In a social climate where a majority of people claim to believe that truth is relative, I find it curious that one of the most effective accusations leveled at a political opponent is that of lying. We have partisan "fact-checkers" who masquerade as neutral agents in an effort to bolster these claims. Both sides accuse the other of lying or of intentional deception. I am not … [Read more...]
Should Apologetics Play A Role In Electing A President?
The first presidential campaign I covered as a journalist was Nixon vs. Humphrey in 1968. I was an atheist, so the candidates' religious viewpoints didn't matter much to me. I didn't care that Richard Nixon was a Quaker or that Hubert Humphrey was a Congregationalist. I didn't believe in God, so what they believed about an imaginary being didn't register as having any … [Read more...]
Fetal "Personhood", Abortion, and Allowing Exceptions for Rape and Incest
On October 26, 2012, a post appeared on a blog titled “The Dead Author’s Club” by “Christine” (her last name does not appear on the post) titled “Fetal personhood and criminalizing abortion: a prosecutor’s perspective.” The blog had nothing to do with dead authors, and to Christine’s credit she explained this from the outset. Instead, she wanted to express her thoughts about … [Read more...]
Hilary Clinton, Human Rights, Gay Rights, and God
Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, is evidently not a moral-relativist or a multi-culturalist. She has stated that “gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights,” and she’s so sure about this that she’s imposing this equation on the rest of the world. This means that human rights - moral absolutes – ought to take precedence over the laws and traditions of the … [Read more...]
Does the Bible Justify Abortion?
To be clear, abortion is not a religious issue. I have written several posts against abortion using science and philosophy. But you’ll occasionally find someone who uses the Bible to justify abortion. You’ll even encounter Atheists who try to use the Bible to justify abortion if they know a Christian is arguing against it. You just want to stare back and them and ask, “Why are … [Read more...]
A Reponse to Phil Snider: Highlighting A Secular Response
When something goes "viral", it's a good idea to pay attention. Here's the newest viral sensation: a Missouri pastor, speaking at a city council meeting, opens up his speech by taking a stance against gay marriage - or so everyone thought. In a stunning turn of events, he closes the speech by saying that his speech up until that point consisted of quotes from preachers gone by … [Read more...]
As A Christian, Should I Celebrate Halloween?
In one week kids will dress up as their favorite heroes and go from door to door asking the same question: "Trick or treat?" Some people gladly dispense candy to add to the kids' collections. Some people see it as an opportunity to provide tracts explaining the occult origins of this holiday, and encourage the reader to come to Christ. Others completely shun the day and explain … [Read more...]
The Rev. Phil Snider in Missouri: Argument or Theatre?
It's truly viral: the Rev. Dr. Phil Snider's message to the Springfield City Council on gay rights. Unfortunately it's a great example of truth tanked by theatrics, reason steamrolled by emotion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u4Z3n2Fnyc It leaves a powerful impression, but what's his argument? How would you fill in the following blanks to express his point in rational, … [Read more...]
De Tocqueville, Morality, and Democracy
Today’s secularism is an aggressive bulldozer. It will not tolerate any competition, pushing aside any opposition to its reign. Arrogantly, it believes that it can retain the benefits of Western civilization, while discarding its foundation – Christianity. Alexis de Tocqueville, French statesman, historian and social philosopher, wrote “Democracy in America” (1835). It has … [Read more...]
Sin, Technology, and the Well-Being of Society
Necessity is the mother of invention but so too is theology. Let me try to explain in a round-about way. At an Ethical Culture Society discussion group, the leader asked us all to give our prognosis regarding the West. While we all saw serious signs of wear-and-tear, most of the respondents were surprisingly confident about the West’s prospects for recovery. My response was the … [Read more...]