Paul Copan | Palm Beach Atlantic University (original) (raw)
Drafts by Paul Copan
Biblical theism—not Enlightenment "secularism"—has been the shaping influence for contemporary hu... more Biblical theism—not Enlightenment "secularism"—has been the shaping influence for contemporary human rights discourse (e.g., the Universal Declaration on Human Rights) as well as the emergence of the discipline of bioethics. Unlike naturalism and other non-theistic worldviews, the affirmation that human beings have been made in the image of God has far greater explanatory power to account for these rights, objective moral values and duties, free will, and rationality. The conviction that human life is a divinely-given, sacred gift has given shape to bioethics—and has the potential preserve this sacredness from the threatening implications of naturalism, which has no metaphysical room for this sacredness.
Biblical theism—not Enlightenment secularism—has been the shaping influence for contemporary huma... more Biblical theism—not Enlightenment secularism—has been the shaping influence for contemporary human rights discourse (e.g., the Universal Declaration on Human Rights) as well as the emergence of the bioethics discipline. Unlike naturalism and other non-theistic worldviews, the affirmation that human beings have been made in the image of God has far greater explanatory power to account for these rights, objective moral values and duties, free will, and rationality. That human life is a divinely-given, sacred gift has given shape to bioethics—and has the potential rescue it from the threatening implications of naturalism.
An edited version of this draft was published as “Bioethics” in The Routledge Companion to Theism. Edited by Charles Taliaferro, Victoria Harrison, and Stewart Goetz. London: Routledge, 2012. Pages 515-527.
This popularized essay summarizes the impact that faithful followers of Jesus Christ have made in... more This popularized essay summarizes the impact that faithful followers of Jesus Christ have made in history--science, bioethics, human rights, moral reforms, literacy, and other democratizing gains. These are often, though incorrectly, attributed to Greek "democracy," the Renaissance (hardly a pagan movement), and the Enlightenment (strongly shaped by voices influenced by Protestantism), which sociologist/historian Robert Woodberry has documented. Even non-theistic critics acknowledge this specific influence. In contrast to those who have listened to the "voice" of Jesus, I briefly examine certain strains of popular Hinduism shaped by the "voices" of Krishna, Ram, and Shiva.
In response to the skeptic's challenge to "prove that God exists," the theist and her critic are ... more In response to the skeptic's challenge to "prove that God exists," the theist and her critic are wise to sort out and clarify terms such as "atheism," "agnosticism," "knowledge," "proof," as well as "science" vs. "scientism" This draft of the popular-level article (published in *The City*) discusses the rules of engagement to enhance fair-minded conversation on such matters.
Papers by Paul Copan
Religious Studies Review, 2015
short histories of Big Sur's pre-Esalen bohemian communities, through its human potential heyday ... more short histories of Big Sur's pre-Esalen bohemian communities, through its human potential heyday in the sixties and seventies, to an emerging generational divide in the present, as well as identifying the main Asian and American theories and practices that inspired and influenced Esalen's founders, Michael Murphy and Richard Price. In identifying the core of the latter as the belief that all humans contain a spark of divinity that can be accessed and actualized through a variety of spiritual and healing practices, Goldman follows earlier Esalen chroniclers in correctly situating it in what Catherine Albanese has labeled the American metaphysical lineage. The unique contribution of the text, however, comes from Goldman's central analytic category of "spiritual privilege," which she defines as "an individual's ability to devote time and resources to select, combine and revise his or her personal religious beliefs and practices over the course of a lifetime." Chapter 3 unpacks and nuances this concept by providing sociocultural context for its emergence in an economically vibrant post-World War II economy and by showing how it has both challenged certain historic religious exclusions and produced its own modern forms of exclusion. In short, although Esalen's founders sincerely wanted to democratize spirituality, they failed to recognize the extent of their own spiritual privilege as white, upper-class men with considerable access to economic resources and social networks. With a particular focus on the exclusion of women and working-class participants, Goldman successfully illuminates the gap between the Esalen ideal and the actuality of spiritual democracy. Resisting the urge to romanticize or caustically dismiss Esalen and its inclusive bricolage spirituality, Goldman has produced a meticulously researched and accessible text that is recommended for classes on American religion, sociology of religion, and new religious movements.
