New Atheists – New Walden

by John Gravino

Eric Metaxas Takes on the New Atheists

The new Eric Metaxas book revives an important debate with the New Atheists.

by John Gravino

“Is the Soul Obsolete?”—A Lecture at Duke This Thursday Evening

Fascinating lecture at Duke this week!

by John Gravino

Evidence for the Soul? A Reply to Michael Shermer

Have scientists discovered the human soul? Research on mental health suggests that the mind appears to manifest certain soul-like attributes, namely, the experience of reward and punishment.

by John Gravino

Mass Apostasy Update

I am in the midst of preparing the next installment for my series on the present mass apostasy. But I want to offer these two sources right away—they are that important. The first is the full video of Bishop Robert Barron’s recent lecture for First Things Magazine. The bishop’s message is the same one he […]

by John Gravino

The Cost of Doing Nothing, Part 2: The Heresies of Fr. William Long

[This is the second installment of a series. For part 1, click here.] Apostasy is spreading like a California wildfire these days. Just take a look at these advertisements for the “World Meeting of Families,” a Catholic conference happening in Ireland next year. If you click on the link below you will discover that the […]

by John Gravino

The Science of Sinning Less—From Christianity Today

Practicing Christians have more self-control than lax Christians and secular people according to a study that is featured in the latest issue of Christianity Today. [Bold emphasis is mine.] Because Christianity requires self-control, it logically follows that it also builds it, and thus we can expect active Christians to have relatively high levels of self-control. And […]

by John Gravino

Can America Survive the New Atheism?

A discussion of the excellent Eric Metaxas book If You Can Keep It. The video offers a unique explanation for the present lunacy of the left: If you want to save America, DEFUND ATHEISM.

by John Gravino

Apologists, Catechists, Theologians: Wake Up! | Word On Fire

Here’s more bad news for the Catholic Church, courtesy of Bishop Robert Barron over at Word on Fire: An earlier Pew Study showed that for every one person who joins the Catholic Church today, six are leaving, and that many of those who leave are the young. This most recent survey indicates that intellectual objections […]

by John Gravino

“If You Can Keep It,” by Eric Metaxas, Part 1

I am happy to announce that the New Walden Book Club (NWBC) is under way. Here is the first installment of our discussion of the new book by Eric Metaxas, If You Can Keep It. The video discusses the introduction to the book. There, Metaxas lays the groundwork for what I anticipate will be his argument, namely, […]

by John Gravino

Can I Define “Spiritual”? Can You Explain Prophecy?**

This week I have had several debates on Twitter about my book. A number of skeptics have been challenging my thesis that religious practices promote mental health and function. As I have pointed out repeatedly, this is more than a religious teaching; it is also a scientific finding—one that is being taken very seriously by the […]

by John Gravino

Promotional Video from Duke’s Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health

If you have been following my blog and are familiar with my book, you know that I talk a lot about the connection between neuroscience, spirituality, and mental health. I am well aware that the research I cite seems almost too good to be true since it does such a perfect job of supporting my […]