Topics
Belief
Reasoning About God
Professor of Theology, The Dominican House of Studies
Are those content to simply have faith in God “incomplete” compared to those who try to reason about his existence? Dominican Friar Fr. Thomas Joseph White talks to Big Think about the spiritual importance of reason, and the doubts that a rational approach to spirituality may or may not lead to.
In Belief
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Heartbreak set Dennis Genpo Merzel Roshi on the path to enlightenment. Watch
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Don't Call the Dalai Lama Cute
Robert Thurman explains the Dalai Lama’s importance to Asia’s stability. Watch
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Duke University New Testament scholar Mark Goodacre says Saint Paul would be more inclined to Twitter. Watch
Related Blogs
The Voice of Big Think
October 21, 2009 — 6:32 PM
The irrepressible Richard Dawkins visited Big Think today and spoke about genes, God (or the lack thereof), evolution, and great unanswered questions in his field from how consciousness evolved to why we have sex. He also shared his imitation of cricket songs, from an aborted research project earlier in his career. Read more
Trend World
October 7, 2009 — 9:19 AM
Jewish Boxers Experience an Unexpected Renaissance
Despite prevailing ethnic stereotypes, the boxing ring used to be a prominent arena for a number of dominant Jewish fighters. In a history that has been noticed mostly by boxing purists, Jewish fighters like Benny Leonard and Barney Ross emphatically represented their people by absolutely dominating the boxing ring. In the wake of the death of perhaps history’s greatest unknown Semitic slugger, Jews are suddenly making their mark once again in the sweet science. Read more
Latest Ideas
Is Palin the next George Wallace?
Will she be the standard bearer for the religious right? Read More
November 19, 2009
What is “Biblical capitalism,” and how is it changing the American right wing? Jeff Sharlet charts the rise of a juggernaut. Read More
November 19, 2009
Dinner With Martin Luther King
If Gerald Chertavian could do dinner with anybody, it would be the great civil rights activist, whose insights into social justice and grassroots organization have proven timeless. Read More
November 15, 2009
Cornel West’s Catastrophic Love
In the face of cruelty and sorrow, there is a form of love that can propel people past feelings of bitterness and revenge and into the desire to promote justice—for Cornel West this force is embodied in the blues. Read More
November 9, 2009
If we want a society that is truly great, we will need to avoid the panicky trappings and “moral constipations” of “success” and redefine life’s real questions. Read More
November 9, 2009
Christians Should Lead From the Bottom Up
Duke University Chapel Dean Sam Wells says Jesus' way of leading puts devotion and service ahead of prominence and power. Read More
October 30, 2009
Surrounded by a puzzling and often frightening world, people from almost every culture have come to trust in the improvable and supernatural. Here Richard Dawkins remembers when he broke with this pattern and became an atheist, outlining his vision of the acceptable, evidence-based faith. Read More
October 26, 2009
Letting Science Inform Morality
While science is indelibly distinct from the field of ethics, Richard Dawkins believes that there are a number of ways in which its facts and reasoning could greatly benefit our ability to understand and repair the world’s suffering. Read More
October 26, 2009
Richard Dawkins Imagines a World Without God
The famed evolutionary biologist describes a world freed from the values of classical religion, highlighting the fundamental changes that would come about in morality, education, and scientific progress. Read More
October 26, 2009
Daily Ideafeed
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Ho Ho No
Santa Scandal -
A service by North Pole dwellers to answer letters addressed to Santa has been suspended after a sex offender was recognized as a volunteer.
November 19, 2009
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Scientology
Criminal Belief? -
An Australian senator has accused the Church of Scientology of being a criminal organization and has called for its investigation by the police.
November 18, 2009
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Gaddafi
“500 Attractive Girls” -
Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi tried to convert 500 “attractive girls” to Islam in Rome yesterday.
November 17, 2009
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Inside View
Living With Osama -
A new book by Osama Bin Laden’s first wife and son give an insiders’ view on one of the world’s most notorious terrorists.
November 16, 2009
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Staunch Morals
Christian Charity? -
The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington has said it will stop its social service programs if gay marriage is legalized.
November 13, 2009
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Loch Ness
Nessie? Balls -
Scientists searching for the Loch Ness monster have unearthed 100,000 golf balls – and no Nessie.
November 12, 2009
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Court Backing
Psychic Police -
A British police-man sacked for believing in psychics has received backing from judges in an employment tribunal.
November 12, 2009
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Iranian Help?
Rumour Mosque -
The appearance of an expensive mosque in impoverished and predominantly Catholic Nicaragua has got the rumour mill turning.
November 10, 2009
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Thierry Tilly
“Torture” Guru? -
An agent for a covert secret society has been accused of “torturing” a French aristocratic family for whom he was acting as a guru.
November 10, 2009
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Infidel Justice?
Fort Hood Extremist -
The man suspected of killing 13 at America’s Fort Hood military base had told colleagues that infidels “should have their throats cut”.
November 9, 2009
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Religious Refusal
Finger Pointing -
An evangelical Christian who teaches kindergarten has refused to give her fingerprints on religious grounds, saying that fingerprinting is the “mark of the beast.”
November 6, 2009
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Mongolia
Sham or Shaman? -
The use of shamans, spiritual priests said to have a direct link to dead spirits, is making a comeback in Mongolia.
November 6, 2009
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Noble Prize?
Middle-East Promise -
The Jerusalem Post remarks on the scarcity of Nobel laureates in the Muslim and Arab worlds after another Israeli is awarded a Nobel Prize.
November 4, 2009
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Censorship?
Legal Debate -
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition has launched a campaign to oppose a government amendment legally preventing political discussion about the legalization of drugs.
November 4, 2009
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Plain Stupid?
Clever Fools -
Scientists suggest that having a high IQ has nothing to do with practical ability and good judgement, which means clever folks can behave stupidly.
November 3, 2009
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Depressed? Eat Veg
Dietary Balance -
Scientists have linked mental health problems like depression to the consumption of processed foods.
November 2, 2009
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Mass Silence
Godly Power -
The Church of Scientology has elaborate means of preventing its leavers from spilling its secrets, according to ex-members.
November 2, 2009
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Comedy?
Peeing on Jesus -
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” comic Larry David is under fire from critics over a fictional incident where he urinates on a painting of Christ.
October 29, 2009
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Harm Index?
Sliding Drug Scale -
Britain’s drug chief says ecstasy, LSD and cannabis are less harmful than cigarettes and alcohol.
October 29, 2009
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Jyllands-Posten
Cartoon Terror Plot -
Two men have been arrested in connection with a terror plot against the Danish newspaper which published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
October 28, 2009
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Car Care
Toot Toot Salute! -
A school in China has outraged critics by teaching its pupils to salute every passing car on their way to school.
October 26, 2009
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Name and Shame?
Petitioning -
Is signing a petition a public act or a secret ballot? And should signatories be subject to exposure?
October 26, 2009
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Whoops!
Reverend Who? -
An MSNBC anchor made a big mistake when she introduced Rev. Jesse Jackson as Rev. Al Shaprton.
October 22, 2009
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Ink and a Prayer
Drawing God -
Illustrator Robert Crumb was drawn to god for his latest artwork.
October 21, 2009
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Powerful Shoulders
Bully For You -
The origins of aggression.
October 18, 2009