PEL Presents PvI#111: God Smites Elijah Dann

What It Covers

Philosophy professor Elijah Dann discusses his journey from evangelical Christianity through progressive faith to atheism, examining traditional arguments for God's existence and religious belief. He explains his book "Unbelieving God: A Skeptic's Guide" and advocates for public debate about religious epistemology in universities and workplaces.

Key Questions Answered

• •Religious Pluralism Problem: When believers from different faiths claim personal experience validates their contradictory beliefs, outsiders cannot determine truth. Mormon, Islamic, Jewish, and Christian theologies fundamentally contradict each other, yet adherents cite identical experiential justification. This logical impossibility suggests experience alone provides insufficient evidence for religious claims.
• •Cognitive Dissonance Management: Religious believers compartmentalize conflicting information as epistemic danglers—unresolved contradictions that coexist with core beliefs. This psychological mechanism allows believers to maintain faith despite encountering scientific evidence or logical problems. Identity, family ties, and community bonds create stronger barriers to belief change than rational arguments alone.
• •Critical Thinking Curriculum: Teaching critical thinking specifically addressing conspiracies, ideology, and pseudoscience fills immediate demand—Dann's course at Simon Fraser University filled registration the first day. Universities need more skeptical examination of religious claims alongside traditional religion courses, as public interest in religious epistemology remains high but underserved in academic settings.
• •Adam and Eve Litmus Test: The Genesis story reveals fundamental problems with biblical literalism and metaphorical interpretation. Paul explicitly states death entered through Adam's sin, yet death existed billions of years before humans. If Adam and Eve are metaphorical, the theological foundation for Christ's literal sacrifice collapses, creating an irreconcilable contradiction in Christian doctrine.
• •Public Debate Necessity: Rorty argues belief cannot remain siloed in individual minds because reason and speech are inherently public. Religious claims affecting public policy or workplace discussions require examination through shared rational standards. Universities should facilitate debates between qualified opponents on religious topics rather than avoiding controversy due to donor pressure or offense concerns.