Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Christopher Hitchens Undergoing Chemotherapy for Esophogeal Cancer

I was really looking forward to the debate between James White and Christopher Hitchens on August 30, 201. Today, Hitchens announce that he is undergoing chemotherapy to fight a deadly cancer he is suffering from. How does James White respond?


I just learned that Christopher Hitchens has announced he is undergoing chemotherapy for esophogeal cancer. Here is his announcement. I fully expect this to lead to the cancellation of our August 30th debate, though I do not yet have that official word.

I have listened to many, many hours of Christopher Hitchens speaking. I've read his attacks upon my faith, listened to him blaspheme in public, etc. And yet I cannot help but like the man personally, who has such a quick sense of humor and a streak of honesty that I know comes straight from common grace. He has surprised me many times, showing an insight into the errors of his evidentialist Christian opponents that many others lack. Let's pray for Mr. Hitchens that God will use this providence to bring to his mind the many, many times he has heard the truth. His detestation of the Christian faith runs very deep, but as we all know, God is glorified when God-haters are turned into God-lovers. Should God mercifully extend his life, I hope we will get a chance to meet. May God be pleased to reveal to him the Lord of Glory, and turn his heart from rebellion to realize that the one thing he rails against most, that of submission to one's Creator, is the greatest freedom the creature can know.

What???? Could this be gentleness? Humility? Respect??!! Loving? Yup. It is. I'm confused by all the people who condemn Dr. White. I mean this is how I see he always acts. It's the way we should all act even when a person disagrees with us. I will be joining Dr. White in prayer for Mr. Hitchens. It is the right thing to do and I hope God will be giving him mercy.

Christopher Hitchens Undergoing Chemotherapy for Esophogeal Cancer
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Tawapologetics: Caught in the Matrix: The Power of Worldview

This was an interesting sermon from June 27, 2010. I think that this is an interesting sermon because it uses the Matrix Trilogy to discuss worldview and how the Christian worldview should affect how Christians should live their lives.

Tawapologetics: Caught in the Matrix: The Power of Worldview
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Apologetics 315: Terminology Tuesday: Irenics

Irenics is defined by Brian Auten on his blog. I knew that there was a difference between discussing Christian doctrine and theology who disagree with on finer parts  but not on essentials and debating with people who don't believe at all. I just didn't know that there was a name for it. Brian's website is awesome! 

Apologetics 315: Terminology Tuesday: Irenics

Answering Muslims: Coptic Girl Escapes Abduction and Forced Conversion

I was appalled at this story.  In Egypt, young Christian women are kidnapped and forced to marry Muslim men and convert to Islam against their will. It been happening since the 1970s in Pakistan and Egypt. I'm glad not all Muslims would condone or agree with such horrible acts. It's a terrible thing that I am certain that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob does not approve of. I'm glad Zeenahom (Suzan) Nady Adly got away and right now she is "safe". I think that every one should  be safe and if you are a young woman in Pakistan or Egypt, it doesn't seem like you are safe if you are a Christian.

Answering Muslims: Coptic Girl Escapes Abduction and Forced Conversion
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Does the Bible and its God Condone Slavery? | True Freethinker

I've been meaning to write an article regarding slavery and why it's not condoned or commanded in the Bible. I've been meaning to write it for a while. Fortunately, Mariano Grinbank, has written a great article. This article covers everything I intended to say. If you think the Bible is immoral because it condones slavery, you need to read this article. I'll give you the gist in one sentence: The Bible does not condone slavery nor was slavery that was practiced in ancient Israel was anything like the slavery perpetrated against Native Americans and Africans and their descendants. Mariano does an an awesome job explaining why!

Does the Bible and its God Condone Slavery? | True Freethinker
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William Lane Craig and Austin Dacey – debate | True Freethinker

free commercial image of Bill CraigImage via Wikipedia
Thanks, Mariano, for posting this clip from the debate between William Lane Craig and Austin Dacey.




William Lane Craig and Austin Dacey – debate | True Freethinker
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Monday, June 28, 2010

Debunking Christianity: Dr. Craig: All Other Religious Claims to the Witness of the Spirit are False

It is interesting that the post by John Loftus focused so much on methods of doing Apologetics given that James White spent a lot of time on it last Thursday. (Look at the video I linked to my blog here.) Largely, Dr. White disagrees with the approach William Lane Craig, Habermas, and others are using. His is more prepositional. It is my opinion that we need both approaches because people are so different. The Holy Spirit uses all these approaches and others to call people to repentance.

