What had happen' was.....

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Theistic Evolution and The Quest for the Historical Adam

Jamin Hubner continues to post really interesting articles. In this one, he writes about theistic evolution. He points to an article written by Dr. David Murray, Professor of Old Testament at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. I just don't think that there is enough science to support the idea that every single life form on this planet has descended from the same one-celled animal and those who deny God but accept evolution cannot explain where that first life form came from.

Theistic Evolution and The Quest for the Historical Adam

A Thoughtful and Well-Reasoned Discourse on Why Pi Can Go Suck It - Topless Robot Fat Chance!!!!

I was really interested to see what this video might have. I have to admit that making the argument to replace 2* Pi with another constant to simplify many equations has an appeal. However, I think that one important fact was neglected. True Pi is the ratio of diameter to circumference, but Pi is also equal to the number of radians in all triangles one of the basis on which trigonometry is based. In Calculus, this relationship combined with the relationship of Pi to circles saves many a calculation. Pi still rules!

A Thoughtful and Well-Reasoned Discourse on Why Pi Can Go Suck It - Topless Robot

Social Media Explained - G4tv.com

Ever confused about which social media you should use? It depends on what you wanna say! Here is a humorous guide. I got it from G4. In the article, they ask what happened to MySpace? My answer is no one uses MySpace anymore!

Social Media Explained - G4tv.com

He Lives: Jerry Coyne's vexing connundrum: If you think God is possible, how is it there are PAIN + SUFFERING??

I love David Heddle's blog. I think he accurately characterizes Jerry Coyne's argument against God's existence. Coyne wrote

This—the presence of horrible things caused not by humans, but by other features of nature—is the Achilles heel of theistic faith.

Heddle observes:

Of course Jerry—like people who aren't too bright are habitually doing—likes to imagine that his simpleminded argument a) possesses a slam-dunk quality and b) humanity had to wait millennia for someone of his unique intellect to introduce it.

I highly recommend Heddle's blog and article. I think he hits the nail on the head and makes some important observations. I agree with him.

He Lives: Jerry Coyne's vexing connundrum: If you think God is possible, how is it there are PAIN + SUFFERING??

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

My Common Sense is Tingling - Debunking Christianity: Another Mark of a Deluded Person

John Loftus posted the following earlier today:

Previously I wrote on the Ten Marks of a Deluded Person. Here's another one. Many Christians treat skeptics like me as if we are enemies to be debated rather then fellow human beings interested in the truth. That is surely one of the marks of a brainwashed or deluded person too. Dr. Randal Rauser in his book, You're Not As Crazy As I Think, would seem to agree. Rauser: "The single most effective way to protect a core set of ideological claims from critical introspection is by positing a simplistic binary opposition between two sides while placing the views we seek to protect on the correct or true side and all views hostile to the core ideology on the incorrect side." (p. 58) "For too long we have objectified the dissenting voice at the other end of the battlefield as nothing more than a target of conquest." (p. 12) However, "The real person of truth is one who expresses a genuine willingness to listen to the other as as equal conversation partner." (p. 8) As a corrective to this Rauser endorses a resolution "...to engage with the other--the liberal, the Dawinist, the animal rights activist, and the atheist--as an equal partner in dialogue and so to treat each one as a person we can learn from and need to listen to." (p. 11)

How is calling someone who disagrees with you "deluded" treating that "'as an equal partner in dialogue and so to treat each one as a person we can learn from and need to listen to'?" Common sense says it doesn't. Makes me wonder why John Loftus thinks he's due such respect while denying the same from people who disagree with him.

Debunking Christianity: Another Mark of a Deluded Person

JonQ.com - StumbleUpon

One man came up with a good idea for proposing marriage to his girlfriend. She never even saw it coming.

JonQ.com - StumbleUpon

Earthquake in Japan 2011

Japan is really hurting right now. They need our prayers and any help we can provide. A 8.9 earthquake is nothing to sneer at or underestimate. There is no evidence of an earthquake as large in the continental United States.

