Superhero Psychology - ComicsAlliance | Comics culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews

Here is a video of real psychologists discussing whether or not characters like Batman are insane. They also discuss supervillians. Looking at such questions are real interesting and help in understanding psychology in such "case studies".



Crazy Sexy Geeks: Superhero Psychology Part 1 - Batman from Alan Kistler on Vimeo.

Link Ink: Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, 'Pushing Daisies' as a Comic, and Superhero Psychology - ComicsAlliance | Comics culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews

Apologetics 315: Mortimer J. Adler on Faith and Reason

Brian Auten has posted a great quote by Mortimer J. Adler about Faith. Considering the past couple of posts yesterday I posted about what "faith" is and what "faith" isn't I thought that this quote was great.
"I suspect that most of the individuals who have religious faith are content with blind faith. They feel no obligation to understand what they believe. They may even wish not to have their beliefs disturbed by thought. But if God in whom they believe created them with intellectual and rational powers, that imposes upon them the duty to try to understand the creed of their religion. Not to do so is to verge on superstition."
- Mortimer J. Adler
I agree with him. God commands us to understand what we believe and why we believe it. We should be able to talk to explain it.
Apologetics 315: Mortimer J. Adler on Faith and Reason

Iron Sharpens Iron: James R. White: The Assumption of Mary: An Analysis of the Recent Debate with Robert Sungenis

It is always great to hear what debaters think after a debate. James White was interviewed on Iron Sharpens Iron on his debate against Robert Sungenis regarding the bodily assumption of Mary. I listened to the debate last week and I think Dr. White more than proved his point. There is no Biblical nor historical reason to believe that Mary went to heaven bodily. You also cannot prove anyone in the first 4 centuries believed it - let alone taught it. This is a great interview!

Iron Sharpens Iron: James R. White: The Assumption of Mary: An Analysis of the Recent Debate with Robert Sungenis

Bishop Eddie Long | Minute-by-minute recap of Long's comments Sunday | ajc.com

Thanks to the Black Snob blog I got this link for the full transcript and video of Bishop Eddie Long's comments to his congregation today regarding the scandal that broke earlier this week. IT was not what I was hoping for. He made no apology nor did he plead his innocence. What we want to know is did he use his power and influence to force young men to have sex with him - thereby sinning against his wife, the children, and their families, and worse against God? This is sexual abuse in the extreme. This is the answer he did not give. I'm definitely going to be following this story.


Bishop Eddie Long | Minute-by-minute recap of Long's comments Sunday | ajc.com

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FacePalm of the Day #3

Luckily this is just a single FacePalm. John Loftus has posted an interesting quote. It's due an amazing presupposition.

I have been able to pose the Outsider Test for Faith OTF to a few Christian friends of mine... and this has shown to be very well accepted as a means of seeking and questioning. They agree with the approach, and some have even admitted that they've never given so much as a minute of thought to the outside religions and faiths of the world. The quote "when you understand why you reject the gods of other religions, you'll understand why I reject yours." Powerful quote... because people don't know why they reject the other gods and faiths... so now, the question is brought to their attention... and either they must continue in their blissful ignorance, or begin an honest examination of WHY they believe what they believe.
For me, this is the most honest, non-threatening approach to discussions with a theist.

The presupposition is this: No Christians ever think about why reject other religions. This is amazing to me. I must agree that there is truth in there. Many Christians could not really make an adequate defense for why they believe what they believe let alone explain what they believe. This is a silly presupposition because its not true about all Christians. I also really dislike the use of

The quote "when you understand why you reject the gods of other religions, you'll understand why I reject yours."

It presupposes that all evidence for any truth claim for all religions are uncompelling and absent. This is false. I'd say that there are many atheists who haven't the foggiest idea what evidences there are for the Bible or Christianity and have never bothered to really look into it. I am a Christian who have looked at and examined evidences and have more than found it compelling. What about those atheists and agnostics who have done the same and come up with a different result? The Bible gives answers - they don't conflict but they must be taken together.