The Evangelical quarterly, Sep 6, 1996
Religion & Spirituality, Passionate Conviction, Oct 1, 2007
Journal of Church and State, 2005
... 22 3 Christian Contributions 38 4 The Enlightenment and Beyond 50 PART II: TRUTH AND THE CULT... more ... 22 3 Christian Contributions 38 4 The Enlightenment and Beyond 50 PART II: TRUTH AND THE CULTURE WARS 61 5 The Truth About Truth 63 6 Truth and Tolerance 75 7 ...
Religion & Spirituality, Is God a Moral Monster?, 2011
Page 1. Responding t □ Skeptics Who Challenge Your Faith PAU LCD PAN Page 2. A number of critici... more Page 1. Responding t □ Skeptics Who Challenge Your Faith PAU LCD PAN Page 2. A number of criticisms of Christianity loom large in our day, hindering many people from participating in the Good News. Paul Copan offers a pow-erful, wonderfully lucid antidote. ...
International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, 2009
This is a great book. It brings together in one place a large number of important arguments in th... more This is a great book. It brings together in one place a large number of important arguments in the philosophy of religion, it provides Alvin Plantinga and Michael Tooley with an opportunity to respond to each other's arguments, and it provides the authors with an opportunity to respond to each other's responses. It would be highly suitable for graduate or undergraduate courses in the philosophy of religion, for those who are hoping to jump into some of the central issues that are hotly debated by contemporary philosophers of religion, and for university libraries. The essays are clearly developed (although they are rather technical in places), they engage with the relevant contemporary and classical literature, and each author provides an extensive bibliography at the end of the book with suggestions for further reading. The only puzzling feature of the book is its title, Knowledge of God, which suggests (to me, at least) that there is a God, whereas the point of the book is to debate just this claim. The first essay is by Plantinga, entitled "Against Naturalism," and its focus is broadly epistemological in nature. The second essay is by Tooley, entitled "Does God Exist?", and its focus is also broadly epistemological. The third essay, entitled "Reply to Tooley's Opening Statement," contains Plantinga's critical examination of Tooley's arguments, and the sixth essay contains Tooley's reply to Plantinga. The fourth essay, "Reply to Plantinga's Opening Statement," contains Tooley's critical examination of Plantinga's arguments in the first essay, and the fifth essay contains Plantinga's reply to Tooley. Here one of the chief virtues of this book becomes evident as it unfolds, namely, the opportunity for these two first-rate philosophers to respond, in detail, to one another's arguments in the same place. Rather than describe every detail of this
... Martin utilizes the Euthyphro argument to reinforce his point. Martin believes the moral obje... more ... Martin utilizes the Euthyphro argument to reinforce his point. Martin believes the moral objectivism and atheism are perfectly compatible. ... Martin utilizes the Euthyphro argument to reinforce his point. Martin believes the moral objectivism and atheism are perfectly compatible. ...
Philosophia Christi, 2018
Philosophia Christi, 2008
Faith and Philosophy, 2003
Religion & Spirituality, True for You, But Not for Me, Jun 1, 2009
Biblical theism—not Enlightenment "secularism"—has been the shaping influence for contemporary hu... more Biblical theism—not Enlightenment "secularism"—has been the shaping influence for contemporary human rights discourse (e.g., the Universal Declaration on Human Rights) as well as the emergence of the discipline of bioethics. Unlike naturalism and other non-theistic worldviews, the affirmation that human beings have been made in the image of God has far greater explanatory power to account for these rights, objective moral values and duties, free will, and rationality. The conviction that human life is a divinely-given, sacred gift has given shape to bioethics—and has the potential preserve this sacredness from the threatening implications of naturalism, which has no metaphysical room for this sacredness.
Biblical theism—not Enlightenment secularism—has been the shaping influence for contemporary huma... more Biblical theism—not Enlightenment secularism—has been the shaping influence for contemporary human rights discourse (e.g., the Universal Declaration on Human Rights) as well as the emergence of the bioethics discipline. Unlike naturalism and other non-theistic worldviews, the affirmation that human beings have been made in the image of God has far greater explanatory power to account for these rights, objective moral values and duties, free will, and rationality. That human life is a divinely-given, sacred gift has given shape to bioethics—and has the potential rescue it from the threatening implications of naturalism.
