecture given to BA students at Gimlekollen School of Journalism and Communication in Norway (43:30) Download
'The Doctor and The Christ' (82:42) Download
This material was delivered to BA students at Gimlekollen School of Journalism and Communication in Norway on a Christian analysis of Doctor Who, covering both the role of Monsters in Doctor Who and the character of the Doctor.
'Introduction to Arguments for the Christian God' (66:48) Download
Church youth talk on reasons to believe in the Christian God, with Q&A - Norwegian translation by Bjørn Hinderaker.
You can subscribe to this podcast from iTunes by adding the following URL (Under Advanced Menu): http://www.damaris.org/cm/rss/podcasts/peterswilliams.xml
'Margunn Dahle introduces Peter S. Williams' (08:14) Download
Short Interview.
'The Damaris Approach - How Paul in Athens Provides a Biblical Basis for Engaging with Popular Culture through Classical Rhetoric’ – Lecture given to BA students at Gimlekollen School of Journalism and Communication in Norway (43:30) Download
'The Doctor and The Christ' (82:42) Download
This material was delivered to BA students at Gimlekollen School of Journalism and Communication in Norway on a Christian analysis of Doctor Who, covering both the role of Monsters in Doctor Who and the character of the Doctor.
'Introduction to Arguments for the Christian God' (66:48) Download
Church youth talk on reasons to believe in the Christian God, with Q&A - Norwegian translation by Bjørn Hinderaker.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
EA Review of 'A Sceptic's Guide to Atheism'
Evangelical Alliance 'Public Theology Researcher' Susannah Clark has written a review of A Sceptic's Guide to Atheism (Paternoster, 2009). Some edited highlights:
'If you ever feel unsure of how to answer questions sceptics may have, want to educate yourself or your congregation to be informed about the sorts of debates concerning God prominent in the public square, or find yourself confused by conflicting viewpoints in books and the media, then this book is for you. It is not a particularly light read, covering many different arguments and viewpoints in a short space of time, but it is a very helpful overview and introduction to the themes and ideas each chapter presents...
Williams is impressive in the level of depth and sophistication his arguments go into and the breadth of understanding he demonstrates around the issues...
Given that the questions the book examines are the kinds of questions that are relevant to many people and common questions asked, likely to come up in discussion and evangelism, this book can provide some very thorough grounding to be able to understand and respond to the arguments, and is the sort of book that would likely be useful to refer back to long after it has initially been read. I would thoroughly recommend it as a helpful tool to anyone wishing to educate themselves around these questions. God is back in the public debate – use this book to help you engage in those debates in an informed and well researched way.'
New Paper by Peter S. Williams, 'Atheists Against Darwinism: Johnsons' "Wedge" Breaks Through', published by Evangelical Philosophy Society
Newly published on the EPS website:
'Atheists Against Darwinism: Johnsons' "Wedge" Breaks Through'
Abstract
Intelligent design theory claims that 1) empirical evidence warrants 2) a scientific design inference using 3) reliable design detection criteria. Philosophia Christi published my paper "The Design Inference from Specified Complexity Defended by Scholars Outside the Intelligent Design Movement: A Critical Review" (Philosophia Christi, Vol 9, Number 2), which defended the third of these claims by reviewing the work atheists and theistic evolutionists. This paper defends the second of these claims, likewise by reviewing work by agnostics and atheists.
This paper therefore rounds off a defence of the philosophical elements of Intelligent Design Theory.
