Does atheism have a rational foundation? If we are just atoms in motion, how can anything be right or wrong? What is reason and why trust it? What is true? What should I believe, about myself and the world I live in? What should our politics be? What should our values be? Why do we find some things beautiful and moving and others ugly and repulsive? Does it matter?

Christians and Muslims and others have been challenging atheists with these questions more than ever. Learn how to answer them…and with something more coherent and well-thought-out than they even think their answers are! Thinking through the answers to these questions can also make you smarter and wiser, with a better grasp of the world and your place in it. It will give you a firmer basis for understanding who you are and the world you live in and how to improve both.

Alongside any of my Ten Courses in philosophy and history you can take in any month as well or instead, you can get a leg up on all these goals by taking my course next month on Naturalism as a Worldview: How to Build a Philosophy of Life. (Or any future month; see below.) This course establishes the philosophical foundations of humanism and how to defend them, from the ground up. And I think this is the best way to introduce yourself to doing philosophy and thinking like a philosopher!

We’ll work from my book Sense and Goodness without God and discuss its merits or ways to improve on it. (More on what we will study in this course is listed below.)

I’m also going to ask students in this course for how my book, or the conclusions in it, could be revised or improved. So this is your chance to contribute any ideas and thoughts you may have about that!

Let your friends, colleagues, and local groups and organizations know about this course, too. They might also be interested!

Just one month. Study at your own pace and time. Register now!

New Method of Registering

I have moved all my online courses to a Google Groups platform. They will be more affordable. And any class can be taken in any future month you like. Any of my Ten Courses in philosophy and history will always start the first of the month and end at the close of that month. (Check them all out!)

Registration for any single one-month course is only $49. Every course also requires you purchase a single course text, in either print or digital format, which you should give yourself plenty of time to receive before starting the course. The required text is explained in each course description. For Worldview-Building and the Philosophy of Naturalism, it’s my book Sense and Goodness without God: A Defense of Metaphysical Naturalism, which we’ll go through and question section by section.

Students will require a Google Account (creating one is free and easy and has many other uses) and must pay the registration fee using my PayPal portal (you don’t need a PayPal account; any suitable credit or bank card will do). After paying the $49, email me with a note that you’ve paid and what for (which month and course; you can choose to start in any future month, any course I am offering; remember to also get the course text, per above). In that email please provide me the same name you used with PayPal, and your Google Account email address, so I can invite you into the course forum. You will be sent that invite by email on or before the first of the month you chose.

Then participate as much or as little as you like! Read the assigned course materials each week, answer the forum challenge questions, and post any questions or challenges you have on the subject. I’ll provide serious and attentive answers and assessments and continue to engage with you as much as you need throughout the month.

Subjects Covered

Specific topics addressed in the Naturalism course, which will function something like an Introduction to Philosophizing, include:

• “Naturalism, Supernaturalism, Philosophy, and Worldview Theory,” in which we learn what naturalism is, and how it differs from supernaturalism; what a worldview is, and the basics of how to think about and construct a worldview; and what philosophy is, and how to think like a philosopher.
• “Naturalism and the Universe, Your Self, Your Mind, and Your Freedom,” in which we learn what naturalism can say about the nature and origins of existence, of the universe and all its contents, but also in particular of you as a person, and thus of consciousness, thought, and freedom (your personal autonomy).
• “Naturalism on Morality, Society, and Politics,” in which we learn what naturalism can say about whether there is any moral or political truth, what it’s nature is, and where it comes from, and what this means for how we should strive to organize society.
• And “Naturalism on Meaning, Purpose, and Beauty in Life,” in which we learn what naturalism can say about the meaning of life and its purpose or value, and about the nature of beauty and ugliness, and what value they have, what they signify, and where they come from.

Come join us! Learn what you can. And ask every question you ever wanted on these topics—with a published expert in philosophy (I have a Ph.D. in the history of philosophy and several peer reviewed works in philosophy).