HCU Philosophy

09/22/2023

We're very happy to see this collection from Discovery Institute Press, sponsored by the Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence, finally coming out. Dr. Bruce Gordon, a historian and philosopher of science in HCU's philosophy department, has two essays in it, one of which (Consciousness and Quantum Information) is available online from a link in the announcement posted below. This announcement also includes a link to the introduction and table of contents for the compendium. Here is a description of the volume, which is titled *Minding the Brain: Models of the Mind, Information, and Empirical Science*:
"Is your mind the same thing as your brain, or are there aspects of mind beyond the brain’s biology? This is the mind-body problem, and it has captivated curious minds since the dawn of human contemplation. Today many insist that the mind is completely reducible to the brain. But is that claim justified? In this stimulating anthology, twenty-five philosophers and scientists offer fresh insights into the mind-brain debate, drawing on philosophy, computer science, quantum physics, neuroscience, neurosurgery, and psychology. Their provocative conclusion? The mind is indeed more than the brain."

Is your mind the same thing as your brain, or are there aspects of mind beyond the brain’s biology? This is the mind-body problem, and it has captivated curious minds since the dawn of human…

07/29/2020

Logic is indispensable to your studies and your life. Make sure you take it in your first year at university! https://academicinfluence.com/inflection/guidance/reasons-to-take-logic?

01/31/2019

Alas, so it is....

(CS)

11/19/2016

November 29th is the anniversary of the birth of C.S. Lewis. In his university lectures about the medieval cosmos, Lewis would sometimes refer to his own birthday, saying: ‘Those born under Jupiter are apt to be cheerful and festive, loud-voiced and red-faced’. He would then pause and add, ‘It is obvious under which planet I was born!’ - which always produced a laugh. [ 2,252 more words ]

http://christianthought.hbu.edu/2016/11/19/c-s-lewis-jupiter-and-christmas

November 29th is the anniversary of the birth of C.S. Lewis. In his university lectures about the medieval cosmos, Lewis would sometimes refer to his own birthday, saying:  ‘Those born under Jupite…

10/07/2016

A.O. Collins Lectures Featured Guest: John J. Collins (Yale Divinity School) Thursday, October 13 7:30pm; Belin Chapel Title: Outside the Canon. The Literature of Second Temple Judaism, and Why It Matters: The Apocalyptic Genre The School of Christian Thought is pleased to announce that John J. Collins will deliver the A. O. Collins lectures for fall 2016. A native of Ireland, Professor Collins is the Holmes Professor of Old Testament Criticism and Interpretation at Yale Divinity School. [ 158 more words ]

http://christianthought.hbu.edu/2016/10/07/john-collins-yale-at-hbu-1013-730pm

A.O. Collins Lectures Featured Guest: John J. Collins (Yale Divinity School) Thursday, October 13 7:30pm; Belin Chapel Title: Outside the Canon. The Literature of Second Temple Judaism, and Why It …

08/31/2016

On March 2-4, 2017 the Department of Theology at HBU, in conjunction with Lanier Theological Library, is hosting the conference How the Bible Came into Being. The conference will consider the formation of the biblical canon, the literature included and excluded, and its theological significance. Our keynote speakers are James Charlesworth (Princeton Theological Seminary) and Lee McDonald (formerly of Acadia Divinity College). [ 190 more words ]

http://christianthought.hbu.edu/2016/08/31/how-the-bible-came-into-being-hbu-spring-theology-conference

On March 2-4, 2017 the Department of Theology at HBU, in conjunction with Lanier Theological Library, is hosting the conference How the Bible Came into Being. The conference will consider the forma…

