Can A Smart Person Believe In God

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Can a Smart Person Believe in God?

Author : Michael Guillen
Publisher : HarperChristian + ORM
Page : 177 pages
File Size : 51,8 Mb
Release : 2006-09-03
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781418529673

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Can a Smart Person Believe in God? by Michael Guillen Pdf

As Christians, we are often urged to turn away from scientific discovery and rely solely on the Bible as the source of our faith. On the other hand, many people in areas such as science, law, and education insist that Christian faith is lowbrow or unintelligent. But is it possible to reconcile science with what you believe about God? As someone who has grappled with the issues of science and faith in the public eye for more than a decade as a television journalist, Dr. Michael Guillen believes it is possible. In fact, by embracing the discoveries of science we can see God, the universe, and humanity in full, multidimensional glory. Fortunately, you don't have to be a genius to enjoy this book. The bite-sized chapters are full of fascinating scientific tidbits in an easy-to-understand format. Captivating stories of the author's childhood in the Mexican barrio of East L.A. and his work in television and research are woven throughout. There is even an entertaining SQ (Spiritual Quotient) test for readers to take.

Agitations

Author : Arthur Krystal
Publisher : Yale University Press
Page : 208 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 2008-10-01
Category : Literary Criticism
ISBN : 9780300145601

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Agitations by Arthur Krystal Pdf

This book examines the role of temperament and taste in the forming of aesthetic and ideological opinions. In provocative chapters about reading and writing, about the relation between life and literature, about knowledge and certainty, about God and death, and about a gradual disaffection with the literary scene, the book demonstrates that opposing points of view are based more on innate predilections than on disinterested thought or analysis.

50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God

Author : Guy P. Harrison
Publisher : Prometheus Books
Page : 2 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 2009-09-18
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781615920044

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50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God by Guy P. Harrison Pdf

Many books that challenge religious belief from a skeptical point of view take a combative tone that is almost guaranteed to alienate believers or they present complex philosophical or scientific arguments that fail to reach the average reader. This is undoubtably an ineffective way of encouraging people to develop critical thinking about religion. This unique approach to skepticism presents fifty commonly heard reasons people often give for believing in a God and then raises legitimate questions regarding these reasons, showing in each case that there is much room for doubt. Whether you're a believer, a complete skeptic, or somewhere in between, you'll find this review of traditional and more recent arguments for the existence of God refreshing, approachable, and enlightening. From religion as the foundation of morality to the authority of sacred books, the compelling religious testimony of influential people, near-death experiences, arguments from Intelligent Design, and much more, Harrison respectfully describes each rationale for belief and then politely shows the deficiencies that any good skeptic would point out. As a journalist who has traveled widely and interviewed many highly accomplished people, quite a number of whom are believers, the author appreciates the variety of belief and the ways in which people seek to make religion compatible with scientific thought. Nonetheless, he shows that, despite the prevalence of belief in God or religious belief in intelligent people, in the end there are no unassailable reasons for believing in a God. For skeptics looking for appealing ways to approach their believing friends or believers who are not afraid to consider a skeptical challenge, this book makes for very stimulating reading.

Not God's Type

Author : Holly Ordway
Publisher : Ignatius Press
Page : 206 pages
File Size : 52,9 Mb
Release : 2014-07-29
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 9781681493572

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Not God's Type by Holly Ordway Pdf

This is the story of a glorious defeat. Ordway, an atheist academic, was convinced that faith was superstitious nonsense. As a well-educated college English professor, she saw no need for just-so stories about God. Secure in her fortress of atheism, she was safe (or so she thought) from any assault by irrational faith. So what happened? How did she come to “lay down her arms” in surrender to Christ and then, a few years later, enter the Catholic Church? This is the moving account of her unusual journey. It is the story of an academic becoming convinced of the truth of Christianity on rational grounds — but also the account of God’s grace acting in and through her imagination. It is the tale of an unfolding, developing relationship with God — told with directness and honesty — and of a painful surrender at the foot of the Cross. It is the account of a lifelong, transformative love of reading and the story of how a competitive fencer put down her sabre to pick up the sword of the Spirit. Above all, this book is a tale of grace, acting in and through human beings but always issuing from God and leading back to Him. And it is the story of a woman being brought home.

