Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

CategoryReligion

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Technology addicted family: parents and child use laptop and mobile phones. Modern family values - Mom, dad with daughter obsessed with devices overuse social media, internet addiction concept.
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post
Author
News
Date
August 9, 2020
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Artificial Intelligence, Data Privacy, Religion, Social Media
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If New Tech Enhances Our Lives, Why Does It Make Us Crazy?

It doesn’t have to. Let’s think this through
News
August 9, 2020
5
Artificial Intelligence, Data Privacy, Religion, Social Media

It has never been easier to connect but somehow we don’t. Andrew McDiarmid, author of the blog Thinking and thriving in the digital age, asks us to consider why loneliness (and suicide) have accompanied the rise of new communications technology. And he offers a challenge: Here are just a few questions to ask yourself about each tech tool you have. Is using this tool a wise use of my time? Does it encourage me to think for myself? Does it enable me to use my God-given abilities and spiritual gifts? Does it help me accomplish what God wants me to do? Does using this tech compromise my witness to others by causing me to stumble or get distracted? Does it Read More ›

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underground
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post
Author
News
Date
August 2, 2020
Categorized
Philosophy of Mind, Religion, Science
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Why Reasonable People Think Near-Death Experiences Are Real

Distinguished engineers Walter Bradley and Robert J.Marks sift through the evidence
News
August 2, 2020
16
Philosophy of Mind, Religion, Science

In a recent podcast, “Walter Bradley on Near-Death Experiences,” Center director Robert J. Marks discusses these experiences with Walter Bradley, after whom the Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence is named. Dr. Bradley is an emeritus distinguished professor at Baylor University, formerly professor and mechanical engineering head at Texas A&M University. https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-093-Walter-Bradley.mp3 Here are some selections from the transcript: (You can download the entire transcript here.) Marks and Bradley started with first principles: Is it reasonable to believe that there is anything out beyond the material world? Many people assume that science exists to defend materialism. But Walter Bradley has defended the idea that there is also an immaterial world, of which we are a part, in a Read More ›

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3D rendering of a futuristic mech soldier with dog.
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post
Author
News
Date
July 19, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Religion, Surveillance, Technocracy
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Do Some Passages in the Book of Revelation Seem to Talk About AI?

Revelation is notoriously obscure but a passage about a future “total control” state gives pause for thought
News
July 19, 2020
5
Artificial Intelligence, Religion, Surveillance, Technocracy

John Lennox, author of 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity (2020), is not only an Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University but also pastoral advisor to Green Templeton College at Oxford. In a podcast, “Does Revelation Talk About Artificial Intelligence?” with Robert J. Marks, director of the Walter Bradley Institute, he addresses the title question, “Do some passages in the Book of Revelation seem to talk about AI?”: https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-091-John-Lennox.mp3 Selections from the transcript are provided below: (The complete downloadable transcript may be found following the Show Notes and Resources. “Can AI Replace the Need for Belief in God?” provides an account of the earlier portion of this lively discussion.) Robert J. Marks (right): Last question I want Read More ›

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Artificial robot hand touch human hand
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Author
News
Date
July 19, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Religion, Science
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Can AI Replace the Need for Belief in God?

Oxford mathematician contends that science should increase our respect for what God has created and allowed us to do
News
July 19, 2020
13
Artificial Intelligence, Religion, Science

John Lennox. author of 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity (2020), is not only an Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University but also pastoral advisor to Green Templeton College at Oxford. In a podcast, “Does Revelation Talk About Artificial Intelligence?”, he discusses with Robert J. Marks, director of the Walter Bradley Institute, the title question: “Can AI replace the need for belief in God?” https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-091-John-Lennox.mp3 Selections from the transcript are provided below: (The complete downloadable transcript may be found following the Show Notes and Resources) Robert J. Marks (right): Let’s talk about the theological implications of AI. You have a reputation, not only as a mathematician, but a Christian apologist. And I wanted to go into some Read More ›

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3D rendering abstract round light background
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Author
News
Date
July 17, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind, Religion
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Oxford Mathematician: Atheism Detracts from Science

The problem, as John Lennox sees it, is that atheism does not provide grounds for believing in rationality
News
July 17, 2020
2
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind, Religion

Today, Evolution News and Science Today published an excerpt from Oxford mathematician John Lennox’s 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity (Zondervan 2020): in which Lennox discusses some of the ways in which atheism detracts from science: Science proceeds on the basis of the assumption that the universe is, at least to a certain extent, accessible to the human mind. No science can be done without the scientist believing this, so it is important to ask for grounds for this belief. Atheism gives us none, since it posits a mindless, unguided origin of the universe’s life and consciousness. John Lennox, “Why Science and Atheism Don’t Mix” at Evolution News and Science Today: He offers physicist John Polkinghorne’s explanation of Read More ›

