Category: How To Be An Atheist – Mitch Stokes

Ep. 50 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.19 – What’s The Point Of It All

The final chapter of Dr. Mitch Stoke’s book. We want to thank Dr. Stokes for his work and for coming on our show (Ep.33 & 34). We also want to thank you all for watching/listening and sharing the links to such an interesting subject. Stay tuned for more!

We look at further implications of nihilism. If all life is pain, why not just end it now? What is an atheist to do with living nihilisticly? And of course, we cover the Christian theist response and the better explanation to the concept of moral truth.

Ep. 49 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.18 – Living With Moral Nihilism

We look at the consistent outcome of naturalism when it comes to morality – that of nihilism. Because definitions are important, we cover the definition of nihilism as there seems to be some misunderstanding of what it is and what it isn’t. We then look at why nihilism should result from belief in naturalism and the implications nihilism brings forth.

Ep. 46 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.17 – Can God Ground Morality – Part 2

We look at Dr. Stokes’ take on the divine command theory to ground morality in an objective state and answer the objections to the infamous Euthyphro dilemma. The biggest argument is that the commands God gives appear to be arbitrary. In some ways that appear to be the case, however, God being God and not man requires us to look at the issue more closely.

Ep. 45 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.17 – Can God Ground Morality – Part 1

We look at Dr. Stokes’ take on the divine command theory to ground morality in an objective state. This, of course, brings up the infamous Euthyphro dilemma. The argument is one that many bring up when objecting to the claim that God can coherently be the source of morality. In this episode, we cover the introduction to the dilemma and next episode we’ll cover the refutations of the objections.

Ep. 43 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.16 – Morality Is Personal – Part 2

We finish up this chapter with the discussion of Dr. Stokes’ critique of values when it comes to morality. If naturalism is true, there seems to be a lot of issues that result in understanding what values are and therefore what moral imperatives are. This is a lead up to his main argument of why the Christian God offers a better alternative to naturalism in making sense of moral reality.

Ep. 42 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.16 – Morality Is Personal – Part 1

We once again slow down to cover an important part of Dr. Mitch Stokes’ argument.  We want to be clear in our presentation of his arguments. While a non-careful reader could see Stokes going down the route of making a post-modernist argument this chapter and the next really set up his entire point of the need to ground morality in God and not in the case of naturalism.

Ep. 39 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.14 – An All-Natural Morality – Part 1

We take this chapter a little slower since there are some big concepts to understand.  We look at Sam Harris’ attempt to define morality as being concerned with a creature’s well-being.  This measurable value gives morality a scientific component and allows it to be measured and objective.

Has Harris done what David Hume failed to do and given atheists a very big weapon in combating the claims of Christians?  That’s what we cover in this and the next two episodes.

Ep. 37 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.12 – Some Brush Clearing

In this chapter, Mitch Stokes wants to clear up some misconceptions that both sides of moral realism seem to perpetuate.

Atheists need to provide a reason why anyone should be good. Some Christians insinuate that atheists should just go around being completely amoral. Both sides sometimes take part is talking past each other because morality is such an important and strongly felt topic.

We also get into what our friend, David Hume, attempted to form as his basis for a moral foundation. We then take that apart.

Ep. 36 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.11 – If God Is Dead, Is Everything Permissible?

We come to the 3rd and final section of our book.  We open to the concept of morality and how the atheistic worldview deals with it.  With atheism, naturalism is the concept through which one looks at the world and all facts with.  Naturalism says nature is all there is – property and causes all have natural explanations.

So you can see where naturalism might have a little problem with the concept of objective moral standards.  How can one test that murder, rape, and lying are evil when those aren’t physical things?  And what is the Christian explanation?  Where should we stand?

Ep. 33 – Mitch Stokes Interview – How To Be An Atheist – Part 1

We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Mitch Stokes who authored the book we are currently going through to the show. The first part of the interview is getting the very interesting history of Dr. Stoke’s professional journey. We then discuss the first part of the book, How To Be An Atheist. We hope you enjoy this as much as we did. Thank you, Dr. Mitch Stokes!

Ep. 31 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.9 – Physics-Based Metaphysics

Don’t worry – we start off explaining what metaphysics is and why it’s important. We then go in and discuss the failure of natural physicists to try and explain metaphysics using only a physics-based approach. We get partial and also discuss in what way people do come to their belief in God. Then we cap it off by asking the question, “Why does God allow us to fail in science?”.