An edited version of this draft was published as “Bioethics” in The Routledge Companion to Theism. Edited by Charles Taliaferro, Victoria Harrison, and Stewart Goetz. London: Routledge, 2012. Pages 515-527.
This popularized essay summarizes the impact that faithful followers of Jesus Christ have made in... more This popularized essay summarizes the impact that faithful followers of Jesus Christ have made in history--science, bioethics, human rights, moral reforms, literacy, and other democratizing gains. These are often, though incorrectly, attributed to Greek "democracy," the Renaissance (hardly a pagan movement), and the Enlightenment (strongly shaped by voices influenced by Protestantism), which sociologist/historian Robert Woodberry has documented. Even non-theistic critics acknowledge this specific influence. In contrast to those who have listened to the "voice" of Jesus, I briefly examine certain strains of popular Hinduism shaped by the "voices" of Krishna, Ram, and Shiva.
In response to the skeptic's challenge to "prove that God exists," the theist and her critic are ... more In response to the skeptic's challenge to "prove that God exists," the theist and her critic are wise to sort out and clarify terms such as "atheism," "agnosticism," "knowledge," "proof," as well as "science" vs. "scientism" This draft of the popular-level article (published in *The City*) discusses the rules of engagement to enhance fair-minded conversation on such matters.
Religious Studies Review, 2015
short histories of Big Sur's pre-Esalen bohemian communities, through its human potential heyday ... more short histories of Big Sur's pre-Esalen bohemian communities, through its human potential heyday in the sixties and seventies, to an emerging generational divide in the present, as well as identifying the main Asian and American theories and practices that inspired and influenced Esalen's founders, Michael Murphy and Richard Price. In identifying the core of the latter as the belief that all humans contain a spark of divinity that can be accessed and actualized through a variety of spiritual and healing practices, Goldman follows earlier Esalen chroniclers in correctly situating it in what Catherine Albanese has labeled the American metaphysical lineage. The unique contribution of the text, however, comes from Goldman's central analytic category of "spiritual privilege," which she defines as "an individual's ability to devote time and resources to select, combine and revise his or her personal religious beliefs and practices over the course of a lifetime." Chapter 3 unpacks and nuances this concept by providing sociocultural context for its emergence in an economically vibrant post-World War II economy and by showing how it has both challenged certain historic religious exclusions and produced its own modern forms of exclusion. In short, although Esalen's founders sincerely wanted to democratize spirituality, they failed to recognize the extent of their own spiritual privilege as white, upper-class men with considerable access to economic resources and social networks. With a particular focus on the exclusion of women and working-class participants, Goldman successfully illuminates the gap between the Esalen ideal and the actuality of spiritual democracy. Resisting the urge to romanticize or caustically dismiss Esalen and its inclusive bricolage spirituality, Goldman has produced a meticulously researched and accessible text that is recommended for classes on American religion, sociology of religion, and new religious movements.
The Evangelical quarterly, Sep 6, 1996
Religion & Spirituality, Passionate Conviction, Oct 1, 2007
Journal of Church and State, 2005
... 22 3 Christian Contributions 38 4 The Enlightenment and Beyond 50 PART II: TRUTH AND THE CULT... more ... 22 3 Christian Contributions 38 4 The Enlightenment and Beyond 50 PART II: TRUTH AND THE CULTURE WARS 61 5 The Truth About Truth 63 6 Truth and Tolerance 75 7 ...
Religion & Spirituality, Is God a Moral Monster?, 2011
Page 1. Responding t □ Skeptics Who Challenge Your Faith PAU LCD PAN Page 2. A number of critici... more Page 1. Responding t □ Skeptics Who Challenge Your Faith PAU LCD PAN Page 2. A number of criticisms of Christianity loom large in our day, hindering many people from participating in the Good News. Paul Copan offers a pow-erful, wonderfully lucid antidote. ...