The post from Loftus brings up a question to William Lane Craig about how do we know we are right and other faiths (ie Mormonism) is wrong. Why can't they make the same claims we can? I liked this post because it considers the question from an atheist's perspective. The atheist says "convince me". Therefore evidential Apologetics does just that - providing evidence that the truth claims of Christianity is true - largely without assuming the Bible is infallible or inspired. As a matter of fact they don't even really address attacks on the miracles and incredible things that the Bible says that are problematic for many people to believe. Men like them don't deny the Bible is true or inspired but they don't focus on it in their debates with atheists.

James White's approach is more like say what the Bible says, defend it, express it and let the chips fall where they may because it is the Holy Spirit that convicts and changes hearts and minds not the evidence or arguments that we present. I think Dr. white is correct. Both approaches agree that there are good evidences and that you are rational and reasonable to trust the Bible, they disagree on where to start. Dr. White's approach does not seem to work as satisfactory in the venue of Loftus' blog because many of the people reject the Bible out of hand without even considering the possibility that it might be true. But White is right, that isn't a Christian's job to to change their mind, only to tell and show them the truth. At the end of the day, Loftus and many of the commentators did not like Dr. Craig's statement:

My knowledge of Christianity’s truth, while supported by strong arguments, is not ultimately based on those arguments but on the witness of God Himself. If, therefore, I find myself confronted with a well-prepared and articulate Mormon who blows away my arguments and presents a case for Mormonism that I can’t answer, I should not apostatize, since I have the witness of the Holy Spirit to Christianity’s truth and so realize that although I’ve lost the argument, Christianity is nonetheless the truth (and I need to be better prepared next time!)...he [the Mormon] can’t justifiably remain Mormon by appealing to his experience, since he doesn’t really have a genuine witness of the Holy Spirit, but only a counterfeit experience.

Reasonable Faith: Q & A with Dr. William Lane Craig

Craig appeals to the witness of the Holy Spirit as his ultimate proof that his faith is not misplaced. On this i think all Christians agree. It wasn't an Apoloigetics argument that convince me of my sin and need for repentance. It helped later to help me articulate and understand what God did for me. The Holy Spirit that worked in me is the same that worked in Dr. Craig that allows me to understand what he means. He is not saying that if he lost a debate with a Mormon that it was proof that Christianity is true. Let's face it: hell would freeze over first before William Lane Craig would loose a debate regarding Mormonism. While I think Loftus would loose such a debate. But for the sake of argument, let's say he did, he would still know Christianity was true because God reached into his life and changed it. I know what that's like. I have never heard a Mormon testify to the same thing.

This is where Apologetics comes in handy. I'm not saying that Dr. Craig would win because he is smarter or a better debater. He would win because the evidence is on the side of Biblical Christianity and not Mormonism. It's not enough to just say one is right and one is wrong. You ought to be able to demonstrate why you have come to the conclusions you hold. They both can't be true. For starters, not a single event or geographic location can be corroborated with the Mormon Scriptures and reality - no evidence at all. Either we can confirm what the Bible says happened and where and when or we can't outright disprove it. i know that is a bold statement, but that is what I have been led to conclude given the information I have. And there is more thatr could be said - much more.

Lofuts ended his post this way:

I liked what Martin said below:
What Craig essentially argued was: "We can't distinguish the water from the poison without evidence or arguments, but *I have* the pure water because it says so right on the bottle (even though all the other bottles say the same thing, and I just happened to pick this one up as a child), so I know this is the water, no matter what evidence you have that it is poison."
The problem is while I did get this gift as a child, William Lane Craig was not raised a Christian. So how does his point matter? It doesn't.


Debunking Christianity: Dr. Craig: All Other Religious Claims to the Witness of the Spirit are False

Apologetics 315: Apologist Interview: Gary Habermas

Brian Auten interviewed Dr. Gary Habermas and it was a great interview. I love listening to Gary Habermas and looking at his work. I think his Apologetics approach is sound and he gives a lot of great advice that I can use.

It is interesting that the interview focused so much on methods of doing Apologetics given that James White spent a lot of time on it last Thursday. (Look at the video I linked to my blog here.) Largely, Dr. White disagrees with the approach William Lane Craig, Habermas, and others are using. His is more presuppositional. It is my opinion that we need both approaches because people are so different. The Holy Spirit uses all these approaches and others to call people to repentance. This interview is very much worth listening to.


