Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear.” – Thomas Jefferson
This six-part essay describes some of my thoughts on religious belief, developed over a period of a few years during which I essentially “deconverted” from Christianity. The essay was conceived as a personal project aimed at examining and clarifying my own beliefs, and is therefore not intended specifically to change peoples’ minds. My hope is that, at the very least, it will raise questions that both believers and nonbelievers may not previously have considered.
Part 1: The Conflict Between Science and God
Part 2: Why People Believe in God
Part 3: Religion and the natural world
Part 4: Religious morality reconsidered
Part 5: Objective secular morality
Part 6: A Positive atheist outlook
