--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "J. Almeida" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >That seems to be your heartfelt opinion, perhaps your >"deeply felt intuition". It also happens to be false. >
As I said, I think deeply felt intuition is a good thing to have. It would make me happy if others thought I possessed it. So, Thanks for the above compliment. > >The first is by academicians and takes a formal logical >approach, the second is a personal account from an >atheist who became Christian (and a beautifully >written classic of literature from a widely-loved >author). > >1. Kreeft P, Tacelli R (1994). Handbook of Christian >Apologetics. Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove. pp >399. (ISBN: 0830817743) > >2. Lewis CS (1952). Mere Christianity. Harper San >Francisco. pp 256. (ISBN: 0060652926) > Thanks for these recommendations. I will try to read them. Are these books supposed to show that my deeply felt intuitions are false? Are they supposed to provide evidence for the Christian God and teachings? If so, I want to tell you that I do not think that the second book will create much of an impression on me. I have read a criticism of this book in another book, ironically by a Christian who became an atheist. The latter book is called "Losing Faith In Faith: From Preacher To Atheist" written by Dan Barker, who was an evangelical preacher for 19 years, before he became a heretic after carefully weighing the logic and evidence. I am not at liberty to post the relevant chapter in his book in its entirety because of copyright issues. So I will only post a few excerpts. This chapter is called "Mere Assertions". Here are some excerpts from it: "You can see that Lewis is fond of arguing by analogy. (His whole Narnia series is one huge metaphor.) This can sometimes be an effective way of communicating with uncritical readers; but it can be deviously misleading if used in place of disciplined reasoning. Mere assertions (a better title for his book) can be used in place of carefully defended statements, and can be made to "stick" in the mind with an analogy which, though perhaps apt, nevertheless skirts the question of the truthfulness of the basic idea." "So, according to Lewis, if you want to find God, look within yourself to discover this urging to morality and realize that you have broken this law, every day. Mere Christianity boils down to the same old sermon: you are a sinner and you know it, don't you feel bad? Then, when you are properly ashamed you will realize the beauty of the plan of salvation that this deity has revealed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (which Lewis historically takes for granted)." "In place of Lewis's Law of Morality, more enlightened people would champion reason and kindness: principles that are pliable and human, not rigid and cold. So, now I have to ask myself why I once thought Mere Christianity was so special. Because it told me what I wanted to hear. As a freethinker I am now no longer satisfied with mere assertions, with creative rehashings of myth. Freethought demands evidence in place of analogy, data over dogma." Cheers, Santosh =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
