Despite a relatively low amount of media coverage, you have likely run across the case of Kermit Gosnell, the Philadelphia abortion doctor (labeled a monster) who ran what many have called a 'house of horrors' abortion mill. Last month, he was convicted on three counts of first-degree murder and one count of involuntary manslaughter, and was sentenced to life in prison. But, … [Read more...]
Why The Church Needs Apologetics: A Look at Critics, Seekers, and Doubters
Introduction Over the years I have spoken to several people from a variety of backgrounds about the Christian faith. When we started a Ratio Christi apologetics chapter on The Ohio State University in the Fall of 2009, I had been talking to college students about spiritual beliefs for several years. It was during this experience that I began to see the need for a stronger … [Read more...]
The Moral Objection to Miracles
In New York, on March 3, 1964 at 3:15am, Kitty Genovese was attacked, raped, and killed after driving home from work. Her neighbors heard her screams and did nothing. They could have easily saved her from suffering, rape, and death. It would have taken, at most, a few seconds to call the police. Was that too much to ask for? By having not intervened, they seem to be partially, … [Read more...]
Positive and Negative Arguments
I briefly touched this topic in my post "Is Consistency Important?". Today, I want to expand it a bit more. A Positive Argument is an argument for your particular position. A Negative Argument is an argument against an opposing position. It seems like everywhere I go, people want to point out what's wrong with the opposition's arguments. It does not matter if we are talking … [Read more...]
What Nehemiah can tell us about apologetics in the church
I have heard that there are those in the church who do not feel that apologetics should be part of the discipleship process for believers. While I find it hard to believe that anyone would articulate such a position, I must admit that for a large part of my Christian experience, there was very little content that taught me how to answer the questions that arise from those who … [Read more...]
Atheism and the burden of proof
When someone makes a claim about the world, if they want to convince others, they are required to provide justification for that claim. This is not a contentious or strange idea, but what does this mean for atheism? Is atheism a belief and does it require justification? In this article I will show that atheism is a belief about the world and that it does require a justification … [Read more...]
The Gospel According to Bart Ehrman
A June 3rd article that appeared on Christianpost contained an interview with Dr. Bart Ehrman who is a noted author and professor of religion. Ehrman is most famous for his criticisms of the New Testament’s reliability, with various books he’s produced on the topic reaching the top of certain best seller lists. The Christianpost interview focused on his skepticism of the New … [Read more...]
A Comparision of the Ethical teachings and Impact of Jesus and Buddha
The ethical teachings of Christ vs Buddha Christ’s teachings : Love God with all your heart , soul , mind and strength. Love your neighbour as you love yourself . Love one another , as I have loved you. Loving your enemies . Holy living – in thought , word and deed. Lust of the eye is equivalent to adultery. Anger is equivalent to murder. Forgiveness of friends and … [Read more...]
Why does life have value, or does it?
As one who has lived in and studies multiple cultures around the world, I am often intrigued by how cultures observe and value life. In economically undeveloped or developing countries, life generally holds a low value. This view is not completely confined to these countries with first world countries now beginning to embrace a reduced value on human life as evident through … [Read more...]
Convince Me There’s A God – Morality 3
If you asked me when I was an atheist what I thought about serial killers, I would have said they were terrible people. If you asked me what I thought about child abusers, same answer – terrible people. If you asked me what I thought about my doing whatever I wanted to do even if other people thought it was wrong, different answer. What I did was my business. However, that came … [Read more...]