Arahama, Japan 2008

Arahama, Japan 2011

Christopher Hitchens and Alister McGrath Debate MP3 Audio - Apologetics 315

Christopher Hitchens debated Alister McGrath quite a while ago. Brian Auten posted the audio before I knew about Apologetics 315. If you missed it, I think the audio is definitely worth listening to. Follow the link to listen to the debate.

Christopher Hitchens and Alister McGrath Debate MP3 Audio - Apologetics 315

YouTube - The Biggest Problem with Apologists in the United States (Dr. James White)

James White identifies the biggest problem with apologists in the United States. I think he is 100% Correct.

YouTube - The Biggest Problem with Apologists in the United States (Dr. James White)

Monday, March 14, 2011

Flatland Apologetics: Get real

Here is a very good summary of theories regarding Jesus' resurrection It draws the conclusion that Jesus' bodily resurrection is the only plausible explanation that fits all the facts that we have of what happened to Jesus.

Flatland Apologetics: Get real

7 Films That Got Stuck In The Uncanny Valley - Topless Robot

Topless Robot has posted an interesting article. It is about an interesting idea:

The concept of "The Uncanny Valley" -- the theory that as artificial humans get closer and closer to looking real, they get creepier and more unsettling -- gets a lot of debate amongst movie and robot fans alike.

I think that there is merit to this. The article goes on to list seven films that illustrate the point. I found all of these creepy except for Jolie in Beowulf and the Hulk

7 Films That Got Stuck In The Uncanny Valley - Topless Robot

Lessons in Logic and Argumentation: The Fallacy of Equivocation

Jamin Hubner has posted an interesting article defining and describing the logical fallacy known as the Fallacy of Equivocation. Check it out.

Lessons in Logic and Argumentation: The Fallacy of Equivocation

Video: “I Have Sex” « : Crushable - Crushable gives you the celebrity news, style and scoop on the stuff you care about.

I find it amazing that we now live in a culture that not only condones extra-marital sexual activity but literally glories in it. Part of the problem is that for centuries, the Christian church taught people to be ashamed of their sexuality while there is no Biblical teaching that endorses such a view. It seems that in protesting that, people have gone to the other extreme of thinking that almost everything is permissible and correct. Like everything else, why would there not be inadvisable sexual behavior? The Bible does not condemn sex. Sex inside of monogamous relationships between a single man and a single woman in a life-long commitment under-girded by mutual respect and love is what is commanded. The amazing thing is that most people admit that these Biblical relationship are the most healthy sexual relationships and what most people seem to crave no matter what culture or time they are from. Women are best protected and have the most control over their lives in these kinds of relationships. People live longer and more fulfilled lives. When people turn their backs on keeping sex within marriage, they turn their backs on what is best for them. God is not trying to be a kill-joy or ruin our fun or keep us from pleasure. God has revealed what is best for us. Considering that God made us and gave us the gift of sex, would God not know how to get the most out of it? Yes, God would. And given that God has revealed this as God's desire for us, it follows that God will give you a spouse suitable for you so that you can live the way God has commanded.

Everyone sins and falls short of the ideal standard God has given us - in multiple ways. This is why forgiveness is given to us. God knows that the standards for how we exercise our sexuality is steep and God does not expect us to view sexual desire as sin - in and of itself. Desiring sex is not an evil thing. The problem is what people do to fulfill those desires. We can fall into sinful action to satisfy those feelings. Thank God, for giving us all the tools and things we need to live the lives He has purposed for us.

Video: “I Have Sex” « : Crushable - Crushable gives you the celebrity news, style and scoop on the stuff you care about.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Calvinistic Cartoons: Random Comic Panel

Eddie Eddings posted this great acrostic for "SUPER" summarizing Reformed Theology.

Is your doctrine a "SUPER" one?
Soul in Depravity
Unconditional Election
Particular Redemption
Eternally Secure
Resistance Transformed into Insistence

Want to know the difference between Calvinism and Arminianism? Look at one of the comments:

Angry Arminian said...: W - Will is free! I - I elect myself! M - My decision! P - Power to choose! Y - You might not make it! And don't nobody call it "man-centered"

I did change the image of Superman, Eddie used in his original post but the text was too good not change.