²¹But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." - John 3:21

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

⁵Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; ⁷the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. ⁸Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8

⁶And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

²⁴"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. ²⁵And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. ²⁶From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. ²⁷God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ²⁸'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'
²⁹"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill. ³⁰In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. ³¹For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Acts 17:24-31

²Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. ³And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. - 2 Cor 4:2-4

¹⁸For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." - 1 Corinthians 1:18-19

Quote of the Day, by Isaac

Answering Muslims: Blunder of Dearborn Judge Mark Somers Gets Negeen Mayel Convicted

There has been good new and bad news regarding the arrest of Nabeel Qureshi, Paul Rezkalla, Negeen Mayel, and David Wood last July for witnessing to Muslims and video taping it in Dearborn, MI. They all have aquitted except Nageen. Nageen is young woman who may be small in statue but she is big in courage. She was man-handled and inappropriate comments about how body while she was under arrest - yet she was found guilty of “Failure to Obey a Police Officer’s Direction or Order.” I think that they had to make one of them take the fall for something and picked her because of her race and gender and religion. I sure hope they don't get away with this!


Answering Muslims: Blunder of Dearborn Judge Mark Somers Gets Negeen Mayel Convicted

Debunking Christianity: Faith is Equivalent to Irrationality - Face Palm Quote #2

John Loftus posted this today. It's so bad it deserves the "Double Face Palm Award"

Yep, that's what I've concluded. I was talking to a Catholic today about Stephen Hawking's new book where he says God doesn't exist based on science. So he responded, "That's why they call it faith." Yep, faith doesn't need scientific evidence. It's irrational. I want everyone to think "Irrational" whenever someone says the word "faith" because that's what it is.

Why is this silly? It's silly because he mis-defines "Faith" - at least the way the Bible defines it. "Faith" does not mean you believe something despite evidence to the contrary. I totally agree that is irrational but again that is not what Abraham nor anyone in the Bible was commended for doing. I agree that faith might mean believing something contrary to what you think otherwise would be rational but this is different than rejecting scientific fact that you can objectively prove. Let's look at what the Bible defines as faith.
 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. - Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. - Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
Look "faith", "pistis", has two parts. One part is about being certain in hope - not a vain hope -  but an expectant hope that you will see God do what he promised. Every instance of faith in the Bible was depended on a relationship with Go The second pd in which he made promise(s) to the one who had faith and that person walked in that faith. Look at the entire list of  heroes in the Hebrews 11 and that is something they all have in common and the second part of faith is that it is it's own evidence, but not of what does not exist. Rather faith is evidence of things we do not see. Just because you don't see something doesn't mean it is not real.
 What does a standard lexicon say about "pistis"?

1. conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it
   
   1. relating to God
      
      1. the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ
   2. relating to Christ
      
      1. a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God
   3. the religious beliefs of Christians
   4. belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same
2. fidelity, faithfulness
   
   1. the character of one who can be relied on

 See? Nothing like what John Loftus says "Faith" is.
Debunking Christianity: Faith is Equivalent to Irrationality

THE INTERSECTION | MADNESS & REALITY: The Greatest Story Never Told: Black Clergy Sexual Abuse

Okay, I'm sure everyone - well most everyone has heard about Bishop Eddie Long being arrested for trying to force another man to have sex with him.  A whole lot of the secrets he has tried to keep hidden have come to light.
When catholic priest do these things, protestants usually look down our noses at them says, "Figures...with the way they don't allow priests to marry. No wonder.That is not in the Bible." So what do we say when this happens in Protestant Churches in general or black churches in particular? It is because of sin pure and simple. It's horrible and its not right. And when Christians see people claiming to be Christians and engaging in sins of any kind, even sexual sins, we have the responsible and mandate to call attention to it. If the sinner refuses to stop and repent, but the sin is not illegal, the sinner should leave the church. If the sinner has committed something illegal the sinner should be reported to the authorities.  It's horrible that such things take place. And I know it takes place in the Church of God in Christ, but not everywhere and not by everyone who has a position of authority abuses it. I don't think that these things can be put at the blame of the Bible and God is most definitely not responsible and definitely not the fault of the victims. It's the fault of the perpetrators and those who allow it.
I like this post I linked to. It does a fair job of pointing out the problem without making it seem like an indictment of black churches. In addition the link that was provided to Report COGIC Abuse makes it clear that these are people who desire only to hold people accountable and protect people not that they hate Christianity.
As a member of the clergy of the Church of God in Christ it is my duty to speak out and say that it is wrong and God does not like it. God promises those who are in position of authority in Churches are held to a higher standard and what is done in the dark comes out. We should all take heed a lives lives of holiness committed to righteousness!

