Sometimes, thinkers articulate monotheism in such a way that it is not primarily about denying the existence of anything. Other thinkers will suggest instead that whether monotheism is about what exists, or has some salient feature, it is not about counting anything. What they both seem to have in common is a view that there … Continue reading Monotheism and Unindexed Definite Description
Apologetics
On the Problem of Pagan Eclipse
There is an argument sometimes made that the termination of a religious tradition reflects poorly on the object(s) of that tradition. Maybe it means the God and its entourage never existed in the first place, or that they were defeated, or at least that they abandoned their people. But whatever it means, it isn’t good. … Continue reading On the Problem of Pagan Eclipse
Polytheism and Classical Natural Theology
I am currently taking a course in Natural Theology, which is understood to be the discipline or science that proves or demonstrates the existence and attributes of God (classically conceived). Two of the works we are reading are Edward Feser's Five Proofs of the Existence of God and Matthew Levering's Proofs of God: Classical Arguments … Continue reading Polytheism and Classical Natural Theology
(Mis)appropriating Polycentricity
It can sound mysterious to say that there is no determinate upper bound number of Gods; or, that this upper bound amount cannot be counted, or that this kind of state of affairs is due to the fact that Deity precedes everything, even Number. This can make it sound like at the highest level of … Continue reading (Mis)appropriating Polycentricity
Dumsday on Polytheism: Part I
In this first post, I want to reflect on two of the points Dumsday makes: (i) how might polytheists appropriate arguments for Bare Theism, or prevent monotheists from doing so? and (ii) how are henads different from bare particulars? I. Appropriating arguments for Bare Theism Dumsday notes that while thinkers like Greer and myself have … Continue reading Dumsday on Polytheism: Part I
The one where a polytheist takes on the Razor
Philosophy is in the business of looking for arguments. Why do we think something is true or false? What reasons are there, really? The philosophical process tends to end when and only for as long as the mind is satisfied. But that doesn't mean there aren't more arguments to be given on behalf of a … Continue reading The one where a polytheist takes on the Razor
On Paganism as a Robust Alternative
Part of my project is presenting a substantive, robust religious alternative to today's leading positions. I call this alternative 'paganism'. Here I have in mind the oldest, most widespread religious orientation on the planet; the truly global and default position. It is a view of the world on which it truly is enchanted: full of … Continue reading On Paganism as a Robust Alternative
Combining Aquinas and the Kalam
For years, champions of the Kalam cosmological argument like Craig have argued that the reason the cause of the universe is a mind is because it is either that or an abstract object: there just aren't any other realistic candidates. A lot of folks find this sort of reasoning...meh. I mean, maybe it's right. But, … Continue reading Combining Aquinas and the Kalam
Monotheism and the Question Begged
The idea of monotheism can be put in different ways, and sometimes other ideas can be mistaken for monotheism. A more abstract approach, for example, would not necessarily say there is only one God, but only that there is no more than one God. This way of putting things is amenable to those who think … Continue reading Monotheism and the Question Begged
A Curious Concession
"The rapid spread of Polytheism, especially during the period stretching from Abraham to Christ, calls for an explanation. Since reason is able to produce the strongest argument against the intrinsic possibility of Polytheism, the enormous propagation of this error can not be sufficiently explained by attributing to it the weakness of human intellect after the … Continue reading A Curious Concession
The Analytic Pagan 