Calvinistic Cartoons: Random Comic Panel

Patrick Boivin - Interview

I got a tweet about an article in which Patrick Boivin has been interviewed. I like his work a great deal and it is great to see what he has to say about that work. Take a look at the interview and one of my favorite shorts he worked on - Iron Baby.

Patrick Boivin

Fallacy Friday: The Ubiquitous Ad Hominem | MandM

Brian Auten has teamed up with Matthew Flannagan to produce a series of podcasts/blog articles enumerating and describing logical fallacies and things about logic in general. This last Friday Matthew Flannagan covered "Ad Hominem" arguments. He did a great job on the program and gave good examples also. Ad Hominem arguments are what one uses when they have no other argument of value. Follow the link to get the podcast and blog post.

Fallacy Friday: The Ubiquitous Ad Hominem | MandM

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Islam and Christianity A Common Word: Debate: Thabiti vs Zawadi "Who is God and how are we saved?"

Debate on Islamic and Christian ideas of God and his Character as well as how both view Salvation. Well worth looking at.

What is God like?

What is the difference in Salvation between Christianity and Islam?

Does Islam guarantee Salvation?

Is Jesus Christ the only way to Salvation?

Which faith leads to eternal salvation, Islam or Christianity?

Representing the Muslim perspective was Bassam Zawadi: Brother Bassam has written hundreds of articles on Islam and Christianity.

He has a Bachelors Degree in Management and Marketing and a Masters Degree in Strategic Marketing.

He runs the website www.call-to-monotheism.com

He is currently working on his first publication, " Who is Muhammad? a Muslim and Christian Perspectives. "

Representing the Christian side was Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile: Thabiti M. Anyabwile is senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.

He was previously an assistant pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church (Washington, DC) and served as an elder at Church on the Rock (Raleigh, NC).

Thabiti has a strong professional and academic background in community psychology, with special interest in the history and development of the African American church.

He holds B.A. and M.S. degrees in psychology from North Carolina State University. He and his wife, Kristie, have two daughters.

The Topic: Who is God and How are We Saved?

An Interfaith dialogue between Brother Bassam Zawadi and Pastor Thabiti M. Anyabwile (from the First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman)

(the University of Wollongong, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 2nd March 2009)

I'm glad to see that such debates do take place in the Middle East!!!

Islam and Christianity A Common Word: Debate: Thabiti vs Zawadi "Who is God and how are we saved?"

My Common Sense is Tingling - Debunking Christianity: Why Evolution is True, by Jerry Coyne

Chalk it up to coincidence if you like, but this morning I was greeted with two posts on Evolution in my news feeds. It was like seeing poison and then getting the antidote. First the poison from John Loftus' blog.

Every day, hundreds of observations and experiments pour into the hopper of the scientific literature. Many of them don't have much to do with evolution - they're observations about he details of physiology, biochemistry, development, and so on - but many of them do. And every fact that has something to do with evolution confirms its truth. Every fossil that we find, every DNA molecule that we sequence, every organ system that we dissect, supports the idea that species evolved from common ancestors. Despite innumerable possible observations that could prove evolution untrue, we don't have a single one. We don't find mammals in Precambrian rocks, humans in the same layers as dinosaurs, or any other fossils out of evolutionary order. DNA sequencing supports the evolutionary relationships of species originally deduced from the fossil record. And, as natural selection predicts, we find no species with adaptations that only benefit a different species. We do find dead genes and vestigial organs, incomprehensible under the idea of special creation. Despite a million chances to be wrong, evolution always comes up right. That is as close as we can get to a scientific truth. - Jerry Coyne, Why Evolution Is True

For more see the DC Evolution Smackdown.

I was just thinking "I wonder why people don't also consider the other ways of viewing the same data that does not support their conclusions and the data that goes against their conclusions - especially concerning evolution." I find that that Christian scientists are often belittled and ridiculed and accused of making data stretch to support the conclusions they hold but then we have scientists who support "common ancestry" doing the same thing. Here a portion of the antidote written by Luke Nix:

Now, the whole idea that I am demonstrating is not possible here, is common ancestry. There is much evidence that suggests a common ancestor (including similar genetic code). However, we are looking for an explanation that can make sense of the evidence for common ancestry AND all the evidence against common ancestry (surface scratched above).What is suggested by the similar genetic code is a "commonality". But what else could be "common" among the organisms that would explain all the evidence? A common designer. A common designer would explain everything. Many human designers use many things from previous designs in new designs (no sense in re-inventing the wheel). That would explain the common genetic code. A common designer is not limited by mutational and environmental pathways that are limited by the age of the universe and further limited by the age of whatever celestial body they formed on. The idea of a common designer explains more of the data, without inconsistency, than does common ancestry (macroevolution).

