Atheists are often accused of being ignorant about modern sophisticated religion. We're supposed to be stuck in the middle ages attacking a strawman version of religion that has no relevance to the beliefs of 21st century theists.This argument has always puzzled me since I seem to have completely missed all the modern sophisticated proofs of the existence of God that these people talk about. Richard Dawkins also apparently missed them all in The God Delusion.
Last September I embarked on a voyage of discovery where I asked for a brief description of modern sophisticated theology: A Challenge to Theists and their Accommodationist Supporters. You probably won't be surprised to discover that after 552 comments nobody came up with anything that was less than 500 years old.
But, in fairness, the big names of philosophy, theology, and science didn't contribute to that discussion on Sandwalk. So here's your chance to see what modern sophisticated theology looks like in the 21st century. Only this time it's the top thinkers in philosophy and theology who are giving us the answers.
Jerry Coyne has posted brief summaries of their answers at: 20 voices of belief. I urge you to watch the video yourself—that way nobody can ever accuse you of being ignorant of the very best arguments for the existence of God.
The image from The Emperor's New Clothes is a reference to The Courtier's Reply, which remains the best description of what modern sophisticated theology is all about.
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