Is objective truth possible without God?

A lengthy debate with a friend on Google+ led me to this question: Is objective truth possible without God? The  most commonsense answer would be yes. For instance, I can be atheist or agnostic and know that 1+1=2. But is that really the case.

Before we proceed, let's get a couple of things out of the way first. First, we cannot deny that there is an objective truth. A postmodernist who says there is no truth is contradicting himself because saying that "there's no truth" is itself proclaiming a truth. So he has refuted himself.

Do we need evidence to believe in God?

Human society as we know it today worships a new religion -- an unwavering faith that science is the most rock-solid, the most certain, the most truthworthy of all human knowledge.

While some of this faith is certainly not misplaced -- after all, without science, I wouldn't be sitting down typing this. I may not even be alive: Perhaps in an alternate world I would have succumbed to a killer disease as a child since I have no access to medical intervention.

But some scientists -- Richard Dawkins chief amongst them -- think science and its presumptions can be applied to all realms of human knowledge, and that includes morality and philosophy. Instead of merely adopting an assumption of metaphysical naturalism -- a worldview where there is no such thing as the supernatural, many atheists take metaphysical naturalism as the de facto truth.

Why all religions are equal

In a previous life, I was a stout crusader of Christianity.

Scratch that, what I mean is that I defended the sort of Christianity that was prosperity gospel-driven, that encouraged speaking-in-tongues-and-casting-out-demons-from-under-every-rock, and that coerced members into showering certain cult personalities with unabashed and over-the-top admiration and worship.

Now, having excused myself from that rabid form of religion, I have a more zen approach towards matters of faith. Basically, I think most religions are equal. Most. Which excludes violent extremists of all sorts, basically, any strand of religion that teaches a person to hate his brother or manipulate his sister.

Are Christians addicted to certainty?

Here's one common refrain I've heard from many of my devoted, church-going, Christian friends: "Life is simple. Why make it so complicated?"

I wish it was that simple. I wish we live in a world of no contradictions, no problems, and no uncertainties. But the kicker is: The more I search, the more I realise how contradictory, problem-filled, and uncertain the world is. It's an inescapable observation. It's not something I want, but it's something that dawned on me.

Just like how light hits you when the sun rises.

People who hold simple thoughts about life (or to be more precise, their religious worldview) probably do so for a few reasons:

Are Christians an intolerant bunch?

I haven't blogged here for awhile, but something provoked me to do so. Recently, Rob Bell, a pastor from Mars Hill Bible Church in the US, received vehement criticism from many prominent theologians and pastors for preaching universalism (the belief that everyone will go to heaven) in his new book 'Love Wins'.

Some even went as far as to call him a 'heretic'.

Now, I haven't read his book, and to be honest, I have no interest in the debate about heaven or hell or whether they exist. But this firestorm reminds me of a reason why Christianity can sometimes be so repulsive to me. I haven't been going to church a lot these days, because to be honest, they are nothing more than communities to me.

Except that instead of centering around a political affiliation or an interest like anime or BDSM, church communities revolve around a set of religious beliefs.

What we all have in common with Islamic extremists

There is something disturbing about Christians who believe in their God with such unyielding zeal. Let me emphasise that there is a difference between 'knowing' and 'believing'. To know is to be extremely sure and confident about something; to believe, for the purposes of this reflection, requires no evidence whatsoever.

It is the fruit of hope and faith.

President Obama doesn't know that he will be a leader that will stand the test of time, yet I'm sure he believes it, and hopes he will become a historic president.

Likewise, a religious person doesn't know God; he believes in God.

Atheism: The Art of Not-Giving-A-Shit

“Every man born unto this Earth is a sinner!”, the man exclaimed. “If you do not believe in Jesus, then you are a walking corpse!”

By Chin Wei Lien

I WAS called a “walking corpse” by a complete stranger in the winter of 2009 in Buffalo, New York. Granted, I was a sleep deprived communications major at that point of time. But I didn’t think he was referring to my heavy eyebags or my… student attire.

“Every man born unto this Earth is a sinner!”, the man exclaimed. “If you do not believe in Jesus, then you are a walking corpse!”

The man was a pastor from a local community church, and he was directing the insult not personally at me for my lack of religious beliefs, but also to everyone in the vicinity who didn’t subscribe to his, apparently, non-zombie faith.

Like many historical leaders in old photographs and paintings, the man stood taller and spoke louder than the crowd of college students beneath his feet. Silhouette painted black forbodingly outside the Student Union, the man was perched on top of a tiny foldable stool and looked bigger and more authoritative than his booming voice...

Read full article on New Nation.