Nix's article is very good and offers some evidence that Loftus did not include in his quotation of Jerry Coyne's book. He even provides links to even more resource. I highly suggest looking at both sides and see that there is plenty enough evidence that you can just blindly accept the notion of the Universe coming into being uncaused and without direction or purpose (now that sounds like a delusion because there is verifiable evidence to the contrary).

So Remember:

Poison:
Debunking Christianity: Why Evolution is True, by Jerry Coyne

Antidote:
Can Evolution Repeat?

Christ Victorious (Resurrection Day) - apologetics - blip.tv

Cover of "Death by Love: Letters from the...

Cover via AmazonHere is a short motion comic based on a chapter from a book by Pastor Mark Driscoll

In the first chapter of Mark Driscoll's book "Death By Love", he explains to a girl named "Katie" how Christ has conquered the enemies of her soul on her behalf. Now she is free, safe, alive, and protected in Him. Video made by Ryan Johnson.

Christ Victorious (Resurrection Day) - apologetics - blip.tv

Islam and Christianity A Common Word: Muslims in American History: A Forgotten Legacy

God has used all different people from various backgrounds to make America as great as it is. It's important to remember who God is - the sovereign determiner of human history. He put us all where we are so that we can best find him and fulfill our part in his grand design. Muslims taking positive roles in American History are no different.

Islam and Christianity A Common Word: Muslims in American History: A Forgotten Legacy

Calvinistic Cartoons: A Video Worth Watching

Here is a promo for a book Eddie Eddings Illustrated poking fun at anti-Calvinism. I think I will have to read this one.

Calvinistic Cartoons: A Video Worth Watching

Friday, March 11, 2011

When to End a Conversation With A Four Year-Old

Image via WikipediaLast Sunday I took my family to Olive Garden and during dinner I was telling my wife, Suki, that I looked up the character Black Manta and found a picture of him without a helmet and that he is a black man because I had never seen him outside of costume. I was amazed. I never knew that.

Suki wasn't really impressed, but she humors me anyway. She said, "How could you not know? All black characters have 'Black' in their name."

I replied, "No, that's not true." I already had a couple of characters in mind.

"Name one," my wife challenged.

Before I could respond, our four-year-old daughter, Makayla, who was obviously paying closer attention to the conversation and watching me during her life, said "Black Widow!" We busted out laughing. Makayla said it with the look on her face of knowing that she was undeniably correct.

At this point, I was through. I mean Makayla has a point. Black Widow is a white fictional character with "black" in her codename. Let's just say I backed away slowly! I've learned that when your toddler's got you like that it's better to not press it and just remember that they are paying attention to everything you say and do. .

Debunking Christianity: How Do We Know Christians are Delusional?

It is shocking to me that people claim Christians are delusional. This video attempts to say that because we reject Mormonism and Islam we should also reject Christianity. The video skips the question about what reasons are there to believe Christianity over Mormonism and Islam and instead asserts that there is no good reason to believe Christianity is true and tries to make it seem like the Bible is full of magic and superstition. It ignores the scientific studies that show the prayer is effective and all of the positive evidence for the Bible. I find the analogy of people who believe false things as living in a bubble very interesting because how do atheist know that they are not in a bubble or just traded one bubble for another? We all have biases and presuppositions that are not true. The God of the Bible promises us freedom from those by freeing us from ourselves.Unless an atheists desires to claim that everyone is deluded but themselves, he/she has no proof that that they are not in a bubble of their own and unable to see reality outside of it. Until you have been freed from your bubble of sin and separation from God you can't see that you are imprisoned in it. The Gospel is that Jesus came so that you may be freed. Let God burst your bubble so you can be free. You can't think your way out of it because you don't even see that you are in the bubble.