Can you blame them? This was the rhetorical question I heard recently, posed by a speaker at a Conference of religious studies teachers that I attended. The answer to the question was supposed to be No, and most of the audience seemed to take this to be the correct answer. Nor is this atypical It’s […]
Entries Tagged as 'Social Commentary'
On alleged Victim’s of Church abuse… “Can you blame them?”…. “Yes I can”
April 18th, 2018 Comments Off on On alleged Victim’s of Church abuse… “Can you blame them?”…. “Yes I can”
Contemporary Philosophy of Religion and NCEA Religious Studies: Part Four
October 23rd, 2017 Comments Off on Contemporary Philosophy of Religion and NCEA Religious Studies: Part Four
This is a talk I gave to the New Zealand Association of Philosophy Teachers annual conference at St Cutherberts College in September this year. Several people have asked me to make this talk available. I have broken my talk up into four parts. Part One introduces what philosophy of religion. In part two I will outline two […]
Tags: Graham Oppy · John Mackie · NCEA
Contemporary Philosophy of Religion and NCEA Religious Studies: Part one
October 17th, 2017 Comments Off on Contemporary Philosophy of Religion and NCEA Religious Studies: Part one
This is a talk I gave to the New Zealand Association of Philosophy Teachers annual conference at St Cutherberts College in September this year. Several people have asked me to make this talk available. I have broken my talk up into four parts. Part One introduces what philosophy of religion. In part two I will […]
Tags: Anselm · Augustine · Bentham · David Hume · James Rachels · Jeremy Bentham · John Locke · Philosophy of Religion · Utilitarianism · William Paley
AUSA, expelling pro life groups, and legal advice
October 5th, 2017 Comments Off on AUSA, expelling pro life groups, and legal advice
For those following the Auckland University Students Association (AUSA’s) recent decision to expel a pro-life group at Auckland University, it may interest you to know that the following press release was sent to me today: Media Release: ProLife Auckland Date: 5 October 2017 University Group Celebrates Victory Against Unjust Discrimination Auckland University Club ProLife Auckland celebrates […]
Tags: Abortion · AUSA · Rights and Freedoms
Is it Immoral to Believe in God? Matt responds to Michael Ruse
November 28th, 2016 1 Comment
The Christian Research Journal have published an online copy of an article I wrote for their journal last year: In a recent op-ed piece in the New York Times, the distinguished philosopher of science Michael Ruse raises the question, Is it morally wrong to believe in God? Some skeptics maintain there is something irrational about […]
Tags: God and Morality · Michael Ruse · New Atheists · Publications
Thank God for the New Zealand Anti Terrorist Squad: Online
October 16th, 2016 1 Comment
Matt’s article is available at this link flannagan-pc-18-1 Permission has been granted from the Editor of Philosophia Christi to upload this contribution. Learn more about the journal by going to www.epsociety.org/philchristi.
Tags: Ethics · Just War · Pacifism · Philosophia Christi
A common objection to belief in the God of the Bible is that a good, kind, and loving deity would never command the wholesale slaughter of nations. In the tradition of his popular Is God a Moral Monster?, Paul Copan teams up with Matthew Flannagan to tackle some of the most confusing and uncomfortable passages of Scripture. Together they help the Christian and nonbeliever alike understand the biblical, theological, philosophical, and ethical implications of Old Testament warfare passages.
Educating the Secular Education Network
October 6th, 2017 18 Comments
The Secular Education Network (SEN) has been in the news of late, complaining about religious education in schools. My view is that whether a religious education programme should exist at a given school is something individual schools should decide for themselves and parents should be free to choose whichever school they want to send their […]
Tags: Education · Religious Studies