Apologetics 315: Apologist Interview: Gary Habermas
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Sunday, June 27, 2010

Apologetics 315: Sunday Quote: Kant on the Bible

“The existence of the Bible, as a book for the people, is the greatest benefit the human race has ever experienced. Every attempt to belittle it is a crime against humanity.”

- Immanuel Kant



Apologetics 315: Sunday Quote: Kant on the Bible
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Dan Barker affirms intelligent design | True Freethinker

Truth is I don't think any rational human being could really come to any other conclusion after looking at the evidence. I mean does it really make sense that all of reality came into existence undirected? If you believe that, I think you can believe anything anyone tells you no matter how silly. I suppose I have to give Dan Barker more credit than I have.





Dan Barker affirms intelligent design | True Freethinker
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Biblical Apologetics Defined and Defended

I know that the image on the left shows how some people understand what "apologetics" is. I disagree. Look at how Dr. James White defines "apologetics" and it is way more accurate!



Biblical Apologetics Defined and Defended

Are we all atheists? | True Freethinker




In a word: No! Mariano has posted a couple of videos featuring William Lane Craig answering this question.





Are we all atheists? | True Freethinker
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PZ Myers Responds in a Self-Interested Way to Local Conditions | True Freethinker

Mariano has posted a great essay regarding how PZ Myers discusses Morality. I think he shows just how backwards and bankrupt such thinking as Myers' really is. 

PZ Myers Responds in a Self-Interested Way to Local Conditions | True Freethinker
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Christian Apologetics - Life and Doctrine: Historical Jesus – Three Centuries Worth of Citations

My friend, Mariano, has pointed me to this link on his blog before but now I think it's important to make special mention of it. In this post, he lists about 236 references to Jesus, most of them outside the Bible! This is an important list! Go ahead and look up the references!

Christian Apologetics - Life and Doctrine: Historical Jesus – Three Centuries Worth of Citations
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The Case for Lee Strobel | True Freethinker

Mariano has posted a list of resources from Lee Strobel.  This is a great list for anyone who  would like to read more of his stuff.

The Case for Lee Strobel | True Freethinker
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Saturday, June 26, 2010

Asking the Wrong Marian Questions ...

 TurretinFan posted a great article discussing if there are really is an exaltation of Jesus' mother Mary to rival God. I think he explains very well how this is done and that we should not do it!

Asking the Wrong Marian Questions ...
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Friday, June 25, 2010

YouTube - Richard Dawkins - Tells a Black Man He's an 'African Ape'

Mariano pointed me to this particular video. I think it shows who Richard Dawkins is. Make no mistake I don't think he is racist but I do think it shows how thoughtless anyone can be. Equating Black people to apes is never going to be non-offensive considering the historical past. Maybe because he is British he doesn't get the cultural slap in the face because I don't know if this was ever a deal in England or not as it is here. Not good. You can see the look on the man's face. I recognize him. He is a Catholic Bishop from Africa and he most definitely got the point I'm making.



YouTube - Richard Dawkins - Tells a Black Man He's an 'African Ape'

Apologetics 315: Resurrection Quiz Game

Follow the link for a quiz in which you can test your knowledge on the evidence of Jesus' Resurrection. Plus more about the book by Gary Habermas and Michael Licona titled: The Case for the Resurrection.

Apologetics 315: Resurrection Quiz Game

Atheist vs. Christian debate - Morality: Natural or Supernatural? | True Freethinker

Mariano was in an official debate back in March regarding Morality. The debate video is now available to be seen on YouTube. He is planning to post clips and comments in the future.



Atheist vs. Christian debate - Morality: Natural or Supernatural? | True Freethinker

The Flying Spaghetti Monster elucidated by William Lane Craig—who amassed the meatballs? | True Freethinker

This photo was taken by my wife during a cruis...Image via Wikipedia
Mariano has posted a great video in which William Lane Craig answers the common atheist objection to the existence of God by way of appealing to the idea that we can't prove that a flying spaghetti monster does not exist. I get tired of this argument. See how William Lane Craig answers the objection.