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Warning Sign about Stumbling
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Author
News
Date
July 12, 2020
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Artificial Intelligence, Religion, Science
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In Dan Brown’s AI Hype Novel, the Hero Stumbles Onto God

Not clear that was supposed to happen but stories do get away on their authors at times…
News
July 12, 2020
6
Artificial Intelligence, Religion, Science

In a recent podcast, “John Lennox: False Assumptions in the hype over AI,” Oxford mathematician John Lennox, author of 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity (2020) discussed common mistaken assumptions with Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks. One of them seems to be that AI might prove there is no God, replace God, or become God. Things get interesting when these science fictions meet the world of fact. https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-090-John-Lennox.mp3 From the transcript: Robert J. Marks: In your book, you discussed Dan Brown’s novel entitled Origin. Now Dan Brown is famous for writing many, I don’t know, kind of strange books. One was the Da Vinci Code, but his recent one deals with artificial intelligence and you discuss Read More ›

St-Francis-Outpatient-Center
St Francis Outpatient Center in Federal Way, Washington State
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post
Author
Michael Egnor
Date
June 1, 2020
Categorized
Medicine and Health, Religion
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COVID-19: Atheism Went Viral As Well

Atheists are uniquely unsuited to accuse others of devaluing human life
Michael Egnor
June 1, 2020
6
Medicine and Health, Religion

Professor Steven Pinker’s quickly deleted tweet provides a window into anti-religious hate. In health and medicine, he is entirely mistaken. 

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Two Astronauts on the Alien Planet Discover Plant Life. Space Travel, Discovery Of Habitable Worlds and Colonization Concept.
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Author
News
Date
May 31, 2020
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Philosophy of Mind, Religion, Science
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Is Intelligence Common or Rare in the Universe?

A recent analysis says that life is common but intelligence not so much. Let’s explore the reasoning
News
May 31, 2020
6
Philosophy of Mind, Religion, Science

We really don't know anything about life elsewhere in the universe so even university-trained scientists often try to WISH it into existence.

Read More ›
if-then-logic-statement-written-in-white-chalk-on-a-black-chalkboard-isolated-on-white-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
If Then logic statement written in white chalk on a black chalkboard isolated on white
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Author
News
Date
May 10, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics, Religion
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Gödel and God: A Surprising History

A thought-provoking account of master logician Gödel’s largely unknown proof of the existence of God
News
May 10, 2020
11
Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics, Religion

In an unsanitized, politically incorrect (but factual) history, Selmer Bringsjord talks about how the tormented genius Kurt Gödel took up a quest that dated back a thousand years to prove the existence of God by formal logic. His original version didn’t quite work but his editor’s version passed an important logic test.

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Fractal galaxy cosmic consciousness, the Eye that is the Source of Creation
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post
Author
Michael Egnor
Date
March 22, 2020
Categorized
Religion
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God’s Existence Is Proven by Science

Arguments for God’s existence can be demonstrated by the ordinary method of scientific inference
Michael Egnor
March 22, 2020
10
Religion

If we approach the arguments logically, as the ancient philosophers did, we will see that it is more certain that God exists than that anything else does. Atheist evolutionary biologist Jerry Coyne should consider the arguments more carefully before assuming that prayer is foolish.

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Panoramic aerial view of St Peter's square in Vatican, Rome Italy
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post
Author
Jay Richards
Date
March 22, 2020
Categorized
Business and Finance, Ethics, Religion
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Why Does the Vatican Need Microsoft?

Should the Church really partner with IBM and Microsoft to make pronouncements on tech regulation?
Jay Richards
March 22, 2020
6
Business and Finance, Ethics, Religion

When giant corporate actors like IBM and Microsoft promote “transparency and compliance with ethical principles?”, we run the risk that they are helping to craft regulations that hinder future competitors (“regulatory capture”). Rather than partner with them in making statements, the Church should stay clear.

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Group of people holding hands praying worship believe
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post
Author
Michael Egnor
Date
March 15, 2020
Categorized
Medicine and Health, Religion
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Jerry Coyne Hasn’t Got a Prayer

He understands neither natural theology nor natural science
Michael Egnor
March 15, 2020
6
Medicine and Health, Religion

We are more scientifically certain of God’s existence than we are of quantum mechanics or Newtonian or relativistic gravitation. The logic is rigorous.

