User:Gluo88/Reading Notes on Atheist Delusions

Atheist Delusions: The Christian Revolution and Its Fashionable Enemies is a 2009 book by the theologian, philosopher, and cultural commentator David Bentley Hart. 基督教神学家大卫·本特利·哈特教授的著作《无神论幻想》（Atheist Delusions）

该书可以帮助了解关于基督教神學对历史上圣经批评的结论的看法，以便对圣经有更客观的分析和了解。 还可以参见有关对其著作《无神论幻想》的评论。

On 27 May 2011, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, awarded the book the Michael Ramsey Prize in Theology.

Is Christ’s resurrection possibly tested by scientific method? (about book: Atheist Delusions)

In the book, page 10 -11, it said that "Dennett’s belief that no one need take seriously any claim that cannot be tested by scientific method is merely fatuous.". The author then argues:

1. By that standard, I need not believe that the widower next door loves the children for whom he tirelessly provides
2. Harris is quite correct to say, for instance, that Christ’s resurrection—like any other historical event—is known only by way of the testimony of others.
   

The above argument look to be not sound. The reason is that "the widower next door loves the children for whom he tirelessly provides" is possible from scientific viewpoint, however, that the Christ’s resurrection is not possible from scientific viewpoint.

p11 the faith inspired by miracles, or dreams on intuitions of the Holy Spirit’s presence is indeed essentially willful and irrational.

"Some also choose to venture out upon the vast seas of Christianity’s philosophical or mystical traditions; and many are inspired by miracles, or dreams, or the apparent working of grace in their lives, or moments of aesthetic transport, or strange raptures, or intuitions of the Holy Spirit’s presence, and so on. None of this might impress the committed skeptic, or seem like adequate grounds for faith, but that does not mean that faith is essentially willful and irrational."
Comment: Using metaphysical approach (i.e., logical and scientific standard), the above faith is indeed essentially willful and irrational， although it is understandable from human psychology aspect.

p11-12

"If Dennett really wishes to undertake a “scientific” investigation of faith, he should promptly abandon his efforts to describe religion (which, again, does not really exist), and attempt instead to enter into the actual world of belief in order to weigh its phenomena from within. As a first step, he should certainly—purely in the interest of sound scientific method and empirical rigor—begin praying, and then continue doing so with some perseverance. This is a drastic and implausible prescription, no doubt; but it is the only means by which he could possibly begin to acquire any knowledge of what belief is or of what it is not."
Comment: It looks to be not logically correct.

关于大规模殺戮

P12: "Polytheists, monotheists, and atheists kill—indeed, this last class is especially prolifically homicidal, if the evidence of the twentieth century is to be consulted."
Comment: No reference, no data. The conclusion is dubious.

• 基督教神學家大衛·本特利·哈特教授认为基督教與各種宗教及無神論者相同，都有暴力歷史，如果以20世纪为例， 但無神論者殺戮記錄更多。对其著作Atheist Delusions的评论可见于： 。
• 但是，大衛·本特利·哈特“無神論者殺戮記錄更多”的观点是有争议的。 历史上许多战争的起源可能是由于国家和民族的利益，这可能包括历史上的宗教战争(延续近200年几十万十字军死亡的十字軍东征, 包括平民有约800万人死亡的三十年战争, 三百万民众死于战乱及引发的饥荒和瘟疫的法国宗教战争, 20世纪600万犹太人被种族灭绝的纳粹大屠杀)，战争中的士兵们中既有有神论者和也有无神论者；把有神论者和无神论者士兵们殺戮都归于无神论者，来断言“無神論者殺戮記錄更多”是有争议的。