36 arguments for the existence of god

W ith atheism fashionable and religious fundamentalism on the rise, 36 arguments for the existence of god gently mocks the delusions of both the godly and the godless. Transcript for 36 arguments for the existence of god this transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate. In philosophical terms, the question of the existence of god involves the disciplines of epistemology the nature and scope of knowledge and. The times london 36 arguments for the existence of god affirms ms. Hes been dubbed the atheist with a soul, and his sudden celebrity has upended his life. January 20, 2010 rebecca goldsteins 36 arguments for the existence of god is part academic farce and part metaphysical romance.

Dec 18, 2009 45 you wouldnt know it from the title, but rebecca goldsteins 36 arguments for the existence of god is a novel. Equally adept at fiction a winner of the national jewish book award and philosophy a recipient of the macarthur foundation genius prize, rebecca newberger goldstein now gives us a novel that transforms the great debate between faith and reason into an exhilarating. Psychology today impressively succeeds in combining esoteric philosophical argument and laughoutloud humour. An atheist who largely relies on the former type of argument is a negative atheist i. The protagonist, cass seltzer, is a psychology professor who specializes in debunking religious beliefs and traditions. The existence of god is a subject of debate in the philosophy of religion and popular culture a wide variety of arguments for and against the existence of god can be categorized as metaphysical, logical, empirical, or subjective. Rebecca goldsteins novel presents and refutes three dozen arguments for god s existence. The night i began reading rebecca newberger goldsteins 36 arguments for the. Part academic farce, part metaphysical romance, all novel of ideas, 36 arguments for the existence of god may not settle the question of whether god exists but it does affirm the phenomenon of literary miracles.

Apr 28, 2018 36 arguments for the existence of god thus offers the same engaging cocktail of philosophy, roman a clef fun, and scholarly soap opera that marked her earlier books, especially the bestselling. In 36 arguments for the existence of god, goldstein shows that philosophers and scholars may construct as many proofs or disproofs of. Mar 20, 2010 w ith atheism fashionable and religious fundamentalism on the rise, 36 arguments for the existence of god gently mocks the delusions of both the godly and the godless. The argument from the paucity of benign mutations d. Feb 01, 2011 36 arguments for the existence of god is a stunningly original novel, which explores the varieties of the human religious experience in a story of obsession, consuming love, and divine genius. Jan 24, 2010 an atheist who largely relies on the former type of argument is a negative atheist i. Its still january, but 36 arguments for the existence of god by rebecca newberger goldstein is without a doubt the funniest work of existential philosophy youll read all year. Dubbed the atheist with a soul, he wins over the stunning.

True, it carries a 52 page appendix, also titled 36 arguments for the existence of god, which lists 36 arguments, many of which you may have seen in your intro to philosophy class, then outlines and argues against each. A work of fiction finds professor cass seltzer giddily contemplating his uncanny luck. Hilarious, heartbreaking, and intellectually captivating, it is a luminous and intoxicating novel. With atheism fashionable and religious fundamentalism on the rise, 36 arguments for the existence of god gently mocks the delusions of both.

The characters in 36 arguments for the existence of god explore the great moral issues of our day in a novel that is deeply moving and a joy to read. Rebecca goldsteins novel presents and refutes three dozen arguments for gods existence. Apr 09, 2010 36 arguments for the existence of god by rebecca goldstein. The opening chapter of rebecca goldsteins 36 arguments for the existence of god. At the center is cass seltzer, a professor of psychology whose book, the varieties of religious illusion, has become a surprise best seller. Posts about 36 arguments for the existence of god written by djgrieser preaching grace on the square scripture, tradition, theology, random thoughts from capitol square in madison, wi. I saw that all the arguments are in the appendix and thats why i ordered the book from the library so i decided to skip the novel since i have many other books waiting. By turns hilarious, moving and devilishly clever, goldsteins novel is an exhilarating romance of heart and mind. Jan 12, 2010 36 arguments for the existence of god plunges into the great debate of our day. Overcomplicated yet dazzling, sparked by frequent flashes of nonchalant brilliance, 36 arguments for the existence of god affirms ms. In 36 arguments for the existence of god, rebecca newberger goldstein explores the rapture and torments of religious experience in all its variety. Jan 20, 2010 36 arguments for the existence of god.

Feb 11, 2010 36 arguments for the existence of god plunges into the great debate of our day. Rebecca newberger goldsteins 36 arguments about god. Jan, 2010 to my mind, 36 arguments for the existence of god is both postreligion and postatheism. His recent publication, the varieties of religious illusion, couldnt have been timed more perfectly.

May 25, 2011 rebecca goldsteins 36 arguments for the existence of god recalls this admonition. In 36 arguments for the existence of god, goldstein has fashioned a tale that does justice to the depth of the problem of reconciling a scientific worldview with the insistent yearning for transcendence, and has done so in a way that is philosophically sophisticated without being pedantic, and deeply moving without being weighed down by the. Cass seltzer, a professor of psychology whose book, the varieties of religious illusion, has become a surprise best seller. Goldstein is not impressed by dogma from either side but instead explores the world of meaning in the middle, balancing her work between the scientism of the ivory tower and the numinous experience of the pearly gates. Nov 23, 2009 there is an excerpt from the novel on the edge site, including an appendix in which goldstein assaults 36 philosophical arguments for god s existence. Steven pinker interviews rebecca newberger goldstein, author of 36 arguments for the existence of god. Jan 22, 2010 36 arguments for the existence of god this clever novel manages to blend existential ponderings with humor and sharp writing. A work of fiction vintage contemporaries rebecca newberger goldstein on. Goldstein on the cosmological argument william lane craig.

Goldsteins rare ability to explore the quotidian and the cosmological with equal ease. His proudest achievement is his book, the varieties of religious illusion, in which he argues that all religions are manifestations of the illusion that. Maureen corrigan, fresh air, npr a looping tale with affectionate irony about academic life, culture wars, and relationships in. Her brilliant sixth novel, 36 arguments for the existence of god, intelligently approaches one of lifes big questions from the perspective of a psychology professor looking to all the world like he has the answers, yet comically unable to. Her most recent book, 36 arguments for the existence of god, is a vasta s. Not since the enlightenment has this collision been so much on peoples minds. Yet, in the philosophernovelist rebecca newberger goldsteins latest work of fiction, 36 arguments for the existence of god. Jonathan safran foer, author of everything is illuminated. Jan 12, 2010 36 arguments for the existence of god is an intriguingly structured work, tricky but also very traditional. To my mind, 36 arguments for the existence of god is both postreligion and postatheism. Thoughtful, witty, and i cannot stress enough really entertaining, 36 arguments is part campus comedy, part romantic farce, part philosophical treatise. What is this stuff, you ask one another, says the narrator in rebecca newberger goldsteins new novel 36 arguments for the existence of god.