Tuesday, October 5, 2010

THE APOLOGETIC FRONT: Mormonism and multiple godheads

As you probably know, Mormons do not believe in the Trinity. Mike Felker has posted a video that addresses Mormon polythesism.


THE APOLOGETIC FRONT: Mormonism and multiple godheads
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Another atheist against my article on atheism | True Freethinker

Mariano has answered the one most ubiquitous objection against Christianity that keeps getting trotted out as if its new and convincing:

How on earth can I, or any other thinking adult, accept a dismissal of Epicurus' lethal refutation of the existence of god on the grounds that, well, god really wants to eliminate evil, and he can do it, but he will do it in his own time?

Why can't people come up with something that hasn't been answered or refuted?  Read Mariano's answer at the following link:

Another atheist against my article on atheism | True Freethinker
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Christopher Hitchens Elucidates the Atonement | True Freethinker

Christopher Hitchens speaking at The Amazing M...Image via Wikipedia
Mariano has done it again. I really enjoyed this essay. In it Mariano makes an important argument about ethics:
Now, he [Christopher Hitchens] considers that “human solidarity” is “in our genes” and “inscribed” because “we wouldn't have gotten this far if we didn't have these qualities.” In other words, this is another it just is of the gaps: it must be because if it were not we would not be here to discuss it. Moreover, it is so because of Darwinian self preservation and reproduction.
What Christopher Hitchens has hit upon is an affirmation of the Bible’s statements about ethics, some of which are:
“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33, reiterated in Hebrews 10:16).
“the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing” (Romans 2:15).
Thus, “human solidarity” is “in our genes” and “inscribed” but not because of animalistic concerns of self preservation and reproduction but due to humans being an expression of God’s image; God who is relational and loving in nature.
I totally agree.


Christopher Hitchens Elucidates the Atonement | True Freethinker
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FacePalm Quote of the Day #9 - Debunking Christianity: Bill O'Reilly vs. Bill Maher On Religion - 09/30/10

John Loftus have posted this clip from the Bill O'Reilly show where O'Reilly interviews Bill Maher on Religion. Both of them deserve facepalm because of their arguments. IT was like watching a train wreck. I have to give Maher some credit, he understands the Bible better than O'Reilly does although Bill O'Reilly claims to be a Christian. Of course Maher gives with one hand but takes with two. Maher attempted to argue that the Bible was immoral because of the law to kill someone for not resting on Sunday. Although Maher got the day wrong - the Bible says "Sabbath" not Sunday - at least he knew about the law and O'Reilly didn't. It quickly degenerated into a shouting match and to be honest O'Reilly only managed to prove he didn't know what he was talking about. It was an excellent example of Biblical illiteracy - on both sides! I'm afraid that Glen Beck seems to know more about what the Bible actually says than either of these guys. I want to see Bill Maher actually go up against a scholar who knows how to defend Christianity and give answers to the questions Maher asks. One thing that makes Maher successful is that he asks the questions that everyone, who gives any thought to religion, asks but he spins it to make it seem like that there are no answers and only morons believe what the Bible says. Maher seems to find people to talk to who couldn't possibly answer his questions. His movie "Religulous" is all about him tripping up people who have not really given any thought to what they believe and why and may have never been challenged on it. If Bill O'Relly is a Christian and really wants to further the work of Christ he should do one of two things:
1. Educate himself so he can truly dialogue on such matters;
2. Stand down on religious matters - he is embarrassing himself and the rest of us.
I'm hoping he takes the first option.
The most embarrassing thing about the segment was at the end, O'Reilly tried to make it seem like Bill was completely wrong about killing your neighbors for desecrating Sundays when he did not know anymore but less than what Maher knew about it. To make it worse, he even gave the wrong answer to the objection!!! A complete facepalm.


Debunking Christianity: Bill O'Reilly vs. Bill Maher On Religion - 09/30/10
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Biblos.com: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages

Biblos.com is a one-stop shop for Bible study online. It offers tons to tools plus the Bible in many different languages including Greek and Hebrew that you can read and peruse online!






Biblos.com: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages
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Greek Bible

 I found a great website for searching the Greek New Testament. You can actually see what the original text looks like online this day. One way to use it is to see how Greek words are spelled and then it's even easier to look up the word in a lexicon if you can't use one of the numbering systems.







Greek Bible

Iron Sharpens Iron: Fred G. Zaspel: The Theology of B. B. Warfield: A Systematic Summary

I really enjoyed this episode of  Iron Sharpens Iron. I don't know much of Warfield but I have heard of him. It seems like reading Zaspel book will be a good way to learn more. follow the link to hear the interview.




Iron Sharpens Iron: Fred G. Zaspel: The Theology of B. B. Warfield: A Systematic Summary

FacePAlm Quote of the Day #8: Debunking Christianity: Praise God for the Candiru Parasite! Isn't God Good?

Wow...John Loftus never disappoints when it comes to modeling what "Cognitive Dissonance" really is. He provided the following video and commentary on his blog.
When did God create the Candiru parasite? And why didn't he tell us how to avoid it? Seems to me a good God who cared for us would at least tell us, don't you?
To read up on other parasites get the book Parasite Rex. Read it Christian and let it strengthen your faith! Funny thing is that in our ecosystem we need them. But with a God who could perform perpetual miracles we don't need them at all! Which alternative seems most likely?
Oh, and no using the Omniscience Escape Clause.
I'm not really in love with the candiru parasite any more than I like roaches. However notice that John Loftus asks the question why did God create such a creature and then he answers his own question - because we need them in our ecosystem. God did not choose to create a reality where we don't need them. If you don't like it, talk to the one who made everything. The video points out that it is never a good idea to urinate into a river and we know that because of pollution. Loftus further ask why didn't God warn us? God did. In the Bible, when the Children of Israel left Egypt they were given laws about how to deal with such matters as biological waist.
12 Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself. 13 As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement. 14 For the LORD your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you. - Deuteronomy 23:12-14
Now tell me: if we followed this would we have to worry about a parasite swimming into our ureatha? No.


Is God good? YES! God is good and all the time God is good!
Debunking Christianity: Praise God for the Candiru Parasite! Isn't God Good?
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