Philosophy Archives - Jonathan McLatchie | Writer, Speaker, Scholar

The Prior Environmental Fitness of Nature: An Argument for the Existence of God

Cosmic Fine-Tuning, Cosmic Fine-Tuning, Existence of God, Intelligent Design, Philosophy, Probability Theory, Science / jmclatchie

Over the past several decades, science has amassed considerable evidence of design in nature – evidences which may be drawn from both the physical and life sciences. This evidence suggests, contrary to popular wisdom, that the Universe was made with us in mind – that it was intended for beings like ourselves. In this article, we will consider a sample of evidences that force us to reconsider man’s place in the Universe.

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Let’s Help Harvard Understand Intelligent Design

1 Comment / Biological Design, Existence of God, Intelligent Design, Miracles and Epistemology, Philosophy, Probability Theory, Science / jmclatchie

Last week, my wife and I spent an afternoon at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, in Cambridge, MA, near where we live. We both were generally impressed by the exhibitions, particularly the dinosaur section, and would recommend the museum to anyone visiting Boston. I was, however, quite disappointed to see this notice at the entrance to the display on evolution.

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Bayesian Probability and the Resurrection: A Reply to Brian Blais

9 Comments / Evidence for the Resurrection, Messianic Prophecy, Miracles and Epistemology, Modern Miracles, Philosophy, Predictive Prophecy, Probability Theory / jmclatchie

This week, a two part series of essays was published by atheist physicist Dr. Brian Blais. These essays challenged some of my key contentions from the debate, particularly my employment of Bayesian epistemology. In this essay, I reply to Dr. Blais’ remarks.

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Extraordinary Claims and Evidence: A Review of Jonathan Pearce’s Book on the Resurrection (Part 1)

43 Comments / Book Reviews, Evidence for the Resurrection, Messianic Prophecy, Miracles and Epistemology, Modern Miracles, Philosophy, Predictive Prophecy, Probability Theory / jmclatchie

Since the resurrection is intended, in Christian theology, to function as an authenticating sign, it is highly predicted that Jesus’ resurrection will deviate from the normal course of nature. That the resurrection does, in fact, deviate from the normal course of nature should not be taken as a cause for concern.

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Book Review: Canon Revisited – Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books, by Michael J. Kruger

2 Comments / Apologetic Method, Book Reviews, Canonicity, Foundationalism, Philosophy / jmclatchie

What is the proper epistemological paradigm for determining the content of the New Testament canon? On what basis can a Christian confidently assert that the twenty-seven books that now comprise what we call the New Testament are divinely endowed with Scriptural authority?

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Is the Bible Without Error? Inspiration, Inerrancy, and Christian Epistemology

8 Comments / Bible Contradictions, Dealing with Doubts, Inerrancy and Inspiration, Philosophy, Probability Theory, Theology / jmclatchie

A common litmus test for Christian orthodoxy is adherence to the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy, which maintains that the Biblical text, in the original autographs, is completely without error in all that it affirms.

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The Propriety of Allowing Science to Illuminate Scripture

13 Comments / Apologetic Method, Genesis 1-11, Probability Theory, Science and Faith / jmclatchie

The “young earth” teaching introduces an unnecessary and erroneous tension between Scripture and science that has confused many and I have personally met many people who have turned aside from their faith due to what they see as the impossible challenge of trying to reconcile that understanding of Scripture with the clear scientific evidence. They end up being neither ‘old’ or ‘young’ earth and worst of all not believing that God is the Creator at all.

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Do Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence? Assessing Carl Sagan’s Dictum

6 Comments / Philosophy, Probability Theory / jmclatchie

So confident was David Hume about this principle that he said, humble man that he was, “I flatter myself that I have discovered an argument…which, if just, will, with the wise and learned, be an everlasting check to all kinds of superstitious delusion, and consequently, will be useful as long as the world endures.”

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Grappling with Divine Hiddenness: Why Does God Not Make His Existence More Obvious?

5 Comments / Divine Hiddenness, Existence of God, Philosophy / jmclatchie

One of the most challenging objections to the existence of God is the problem of divine hiddenness. Closely related to the problem of evil, the problem of divine hiddenness asks “Where is God?”; “Why doesn’t God make His existence more obvious?”; “Why does God leave any room for doubt?”

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The Need for Cognitive Closure in Dealing with Doubts

3 Comments / Dealing with Doubts, Problem of Evil / jmclatchie

Different people have varying levels of tolerance for mystery and ambiguity. Individuals with a high need for cognitive closure are more prone to walk away from the Christian faith than individuals with a lower need. For some people, in order to be content within one’s worldview, satisfactory answers must exist to all possible questions and objections that might be raised against it.

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JONATHAN MCLATCHIE

Philosophy