 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. - James 3:1



¹³ Now all has been heard;
       here is the conclusion of the matter:
       Fear God and keep his commandments,
       for this is the whole duty of man.
 ¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment,
       including every hidden thing,
       whether it is good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

THE INTERSECTION | MADNESS & REALITY: The Greatest Story Never Told: Black Clergy Sexual Abuse

Apologetics 315: Francis Schaeffer Lecture on Apologetics MP3

Brian Auten has posted a great lecture by Francis Schaeffer. I doubly appreciate it because although I have heard a lot about him I have not actually heard or read much of his material yet. In this lecture he discusses what Apologetics is and his approach. Follow the link below to hear it.

Apologetics 315: Francis Schaeffer Lecture on Apologetics MP3

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Book « Is the Qur’an the Word of God?

Here is a book tha tI think I may try to get  my hands on. From the table of contents, it seems to be a good overview of the Qur'an.  I found out about it from a link tweeted by Brian Auten.

Book « Is the Qur’an the Word of God?

Brennon's Thoughts: Verses All Arminians Should Know Part 7

Brennon has posted a great list of scriptures that support Arminianism. I'm not certain that they support the Arminian position. Rather than try to responding to them all at once, I will break them down into several posts based on how the list is presented.This topic interests me because I really wanna  I know what the Bible says. Here is part 7 regarding the idea that Bible teaches that sin is not from God.. I don't think that there has ever been a Christian who would try to argue that God is responsible for our sins.


Verses showing sin is not from God

• Jeremiah 7:24

 ²⁴ But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

This true of every single human being! We have all done this. It's describing the state of men. If anything
I view the passage teaching about the "Total Depravity" of humanity.

• James 1:13-15

  ¹³When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. ¹⁵Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

I totally agree. Neither Total Depravity nor Determinism lays the blame for sin at the feet of God. We are responsible for our sins and following the evil inclinations of our own hearts. 

• 1 John 2:16

¹⁶For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.

Amen. Total agreement. I don't think that these verses refute Reformed theology at all.  Reformed Theologians do not argue that the origin of  a man's sin comes from God. Rather it is our salvation that totally comes from God. The sin part - the need for that salvation - is because of what we are. We own that. I think most Christians agree that God can use the consequences of our sins to accomplish his purposes given:



Remember what Joseph told his brothers who some 30 years earlier sold him into slavery:

¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ²¹ So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.  - Genesis 50:19-21

What about Romans 8:28-29

 ²⁸And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. - Romans 8:28-29

However this does not mean that God forces anyone to do evil. We know that God doesn't force people to do evil. I'd argue that on our own evil is all we are capable of. When we do a good, selfless thing - believers and non-believers alike - it is because of God's grace. 

Brennon's Thoughts: Verses All Arminians Should Know

Apologetics 315: How to Get Apologetics in Your Church: How We Got Apologetics in Our Church

My article on how to get Apologetics into one's church has been posted at Apologetics 315. Thanks, Brian.

Apologetics 315: How to Get Apologetics in Your Church: How We Got Apologetics in Our Church

Beggars All: Reformation And Apologetics: Servetus, Calvin, etc.

I found this great article about John Calvin and Michael Servetus. I find church history very important and awesome. And this particular blog is certain to always deliver great content. This particular is also different because it contains not just text but a gadget that reads the text in the posts for you! Check out the post it has great information. 

Beggars All: Reformation And Apologetics: Servetus, Calvin, etc.

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The FacePalm of the Day #1

A couple of weeks ago  I was challenged by Brosho7 on John Loftus' blog that I don't really follow Jesus because I've been attempting to talk to people about Christ on Loftus' blog and no body there wants to listen or hear it. I agree that many people there don't want to have their ideas or worldviews challenged. Brosho7  said that I wasn't following Jesus' words in Matthew 7:6:

 "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces."

