Dr Paul Allen

Non-religious people are more intelligent than religious ones , says a study released not so long ago. In their published report , the researchers called their findings “emotionally fraught.” Let’s suppose the research had a good working definition of “religiosity,” and that it even narrowed in on Christianity in particular. While we’re at it, we might as well imagine the researchers hadn’t revealed their anti-religion bias, through freshman-level mistakes interpreting it. But why stop with that? Let’s go all the way with our imaginations here. Suppose someone really demonstrated that smarter people are less likely to believe in Jesus Christ. That hasn’t happened, but if it did, it should make Christians think twice about our own beliefs. Right? Wrong again. Strike three. Even If That Were Settled, It’s Still a Yawner I really wouldn’t care if that happened, for two reasons. First, it doesn’t matter who believes and doesn’t believe. What matters is whether they believe...

Christians from every theological tradition have for centuries confessed their faith by  reciting the Apostles' Creed . Elsewhere I have taught on the actual content of this creed, but if there is one aspect of this confession that we often fail to reflect on, it is the creed's opening words:  I believe . Here I want to consider faith in relation to what are often seen as its opposites—reason and sense perception. Epistemology is the division of philosophy that seeks to answer one question: How do we know what we know, or how do we know what is true? Reason, sense perception, or some combination of the two have been among the most common answers to this basic question. Our minds function according to certain categories of rationality. We try to think in a logically coherent manner. Our judgments and deductions are not always correct and legitimate, but our minds always look for logical, intelligible patterns. Some people say that we find true knowledge exclusively wi...

Image via Wikipedia THE social and economic disintegration we are experiencing has a common core. The rioting in the UK ; the corrupt financial system; politicians who lie about going to war, rort the system, pursue power in a media sideshow; a toxic news-gathering culture where police, detectives, journalists and their  bosses collude - all are connected. Harvard University's professor of cognition and education, Howard Gardner , in his latest book  Truth, Beauty and Goodness Reframed , argues these cornerstones of society are under threat and must be reclaimed for us to survive.  Gardner's critique of IQ tests led to an understanding that every child develops multiple intelligences, not simply verbal and mathematical skills. In particular, they must develop ''emotional intelligence'', a combination of insight/self-control and empathy. What the world needs now is more emotional intelligence and an ethical base for intelligent behaviour . Gardner describe...