Posted on 03/31/2008 7:48:11 AM PDT by cdga5for4
Confronting a series of “New Atheists” books that have topped bestseller lists in the last two years, Dr. David Aikman, Associate Professor of History at Patrick Henry College, presented the College’s sixth Faith and Reason lecture Tuesday, February 19. As with the previous, twice-yearly lectures, covering themes from philosophy to classical education, the campus community gathered together for a day-long schedule of discussion groups, Q&A, and panel discussions.
Dr. Aikman's new book, Delusion of Disbelief, is due for release in April.
(Excerpt) Read more at phc.edu ...
Aikman, a former TIME correspondent, and author of Jesus in Beijing and A Man of Faith: The Spiritual Journey of George W. Bush, releases The Delusion of Disbelief: Why the New Atheism Is a Threat to Your Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness.
Hitchens and Sam Harris and the other prominent atheists seem to have an orchestrated effort to attach this book so it must be hitting home.
Aikman is also on the board of Salem Communications (Townhall.com).
I’m glad this wasn’t about Troy Aikman.
Troy_Aikman_Photo.jpg)
one of the best qb’s to ever play the game
Yes but Fox needs to reassign him off of Cowboys games. His bias during the game is nauseating.
He shows some bias but he's not so bad that I want to turn the tube off...and I'm a Redskins fan.
You're a Foreskins fan? EWWWWWWWWWWW!
Wise men still follow the star.
You're a Foreskins fan? EWWWWWWWWWWW!
Wise men still follow the star.
his bias is of organization............I love my Cowboys but damn sure respect the Redskins and her NFL history !!!!!!!
I would debit neither religion nor atheism with inspiring people to be homicidal. In either case, historically, they are just excuses used by the violent and murderous.
In more ordinary terms, after exhausting research to discover what inspires schoolyard bullies, the great conclusion was that they were bullies because they *liked* being bullies. They needed no other motivation.
When the Conquistadors, hardened mercenaries experienced in many years of brutal murderousness of Spanish wars, arrived in Mesoamerica, a brief look at the empire of the Aztecs told them one thing: this is evil and must be destroyed.
They were correct in this assessment. For whether slaughtering thousands of people to honor their gods, or just doing it for the fun of it, they did both, the abattoir culture of the Aztecs needed to be put down.
If anything, the accompanying representative of the Vatican who demanded that the written records of that society be preserved, at least until he had read them, afterwards personally ordering them to be destroyed, demonstrated his enlightenment. Despite the objections of anthropologists who have lived since, that such gruesome records be maintained, it truth, they are just monuments to depravity.
Religion, or the lack thereof, doesn’t really matter when someone decides to act a hideous monster. Conversely, the actions of the good that result in good, while they may be flavored by their religion or lack thereof, they are still good.
So the debate is moot, at least as far as murderousness is concerned. But it remains for both religion and atheism, which is more inspirational as an excuse for being stupid. For stupidity has a much lower bar than murderousness, and about anyone can play.
Yet the inclination is the same, that stupidity is inherent in the stupid, be they religious or atheistic.
All well and good, but I believe that those who are raised in a Christian belief, i.e. that there is evil and good in the world and that evil is punished, are on the whole, better people and not as inclined to “murderousness” as you put it. If you believe that you will go to hell if you die in a state of mortal sin then you are more likely to do things that lead you to heaven rather than hell. If you truly believe that Christ will come to judge the living and the dead then you will moderate your behavior accordingly.
Great line from a very good movie.
While yours is an accurate reflection of Christian doctrines, those inclined to violence and murderousness have never been limited in rationalizations that suit their purposes. Even when to do so is the exact opposite of what is true.
Fortunately for all of us, that minority that are prone to such things seldom achieve the combination of events that give them the ability to carry out their cruelties.
Wondered why Aikman would be involved from the headline. Best Cowboy quarterback ever and frankly ranks up there with the best of all time across the league. He can keep right on broadcasting the Cowboy games — his insight makes them that much more enjoyable.
Looking forward to the coming year and then the opening of the Cowboy stadium which hopefully turn into a BCS game and the Big 12 can have home field advantage for once as we play host at our own stadium.
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