Augustine of Hippo (modern day Algeria, Africa)

Here is a great discussion/interview with Dr Kenneth Samples by Vocab Malone about Saint Augustine of Hippo. I really enjoyed this! I only wish they had discussed Augustine's race, There is  much debate as to whether or not he was a black-skinned African. They did not really go there hard.  Vocab tried to soft-ball it by asking if he was a berber. If he was, then he would have looked nothing like a lot of the white-washed paintings of him.

Why I Believe | Reflections

Here is a great interview of Dr Kenneth Samples talking about how he became a Christian and why he believes.

Why I Believe | Reflections

The 50 Smartest People of Faith | Reflections

Dr Kenneth Samples has posted an interesting link to an article listing 50 people who are intelligent beyond any reasonable question. Check out the link. My one question to those who reject God for what they think are intellectual grounds: Do you think you are more intelligent or more well-informed than they? I don't think you are.

The 50 Smartest People of Faith | Reflections

Quote of the Week: Charles Darwin | Reflections

Dr Kenneth Samples posted the following interesting quote from a letter written by Charles Darwin.

With me the horrid doubt always arises whether the convictions of man’s mind, which has been developed from the mind of lower animals, are of any value or at all trustworthy. Would any one trust in the convictions of a monkey’s mind, if there are any convictions in such a mind?

–Charles Darwin to W. Graham, July 3, 1881, in The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, ed. Francis Darwin (1887; repr., Boston: Elibron), 1:285.


Quote of the Week: Charles Darwin | Reflections

This quote is interesting enough given that Darwin did indeed have doubts of his theory. Samples also posted a really good essay on that just a few days ago. Read it a the following link: Darwin's Doubts.

Profound Problems with Religious Pluralism | Reflections

Dr Kenneth Samples has posted a really great article summarizing the issues with accepting "religiious pluralism. Given that term may mean different things to different people. Samples defines what he means in his opening paragraph. 

Novelist Yann Martel’s book Life of Pi (now a major motion picture) embodies the popular notion that all religions are simultaneously true. The story’s young protagonist embraces aspects of multiple faiths (Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity), viewing these beliefs as equally valid but different paths to God. Unfortunately religious pluralism fails to appreciate the profound problems associated with it.

Read the his article at the following link to get his whole view point.

Profound Problems with Religious Pluralism | Reflections

Debating the Authority of Scripture | Reflections

Here is a golden oldie from Dr Kenneth Samples!

In 1997, I participated in a debate on the topic of the Scripture’s authority with Jesuit priest Mitchell Pacwa at Southern Methodist University. I explained and defended the Protestant view and Father Pacwa represented the Catholic position.

Follow the link to his blog to listen to the debate

Debating the Authority of Scripture | Reflections

Can a Compulsive Thinker Also Be a Believer? | Reflections

Here is a lecture by Kenneth Sampleson how you can be a Christian and not give up intellectual honesty.


Can a Compulsive Thinker Also Be a Believer? | Reflections

Not All Dead Men Stay Dead: 10 Essential Points about the Resurrection | Reflections

Српски / Srpski: Groblje_Sv._Marko (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dr Kenneth Samples wrote a great article summarizing the essential points of Jesus Resurrection:

Historic Christianity contains numerous beliefs that are theologically and philosophically volatile (in the best sense of the term). These powerful truth-claims have transformed the church and even turned the world upside down. My new book, 7 Truths that Changed the World, explores seven of historic Christianity’s dangerous ideas. The following 10 points give a brief overview of what I consider to be the Christian faith’s most dangerous idea.

Not All Dead Men Stay Dead: 10 Essential Points about the Resurrection | Reflections

Five Strands of Evidence for Jesus Christ’s Resurrection | Reflections

Dr Kenneth Samples has posted an article that summarizes 5 points of evidence for Jesus' Resurrection. Not new, but well explained.

Five Strands of Evidence for Jesus Christ’s Resurrection | Reflections

Blaise’s Best Bet, Part 1: an Introduction to Blaise Pascal | Reflections

Dr Kenneth Samples is beginning a series of articles about Blaise Pascal. It's a introduction to the man and his work. Take a look.

Blaise’s Best Bet, Part 1: an Introduction to Blaise Pascal | Reflections

Quote of the Week: Kenneth Samples | Reflections

I totally agree!!!

Being a fallen sinner means that in different ways we are all broken people in need of forgiveness, love, and acceptance.

–Kenneth Samples, church lecture entitled “Facing Life’s Challenges and God’s Peace”

Quote of the Week: Kenneth Sample | Reflections

Quote of the Week: A. J. Hoover | Reflections

From Dr Kenneth Sample's blog

When a man undergoes persecution, contempt, beatings, prison, and death for a message, he has a good motive for reviewing carefully the grounds of his convictions. It is extremely unlikely that the original disciples of Jesus would have persisted in affirming the truths they affirmed if Jesus hadn’t actually risen.

–A. J. Hoover, The Case for Christian Theism (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1976), 234.


Quote of the Week: A. J. Hoover | Reflections

Quote of the Week: Alister McGrath | Reflections

Thanks to Dr Kenneth Samples for posting this!

The doctrine of the Trinity can be regarded as the outcome of a process of sustained and critical reflection on the pattern of divine activity revealed in Scripture, and continued in Christian experience. This is not to say that Scripture contains a doctrine of the Trinity; rather, Scripture bears witness to a God who demands to be understood in a Trinitarian manner.

