atheists / agnostics

(For 11/19/17 class.)

If you missed class or want to review:

• "From Atheism to Catholicism: My Conversion Diary," by Jennifer Fulwiler (audio) **
• Answering Atheist Slogans by John De Rosa (e-book). See below for details. **

More helpful articles and sites:

Click here for the class handout for 11/19/17, conversion story discussion plus answering atheist objections.

If you missed class or want to review:

• "Are the Gospels Myth?" by Carl Olson, This Rock, Mar. 2008 **
• "Evidence for the Resurrection of Christ" by Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli **

More helpful articles and sites:

Most of the material I presented in these two class can be found in these articles:

• "Are the Gospels Myth?" by Carl Olson, This Rock, Mar. 2008
• "Evidence for the Resurrection of Christ" by Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli

Please see the Resources post for this class for more information.

Click here for a printable version of this handout on moral relativism.

“We are building a dictatorship of relativism that does not recognize anything as definitive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of one's own ego and desires. We, however, have a different goal: the Son of God, the true man. He is the measure of true humanism. An 'adult' faith is not a faith that follows the trends of fashion and the latest novelty; a mature adult faith is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ.” – Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, homily to the conclave that elected him Pope, 18 April 2005

If you missed class or want to review:

• Relativism: The New Dictatorship with Chris Stefanick, audio from Catholic Answers **
• “Tired of Being Called a Morality Cop (and Other Bad Names)?” by J. Budziszewski, This Rock, Jan 2006 **

More helpful articles and sites:

Class date: 10/15/17
If you missed class or want to review:

• Five Philosophical Mistakes Every Catholic Apologist Should Be Aware Of, by Tom Harmon, This Rock, Jan. 2005 **
• “The Problem of Evil,” by Matt Fradd, Catholic Answers Blog, July 9, 2013 **
• Answering Atheist Slogans, by John deRosa, eBook, 2017 **

More helpful articles:

• Class notes **
• “How to Challenge an Atheist’s Worldview,” Kenneth Hensley, Catholic Answers Magazine, Nov-Dec 2011 **
• OR, the audio recording How to Answer Atheists and Agnostics (more info below) **

More helpful articles and sites:

• Begin with prayer

1. Clarify
   1. What is a materialist? (one meaning is someone who spends a lot of time and energy acquiring more and more stuff)
   2. When we speak of atheists = materialists, that's not what we mean
   3. Instead, mean that they think there is nothing in the universe but matter & energy
   4. Claim: if you can't see, hear, smell, taste, touch, or measure with instruments, it doesn't exist

2. Is it logical?
   1. Consider: “There is nothing but matter and energy in the universe.”
   2. What is that, itself?