The God Conclusion

Author : I. W. Brown
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 310 pages
File Size : 46,7 Mb
Release : 2015-09-09
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1517292727

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The God Conclusion by I. W. Brown Pdf

It is an all too familiar path. A young person leaves home for college. He still believes in God and likely believes in the particular faith of his family. Then the deconversion begins. By the time he earns an undergraduate degree not only has he discarded the faith of his family, he has abandoned belief in God altogether. In fact, he looks back at his family and those who continue to believe in wonder. How can they still believe?It is a fact that the more education a person receives the more likely she is to become an atheist. A recent study also found that average intelligence is an excellent predictor of rates of atheism. That is, the higher the intelligence, the higher the rate of non-belief.It is natural to assume that intelligence and education give us a firmer grip on truth. Doesn't it make sense then that the individual who replaces faith with skepticism and disbelief is headed in the right direction? Shouldn't we conclude that this person is drawing closer to truth?Absolutely not!Having abandoned faith himself by the end of graduate school, author IW Brown then spent years examining the very best arguments for and against God's existence. In The God Conclusion: Why Smart People Still Believe, Brown makes a powerful case that the most educated and intellectual among us are often the furthest from the truth about God. They most certainly don't enjoy any advantage over the less educated when striving to understand existence and the transcendent. Vocal advocates of atheism regularly boast that the brainiest among us are non-believers. Contrary to what they would suggest, however, there is no reason to defer to the experts in science, philosophy, or academia when it comes to the God Question.The God Conclusion dispels the notion that intelligence and learning should lead to disbelief. It describes how and why rational, well-informed people still have reason to believe in God. If you or someone you know struggles to maintain faith in God in the face of the wisdom of the world, The God Conclusion is for you!

Why Atheism?

Author : George H. Smith
Publisher : Prometheus Books
Page : 249 pages
File Size : 46,9 Mb
Release : 2009-12-04
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781615923946

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Why Atheism? by George H. Smith Pdf

Written by a defender of reason and personal liberty, this book reviews the historical roots of nonbelief and defends reason as the most reliable method humans have for establishing truth and conducting one's life.

Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe

Author : Gary D. Kinnaman
Publisher : Baker Books
Page : 154 pages
File Size : 53,9 Mb
Release : 2003-11-03
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9781441266538

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Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe by Gary D. Kinnaman Pdf

Gary Kinnaman contends that many Christians are blinded by what he calls "popular and nonbiblical notions" of God. Applying personal anecdotes, stories from the lives of others, and a large dose of humor, the author challenges ten beliefs that are obstacles to the experience of God's love and providence. With a lighthearted touch, the author rescues readers from stubborn religious lies, such as God grades on a curve; the better you are, the bigger the blessing. And whoppers, such as if God leads you to something, everything will work out just great. Witty and engaging, Kinnaman may offend Christians of all traditions as he provokes them to think more deeply about their faith and their behavior.

Return of the God Hypothesis

Author : Stephen C. Meyer
Publisher : HarperCollins
Page : 576 pages
File Size : 50,6 Mb
Release : 2021-03-30
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780062071521

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Return of the God Hypothesis by Stephen C. Meyer Pdf

The New York Times bestselling author of Darwin’s Doubt presents groundbreaking scientific evidence of the existence of God, based on breakthroughs in physics, cosmology, and biology. Beginning in the late 19th century, many intellectuals began to insist that scientific knowledge conflicts with traditional theistic belief—that science and belief in God are “at war.” Philosopher of science Stephen Meyer challenges this view by examining three scientific discoveries with decidedly theistic implications. Building on the case for the intelligent design of life that he developed in Signature in the Cell and Darwin’s Doubt, Meyer demonstrates how discoveries in cosmology and physics coupled with those in biology help to establish the identity of the designing intelligence behind life and the universe. Meyer argues that theism—with its affirmation of a transcendent, intelligent and active creator—best explains the evidence we have concerning biological and cosmological origins. Previously Meyer refrained from attempting to answer questions about “who” might have designed life. Now he provides an evidence-based answer to perhaps the ultimate mystery of the universe. In so doing, he reveals a stunning conclusion: the data support not just the existence of an intelligent designer of some kind—but the existence of a personal God.

