Self-Education as a route to resolving controversies and issues

After several blogs over the past few months in which controversial issues arose, including the natural selection basis of evolution, and whether black holes really existed or were simply a “mind implant”, or whether Jesus as God-man was a historical personage, it’s become obvious that too many people are lacking in the best resources for self-education.

If a person’s own education is too narrow or circumscribed it's evident that their insights and understanding of a wide range of phenomena and claims will be blunted and myopic. Helping such people( assuming they desire help and are serious!), means turning them in the direction of resources they can use in their own time, to improve their understanding, if they have the will to do so.

After all, in the end, a blog - like a class lesson- can only be superficial and topical, truncated. It is up to the reader to avidly use 'Google' to plumb to even greater depths. The best options for achieving such depths are often video courses that can be found online, available from major universities. Many of these courses- such as at Yale and MIT, not only have outstanding lectures but include reading materials and class notes as well. There is simply no excuse for not knowing how natural selection fits into evolution, or that black holes are bona fide objects of inquiry with formidable observational support.

Obviously, if people aren't willing, then no matter how many resources are provided, would -be detractors will simply find excuses to ignore them, preferring to percolate in their own chosen ignorance or educational hubris to advance their preconceived beliefs, dogmas.

What follows are links to actual lectures, mostly from Yale University, dealing with an array of topics recently dealt with in my blogs. I strongly encourage anyone who's seriously interested to view the lectures and even take notes while watching them. (By that I mean, if you've challenged me before on the issue of Jesus' historicity or the God-man story, then avail yourself of those lectures, if on the nature of black holes and whether real or not, then go to that lecture. If on evolution, then avail yourself of that one.)


Black holes (Open course lecture from Yale University)

http://oyc.yale.edu/astronomy/frontiers-and-controversies-in-astrophysics/content/sessions/lecture08.html

The Supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy(evidence for from MIT notes):

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-224-exploring-black-holes-general-relativity-astrophysics-spring-2003/lecture-notes/8224baganoff_v2.pdf


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Natural selection and adaptation in evolution:

http://oyc.yale.edu/ecology-and-evolutionary-biology/principles-of-evolution-ecology-and-behavior/content/sessions/lecture04.html

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Death and Immortality:

http://oyc.yale.edu/philosophy/death/content/sessions/lecture18.html

(Is it really great to live forever?)

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The Old Testament and comparison to the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh

http://oyc.yale.edu/religious-studies/introduction-to-the-old-testament-hebrew-bible/content/sessions/lecture04.html

(Note there is no real “Satan” or principle of evil in the Hebrew Bible – the snake is simply a talking animal, also other insights)

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Textual critical analysis applied to the Old Testament:

http://oyc.yale.edu/religious-studies/introduction-to-the-old-testament-hebrew-bible/content/sessions/lecture05.html


Discussion of ‘J’ and ‘E’ sources (Jahweh and Elohim). Formation of the narrative core of OT, with ‘documentary hypothesis’ (including P and D sources) that no history or real events are recorded – rather merely insights into Hebrew tribal customs etc.

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Critical analysis of New Testament: Gospels aren’t historical documents

http://oyc.yale.edu/religious-studies/introduction-to-new-testament/content/sessions/lecture05.html

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The Historical Jesus – and separating it from the mythical one:

http://oyc.yale.edu/religious-studies/introduction-to-new-testament/content/sessions/lecture13.html

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Insight into the radical claims of Paul (that the gospels and teachings are also for Gentiles, as well as Jews):

http://oyc.yale.edu/religious-studies/introduction-to-new-testament/content/sessions/lecture18.html


The preceding also examines the Gospel of James as an argument against Pauline version of Christianity.

I do hope those who've brought up problems to do with any or all of the preceding will be as avid in viewing these lectures and learning more, as they were assembling their objections in the first place.

Learn well and prosper!