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Digital Brain
Digital brain and mind upload or uploading human thinking concept as a neurological organ being tranformed to digitalized pixels uploaded to virtual space or a cloud server as an artificial intelligence symbol or neuroscience technology in a 3D illustration style.
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post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
March 10, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind, Religion
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Are We Doomed Unless We Get Ourselves Digitized?

A tech writer suggests humans can escape Earth’s end by digitizing ourselves elsewhere in the galaxy
Denyse O'Leary
March 10, 2020
4
Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy of Mind, Religion

Today’s apocalyptic vision seems now to have moved on from the arrival of the extraterrestrials to uploading ourselves to a supercomputer. Whether it’s possible is really secondary. The main question is whether it answers a cultural need for a vision that mirrors the inner turmoil of the day.

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Female surgeon praying in operation theater
Doctor nurse surgeon prayer praying Adobe Stock licensed
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post
Author
Michael Egnor
Date
March 8, 2020
Categorized
Medicine and Health, Religion
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Why prayer is wise during a pandemic

Evolutionary biologist Jerry Coyne thinks that only fools would pray about coronavirus. He is wrong and here is why
Michael Egnor
March 8, 2020
4
Medicine and Health, Religion

If God is real, then prayer is probably the first thing you want to do in a crisis. A plea to the Boss is a fine preamble to the grunt work of managing a crisis. I’m a neurosurgeon, and I pray before each operation. It really helps.

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Author
News
Date
January 15, 2020
Categorized
Philosophy of Mind, Religion
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Scientific American Explores Panpsychism… Respectfully

This is a major change. At one time, a science mag would merely ridicule the idea of a conscious universe
News
January 15, 2020
5
Philosophy of Mind, Religion

Make no mistake, panpsychism—as Goff elucidates it—is a purely naturalist view (“nothing supernatural or spiritual”). But, unlike the village atheist, he goes on to ask, but then what is nature? Matter is all there is? But what is matter? It turns out, no one really knows.

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Businessman forecasting a crystal ball
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post
Author
Jonathan Bartlett
Date
December 30, 2019
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Religion
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2019 AI Hype Countdown #2: Big Data Is Our Crystal Ball!

The biggest problem is that human behavior is not as predictable as the models imply
Jonathan Bartlett
December 30, 2019
5
Artificial Intelligence, Religion

Many models are ridiculously simplistic, making the results worse than worthless. They become a way of solidifying biases.

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Photo by NeONBRAND
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post
Author
Michael Egnor
Date
December 29, 2019
Categorized
Philosophy of Mind, Religion
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Why Materialism Fails as a Science-Based Philosophy

I don’t believe that either panpsychism or cosmopsychism is true. But I have some sympathy with people who hold those views
Michael Egnor
December 29, 2019
4
Philosophy of Mind, Religion

There is no doubt that consciousness is a fundamental property of animal and human existence. As philosopher Philip Goff notes, a philosophy like materialism that cannot plausibly account for it cannot be correct.

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sport cyclisme velo tour de France
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post
Author
Brendan Dixon
Date
December 11, 2019
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture, Religion
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I Am Giving Up Cycling

It’s just not worth it if a machine can beat me
Brendan Dixon
December 11, 2019
3
Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture, Religion

It’s not that I cannot cycle or that I don’t like to or that I’m not good at it (for a human). But just the other day, as I pedaled along, I was passed by a motorcycle. Its speed was incredible! I appeared to be pedaling in place as the machine zoomed into the distance. In that moment, it became all too clear that my days as a meaningful human were ending. The machine was my better. Okay. That is not true. I am not going to quit cycling. And, being passed by a motorcycle—a machine we built purposely to go faster than anything our two legs can achieve—is not a meaningful measure of my prowess as a cyclist. Many Read More ›

Web banner abstract smooth round pebbles sea texture background
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post
Author
News
Date
December 8, 2019
Categorized
Philosophy of Mind, Religion
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Does the Bible Talk About Near-Death Experiences?

Walter Bradley points to an incident in the life of the apostle Paul in the New Testament that sounds like a near-death experience
News
December 8, 2019
4
Philosophy of Mind, Religion

Paul's remarkable vision, described in 2 Corinthians 12:2, could well have been a near-death experience. He was once stoned and assumed to be dead, his body abandoned outside city walls. But he revived. 

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asian business woman in a heated discussion
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post
Author
News
Date
November 29, 2019
Categorized
Global Technology, Religion, Surveillance, Technocracy
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How Tech Savvy Helps Hong Kong Hold Off China

Several other factors help, including spirituality and a sense of unique identity as Hongkongers
News
November 29, 2019
7
Global Technology, Religion, Surveillance, Technocracy

The stakes are high. Hongkongers have been energized by the dramatic recent win for democracy at the polls. But so have the police.

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