International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, 2009
This is a great book. It brings together in one place a large number of important arguments in th... more This is a great book. It brings together in one place a large number of important arguments in the philosophy of religion, it provides Alvin Plantinga and Michael Tooley with an opportunity to respond to each other's arguments, and it provides the authors with an opportunity to respond to each other's responses. It would be highly suitable for graduate or undergraduate courses in the philosophy of religion, for those who are hoping to jump into some of the central issues that are hotly debated by contemporary philosophers of religion, and for university libraries. The essays are clearly developed (although they are rather technical in places), they engage with the relevant contemporary and classical literature, and each author provides an extensive bibliography at the end of the book with suggestions for further reading. The only puzzling feature of the book is its title, Knowledge of God, which suggests (to me, at least) that there is a God, whereas the point of the book is to debate just this claim. The first essay is by Plantinga, entitled "Against Naturalism," and its focus is broadly epistemological in nature. The second essay is by Tooley, entitled "Does God Exist?", and its focus is also broadly epistemological. The third essay, entitled "Reply to Tooley's Opening Statement," contains Plantinga's critical examination of Tooley's arguments, and the sixth essay contains Tooley's reply to Plantinga. The fourth essay, "Reply to Plantinga's Opening Statement," contains Tooley's critical examination of Plantinga's arguments in the first essay, and the fifth essay contains Plantinga's reply to Tooley. Here one of the chief virtues of this book becomes evident as it unfolds, namely, the opportunity for these two first-rate philosophers to respond, in detail, to one another's arguments in the same place. Rather than describe every detail of this
... Martin utilizes the Euthyphro argument to reinforce his point. Martin believes the moral obje... more ... Martin utilizes the Euthyphro argument to reinforce his point. Martin believes the moral objectivism and atheism are perfectly compatible. ... Martin utilizes the Euthyphro argument to reinforce his point. Martin believes the moral objectivism and atheism are perfectly compatible. ...
Philosophia Christi, 2018
Philosophia Christi, 2008
Faith and Philosophy, 2003
Religion & Spirituality, True for You, But Not for Me, Jun 1, 2009
Philosophia Christi, 2008
N. T. Wright's book on evil is an insightful one. 1 Before offering any comments, I should first ... more N. T. Wright's book on evil is an insightful one. 1 Before offering any comments, I should first say that I have a high regard for his scholarship and have been greatly influenced and spiritually enriched by his writings. I frequently cite him-thus far, always positively!-both in lectures and in various books I have written. In my book, Loving Wisdom: Christian Philosophy of Religion, I appropriate various insights of his on topics such as the image of God, evil, atonement, and resurrection. 2 And for some time now, at my Web site I have had a link to the fairly official-looking "Unofficial N. T. Wright Page." 3 Now on to Wright's excellent book! Wright declares that he does not pretend to "provide a full, or even a balanced, treatment either of the problem of evil or. .. the meaning of Jesus' crucifixion" (9). Indeed, evil is not a problem we shall "solve" in the present world (11). Wright's primary task is modest: it is "not so much to give answers to impossible philosophical questions as to bring signs of God's new world to birth, on the basis of Jesus' death and in the power of his Spirit, even in the midst of 'the present evil age'" (11). Wright's approach to evil takes seriously both a fides quarens intellectum (faith seeking understanding) as well as a spes quarens intellectum abStraCt: Theologian N. T. Wright's book Evil and the Justice of God offers a biblical response to the problem of evil without attempting to "solve" the issue, but to shed light on the problem from a Christian theological perspective. This essay affirms Wright's approach, but notes the need for greater clarity of the ontological language related to evil. The essay also seeks further answers to questions regarding animal suffering and the fall as well as the role of (just) force in preventing gross evils and restoring peace.
Choice Reviews Online, 2011
... It has been a pleasure, as always, to work with Cynthia Read and Oxford University Press. Tha... more ... It has been a pleasure, as always, to work with Cynthia Read and Oxford University Press. Thanks to Ashley Polikoff, production coordinator at OUP; Dorothy Bauhoff, the copyeditor; and ... ethics to issues specific to Christian theology: the afterlife, resurrection, incarnation, and the ...