I asked Brosho7 if he was calling himself and all other atheists and agnostics on the blog "swine". I then told him if he was willing to admit to being swine I  would never post on Debunking Christianity again. I admit that I don't think of anyone there as being unworthy of the Gospel or as good as pigs, so I knew BroSho7 would not  go there.  And he didn't. As a matter of fact the comment hung out there for over a week without a comment form anyone. He brought it up again on Monday, and I issued the same challenge.

Much to my surprise another commenter GearHedEd wrote today. His comment wins my "FacePalm of the day" award because it's just bad.

Oh, yeah...


Oink, oink, oinkity oink, Marcus.

I'm a pig.

Now go away like you promised.

Post

a comment.

Unsubscribe

to comments on this post.

Posted by GearHedEd to Debunking Christianity

at September 21, 2010 6:17 PM

So GearHedEd would rather admit to being a pig to give himself an out rather than to continue discussions. He actually did me a favor of showing just how lost he really is. I am going to do as I promised and not post anymore comments on Debunking  Christianity anymore. I'll just keep praying for the people there that God would save them and heal them. and protect them. A mindset like that can only be changed with the grace of God.

Debunking Christianity: Quote of the Day, by Erkki

John Loftus re-posted the comments from one of the comments made by one of his readers who goes by the name Erkki. Obviously, Loftus thinks that this is a well-reasoned argument.

Punishment has to serve a purpose, other than satisfying the punisher's lust for vengeance, in order to be of use. However, the Biblegod's version of punishment means that if you don't believe, your punishment never stops. It's pure vengeance. Unconditional love means that you use punishment only to correct and reform the wrongdoer. It's still tough love enough, for punishment is always tough to go through, but of course temporary, corrective punishment for sins is "too vanilla" or "too soft on sin" to please the conservative/fundamentalist segment of Christianity, heh. There's that lust for violence in the believers who adamantly preach that anyone who doesn't believe as they believe go to hell. It's a perversion, really.
I'm an atheist and I'm opposed to any religion that teaches the monstrosity of everlasting hell. So revolting is this concept that I can't see why any rational human being could accept this fear-mongering nonsense. But I'm sure if God exists, he's much nicer than the religious fanatics portray him to be. And more willing to correct even the worst villain ever and punish him only to cleanse him of his sins altogether. Because this is true love: to redeem even the worst among humans. Otherwise Satan or whoever is responsible for making humans sin is more powerful than God himself.

There are several points here I think are missed by people who holds Erkki's view of God's nature, character, and what hell is.
1. Hell is not just about punishment. No one goes to hell for what they did but because of what they are - sinners. We all deserve to go to hell. We all have earned God's wrath because we are not holy.
2. Think about what Erkki is saying: Unconditional love means that you use punishment only to correct and reform the wrongdoer. It's still tough love enough, for punishment is always tough to go through, but of course temporary, corrective punishment for sins is "too vanilla" or "too soft on sin" to please the conservative/fundamentalist segment of Christianity, heh. Who said? How was this conclusion reached? We have a characterization of "unconditional love" given without any proof that it's correct. I would argue that God has provided the means so that we can be cleansed of sin and be with Him forever - Jesus' atoning sacrifice and resurrection. Why should God allow you to avoid hell if you reject his grace and demand that you do it your own way?
3. How is this fear-mongering? How is this nonsense? Do you let people come in your house and do whatever they want no matter what you think? Nope. We live in God's universe. Why would God not have the right to enforce His will and standards regardless of what you think of those standards? He has every right.
4. What is there to fear if you obey God? In Jesus there is no condemnation. If hell frightens you, just put your faith in Christ. Simple.
Debunking Christianity: Quote of the Day, by Erkki

Answering Muslims: Pastor Speaks the Truth about Islam

Nabeel has posted a great video of  Dr. Jeffress making comment about Islam that has not cost him a lot of insults and character assassination. I'm wondering how long will it be before the only people you can publicly and strongly disagree with will be Christians without ridicule.


Answering Muslims: Pastor Speaks the Truth about Islam

Pés Descalços Evangelismo - Servos de um Soberano Deus: O Cristianismo é Verdadeiro? - 23 Ensaios

Oh well I just found out from a tweet from Brian Auten that the series of essays he published and I contributed to is going to be translated to Portuguese! Wow. I never imagined. However many of the articles should be spread widely and translated to as many languages as possible.

