withallyourmind.net

Today was a full day and I am unable to provide as much information on each session as yesterday. But, the first session of the day at EPS/ETS was by Jay Richards, of the Acton, Institute, answering the question of “Is the ‘Spontaneous’ Market Order an Example of Design without a Designer?”. Next, J. P. Moreland offered a response to Phillip Clayton on the subject of “Substance Dualism and Individuals in the Mereological Hierarchy.” Then, Michael Rea, of Notre Dame, answered the question, “Were the Cappadocian Fathers Social Trinitarians?” After Rea, William Lane Craig responded, “No” to the question, “Is Uncertainty a Sound Foundation for Religious Tolerance.” In the afternoon, David Hunt offered a “Defense of Simple Foreknowledge.” Then, in a plenary session of the EPS, Michael Murray, of Franklin and Marshall, addressed the question of whether “Evolutionary and Cognitive Psycology” could adequately explain religion. Of course, there were many other sessions taking place simultaneously in other areas of the conference.

This evening, “Reasonable Faith in an Uncertain World” Apologetics Conference kicked off with an inspirational challenge by Lee Strobel. Afterwords, there were several breakout sessions including the one I attended in which J. P. Moreland discussed the “Argument from Consciousness”: A powerful argument for the existence of God. Briefly, Moreland presented arguments to show that conscious states cannot be identical to brain states. Physical matter cannot give rise to non-physical entities, and so consciousness is a recalictrant fact with which physicalism cannot deal. On the other hand, the Theist belief in God as a conscious being who created man in his own image does offer an explanation for consciousness.

Tommorow is another full day. Hopefully, I can offer another update tomorrow evening.