Category Archives: Religion

The Hypocritical Question: “Why does God allow evil?”

Posted on December 15, 2012 by jackpelham

Many have ventured to ask why God allows evil and suffering.  I’m sure the discussion of this question could range through several chapters in a book on the topic, but my concern at the moment is simply the hypocrisy that … Continue reading →

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Dysrationalia: God is leading the United States

Posted on November 18, 2012 by jackpelham

Many claim that the United States is a “Christian nation”, that God is somehow “leading” us, that when we get bad presidents, that is God “giving us what we deserve”, and so forth. Here’s an example of a similar notion, … Continue reading →

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The Gold Bar Metaphor

Posted on November 18, 2012 by jackpelham

See this gold bar? Chances are, you’ve never seen one laying on a neighbor’s lawn.  Likewise, I’d say that chances are pretty good that if you had one, you wouldn’t keep it out our your lawn, either. And why not?

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Am I Too Focused on the “Mind”?

Posted on November 16, 2012 by jackpelham

In a recent conversation on a religious forum, a participant expressed his opinion that I’m too focused on the mind and on facts, and not enough on other factors.  Here’s my reply. —————————————- In your summation, you wrote (emphasis added): … Continue reading →

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Pelham’s Law of Cognitive Error

Posted on October 14, 2012 by jackpelham

Pelham’s Law of Cognitive Error:  “I am most likely wrong about many things.” Cognitive science has solidly identified certain traits of human behavior by which people operate habitually at a sub-optimal level.  We make frequent cognitive errors, some of which … Continue reading →

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How Can You Tell When God Says “No”?

Posted on September 9, 2012 by jackpelham

You pray for a million bucks and two seconds later the doorbell rings.  You answer the door to find an angel with a big sack of money–$1Million, to be exact.  You consider this a “yes”—an “answered prayer”. You pray for … Continue reading →

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Commentary: The Coup De Grace by Ambrose Bierce

Posted on September 5, 2012 by jackpelham

This post is in response to a question sent in by a reader earlier today: I’m currently taking a Biomedical Ethics course at the college. Your writings cover a wide range of topics and interests so I thought you would … Continue reading →

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Bill Nye the Science Guy Waxes Unscientific on the Theories of Evolution and Creation

Posted on September 2, 2012 by jackpelham

NOTE: The author of this article believes not only that irrational creationists and irrational evolutionists alike are in the wrong, but that there are practically as many of one as there are of the other.  The goal of this criticism … Continue reading →

Posted in Fallacy, Logic, Religion, Science, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Thought Experiment: What Determines the Facts of the Christian Religion?

Posted on August 24, 2012 by jackpelham

Interestingly, there is no passage in the Bible where one can find a deliberately-written definition of the Christian religion.  Neither are there clear definitions of the terms “Christian” or “Christianity”.   No doubt, this can lead to some “fuzzy math” for … Continue reading →

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A Walk in the Cemetery

Posted on August 22, 2012 by jackpelham

One of the late Stephen Covey’s famous “7 Habits of Highly Successful People” was “Start with the end in mind.”  He suggested that one should consider what he would like to have said about him at his funeral, and then … Continue reading →

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