Pés Descalços Evangelismo - Servos de um Soberano Deus: O Cristianismo é Verdadeiro? - 23 Ensaios

Use this link to read the post in English.

Brian has already made good on the promise to collecting the series into a free e-book. Here is my post on it containing a link to get it in English.

Apologetics 315: Apologist Interview: Ellis Potter

Yesterday Brian Auten posted an awesome interview. He interviewed Ellis Potter a man who came to Christ through a very interesting life path. I enjoyed listening to his testimony. I enjoyed listening to his advice also. There was so much there that I can use. I highly recommend listening to this interview!

Apologetics 315: Apologist Interview: Ellis Potter

The Mother-of-All-Demos

On December 9, 1968, Douglas Engelbart's demo displayed a whole new way of computing and unveiled the computer mouse to the world! I cannot imagine a world without any of these things.

Best remembered as the demo that introduced the world to the computer mouse, it was actually a moment when Engelbart and his team of researchers unveiled a whole new way of computing -- one that looked more like what we do in 2008 than like the punch-card-driven work that was standard back in the 60s.
The mother of all demos, which today feels like a too-long scene in a classic science fiction movie, marked the debut of both hypertext links and on-screen text editing, and it even married computing with video teleconferencing.

Engelbart's vision, stated at the time has become common place:

In the video from 1968, before starting his demo Engelbart briefly describes his vision of computing. "If, in your office, you, as an intellectual worker, were supplied with a computer display backed up by a computer that was alive for you all day and was instantly ... responsive to every action that you had, how much value could you derive from that?" he asks.

This is the basis of the internet and the whole Information Technology industry!


A 40-year-old computer demo that still amazes | Hardware - InfoWorld

Armoring Up for Spiritual Warfare

Yesterday I had the honor of preaching at my church. My subject was discussing the "full armor of God" and how it is used in Spiritual Warfare. It went well but I had a couple of technical glitches. I had a Powerpoint presentation that included videos. I have included the Powerpoint I used in the presentation on this blog post. The clip I used from Deadliest Warrior was played in the slide but to get it work through Authorstream I can only provide a link on the slide. The most important thing is that the message I was to deliver was delivered.

Armoring Up Online - Final

See more presentations by mmcelhaney | Upload your own PowerPoint presentations

Debunking Christianity: Even if Christianity Ends Up True There Would Be No Reason to Believe

John Loftus recently wrote the following on his blog:

Bertrand Russell was asked what he would tell God on judgment day why he did not believe, Russell reportedly said: "Not enough evidence, God, not enough evidence."
So even if the Christian faith ends up being true there was still no reason thinking people should accept it, because only claims that can be reasonably justified should be embraced. You see, we have to reject a lot of true claims because they have not met their own burden of proof. This is both obvious and non-controversial. Aliens from space might have abducted someone, but without sufficient evidence commensurate with such a claim there is no reason why anyone should believe the person who asserts it. There are surely cases in which someone murdered another person but no one suspects he did the evil deed, because there is just no evidence to lead anyone to think he did. There are many hundreds of claims that we should never believe, even if they are true. That’s the case when it comes to Christianity. Even if it’s true, thinking people cannot believe it because it’s wildly improbable.

I'm amazed how short-sighted the argument is. If your child used such an excuse for misbehaving or outright disobeying you, no one I know would accepts "I didn't have enough evidence about what you said was true." Why would anyone think that such an excuse would work on judgment day? One question I would have asked Russel, or anyone who thinks that this is acceptable, would be what do you think God would say your excuse? The truth is using this excuse in telling God, that he didn't provide enough evidence to convince you. How do you think such an accusation will fly with God? What is wrong with you? There was plenty of evidence to convince other people. Maybe the problem isn't with the evidence but with you. Probability isn't enough to determine what you believe. It shouldn't be. We should believe something because it is true, not because it's probable. There are too many example of true things that don't seem probable.
Debunking Christianity: Even if Christianity Ends Up True There Would Be No Reason to Believe

"The Exclusivity of Christ" by Bruce Ware | True Freethinker

Mariano has posted a great video lecture from Bruce Ware about how Christ is unique and unavoidable.


Dr. Bruce Ware- "The Exclusivity of Christ" from Calvary Santa Fe on Vimeo.

