Episode 55: 55 Street Epistemology: A Secret Strategy for Creating Atheists? (Part 1)

[NOTE: This podcast is also available on video here: https://youtu.be/fMUF_y9q1ew]

Chances are, if you are actively sharing your faith on social media to any degree, or if you have children or grandchildren away at college, or if you're out for a stroll in a public park, you may have or will eventually encounter a "street epistemologist." 

What is street epistemology? It is a movement within the atheist and skeptic community which began from a 2013 book A Manual For Creating Atheists written by atheist and philosopher Peter Boghossian. 

Though Boghossian himself is no longer actively involved in the movement today, it nevertheless has remained a popular and growing trend among skeptics in engaging Christians and other theists in conversation with the intent to cause doubt and, as the book title says clearly, create atheists. 

Street Epistemology or SE for short, is a kind of dialectical method that incorporates carefully crafted Socratic-like questions about a Christian's level of confidence in their belief in God. The SE'er will ask several questions, without ever directly engaging in factual discussions about Christianity, but will instead ask specific philosophical questions about how and why a Christian holds to the confidence of their belief, with the intent of causing doubt. 

To this day, it remains a movement within the atheist and skeptic community, though many who practice SE will often converse about other topics such as karma, new age mysticism, other religions, politics, alternative medicines and many others. 

But the most popular videos on YouTube of SE practitioners are those where believers are suddenly questioning their beliefs within the span of a very brief conversation. 

Sadly, this method has had "success" in catching Christians unaware, many unprepared or simply unable to provide solid answers to the questions put to them, especially regarding the definition and use of the word "faith" which to this day remains a primary target of SE disciples. 

It is not a cult or a secret organization with a hierarchy of leadership, but an open and publicly practiced technique, complete with a comprehensive website (StreetEpistemology.com), YouTube videos, and a growing and influential social-media presence.  

On this special two-part episode, Watchman staff apologist Daniel Ray and Watchman Senior Apologist Brady Blevins take you inside the movement and give you a first-hand account of Peter Boghossian, the leading practitioners of SE, how to recognize it, and how to respond with confidence and truth. 

On Part 1 we examine the work and background of Peter Boghossian and talk about the basics of what SE is. 

STREET EPISTEMOLOGY RESOURCES

Daniel has also written a 4-page Profile on Peter Boghossian and produced three additional videos on Street Epistemology for you to share with anyone you know who may have encountered SE online or at college. 

• 4-page Profile on Peter Boghossian by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/SE


• Daniel's first review of street epistemology: https://youtu.be/_irb_8f0klc


• This video was reviewed by street epistemologists: https://youtu.be/FsJgmRyrsU0


• Daniel's book review of How to Have Impossible Conversations: https://youtu.be/A1G1KTt1qgc


• This video was also reviewed by street epistemologists: https://youtu.be/0BfC9PME5a0


• Daniel's third review of the street epistemologists' "confidence scale": https://youtu.be/ScHiMqtQE3U (The street epistemologist have not yet reviewed this video. 

Street epistemology videos featured in this podcast/video: 

• Psychology Z factor (psychological aspects of SE) Dragoncon 2017 with Anthony Magnabosco: https://youtu.be/oYNcs6BtA-s


• Anthony Magnabosco on evidence and faith: https://youtu.be/VYrg-n04Sj8


• Anthony Magnabosco unraveling Miguel’s faith: https://youtu.be/D8LYTy4DmEs


• Peter Boghossian at PSU in 2012: https://youtu.be/WIaPXtZpzBw


• Can SE hurt people? Objectively Dan: https://youtu.be/cmUS5oxRhB4

Dr. Brady Blevins, Senior Apologist with Watchman Fellowship, is a featured speaker and writer with the ministry. He also serves as the editor of our Profile Notebook. He holds a BS in Bible and Pastoral Ministries from Arlington Baptist College, a MA in Counseling from Dallas Baptist University and a Doctorate in Educational Ministries from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. For more information: www.watchman.org/staff/BradyBlevinsBio.pdf.

Daniel Ray, Staff Apologist at Watchman Fellowship, is a speaker, writer, and podcast producer with the ministry. He holds a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies from Austin Peay State University and an MA in Cultural Apologetics from Houston Baptist University. He is coeditor and cowriter of The Story of the Cosmos, How the Heavens Declare the Glory of God. For more information: www.watchman.org/staff/DanielRayBio.pdf.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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