06/16/2016

It is a ritual that has become all too familiar. A gunman claiming to act on behalf of Islam, or ISIS, or simply shouting “Allahu Akbar” murders numerous people. President Obama condemns the atrocity as workplace violence, extremist violence, or even terrorism, but studiously avoids using the terms “radical Islamic terrorism” or “jihad.” It then becomes a deeply partisan issue as conservative politicians and other commentators point this out, and argue that his failure to name radical Islamic terrorism for what it is reflects a fundamental failure of his policy for dealing with it. [ 1190 more words. ]

http://christianthought.hbu.edu/2016/06/16/why-naming-radical-islam-matters

It is a ritual that has become all too familiar.   A gunman claiming to act on behalf of Islam, or ISIS, or simply shouting “Allahu Akbar” murders numerous people.  President Obama condemns the atr…

05/27/2016

Here is the book list for the *ONLINE* PHIL 6320 "Science and Faith" course for Fall 2016 (cross-listed and available as APOL 6320 as well). We'll be reading the following titles, plus a passel of journal articles. Brace yourself for a wild romp through more than three millennia of thought and argumentation!

1. Kyle Greenwood (2015) Scripture and Cosmology: Reading the Bible between the Ancient World and Modern Science. 978-0-830840-78-6

2. John Lennox (2007) Seven Days that Divide the World: The Beginning According to Genesis and Science. 978-0-310492-17-7

3. Davis Young & Ralph Stearley (2008) The Bible, Rocks and Time: Geological Evidence for the Age of the Earth. 978-0-830828-76-0

4. Edward Grant (2007) A History of Natural Philosophy: From the Ancient World to the Nineteenth Century. 978-0-521689-57-1

5. Richard DeWitt (2010) Worldviews: An Introduction to the History and Philosophy of Science (2nd Edition). 978-1-405195-63-8

6. Del Ratzsch (2000) Science and Its Limits: The Natural Sciences in Christian Perspective. 978-0-830815-80-7

7. William Dembski (2004) The Design Revolution: Answering the Toughest Questions about Intelligent Design. 978-0-830832-16-3

8. William Dembski & Jonathan Wells (2008) The Design of Life: Discovering Signs of Intelligence in Biological Systems. 978-0-980021-30-1

9. Paul Copan & William Lane Craig (2004) Creation out of Nothing: A Biblical, Philosophical, and Scientific Exploration. 978-0-801027-33-8

10. Jim Baggott (2013) Farewell to Reality: How Modern Physics has Betrayed the Search for Scientific Truth. 978-1-605985-74-9

05/12/2016

The Department of Theology is co-hosting this month's Houston Church Planting Network lunch. It's May 25th at 11:30 in McNair Hall. See the RSVP details below. May HCPN Gathering Our next HCPN gathering will be Wednesday, May 25th from 11:30a-1:30p. Please make sure and RSVP if you plan to attend. NOTE: Each person attending must RSVP separately. We will be hearing from… [ 107 more words. ]

http://christianthought.hbu.edu/2016/05/12/houston-church-planting-network-lunch/

The Department of Theology is co-hosting this month’s Houston Church Planting Network lunch. It’s May 25th at 11:30 in McNair Hall. See the RSVP details below. May HCPN Gathering Our ne…

04/03/2016

In this year, 2016, the Republican nomination process has been the most entertaining reality show on television, but the other night the show took a strange turn. Donald Trump said something that has angered both the right and the left of the political spectrum, which is not surprising or unusual. But what is surprising is that what he said should… [ 1345 more words. ]

http://christianthought.hbu.edu/2016/04/03/punishing-mothers-for-abortion

In this year, 2016, the Republican nomination process has been the most entertaining reality show on television, but the other night the show took a strange turn. Donald Trump said something that h…

03/14/2016

It’s the season of Lent, the time in the church year when Christians prepare for the incomparably great Easter Feast. The forty days of Lent, reflecting Christ’s forty days in the wilderness, are intended to be observed as a kind of askesis, a spiritual training and a moral challenge, undertaken in order to discipline our desires and strengthen our wills, subduing our unruly habits and showing us ‘the one thing needful’. [ 2452 more words. ]

http://christianthought.hbu.edu/2016/03/14/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-sanctuary/

It’s the season of Lent, the time in the church year when Christians prepare for the incomparably great Easter Feast. The forty days of Lent, reflecting Christ’s forty days in the wilderness, are i…