Debunking Christianity: “The Human Faces of God” by Thom Stark, Should be Required Reading in Every Evangelical Seminary, Bar None

John Loftus posted a review of Thom Stark's book: The Human Faces of God. According to the review, I disagree with much in the book, but that wouldn't stop me from reading it. Loftus and Stark actually agree on a lot of things and disagree on a lot of things. One point Loftus and Stark wrote about came to my attention in a big way:

Stark claims he is a Christian because he was born into that faith by Christian parents. And although he knows his parent’s flaws he is still their son and embraces them. “I am a Christian,” he writes, “because I chose to be a Christian. I am a Christian because I am a white male living in the West…Because I am a Christian, this book we call the ‘Holy Bible’ is uniquely my own. Whether I want it or not, I am stuck with it. Even if I were never to pick it up again, I could never put it down. It has shaped me in irrevocable ways.” (p. 242).

I really don't think Starks think that the only people can be Christian are white men who live in the west. That would be silly. How every I think it's a pretty bad reason to be Christian just because your parents raised you that way and you live in a nominal Christian culture. That's not a good enough reason to be a committed Christian. What struck me is how different Stark's definition of a Christian is verses what the Biblical description of a Christian.The Bible clearly describes what a Christian believes. Here is an example:

¹ Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
⁴ You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ⁵ They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit^a]" of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Does anyone see Christianity defined by race, culture, or geography? Nope.

Given that Stark denies the infallibility of the Bible - it's veracity and consistency - and the essential doctrines that characterizes who God is and what He has done, I don't know how Stark can consider himself a Christian.

Debunking Christianity: “The Human Faces of God” by Thom Stark, Should be Required Reading in Every Evangelical Seminary, Bar None

The Dunamis Word: The Difference Between Happiness & Joy

Elder Harvey Burnett has posted an awesome article based on a recent article from Essence magazine. The Magazine contains a list 0f 25 things you can do to bring yourself happiness. However it flies against what the Bible says in a few ways. Elder Burnett explains that the God promises us more than Happiness. God promises Joy. He goes on to show a true Biblical worldview.

The Dunamis Word: The Difference Between Happiness & Joy

Calvinistic Cartoons: Old Movie Poster Discovered

Hilarious!!!!


Calvinistic Cartoons: Old Movie Poster Discovered

Biblical Studies and Technological Tools: Bible Software for Android

I am always on the look out for good software for my Android devices. In looking for good digital lexicons and Hebrew/Greek texts for Android I came across a blog that is dedicated to biblical studies and technological tools. On it, I found a great post about Bible Studies software on Android! I'm familiar and happy with Olive Tree Software on my phone and tablet but it was nice to see what someone else thought about it. As per the recommendation I will also be installing Cadre's version. Sometimes to get all the features we need we have to use multiple apps/programs - nothing new there. Here are a couple of excerpts explaining why I'm making this decision.

OliveTree

http://www.olivetree.com/android/index.php

• Free BibleReader app with assortment of free Bibles: KJV, ASV, HCSB, JPS1917, NET (w/ limited notes)
• Most developed, most resources
• Study Bibles (e.g., ESV, HarperCollins, HCSB, NET w/ full notes: most in $10-30 range)
• Greek and Hebrew Bibles (SBLGNT for free; BHS, LXX, NA27 also available in morphological versions w/ lexicons: $30-75 range)
• Commentaries, dictionaries, devotionals, eBooks, maps, Strong's resources available
• Josephus and Philo (English) are free
• Android development lags behind iPhone/iPod Touch and earlier PalmOS and WinMobile, but they are busy expanding capabilities for Androi
• Many non-English Bibles available
• I have been a long time user of OliveTree, and I appreciate the ability to move my library from one platform to the next. (Palm > Axim > DroidX) I'm using versions I purchased previously like the NRSV and BHS, and the new SBL GNT is also on my DroidX. I have Philo and Josephus there too. The only problem is that I had purchased the Gramcord NT with its morphological analysis and dictionary, but this is not available on Android. They now offer a new morphologically tagged GNT (the Greek New Testament (NA27) with Mounce-Koivisto Morphology and UBS Dictionary), but it's still rather expensive, even with an upgrade path they offer. Given all the work OliveTree has done, their longevity in the business, and the wide collection of resources they offer, this one comes highly recommended.

CadreBible

http://cadrebible.com/index.php

"Over 60 Bibles, Dictionaries, Commentaries and Books available for offline reading"

Free versions include: ASV, KJV, NA26 GNT, Westcott-Hort NA26/UBS3 GNT, Scrivener GNT,

NET (w/ limited notes), Tanach (public domain Hebrew), LXX, Vulgate,

Search, bookmarks, notes, sharing, highlighting, reading plans

Parallel view (translations and/or commentaries; e.g., I have Gen 1:1 on screen showing NET, LXX, Hebrew, Vulgate!)

Can synchronize with Evernote

Non-English Bibles available

I am keeping this one on my DroidX because, as far as I have found, it's the only one to have a free LXX and Hebrew text. What's more, the Parallel view feature is extremely helpful to have Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English versions of a verse all on screen together

Biblical Studies and Technological Tools: Bible Software for Android