The Flying Spaghetti Monster elucidated by William Lane Craig—who amassed the meatballs? | True Freethinker
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Jesus in the Qur'an

Recently, James White wrote a great post regarding Dr Caner. I don't want to focus on the comments made about mistakes Caner made. Instead I'd like to point to the graphic the lists all the places Jesus was mentioned in the Qur'an.


Simple Mistakes, Confused Defenses
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Thursday, June 24, 2010

John Loftus reduced to absurdity—without apology, by his own admission | True Freethinker

Mariano has posted a great video regarding a discussion between bloggers Paul Manta vs John W. Loftus on Gene Cook Jr.'s radio show "The Narrow Mind." Loftus tries to defend his Atheist's worldview and comes up short. It's not that Loftus is stupid just that his position on Christianity and God are indefensible. I'd like to know if Loftus has ever pointed to these interviews on his blog? Hmmmm. He may have but I will have to check.










John Loftus reduced to absurdity—without apology, by his own admission | True Freethinker
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Common Sense Atheism » CPBD 045: Richard Carrier – Is Christianity Responsible for Science?

Here is an interview with Richard Carrier in which he tries to explain why Christians are wrong in saying that science needed Christianity. I agree with him but I think he's over-reaching.  I haven't heard Christian scientist ever try to suggest that no science was ever done without Christianity. I wouldn't ever try to argue that. It's amazing that some atheists are more than willing to argue that the ancients were knowledgeable about a great much of science and engineering, yet when it comes to believing that they the can correctly record historical events they are inept. Carrier makes good points that the ancients did see order in the universe and studied it. The interview is interesting but I can barely hear the interviewer but you can hear Carrier very well. I disagree with much of Carrier's conclusions but we need to be careful not to assume that God does not give nonbelievers enough grace to be moral or to learn about the Universe He created.

 18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.- Romans 1:18-20

Common Sense Atheism » CPBD 045: Richard Carrier – Is Christianity Responsible for Science?
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Apologetics 315: Apologist Interview: Keith Kendrex of Evidence4Faith

Recently, Brian Auten interviewed Keith Kendrex about his experiences as he came to Christ and how Apologetics has been important in his life and ministry including the Evidence4Faith radio broadcast.

Apologetics 315: Apologist Interview: Keith Kendrex of Evidence4Faith

Will William Lane Craig debate Richard Dawkins? | True Freethinker

Richard Dawkins is a plain coward. Mariano has posted a couple of awesome posts logically demonstrating that if Dawkins really wanted to stack his arguments against God's existence up against one of the best scholars Christianity has to offer today, he'd be hard pressed to ignore William Lane Craig. Mariano quotes Dawkins as saying:

As for William Lane Craig, Richard Dawkins has stated, “I've never heard of William Craig” and that he will not debate this stranger as “A debate with him might look good on his resume, but it wouldn't look good on mine!”

In my opinion, it's Dawkins resume would surely suffer because he would loose this debate hands down. I'd put Dawkins up against many scholars without even batting an eye, and they wouldn't either because they already know what the outcome would be. So does Dawkins, that is why he will not debate them. He can already smell his blood in the water. On the following links, Mariano lists Dr. William Lane's credentials - his educations, many of his publications, a list of some of his debate opponents - all of which add up to Dr. Craig more than being worthy to debate any subject Dawkins would like to discuss in a public, moderated debate. I think the better question is: Is Dawkins worthy to debate William Lane Craig?


Will William Lane Craig debate Richard Dawkins? | True Freethinker
William Lane Craig - Various Texts
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Michael Shermer and Ben Witherington Discuss the Gospels | True Freethinker

Mariano has posted a couple of great  videos regarding Michael Shermer. In the first video Shermer and Dr. Ben Witherington discuss whether or not the Gospels are trustworthy. Shermer as an atheist comes up really short! Mariano does a great job explaining why Shermer is fundamentally wrong. You can read the post at the link below and i really wanted to share the graphic he posted summing up Shermer's inadequate argumentation - this time concerning whether scientists lost their jobs because of their position on Intelligent Design or not.






Michael Shermer and Ben Witherington Discuss the Gospels | True Freethinker
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Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Truthbomb Apologetics: Audio: Is God Arrogant and Egotistical? by Paul Copan

Here is a lecture with Paul Copan on his recent book about reconciling God's character with what many people think are horrible examples of immorality in the Bible - theodicy. He is always great listen to. Thanks, Chad!

Truthbomb Apologetics: Audio: Is God Arrogant and Egotistical? by Paul Copan
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