Uncommon Dissent

Author : William Dembski
Publisher : Open Road Media
Page : 360 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 2014-05-13
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781497648951

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Uncommon Dissent by William Dembski Pdf

Recent years have seen the rise to prominence of ever more sophisticated philosophical and scientific critiques of the ideas marketed under the name of Darwinism. In Uncommon Dissent, mathematician and philosopher William A. Dembski brings together essays by leading intellectuals who find one or more aspects of Darwinism unpersuasive. As Dembski explains, Darwinism has gathered around itself an aura of invincibility that is inhospitable to rational discussion—to say the least: “Darwinism, its proponents assure us, has been overwhelmingly vindicated. Any resistance to it is futile and indicates bad faith or worse.” Indeed, those who question the Darwinian synthesis are supposed, in the famous formulation of Richard Dawkins, to be ignorant, stupid, insane, or wicked. The hostility of dogmatic Darwinians like Dawkins has not, however, prevented the advent of a growing cadre of scholarly critics of metaphysical Darwinism. The measured, thought-provoking essays in Uncommon Dissent make it increasingly obvious that these critics are not the brainwashed fundamentalist buffoons that Darwinism’s defenders suggest they are, but rather serious, skeptical, open-minded inquirers whose challenges pose serious questions about the viability of Darwinist ideology. The intellectual power of their contributions to Uncommon Dissent is bracing.

The God Gene

Author : Dean H. Hamer
Publisher : Anchor
Page : 258 pages
File Size : 48,5 Mb
Release : 2005-09-27
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780307276933

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The God Gene by Dean H. Hamer Pdf

The overwhelming majority of Americans believe in God; this conviction has existed since the beginning of recorded time and is shared by billions around the world. In The God Gene, Dr. Dean Hamer reveals that this inclination towards religious faith is in good measure due to our genes and may even offer an evolutionary advantage by helping us get through difficulties, reducing stress, preventing disease, and extending life. Popular science at its best, The God Gene is an in-depth, fully accessible inquiry into cutting-edge research that can change the way we see ourselves and the world around us. Written with balance, integrity, and admirable scientific objectivity, this is a book for readers of science and religion alike.

Why I Am an Atheist Who Believes in God

Author : Frank Schaeffer
Publisher : Regina Orthodox Press,Csi
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 51,9 Mb
Release : 2014-11-07
Category : Belief and doubt
ISBN : 1928653995

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Why I Am an Atheist Who Believes in God by Frank Schaeffer Pdf

Caught between the beauty of his grandchildren and grief over a friend's death, Frank Schaeffer finds himself simultaneously believing and not believing in God--an atheist who prays. Schaeffer wrestles with faith and disbelief, sharing his innermost thoughts. He writes as an imperfect son, husband and grandfather whose love for his family, art and life trumps the ugly theologies of an angry God and the atheist vision of a cold, meaningless universe.

A Visual Walk Through Genesis

Author : Stephen M. Miller
Publisher : Harvest House Publishers
Page : 226 pages
File Size : 54,6 Mb
Release : 2016-07-01
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9780736965972

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A Visual Walk Through Genesis by Stephen M. Miller Pdf

An Objective Look at Some of the Bible's Strangest Stories Genesis offers helpful answers to the biggest questions in life—Why are we here? What is God like? Why so much evil and pain? But today's readers often get tripped up by the ancient writing style and wonder... Did Moses really write Genesis? Many of the reports seem so odd—are they scientifically accurate? Does that matter? How does Genesis relate to other ancient accounts of creation, the origin of evil, and the great flood? Stephen M. Miller—a seminary-educated news journalist—presents viewpoints from a wide range of Christian Bible experts, along with gorgeous graphics and a touch of dry humor. Whether you're a Bible newbie or a longtime reader, this visual stroll through the first book of the Bible will help you bridge the gap between then and now.

