Because Paul’s travels brought him into contact with many people, and some of them repeatedly, it is particularly instructive to compare the notices of some of those people in the book of Acts with the references and allusions to them in Paul’s own letters. Of those people, few are more interesting than Timothy. In 1 Corinthians 4:17, Paul explains that he has sent Timothy, … [Read more...]
Minimal Facts Method
[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 “minimal facts approach” argues for the resurrection of Jesus based on its ability to explain the relevant historical facts that are “strongly evidenced…[and] granted by virtually all scholars on the … [Read more...]
On Hell
[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: Hell is known as a lake of fire and also outer darkness in the Bible. This is a place where the wrath and anger of God is going to be poured out on sinners in full after judgment. There will be weeping and gnashing … [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...]
Arguments from Other Minds
[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: (Alvin Plantinga) It is just as difficult to prove other minds exist as it is to prove the Mind of God. Since other minds exist, it is conceivable that God exists and God is the source of the mind. Scripture for … [Read more...]
Arguments from Consciousness
[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: A particularly interesting argument for God’s existence stems from the human consciousness. When a person describes the human consciousness, one is describing not only the awareness of a particular person, … [Read more...]
How to Examine Worldviews
[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: What is a worldview? A "worldview" refers to "what we see of reality," "world" here meaning not just this planet , but universal truth. Worldview is a partial synonym for "religion," in what sociologist … [Read more...]
Is Jesus the ‘Exclusive’ Way/Truth?
[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: In John 14, Jesus spoke about many rooms in his Father’s house, and that [Jesus] would be preparing a place for his disciples and that they know the way to where he is going. Then Thomas asked, “...How can we know … [Read more...]
Who Designed the Designer?
[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 question “Who created God?” (or sometimes, “What created God?”) is a common question posed by agnostics and atheists in internet discussion forums. After all, if we can follow the chain of causes all the way … [Read more...]
Undesigned Coincidences: Part 5
A life as rich in travel and relationships as Paul’s was, documented both by his letters and by the history of the book of Acts, affords many opportunities for undesigned coincidences to emerge—so many, in fact, that it is worth pausing to see some of the evidence that Acts was not written by someone who had Paul’s letters before him. Leafing through 2 Corinthians, we notice … [Read more...]