Sunday, July 3, 2011

High Five of the Day - An Answer from the Grave

Dr. Claude Mariottini has turned what could have easily been a facepalm into a high five! John Loftus posted the following on his blog:


Read and respond to two similar stories, one by Antony Flew, and the other by Carl Sagan. They both have to do with the OTF:

Antony Flew, in his classic Parable of the Invisible Gardener, asks this question:
At last the Sceptic despairs, "But what remains of your original assertion? Just how does what you call an invisible, intangible, eternally elusive gardener differ from an imaginary gardener or even from no gardener at all?"...What would have to occur or to have occurred to constitute for you a disproof of the love of, or the existence of, God?
Carl Sagan wrote about The Dragon In My Garage and asked:
Now, what's the difference between an invisible, incorporeal, floating dragon who spits heatless fire and no dragon at all? If there's no way to disprove my contention, no conceivable experiment that would count against it, what does it mean to say that my dragon exists?

Well, what of it?

Debunking Christianity: Two Questions From the Grave, by Antony Flew and Carl Sagan

Before, I provide the link to Dr. Mariottini, I feel the need to point out that both Sagan and Flew have died and now know beyond any shadow of doubt if God exists or not. How do you think it worked out for them? Second, I fail to see how their statements relate to OTF given that the God of the Bible is neither elusive nor imperceptible. The God of the Bible has gone out of His way to provide a means of relating to us! As for Mariottini's answer, I think it's genius. Not only does he focus on Flew's work, and cites what he references, (because the answer simultaneously works for Sagan), but he points out the Flew himself answered his own question before he died! Take a look at Dr. Mariottini's post!

An Answer from the Grave

Enhanced by Zemanta

Answering Muslims: Muslim Clerics Condemn Law That Would Protect Women from Domestic Violence and Marital Rape

One of the reasons I like David Wood's blog posts is that he doesn't just say that the Quran and Hadiths say things, he actually quotes the sources and gives the references! In this case he first gives the references:

The Qur'an allows men to beat women into submission:
Qur'an 4:34--Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.
It also declares that women are the sexual property of their husbands:
Qur'an 2:223--Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will; but do some good act for your souls beforehand; and fear God. And know that ye are to meet Him (in the Hereafter), and give (these) good tidings to those who believe.

David Wood gives the references before he posts the news article. In this case that a law in Lebanon that would have simply protected women from domestic violence was opposed by Muslim clergy.

Dar al-Fatwa also slammed as "heresy" a clause in the bill that criminalises marital rape, accusing those behind the draft law of "inventing new types of crimes."

"This will have a negative impact on Muslim children... who will see their mother threatening their father with prison, in defiance of patriarchal authority, which will in turn undermine the moral authority" of fathers, it said.

If your wife say, "Not Tonight." or "No" then a husband has no right to force her. It's sick to think otherwise. A husband's authority does not allow him to abuse his wife. We do not have that right.

Answering Muslims: Muslim Clerics Condemn Law That Would Protect Women from Domestic Violence and Marital Rape
Enhanced by Zemanta

Intelligent Design vs. evolution: “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” | True Freethinker

Mariano has posted a great article about what the movie Rise of the Planet of the Apes says about evolution and intelligent design. I think it's amazing that so much can be gleaned from the movie just on the promos we have seen so far. Mariano writes:

The key is the reference to the movie being “reality-based.” Here is the issue: in the official trailer the word “evolution” makes a front and center appearance (at least the version shown at the local theater). This brings, at least, two issues to the foreground: 1) confusing evolution and Intelligent Design and 2) the importance of scientific artists. We will consider 1) in this segment and 2) in the next.




Read his essays at the following link.

Intelligent Design vs. evolution: “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” | True Freethinker
Enhanced by Zemanta

Faithful Thinkers: Book Review: Chosen But Free

Luke Nix has written a really good review of Norman Geisler's Chosen But Free. I read the book and I think it has problems. I think one of the problems is that Jesus' sacrifice does not make us saveable. Jesus truly saved us - turning away the wrath of God and taking it upon himself.

I'd suggest that anyone who reads Chosen But Free should read Potter's Freedom by James White. And take a listen to James White's webcast from June 30, 2011
to hear Dr White talk about his personal experience in this on-going debate with Norman Geisler. See also James Swan's Reflections on Geisler's Chosen But Free.
.

Here is Luke Nix's review
Faithful Thinkers: Book Review: Chosen But Free
Enhanced by Zemanta