Why We Believe in God(s)

Author : J. Anderson Thomson,Clare Aukofer
Publisher : Pitchstone Publishing (US&CA)
Page : 89 pages
File Size : 53,7 Mb
Release : 2014-07-01
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9780984493234

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Why We Believe in God(s) by J. Anderson Thomson,Clare Aukofer Pdf

In this groundbreaking volume, J. Anderson Thomson, Jr., MD, with Clare Aukofer, offers a succinct yet comprehensive study of how and why the human mind generates religious belief. Dr. Thomson, a highly respected practicing psychiatrist with credentials in forensic psychiatry and evolutionary psychology, methodically investigates the components and causes of religious belief in the same way any scientist would investigate the movement of astronomical bodies or the evolution of life over time—that is, as a purely natural phenomenon. Providing compelling evidence from psychology, the cognitive neurosciences, and related fields, he, with Ms. Aukofer, presents an easily accessible and exceptionally convincing case that god(s) were created by man—not vice versa. With this slim volume, Dr. Thomson establishes himself as a must-read thinker and leading voice on the primacy of reason and science over superstition and religion.

Can We Be Good Without God?

Author : Robert Buckman
Publisher : Prometheus Books
Page : 278 pages
File Size : 50,6 Mb
Release : 2010-06-28
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781615922772

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Can We Be Good Without God? by Robert Buckman Pdf

Recent neurological studies have shown that there are regions of the brain that seem predisposed to create beliefs. Are we hardwired to believe? And if so, why do beliefs sometimes inspire major contributions to society, while on other occasions they precipitate horrendous acts of destruction?In this provocative and stimulating study of the connection between belief and behavior, Dr. Robert Buckman begins by reviewing the history of religious belief, showing the many shared themes among religions of diverse cultures. He then explains little-publicized data from neuroscience on the limbic system and the right-hand temporal lobe of the brain, which when stimulated consistently produces deep-seated spiritual feelings. Recent experiments reveal that this portion of the brain may underlie the development of many common religious beliefs, and perhaps the more aggressive and destructive behaviors associated with some of them. Buckman also summarizes evidence regarding pheromones and their effect on the limbic system, as a possible mechanism for certain types of crowd behavior, whether in a religious or secular context.Finally, considering the long historical relationship between religion and ethics, Buckman asks whether we can develop better, nontheistic belief systems that avoid the destructive aspects of traditional religious beliefs. He then describes ways in which we can become aware of, and perhaps, correct our ôlimbic urgesö when they threaten to lead to destructive behavior. This ambitious work, covering important areas of social anthropology, comparative religion, neurology, and psychology, provides many insights into the mechanisms of belief.Robert Buckman, M.D. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is a cancer specialist, professor in the department of medicine at the University of Toronto, the current president of the Humanist Association of Canada, and the author (with Karl Sabbagh) of Magic or Medicine?

Christianity Made Me Talk Like an Idiot

Author : Seth Andrews
Publisher : Outskirts Press
Page : 216 pages
File Size : 46,7 Mb
Release : 2022-01-24
Category : Religion
ISBN : 1977250823

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Christianity Made Me Talk Like an Idiot by Seth Andrews Pdf

Seth Andrews wasn't an idiot during his thirty years as an evangelical Christian. He wasn't unintelligent, nor did his IQ shift when he ultimately left religion entirely. He considered himself thoughtful, moral, reasonable, and at least as smart as the average person. In other words, he wasn't an idiot. Yet strangely, he often sounded like one. In any other context, Christians would likely smirk, scoff, or recoil at many of their "normal" beliefs and practices: reenacted Easter crucifixions, eating monthly communion "flesh," singing hymns about being washed in blood, and the embrace of a Bible containing scripture verses about golden hemorrhoids, apocalypse dragons, and human sacrifice, So what gives? Are these notions embraced only because they're familiar? Do they make any sense? And do they cause otherwise reasonable people to sound like idiots? Seth Andrews admits that, for himself, the answer was a definite yes. For everyone else? Read the book and decide.