From a famous skeptic of Christianity: “But we must examine this question whether anyone who really died ever rose again with the same body. […] While he was alive he did not help himself, but after death he rose again and showed the marks of his punishment and how his hands had been pierced. But who say this? A hysterical female, as you say, and perhaps some other one of … [Read more...]
European Witch Hunts and the Christian Church Part 1
“A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.” –Leviticus 20:27 Few topics have suffered the plight of revisionist history as severely as the European witch hunts. Christian fanaticism is often blamed for the atrocities that took place in the name of snuffing out witchcraft, but … [Read more...]
The Hunger Games: The Atheist's Utopia Revealed
My Past Week I've noticed lately that I have a harder and harder time going to see movies purely for the entertainment value of the show. This weekend I went to see one that really made me step back and look at society, not just as portrayed in the movie, but the society of the audience. Last week I had a conversation with a person that was still fresh on my mind, and I … [Read more...]
Craig, Law, and Evil God: Oh My!
The debate between William Lane Craig and Stephen Law has sent what amounts to shockwaves through the Christian community. Law’s “Evil God” argument is certainly interesting. These are some thoughts and criticisms about Stephen Law’s Evil God argument. The argument is: 1. If gratuitous good exists, then Evil God does not exist. 2. Gratuitous good exists. 3. Therefore, Evil God … [Read more...]
In Kopplin's Words
In an age where many teens are concerned with paltry things, I am inspired by young people like Zack Kopplin and his incredible courage to articulate and defend his worldview. His passionate advocacy and political/social engagement is unmatched in today’s culture by most adults, let alone teens. Yet, I want to be clear that Zack is defending a non-scientific worldview and not … [Read more...]
How To Witness To A Jehovah's Witness Part 1
Patience Is Key Allow me to start off by saying that I’m not claiming that there is a “best” way to witness to a Jehovah’s Witness, but I have been able to rescue some from their organization. So in that, I’ll share what I’ve learned in the process. Perhaps some of these ideas will be helpful to you. This discourse is written with the real time face to face encounter in mind, … [Read more...]
Charity and Compassion: A Legacy of Christ
Charity and Christianity are married. Charity did not have its origin in the world of antiquity as sometimes alleged: "Plato (427-327 BC) said that a poor man (usually a slave) was who was no longer able to work because of sickness should be left to die. He even praised Aesculapius, the famous Greek physician, for not prescribing medicine to those he knew were preoccupied … [Read more...]
Love Wins Critique (Part 6)
Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 (in this part, I examine the importance the doctrine of hell and whether I've been "judgmental" of Rob Bell) Is Hell an Essential or Core Christian Doctrine? How are doctrines important? Additionally, where does the doctrine of hell fall when it comes to essential Christian doctrine? Paul warns us in Acts 20:27-31: For I have not … [Read more...]
Filtering Science From Dawkins’ Scientism
In "Growing Up in the Universe" lecture, Richard Dawkins informed us that, “The universe is nothing but a collection of atoms in motion, human beings are simply machines for propagating DNA, and the propagation of DNA is a self-sustaining process. It is every living object’s sole reason for living.”[1] Dawkins’ metascience is ingeniously knitted in science in a way that a … [Read more...]
Putting God Back Into the Equation
As students of the Word of God, we receive many disparaging remarks about our precious Holy Bible. I can’t tell you how many times individuals have approached me, telling me how man alone wrote the Bible and use the fact that there are countless extraneous books left out to fit an agenda of modern Christianity. The Gospel of Judas, Thomas, Mary Magdalene, Jehoiakim, or whatever … [Read more...]