This post is focused on two terms used in discussions about the history and origins of life. The terms “species” and “speciation” are used extensively to demonstrate that modern evolutionary theory, neo-Darwinism (a.k.a. “molecules to men” via natural processes alone) is a fact. Similar to the previous post I would like to inoculate the lay reader from being bullied by the … [Read more...]
Ideas are Powerful: A Little Virus Can Take Control of an Entire Body
Ideas are powerful. Some ideas are so coercive that they can transform our entire worldview. The Galatians had been “running well” (Gal. 5:7). However, they fell under the influence of a powerful, coercive idea. Along with trusting Christ, the Galatians succumbed to the belief that they had to also become Jews and follow the law in order to be saved. Rather than contributing … [Read more...]
Analytical Apologetics: AA for the Inebriated Mind
“Don’t be surprised to find out that there are atheists and agnostics in your midst,” Ted said to me. He'd been railing against the evils of organized religion. I got the impression he expected some kind of shocked reaction from me. But he didn't get one. He’d already said he was a humanist, and I knew the two kind of go together. Besides, I’m not horrified over atheists. I … [Read more...]
Can Religion Be Tested for Truth?
Most of the time, I'm not too fond of using the term "religion". I normally prefer to use "worldview" because it is more clear about what all a belief-system entails. However, for this post, I will use the term common for the question posed in the title: Can religion be tested for truth? Many years ago, I would not have even thought to ask if religion can be tested for truth. … [Read more...]
Cataloguing the Historical Anachronisms in the Qur'an
Muslim apologists often contend that the Qur'an is free, in its entirity, from contradiction, inconsistency or historical inaccuracy. I have seen many Muslims assert that the historical and scientific accuracy of the Qur'an was what impressed them about this book and convinced them that Islam is true. Previously on this blog, I have addressed Muhammad's wildly inaccurate … [Read more...]
Book Review: Sam Harris' Lying
“The 9th commandment defended” is my four words review of Sam Harris’ 26 paged book “Lying”. Harris succeeded to convince me “that lying, even about the smallest matters, needlessly damages personal relationships and public trust”. Harris is simply at his best in this noteworthy essay to which I, as a Christian theist, do concur with him in all areas but one major issue, namely … [Read more...]
18 Questions: An Invitation to My Atheist Friends
As a worldview, can atheism, naturalism, and materialism answer some of most fundamental questions of human experience? If a worldview cannot produce a sufficient explanation to the wide variety of phenomena and realities that humans observe in this universe, if it has little or no explanatory power or explanatory scope, it should be abandoned in favor of another worldview. I … [Read more...]
Theism and the Causal Principle: A response to DasAmericanAtheist
For whatever reason, the following YouTube video caught my attention annoyance. Perhaps it is because this person is speaking so close to his webcam that his face nearly fills out the entire screen forcing the viewer to constantly gaze upon his John Travoltesque chin and/or that being so close to the camera gives the feeling that he is literally in-your-face to go along with … [Read more...]
J.T.'s underwhelming critique of Christianity: Part One
Critiques of the Christian worldview are a dime-a-dozen in the vast expanse of the internet. The majority of them are deep on rhetoric, insult, and wow-factor presentation while being incredibly shallow on substance, critical thinking, and sound argumentation. As a lay apologist, I frequently come across various critiques and refutations of Christianity in one form or another … [Read more...]
9/11 – Two Worldviews, Two Responses
On this day, eleven years ago, this nation was struck with a terrible act of evil. I don't have to recount the events - if you don't know the story of 9/11, you must be living in a cave. Last year I published a post on 9/11 and religious pluralism, but this year I want to focus on two worldviews, the atheistic worldview the Christian worldview, and their responses to 9/11. … [Read more...]