–Alister McGrath, An Introduction to Christianity (Cambridge, Mass: Blackwell, 1997), 193.


Quote of the Week: Alister McGrath | Reflections


Dr McGrath is correct!

The Trinity’s Biblical Basis | Reflections

Kenneth Samples has posted an interesting article summarizing Biblical support for the Trinity. There is nothing on it that I haven't seen before but it's real nice to have yet another summary of this truth. Follow the link.

The Trinity’s Biblical Basis | Reflections

Related articles

• Arianism Throughout the Ages (patristicsinmotion.wordpress.com)
• The Trinity in the Catholic life. (youthawake.wordpress.com)
• Where does the Trinity originate (wiki.answers.com)

Captain America and Superhero Worldviews, Part 2 | Reflections

Here is part 2 of Dr Kenneth Sample's reflection on the worldview illustrated in Captain America: The First Avenger. I liked his analysis and I agree with him. I'd add in saying that the way Captain America's ethics were demonstrated reminds me of the America I've always wanted and heard about but never actually experienced. Samples is right that America is far from the Triune all-powerful God of the Bible but many moral things were there in the beginning. Rather than rugged and selfish individualism and entitlement the permeates American culture today, Captain America was very much a product of the America of the 1940s - a generation that came of age during the depression and in many ways in the movie, Captain America represented some of the best that generation had to offer. The desire to serve and protect others. The dislike of bullies. There was a line in the movie where Steve Rogers said he wanted to fight Nazis because he does not like bullies. I've seen interviews of real-life WWII veterans expressing the same sentiment. He also said that men were fighting and dying for freedom and said he could do no less. He was not more concerned with his own life than he was about the people around him. He was humble and powerful and he was striving to do the right thing because it was right even when it was hard or inconvenient. This is the America I'd like us to be. It's also the kind of man Captain America is in the Comics. By that way, I also thought the movie was great.

Captain America and Superhero Worldviews, Part 2 | Reflections

Related articles

• Who Should Lead The Avengers? Captain America vs. Iron Man vs. Thor (screenrant.com)
• Captain America: A Psychologist's Review (psychologytoday.com)
• NEW TRAILER: Captain America (entertainment.msn.co.nz)
• A Review: Captain America: The First Avenger Movie. (idynamo.wordpress.com)
• Captain America: anatomy of a super soldier (holykaw.alltop.com)

Captain America and Superhero Worldviews, Part 1 | Reflections

Image via WikipediaKenneth Samples has started a series of post regarding Captain America and what the movie and superhero characters have to say about worldviews. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of his series!


Captain America and Superhero Worldviews, Part 1 | Reflections

Related articles

• #Captain America: Arguably the longest movie trailer ever made! (polarprisca.com)
• Have You Seen Captain America? (khmx.radio.com)
• Okay, So Like Nazis But Worse. Captain America: The First Avenger (tor.com)
• Captain America from A Butterfly Dreaming (abutterflydreaming.com)

Quote of the Week: Blaise Pascal | Reflections

Image via Wikipedia
Thank you, Dr Kenneth Samples

Not only do we only know God through Jesus Christ, but we only know ourselves through Jesus Christ; we only know life and death through Jesus Christ. Apart from Jesus Christ we cannot know the meaning of our life or our death, of God or of ourselves.

—Blaise Pascal, Pensees, trans. A.J. Krailsheimer, rev. ed. (New York: Penguin, 1995), no. 417/548.

Quote of the Week: Blaise Pascal | Reflections

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Response | Reflections

Dr Kenneth Samples reviews Harry Potter and talks about the Philosophy in the Harry Potter franchise and how to respond from a Christian point of view.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Response | Reflections

Related articles

• Harry Potter gallery: a look back down the years (heatworld.com)
• A Toast to Harry Potter! Butterbeers anyone? (restrow.wordpress.com)
• Harry Potter in Pop Culture: 10 Memorable Mentions (popsugar.com)
• Harry Potter: The End (independent.co.uk)

The Historic Alliance of Christianity and Science | Reflections

Kenneth Samples has posted an essay he wrote about how science and Christianity are related to one another. He wrote:

Conflicts between scientific theories and the Christian faith have arisen through the centuries, to be sure. However, the level of conflict has often been exaggerated, and Christianity’s positive influence on scientific progress is seldom acknowledged.² I would like to turn the tables by arguing for Christianity’s compatibility with and furtherance of scientific endeavors and by arguing against the compatibility of naturalism and science.

Read his essay using the following the link.

The Historic Alliance of Christianity and Science | Reflections

Related articles

• Science, religion and respect for meaning (openparachute.wordpress.com)
• The Stupidest Statement of the Month (zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com)
• Science & Christianity: Are They Compatible? (str.typepad.com)

Iron Sharpens Iron: Kenneth R. Samples: Does Harold Camping Meet the Criteria for Being a Cult Leader?

                           Image via WikipediaRecently  Dr. Ken Samples was a guest on Iron Sharpens Iron. He discussed the question of whether or not we should consider Harold Camping a cult leader or not? He discussed how to recognize a cult. Very interesting discussion.

Iron Sharpens Iron: Kenneth R. Samples: Does Harold Camping Meet the Criteria for Being a Cult Leader?