I haven't had time to weigh in on the recent controversy at Wheaton College over placing a professor on leave for saying that Christians and Muslims worship the same god. Thankfully, I don't have to because Bill Vallicella has weighed in and says all and more that I'd want to say in his post and then in the comments section. A number of the comments are good. In particular a distinction I've mentioned to friends is addressed, namely that between successfully referring to God and successfully worshiping God.
For what it's worth, my view is that it is possible for a Muslim (and others) to successfully reference (depending on the context) and worship God. But to say that Christians and (all? most?) Muslims worship the same God is misleading and unhelpful.
Bill also links to Dale Tuggy who has a roundup of hyperlinks and commentary on the Wheaton affair.
This is speculation, but I suspect that the professor was not fired only for this comment about Muslims and Christians. There is almost always much more to the story when someone is fired. I would be shocked if she did not have a history of pushing the line internally at Wheaton.
Unlike my ancient predecessor, this Tullius hasn't had his hands chopped off. With hands attached I offer my thoughts on philosophy, religion, politics, and whatever else I find worth mentioning. I'm conservative religiously and politically (with libertarian leanings). I value reason and freedom but also traditions and "Oldthink." I relish being on the wrong side of history when history is wrong--part of a philosopher's job is to be unpopular. (Views given here may not represent my employers')
Thursday, December 24, 2015
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