"The Exclusivity of Christ" by Bruce Ware | True Freethinker

Stephen Hawking and God: A Response

Dr. John Lennox weighs in on Stephen Hawking's latest published book regarding what he wrote about God.


Stephen Hawking and God: A Response

Answering A Fool According To His Folly - Defining "Divine Inspiration"

At about 8:05 pm PST on September 18, 2010 one of the followers of John Loftus who calls himself GearHedEd made the following challenge in a comment on a post A Mind of Its Own: How Your Brain Distorts and Deceives.

I notice that nobody touched this with a ten-foot Crucifix...
---------------------------------
"Divine inspiration, you say?
Prove that there is such a thing as "divine". Show how it is anything more than merest speculation of men.
Can't use the Bible. That would be like saying "divine means 'with or exhibiting the quality of divinity'", which says absolutely nothing.
Also can't use argumentum ad populum (what I call "The Lemming Factor": everyone believes, so that is evidence of the object of belief).
Where's the hard evidence for
"divine"?"
---------------------------------
How about it Christians?
Divinity does not exist. I have said it.
You have one week to prove that it does.
Ready?
Go!

Answering the Challenge

To Answer the question "What is Divine Inspiration?" we must first agree on what "Divine" means and what "inspiration" is. I say this because GearHedEd admitted that he does not know what "Divinity" means.He also says that he doesn't want to bring the Bible into it. Wonder why he didn't just "google" it?
"Divine" in the context of "Divine Inspiration" is an adjective describing a kind of inspiration. So let's use the adjective definition of the word "divine".

1.
of or pertaining to a god, esp. the Supreme Being.
2.
addressed, appropriated, or devoted to God or a god; religious; sacred: divine worship.
3.
proceeding from God or a god: divine laws.
4.
godlike; characteristic of or befitting a deity: divine magnanimity.
5.
heavenly; celestial: the divine kingdom.
6.
Informal . extremely good; unusually lovely: He has the most divine tenor voice.
7.
being a god; being God: a divine person.
8.
of superhuman or surpassing excellence: Beauty is divine.
9.
Obsolete . of or pertaining to divinity or theology.

Of these I'd say we would agree that definition 3 is the one we want in context of "Divine Inspiration". So what about "Inspiration"?

–noun
1.
an inspiring or animating action or influence: I cannot write poetry without inspiration.
2.
something inspired, as an idea.
3.
a result of inspired activity.
4.
a thing or person that inspires.
5.
Theology .
a.
a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul.
b.
the divine quality of the writings or words of a person so influenced.
6.
the drawing of air into the lungs; inhalation.
7.
the act of inspiring; quality or state of being inspired.

I know what you are thinking: "What does inspired mean?" Being "inspired" means being moved or influenced in such a way.
When Biblical Christians use the term "Divine Inspiration" to describe how the Bible was written we merely mean that the God inspired the 40+ human authors of the 66 books of the canonical Bible to write what they wrote. Not necessarily that God took their hands and wrote the text or that God dictated what they wrote word-for-word. No. Also not saying that sometimes they did not quote God directly. We mean that God took their personalities and the ways in which they express themselves and gave them the ideas and the points to make but the writer expressed the ideas in their own way.

GearHedEd first tries to dismiss this by claiming that there is no Divinity and offers no proof that there isn't a God. I think anyone who has ever done anything as an artist that has ever touched another human being knows what "Divine Inspiration" feels like. "Inspired" means:

outstanding or brilliant in a way or to a degree suggestive of divine inspiration

Look at the word: "in" - "sprired". The very word suggested the inputting of a spirit. Being influenced by forces beyond yourself. Anyone who has ever had a brilliant idea knows this feeling. You know it was not you. You also know, if you are honest, that you can't just have similar "strokes of genius" whenever you want them or wherever you want them or even regarding what you want them about. Some people say that they were "lucky". Or that they just happened to be at the right place at the right time. Do they really stop and think about what it is they are saying? How is that any less "Spooky" or superstitious than just admitting that you got the ideas from God? It's amazing to me that most of the time God just lets people take the credit. How is being "divinely inspired" different than having an "epithany"? Given the following definition:

"a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience."