Ep. 30 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.8 – The Current Crisis

Is this episode we attempt to explain…string theory! We also look at the strained relationship between general relativity and quantum mechanics and the trouble both are in. Oh, and that idea that scientists have this brilliant idea of making science look smart and logical – ya, seems like the best idea they have right now to find a working theory is to look for theories with beauty and elegance to them. A sober skeptic should have a correct understanding of how scientists work and look at their so call conclusions about God with skepticism if they can’t tell us what the physical universe looks like.

Ep. 29 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.7 – Arguing With Success – Part 2

We take a look at the two most current theories of science, general relativity and quantum mechanics.  Those have to be the ones that are revealing truth to us!  Those are the cutting edge of discovery to how the universe functions and what it is made up of.  And those scientists tell us there is no God and no need for God.  Well except for the pesky fact that the scientists who came up with those theories don’t believe those theories are true…oh and both theories are diametrically opposed to each other. What was it they said about God again?

Ep. 28 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.7 – Arguing With Success – Part 1

Alright, look!  Science may be hard and it may not be as sterile as we think it is, but look at what science has given us!  You can’t argue with success, right?  Well, sure, we have technology and answers that advance theories.  But – haven’t we always had that even when the theories turned out to be wrong?  Can a theory work without actually being true?  That’s the topic of the chapter we cover in this part one of two episode.

Ep. 27 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.6 – Real Science Is Hard – Part 3

We finish up the chapter about the difficulty of true science. We look at just how hard scientists hold onto theories and that they aren’t just isolated from background beliefs. Christians don’t have to be skeptical of science but we must realize that worldviews play an undeclared, yet important, part of science. The episode link […]

Ep. 26 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.6 – Real Science Is Hard – Part 2

Ep26

We continue to look at what actually doing science is and how scientists actually do science. In this episode, we see that effects beliefs of scientists have when they do science. Not only do beliefs play a factor but we see that scientists actually rely on trusting authority and are trained to be indoctrinated. Science […]

Ep. 25 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.6 – Real Science Is Hard – Part 1

  We start a very interesting chapter that looks at what goes into developing a conclusion using the scientific process.  Developing theory and hypothesis sounds easy but what goes into it is quite complicated.  Again, we see that real science is not a squeaky clean process but a difficult one. The episode link is www.cavetothecross.com/ep25 […]

Ep. 24 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.5 – Photoshopped Science

Today’s episode is of Chapter 5 of  “How To Be An Atheist” by Mitch Stokes (Amazon Link – https://amzn.to/2DVJmw6). This chapter is kind of two parts. The first part is about the logical positivists coming in the early 20th century and using Hume to try and dismantle philosophy and theology. We look at their work […]

Ep. 23 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.4 – Science & The Humean Condition

Today’s episode is of Chapter 4 of  “How To Be An Atheist” by Mitch Stokes (Amazon Link – https://amzn.to/2DVJmw6). We look at the road Hume took with his skepticism as it applies to science. Hume end shows that there is no non-circular argument for the reliability of science and fails to answer the question of […]

Ep. 21 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.2 – The Believing Primate

We continue with Chapter 2 of “How To Be An Atheist” by Mitch Stokes (Amazon Link – https://amzn.to/2DVJmw6). Dr. Stokes, invoking David Hume, calls atheists to be better skeptics of what is presented as known truths of the world. Hume is the philosopher that many atheists/new atheists trace back to questioning the existence of God. […]

Ep. 20 – How To Be An Atheist – Ch.1 – Hume Exhumed

Dr. Stokes sets the stage for how to be a good skeptical atheist by invoking David Hume. Hume is the philosopher that many atheists/new atheists trace back to questioning the existence of God.

However, Hume doesn’t appear to take his skepticism far enough and atheists of today don’t see the implications of what Hume has taken on.

Ep. 19 – How To Be An Atheist – Introduction

In this book Dr. Stokes challenges everyone to be a sober skeptic.  He points out the views that atheists claim to hold are either inconsistent or don’t go far enough.  He challenges atheists to think more about what they are claiming and if they want to be skeptical – keep going.

It is not only a book for atheists but a book for Christians as they look at the other side’s worldview and see where the inconsistencies lie – especially when it’s wrapped up in the shield of “SCIENCE” and “REASON”.  We are challenged to be sober skeptics as well and to think through what it really means to hold the claims we do.