Friday, October 15, 2010

Fistbump of the Day #2 - Resurrection Harmonization Narrative

As some may have noticed my back and forth comments with Ryan Anderson of a previous post regarding the accounts of Jesus' Resurrection in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. He, as well as many others, read the narratives chronicling the events surrounding Jesus' Resurrection and see conflict and discrepancies to such a degree that there is no way to understand what happened. Of course he is wrong, but let's humor him anyway. He challenged me to provide the full account of the Resurrection. He thinks it's impossible. Ryan claims to have been a Christian for years and he acts as if he never seen anyone do that. I've seen it done several times by many different people. I decided to post one of them on my blog for the next time this challenge is made...and it will be. Today's Fistbump goes to David J. Fischer of Shouting Man Apologetics for posting good information in such handy formats. Go to the following link and find one way to look at how to see how the Gospels fit together. I say "one way" because there are more than one possibility to integrate each of the "four camera angles."

Resurrection Harmonization Narrative

One of the resources for the site is a chart explaining the events of the Resurrection and in which Gospel (s) record it.



I'm amazed how people assume that each Gospel writer must tell the story the same way from different point of views. They used different time-keeping methods. One sometimes summarized events while another gave step-by-step details. I'm amazed at how people think that if it's not done the way they would have done it than God didn't inspire it. I don't understand that. Given how finite and depraved our minds are, I would not expect God to do much like how we would do things at all. A lot of Atheists decry Dr. William Lane Craig's arguments, but I have not seen very much in the way of a rebuttal. And I have not seen any good rebuttal against Lee Strobel or Gary Habermas either. Here is a list of resources that I would suggest anyone who is desiring to study the evidence for the Resurrection should start with.

Mary Jo Sharp vs. Ehteshaam Gulam Debate: Did Jesus Die on the Cross? MP3 Audio - Apologetics 315
Resurrection Debate: Gary Habermas & Mike Licona vs Robert Price

Iron Sharpens Iron: Gary Habermas: Did The Resurrection Happen?
Jesus' Resurrection: Gary Habermas and Antony Flew
Memorable Keys to the Greatest FEAT in History
Apologetics 315: Advanced Use of Historical Evidence for the Resurrection: Gary Habermas MP3 Audio
Gary Habermas vs. Tim Callahan on the Pagan Jesus Myth of the Resurrection | True Freethinker

Resurrection
Resurrection of Jesus
Enhanced by Zemanta

FacePalm Quote of The Day #14: Debunking Christianity: The Problem of Belief

John Loftus has posted an interesting but failed attempt to debunk salvific faith. Here is his argument.
Here's something that calls out for an explanation and no amount of Bible verses will help. What is the content of salvific faith (i.e. the kind of belief that saves a person)? What must someone believe to be saved? Simple? Not so fast. A child who confesses Jesus is lord is saved, right? I dare anyone to ask a ten year old what she thinks of Jesus, what it means to say he is lord, whether she thinks he is God, God-in-the-flesh, the 2nd person of the trinity, or a really really big guy, and so on and so forth. Ask her to define each of her words. Anyone can say "Jesus is lord" then. Does doing so save a person unless said person has the correct detailed theology that goes with it? There is no doubt in my mind that a child holds to heretical ideas when asked about them. OR, she's expressing words she has no clue as to their meaning. But if so, then there are surely professing Christians of all ages, probably most of them, who think they are saved but are not, and this could be........YOU! Since this must be the case if one is saved by faith, this is a barbaric way to base a person's salvation upon--that not only must believers express the right words but also have the proper understanding of them.
So why does this deserve a "FacePalm"? The Bible does tell us what you have to believe to be saved. You can know exactly what it takes to be Christian - saved, sanctified, born-again, and Holy Spirit filled.
5Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them." 6But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7"or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." - Romans 10:5-11
Another passage that explains very well what you need to know in order to be saved:
29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family. - Acts 16:29-34
Neither of these passages are opaque or difficult. Lets' do one more - one for the Holy Spirit.
23But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be,[a] you will indeed die in your sins."
25 "Who are you?" they asked.
"Just what I have been claiming all along," Jesus replied. 26"I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world." - John 8: 25-26
I know a lot of people wonder what about the conflicting doctrines and view points? The Bible has the answer for this one too.
13Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food[b] is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
19Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. - Romans 14:13-22
The Word of God literally has everything you need to know in order to live a life dedicated to God. When I read something like what John Loftus said in this quote it makes me wonder if they can read.
Debunking Christianity: The Problem of Belief
Enhanced by Zemanta

Answering Atheism - books, page 3 of 3 | True Freethinker

Here is Mariano's third post summarizing great book resources about answering Atheism. Awesome list!

Answering Atheism - books, page 3 of 3 | True Freethinker
Enhanced by Zemanta