I'd say not much of a different other than calling something an "epithany" in the context I'm using it does not necessarily invoke the idea of God's involvement. The word has changed and evolved that way. It used to be directly connected to experiences with the divine, but I'll use it in the more modern colloquial sense here.

I know GearHedEd is attempting to ask for proof of God's existence, but that is not what he asked for. He asked for a definition for what "Divine Inspiration" is. As for proving that "Divinity" ie God does not exist, you can't make such a truth claim without proving it. As for whether my definition matches what the Bible says about itself. Yes it does.

16We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."[a] 18We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
19And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. -2 Peter 1:16-21

Reason behind the title of this post.

I realize some people might have a problem with the title of this post. They might find it offensive and controversial. Good. I was inspired to use this title because of the following passage:
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you will be like him yourself.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes. - Proverbs 26:4-5
This passage has always intrigued me because on the surface it may seem to contradict itself. But if you look more carefully and look at other translations the meaning of these Proverbs become clearer.
Verse 4 is in the context of speaking to a fool using his context and understanding - accepting his worldview and presuppositions. You will indeed end up just like him.
Verse 5 is in the context of speaking to a fool and correcting his worldview and presuppositions so that he will not remain conceited and blinded.
And before one gets angry and and offended by the term fool, you need to find out if the Bible is referring to you or not. And guess what? The Bible tells us very clearly what makes a person a fool in the context given in Proverbs.

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. - Psalm 14:1

The Bible is not talking about only atheists or agnostics. Notice that it also adds "there is no one who does good." Not just the atheist. Being a theist is not enough.

18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? - James 1:18-20

So what does God want of us? Notice James is not saying that faith is not needed. It is. But we are saved by faith so that you can do the good works that God has predetermined for us to do!

8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:8-10

What do you have to have faith in?
Jesus said in John 8:24:

24I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."

Who did Jesus claim to be? The "I Am" who brought Israel out of Egypt. The Way, the Truth, and Life. The only way to salvation from sin and death. The Son of Man (from Daniel 7). The Messiah. The Redeemer of human kind. The Promise. The Prophet. The Bread that came down from Heaven. The good shepherd. This and more. This is the Gospel. If you wanna know what the Gospel is you must follow Jesus.
I now have a challenge to issue on my own. I believe the Bible is true and divinely inspired as per the definitions I gave above. Before we can wrestle with whether or not the Bible is true we have to agree on what it says. To anyone who takes issue with anything I have written here, let us first agree upon whether or not scripture says what I have said it says. IF you agree that it does then we can discuss whether it true or not. You also have a week. I am waiting.

Defending the Resurrection by James Patrick Holding

Here is a link to the table of contents of JP Holding's work on defending the fact of Jesus' Resurrection. This is definitely one I would like to read!


Defending the Resurrection Hub Page

Apologetics 315: How to Get Apologetics in Your Church: Cultivating a Local Church Apologetics Ministry

I highly suggest reading Chad Gross' article in the Apologetics 315 "How to Get Apologetics in Your Church?" essay series. He summed up the importance of Apologetics very well with these words:

Enthusiastically, I began sharing some of this evidence with fellow Christians and (to my surprise) the majority of them had little knowledge of it! I remember thinking, “How can these people believe that a man came back from the dead without any evidence?” Understandably, the believer possesses experiential evidence, but if that experience does not correlate with available evidence, I believe the authenticity of the experience should be called into question. Further, what about the person who has questions and has not experienced God?

It seemed to me that if we had sound evidence to believe that God existed and that Jesus rose from the dead, we should be fairly excited about it and want to tell others!

I agree with Chad completely. He also offers a lot of advice about how to get started.


Apologetics 315: How to Get Apologetics in Your Church: Cultivating a Local Church Apologetics Ministry

"The Forgotten Trinity" by James White | True Freethinker

I appreciate Mariano for posting this video. I love to hear Dr. James White discuss the subject of the Trinity and why we believe it and how the Bible teaches it.


Dr. James White- "The Forgotten Trinity" from Calvary Santa Fe on Vimeo.

"The Forgotten Trinity" by James White | True Freethinker

Apologetics and the Age of the Earth

Here is a great posting from Jamen Hubner discussing the age of the earth - dating Genesis. I really enjoyed this article!

Apologetics and the Age of the Earth

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