The CAA read The Gospel in the Marketplace of Ideas: Paul’s Mars Hill Experience for Our Pluralistic World by Paul Copan and Kenneth D. Litwak, as part of Apologetics 315’s weekly Read Along program. This took place August through October. Each week, an audio introduction from Paul Copan was provided for that week’s chapter, along with a brief synopsis and study questions. We … [Read more...]
About Maryann Spikes
Does The Moral Argument Reify Subjective Morality?
Matthew Lawrence wrote in this question and gave permission to blog it and my answer below: Hello Christian Apologetics Alliance. I would like to first off say thank you for the resources that you've given to me. This has helped me boost my faith up greatly. Also I was wondering if you can please help me with an objection to the moral argument. I was talking to a skeptic … [Read more...]
Initial Thoughts: Copan & Litwak's "The Gospel in the Marketplace of Ideas"
The CAA is participating in Apologetics 315's weekly Read Along program. We are reading "The Gospel in the Marketplace of Ideas: Paul's Mars Hill Experience for Our Pluralistic World" by Paul Copan and Kenneth D. Litwak. See the first announcement on the CAA Facebook page. These are my initial thoughts: This "context" topic has come up recently in my own circle of apologetics … [Read more...]
Apologetics youth leader Q&A: What works?!
I asked members of the CAA and subgroups: “If you lead a youth group that successfully incorporates apologetics, I need to know as soon as possible. I want to brag about your success to other youth pastors who seek info. on this. I need to know your style, as well.” This is what some of them answered—and this is just a small sampling of those who could have answered…I didn’t … [Read more...]
Who needs answers when nobody's askin'?
By Maryann Spikes. This is written to those of you who consider yourselves Christians but think you don't need answers to tough questions because you don't ask them and nobody asks them of you. I am thinking a lot about this and I'd love to hear if you think I am fully understanding where you are at. I want to know why no one is asking you questions, and here are my … [Read more...]
Poem: Does God allow evil and suffering?
Does God allow evil and suffering? Yes. Can you look me level in the eyes and tell me what some people do to hurt little kids is not evil? No. Evil is real, but how can someone who doesn’t exist allow anything? Yes. If evil is real, then good is real. But if good is real, what being do you know who is always good? But here we are again. Would a good God allow evil and … [Read more...]
Does the evidence matter, or is it mere distraction?
What miraculous event would remove all doubt that God exists? I spent some time as an atheist in my early-to-mid twenties. I knew there was no convincing evidence for God's existence. I didn't buy the "God says it, I believe it, that settles it," mantra, or the "Faith takes over where reason leaves off" stand-by. I still don't, even after becoming a Christian. Now I know the … [Read more...]
Defining the good: The Golden Rule
A major argument for God’s existence is that, if there is no God, there is no “true” good, because truth is that which corresponds to reality, to real being. A common counter-argument heard from atheists, agnostics, and skeptics is that this does not account for the definition of moral goodness. If God is the source of goodness, does he define what it means to be good via his … [Read more...]
Is #Gosnell #INHUMAN?
Happening now is the #INHUMAN TweetFest, from 8am-8pm in whatever timezone you happen to inhabit. The goal of this event is to raise awareness about late-term abortion. A legitimate question was raised on the event page by Sandra: "Is this supposed to be 'Inhumane'? It just seems a little strange to call another person inhuman when he is indeed human. It is his behavior that … [Read more...]
Did the concept of monotheism socially evolve?
This post gives a glimpse of “Eternity in Their Hearts” by Don Richardson, who is recognized for his anthropological and linguistic work among the Sawi people of Irian Jaya. Edward B. Tyler’s theory that monotheism evolved has been refuted for a long time. The theory goes like this: Belief in the soul emerged from pondering dreams, etc.; spiritism/animism emerged when they … [Read more...]