A Selection of Work from "Your Sneaking Suspicions?"

In this book, we looked at some fairly interesting stuff. I like the stuff about some of the bigger questions, so I am going to briefly mention my answers to the "Science vs. God" and "Bible Myths" chapters.

Science Vs. God

How did science and philosophy combine to dismiss faith in God?

• Galileo said that the planets did not go around the Earth, but actually revolved around the sun. This was not believed by the Church. When it was proved, it reflected badly on the Church.
• Darwin introduced the theory of evolution and survival of the fittest. The idea that there was an explanation for existence other than the one provided by the bible further worked to dismiss faith in God.
• Nietzsche said that God is dead.

Is Belief in God unscientific or unintelligent?

• Religion is not unscientific because I have witnessed the presentation of much information relating to the fact that human's actually need faith in order to get them through life.
• Whether religion is unintelligent or not is more difficult. I know many say that religions are based on well-meaning delusions, but even if they are delusions, then they would have taken some intelligence to concoct and get everyone else to believe them... however, following a religion just because someone else told you to is pretty unintelligent... but most people make a free decision about religion and what they believe and that must take some intelligence. So I suppose it depends where you stand with belief as to whether it unintelligent or not.

Bible Myths

Outline the four myths... what is Simon Smart's answers... explain whether you think it is a convincing argument.

1. Myth 1: The bible was lost in translation. Smart says that most available bibles are translated form original texts and languages. This myth doesn't really make sense because why would you want to change it in the first place (if you wanted to discredit it, you would keep it the same so you could mock everyone about it... if you believed it, you would want it kept the same)?
2. Myth 2: The bible is changed by scribes. Smart says that all ancient versions are the same, and there is no motive to change it (scribes were very strict in those days). This is pretty convincing, however, if changes were made, were they accidental?
3. Myth 3: The changes did happen by accident. Smart said that scribes always copied properly. This didn't so much as convince me, but affirmed a long-standing belief.
4. Myth 4: The bible is not the truth in the first place. Smart says that people died for the bible, and why would people die for falsities. This isn't a very convincing argument to me, because I watch of lots of crime shows and people have died for much less.