[This post is a work in progress as part of the CAA Catechism.] [Add the title only in the title field, not in the body of the post.] Summary in 400 words or less: Philosophically speaking there are only two choices when it comes to our universe; It had a beginning or it did not have a beginning. Thus the question arises, “Which choice is better supported by the scientific … [Read more...]
Arguments from Reason
[This post is a work in progress as part of the CAA Catechism.] [Add the title only in the title field, not in the body of the post.] Summary in 400 words or less: The atheist Francis Crick once declared that, “'You,' your joys and your sorrows, your memories and your ambitions, your sense of identity and free will, are in fact no more than the behavior of a vast assembly of … [Read more...]
Why "That's True for You, but Not for Me" Isn't True for Anyone
I am not a rabid anti-postmodernist; there are aspects of postmodernism that I find very helpful when talking and writing about faith. Relativism, however, is not one of them. One of the best examples of postmodern relativism is the catchphrase “that may be true for you, but it's not true for me.” Often, this phrase is heard in the context of a conversation between a … [Read more...]
The God Question: A TV Series Investigates the Relationship Between Science and Faith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ThxrHkO-Mk The God Question, a TV series bringing together world renowned contributors on both sides of the debate on God and science, explores the question of whether there is design evident in the universe. The series, a Scottish venture that promises to reach 170 million potential viewers internationally, features figures of note in the … [Read more...]
At the core of doubt
In the story of Peter walking on the water, Matthew records Jesus' response when Peter became frightened and started to sink. Jesus said, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31) This phrase has often been interpreted as a rebuke of all doubt. The understanding is that Jesus is telling Peter that it was wrong to doubt, the inference being that all doubt is … [Read more...]
The Flagellar Filament Cap: "One of the Most Dynamic Movements in Protein Structures"
Imagine you are an archaeologist surveying the remains of a formerly technologically advanced civilization. You stumble across the device depicted in the figure above. With its pentagon-shaped plate and its carefully crafted leg-like extensions, it looks like it came from some sort of machine. Immediately, you intuitively infer that the device was designed intentionally, for a … [Read more...]
GOD: The Best Explanation? Part 3
HOW DID THE UNIVERSE BEGIN TO EXIST? Part 1 Part 2 (pt.3) In this episode of our series "GOD: The Best Explanation?", we begin to investigate if the scientific fact of the beginning of our universe can be adequately explained by the existence of God. Amazingly, in the 20th century alone, we have discovered at least 5 different ways in which we can demonstrate scientifically … [Read more...]
Evaluation of Darwin's Doubt by Stephen C. Meyer, Part 2
This is the second post in my series on Darwin's Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design. You can read my introductory post HERE. A Cautionary Note on Internet "Reviews" If you have investigated the book much at all, you will have noticed some nasty pseudo-reviews posted around the internet. As I mentioned in my introductory post, I have … [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...]
The Moral Facts of Life
A Review of What We Can’t Not Know: A Guide, by J. Budziszewski J. Budziszewski wants to talk about the facts of life. No, not those facts of life. The moral and ethical realities built into the created order – those common truths we all really know about right and wrong that have historically been referred to as the natural law. To suggest the existence of such a thing as a … [Read more...]