To the untrained eye Christian theology appears to border on nonsense. For example, Christians believe that the one God is three persons, each of whom is also God. You do the math. The questions are well rehearsed. Is Christianity illogical? Do Christians believe bald-faced contradictions? Did the church just invent these bizarre doctrines arbitrarily? Surely logic … [Read more...]
Ask the Alliance: Why aren’t there more Old Testament apologetics?
:::Ask the Alliance Question #3::: Question submitted by Jimmy: Maybe I didn't do my research right, but it seems like there are many books about apologetics about Jesus and the Gospels and the New Testament, but it seems like there aren't any apologetics about the Old Testament. I listen to lectures about old testament on the web from well-known schools and most scholars seem … [Read more...]
Strange Bedfellow
In a recent New York Time article, Thomas Nagel offers a brief but robust explanation why a purely physical explanation of the universe will not work. This may not seem, at first glance, to be a big issue. However, if it is true that the universe is only physical, then there can be no human mind/soul and certainly no god. Here is the kicker: Dr. Nagel is an atheist. And, he … [Read more...]
Jesus’ Gospel Teachings are Authentically Jesus
Can we trust the four canonical Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? More specifically, are the teachings they ascribe to Jesus authentic? The Jesus Seminar (JS), a collection of skeptical Bible critics active in the 1980s and 90s, concluded that only 18% of what the Gospels had attributed to Jesus were actually genuine. For many, this puts the kibosh on the Bible. If it’s … [Read more...]
The Resurrection of Jesus: A Christian Apologetics Cornerstone
Jesus' resurrection after his crucifixion and death is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. The apostle Paul, after giving an account (1 Cor 15) of this event, says that if it didn't happen, the Christian religion is useless. He adds that, then, Christians should be most pitied because they are still in trouble with the God of the universe. But even on a practical note, it … [Read more...]
The Resurrection of Jesus and the Cognitive Dissonance Hypothesis
Introduction Cognitive Dissonance is all the rage these days. In other words, more and more skeptics are trying to postulate that the birth of the Jesus movement is the result of cognitive dissonance. As N.T Wright says: “One theory which would go against this conclusion [that the rise of Christianity is best explained by Jesus' bodily resurrection] was very popular a few … [Read more...]
Slideshow: For Those Who Doubt Jesus Ever Lived
In the halls and classrooms of accredited universities and among scholarly historians—both Christian and non alike—the idea that Jesus of Nazareth never lived is ridiculous. However, in some internet atheist haunts, the claim is still very much alive. Is there good historical evidence for believing that Jesus existed? Absolutely. The seventh presentation of the free … [Read more...]
Reza Aslan, a Joyous Media, and the Denial of the Biblical Jesus
The mainstream media’s hatred of Christianity has become more blatantly obvious. Pastor John Dickerson writes: Reza Aslan, author of the new book, “Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth” has been interviewed on a host of media outlets in the last week. Riding a publicity wave, the book has surged to #2 on Amazon's list. Media reports have introduced Aslan as a … [Read more...]
Book Review: The Word of God and the Mind of Man
The Word of God and the Mind of Man by Ronald Nash is a book about Christian epistemology (how we know what we know). I was enjoying a philosophy lecture series by Dr. Nash, and while discussing epistemology, he mentioned this book. The book is divided into two parts consisting of a total of twelve chapters. In the first part, Nash provides a case against different religious … [Read more...]
Why the Debate over Christian Origins Matters
Introduction Over the years, I have studied a good deal concerning the birth of the Christian faith. When I say “birth,” I mean the rise of the Jesus movement pre 70 AD. I am well aware that many people view Christianity through the events of the Council of Nicaea or at a much later date than 70 AD. There is still an ongoing debate as to when we actually have an “official” … [Read more...]