…Either we will stand behind objective truth or sink into the abyss of relativism in the name of political correctness. (278) One area Christian apologists need to explore further is the study of historiography. Historiography is, basically, the study of how to study history. It provides the framework in which one might seek truth in understanding historical facts. The way we … [Read more...]
Materialists: Where is hope? Look to the stars!
“[T]he Universe may harbor civilizations more intelligent than our own. Perhaps one day, through interstellar communication, some advanced civilization will help us resolve such age-old problems as war, famine, disease, overpopulation, misuse of natural resources, and human aging.”- John Oró, “Historical Understanding of Life’s Beginnings” (40, cited below). Such is the hope … [Read more...]
Inerrancy, Scripture, and the Easy Way Out
Inerrancy, defined as simply as possible, is the Christian doctrine that the Bible is divinely inspired and without error. But it is important to move beyond this simple definition, because people often come away with misconceptions about the doctrine. The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy explicates what evangelicals mean when they speak of inerrancy. I highly recommend … [Read more...]
If materialism, are there subjects?
In this post I seek to establish one premise: If materialism is true, there are no subjects. There has been much extended discussion in my post on atheism's universe, wherein (in the comments) I asserted that, on atheism, there are no subjects. It is high time I clarified my position and drew out its implications. Materialism and Atheism My argument is based upon a … [Read more...]
Description is not Prescription: A Tale of Interpretation
Imagine someone, let's call him Jim, reading a chapter from a typical history book written on World War 2. In said chapter, one page says "Hitler was intent upon exterminating the Jews. The Nazis proposed a 'final solution' intended to wipe the Jews off the face of the earth." Jim stands up, indignant, and reacts to this text, "I can't believe whoever wrote this book! They … [Read more...]
Debate Review: Gordon Stein vs. Greg Bahnsen
Advocates of the presuppositional approach to Christian Apologetics have long hailed the debate between Greg Bahnsen (the late Christian theologian and apologist, noted for his achievements in presuppositional apologetics and development of theonomy--a view of the Law for Christians, pictured left) and Gordon Stein (the late secularist noted for his links to Free Inquiry among … [Read more...]
Book Review: "From God to Us" by Norman Geisler and William Nix
From God To Us (hereafter FGU) by Norman Geisler and William Nix provides a general introduction to a number of topics regarding the origins of the Bible. The book explores the inspiration, canonization, transmission, and translation of the Bible from the earliest roots until the modern era. … [Read more...]
Crossing the Most Dangerous Line: How some bioethicists undermine human value
Our point is only that there is nothing bad about death or killing other than disability and disabling. (Sinnott-Armstrong and Miller, cited below) The authors also do not agree with the term euthanasia for this practice [after birth abortions] as the best interest of the person who would be killed is not necessarily the primary reason his or her life is being terminated. In … [Read more...]
Book Review: "The Myth of Religious Violence" by William Cavanaugh
William T. Cavanaugh's The Myth of Religious Violence (hereafter MRV) examines the oft-perpetuated notion that religion causes violence. Cavanaugh levels an attack against this notion that comes in two primary directions: 1) He argues that "ideologies and institutions labeled 'secular' can be just as violent as those labeled 'religious'"; 2) He argues that the "twin categories … [Read more...]
Teaching Effective Apologetics for Small Time Periods
So you think you have what it takes to be an apologist? You’ve mastered the arguments, and you’re ready to go? Well, using apologetics effectively involves not just making formal, lengthy arguments, but also the ability to condense those arguments down into everyday conversations. Sometimes God presents opportunities which only last for a few minutes. It is important as … [Read more...]