Philosophy of religion: Counter-apologetics for beginners - Countering J. W. Wartick

J.W. Wartick is a graduate student in Christian Apologetics at Biola University. His interests include philosophy of religion; particularly the existence of God, astronomy, biology, archaeology, and sci-fi and fantasy novels.

With the exception of his taste in novels, we appear to share similar interests, but the one that I wish to discuss here today approaches his thoughts on the philosophy of religion. In particular, his post on 'The morality of God: Christ at the centre'.

As an introduction to counter-apologetics for beginners, his argument in this post serves as a shining example of the weakness of the great many Christian apologists that litter the Interwebz.

So let's take a quick look at his argument.

The 10 commandments of good thinking

The level of critical thinking in the community I reside has never failed to amaze me. In fact, as I continue to study philosophy, politics and human nature in general, the more forlorn the hope that one fine day one of my peers might actually raise a valid objection to something other than what is thrown at them by the media.

Don't get me wrong, we are all prone to sloppy reasoning, confirmation bias and other logical fallacies, the important thing is to remember that even those of us that profess clear-mindedness and reasoned thought fall foul of the very misconceptions we seek to undermine.

Critical thinking is possibly the single most important tool the thoughtful person has available to him, but we should be mindful to apply it equally to our own cogitations as much as we do in reaction to other's positions.

Philosopher and senior lecturer at Heythrop College in the University of London, Stephen Law has highlighted a post by kungfuhobbit that lays out the 10 commandments of good thinking that I would like to share with you here.

Philosophical - A free Open University course, 'Introduction to philosophy'

This unit is from the Open University archive and it is an adapted extract from Philosophy and the human situation (A211) which is no longer in presentation.

If you wish to study formally at The Open University, you may wish to explore the courses we offer in this curriculum area.
 

This unit gives you an idea of what it is like to study philosophy, introducing you to the teaching methods employed by the Open University in teaching philosophy. If you are considering studying philosophy, we recommend you start here. Although the unit is mainly for people who are new to philosophy, you may find it helpful even if you already have some experience of the subject.

The following material has been written by Maria Kasmirli with quotations from Dr Nigel Warburton.

Philosophical - A free Open University course, 'Philosophy of religion'

The Open University is a great place to start no matter what sphere of study you are considering.


With more than 250,000 students enrolled, including around 32,000 aged under 25 and more than 50,000 overseas students, it is the largest academic institution in the United Kingdom (and one of the largest in Europe) by student number, and qualifies as one of the world's largest universities.

Try over 600 free online courses from The Open University. Available from introductory to advanced level, each takes between 1 and 50 hours to study.
Complete activities to assess your progress and compare your thoughts with sample answers. Sign up for free to track your progress, connect with other learners in our discussion forums and find the tools to help you learn.


Whilst searching for degree courses in philosophy, I encountered one of these free courses that actually forms part of course A222, 'Exploring philosophy'; a course I am hoping to find funding for.


The 'Introducing the philosophy of religion' course is a 12 hour, intermediate degree level course, and Timothy Chappell, Professor of Philosophy, asks what the words 'God' and 'religion' mean, and what it means to ask philosophical questions about them.

What I am reading: Plato - The Republic

As part of my autodidactic study into philosophy, I have done some research into introductory texts on the subject. The consensus would appear to be Plato's 'The Republic'.


I have a list of four such introductory titles, which I shall divulge as I obtain copies of each.


As I progress through each tome, I shall publish my notes on them as and when I feel a suitable length article is forthcoming. And upon completion of each book, I shall give a full review.

The ideas of Plato (c429-347BC) have influenced Western philosophers for over two thousand years. Such is his importance that the twentieth-century philosopher A.N. Whitehead described all subsequent developments within the subject as foot-notes to Plato's work. Beyond philosophy, he has exerted a major influence on the development of Western literature, politics and theology. The Republic deals with the great range of Plato's thought, but is particularly concerned with what makes a well-balanced society and individual. It combines argument and myth to advocate a life organized by reason rather than dominated by desires and appetites. Regarded by some as the foundation document of totalitarianism, by others as a call to develop the full potential of humanity, the Republic remains a challenging and intensely exciting work.

You can buy your own copy at the following links

U.K.	U.S.

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Have you read The Republic? What did you think? What other philosophy titles do you think are suitable introductory texts to philosophy?