What had happen' was.....

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Infographic: Palestine's Shifting Borders - Politics - GOOD

You have got to see this infofraphic

Infographic: Palestine's Shifting Borders - Politics - GOOD

Crap IT People Have to Deal With [Pic]

Answering Muslims: Muslim Attacks Atheist in Pennsylvania over "Zombie Muhammad" Costume

Image via WikipediaDavid Wood has posted information that I was not aware of: an atheist has been attacked by a Muslim for wearing a costume that mocked the prophet Muhammad. David wrote:

No one would blame a Muslim for being offended at a "Zombie Muhammad" costume, just as no one would blame a Catholic for being offended at a "Zombie Pope" costume. But we do object to people becoming physically violent over their disagreements. In this case, a Muslim attempted to choke an atheist who was mocking Muhammad. Why would the Muslim get violent? Because Islam promotes violence towards people who mock Islam.

No real surprise there given many Muslims consider any physical depiction of any kind offensive. Yes, the costume was in poor taste and offensive, but in this country you have the right to say almost anything you want, even if it is stupid The man should not have been choked for just wearing a costume that shows how ignorant he is. Letting him wear it would have been punishment enough.

Answering Muslims: Muslim Attacks Atheist in Pennsylvania over "Zombie Muhammad" Costume

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The Seven Deadly Keys

Bring it: Does Christianity Supplant Judaism?

A lot of people do not think its correct to use the Bible to discuss Christian concepts and theology. I disagree. So I've decided to create a series of blog posts to give skeptics and atheists an opportunity to make their best case against key Biblical concepts. If you decide to take me up on my challenge, be prepared to defend your position because I will respond. I believe the Bible is true because it stands up to scrutiny and challenge. So go ahead and take your best shot.

For this first post let us deal with something fundamental: Does Christianity Supplant Judaism?

Feel free to defend or attack the theology in the comments. Use science. Use the Bible. Use philosophy. Use History. Use whatever evidence you think is relevant to proving your point.

Bring it.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Confident Christianity: Did Muhammad Believe In Women's Rights?

Mary Jo Sharp was recently interviewed on the Bible Answer Man regarding an article she wrote for the Christian Research Journal Follow the link to hear it. Its in regards to what Muhammad believed and taught about Women's rights.

Confident Christianity: Did Muhammad Believe In Women's Rights?

Google Earth Celebrates One Billion Downloads

The Life and Times of Steve Jobs [infographic]

Beyoncé Parody Brings Pain of Student Loan Debt to Life - Education - GOOD

Here is the original video

Beyoncé Parody Brings Pain of Student Loan Debt to Life - Education - GOOD

Answering Muslims: Shia vs. Sunni Jihad Comes to Washington

Here is another post from David Wood that should be looked at. Here is the video he posted and read the article at the link below.

Answering Muslims: Shia vs. Sunni Jihad Comes to Washington

Neil deGrasse Tyson at the Beyond Belief Conference, 2006

Tyson at the NASA Advisory Council in Washingt...

Image via WikipediaI like Dr Neil deGrasse Tyson. He is a great astrophysicist and is great at communicating science, history, and philosophy. I don't agree with him on everything but I enjoy listening to him. In 2006, he gave the following speech at the Beyond Belief Conference which was attended by the likes of Dr Sam Harris, Dr Lawrence Krauss, Dr Michael Shermer, and Dr Richard Dawkins.

In the speech he describes his feeling that being religious is science stopper. He says that "revelation stops inspiration." I disagree. No doubt that Tyson is correct about Newton's brilliance. But intelligent design is not just to be invoked for when we reach our limits. In my opinion, those pioneers of western science would be the first to credit God for the stroke of insight that allowed them to make their discoveries. Intelligent Design is not meant to make you stop looking into understanding that design. I don't think Newton's religiosity at all undermined Newton. It inspired him. I think the reason he didn't go farther because God didn't give it to him. God gave it to his successors. Thankfully, Dr Tyson does not go as far as Dawkins does underestimating and undervaluing people who believe in God.

Apologist Interview: John Warwick Montgomery - Apologetics 315

Brian Auten did an awesome interview with John Warwick Montgomery! I leaned a lot listening to it. I think he made a great valid point that many Christians spend too much time trying to prove the existence of God rather than focusing on Jesus. I think many people think you need to prove the existence of God before bringing people to Christ. I think Montgomery makes a few good counter points. He has a point because I think many people try to use it as a smokescreen so that they don't have to think about their sin and the need for a savior because there is no judge (in their mind). I also found I disagreed with Montgomery's view of presupposition. A born-again person does not see the world like the unbeliever. He/she will have vastly presuppositions and viewpoints that must be bridged before the unbeliever can see clearly enough to evaluate evidence.

Apologist Interview: John Warwick Montgomery - Apologetics 315

Bring it: Did Paul make up Christian Theology with nothing pointing to it in the New Testament?

A lot of people do not think its correct to use the Bible to discuss Christian concepts and theology. I disagree. So I've decided to create a series of blog posts to give skeptics and atheists an opportunity to make their best case against key Biblical concepts. If you decide to take me up on my challenge, be prepared to defend your position because I will respond. I believe the Bible is true because it stand up to scrutiny and challenge. So go ahead and take your best shot.

For this first post let us deal with something fundamental: Did Paul make up Christian Theology with nothing pointing to it in the New Testament?

Feel free to defend or attack the theology in the comments. Use science. Use the Bible. Use philosophy. Use History. Use whatever evidence you think is relevant to proving your point.

Bring it.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Answering Muslims: Iranian Actress Marzieh Vafamehr Sentenced to 90 Lashes and One Year in Prison for Criticizing Iran's Attitude Towards Artists

David Wood has posted some information I was not aware of, as he often does.

Now Muslims have sentenced an Iranian actress to 90 lashes and a year in prison, all because she criticized Iran's harsh treatment of artists. And the Iranian authorities simply don't understand how they've confirmed the criticism.

Let's see what she is going to jail for and what she's getting lashed for!

Answering Muslims: Iranian Actress Marzieh Vafamehr Sentenced to 90 Lashes and One Year in Prison for Criticizing Iran's Attitude Towards Artists

Contra Mundum: When Scientists Make Bad Ethicists | MandM

Dr Matt Flannagan worte a really good article against the times Dr Jerry Coyne (pictured on the left) has over reached himself. Read the article at the following link.

Contra Mundum: When Scientists Make Bad Ethicists | MandM

Rick Perry on Robert Jeffress: Mormonism as “cult” - National Messianic Jewish | Examiner.com

Mariano has posted an imports article on how Mormons have historically looked at Christianity.

But what, exactly, did Robert Jeffress say? Here are the relevant portions of his statement. The statement is important to consider as he was not merely referring to Mitt Romney but about Mormonism in general, whether a Christian should consider Mormonism as just another denomination and therefore, whether a Christian could join a Mormon church, etc.:

“As to Mormon churches, you must join none of them, for they were all wrong,” Robert Jeffress stressed, “all their creeds were an abomination in God’s sight, their professors are all corrupt, as the Bible says, ‘they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.’ You are forbidden to join any of them. Oh yeah, and they’re, like, a cult and stuff.”

Read the full article at the following link!

Rick Perry on Robert Jeffress: Mormonism as “cult” - National Messianic Jewish | Examiner.com

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Why was Adolf Hitler wrong? - National Messianic Jewish | Examiner.com

Mariano Grinbank has written a response to an article on the ISU Atheist and Agnostic Society website written by Dave who writes:

Some atheists do believe in ethical absolutes, some don’t. My answer is a bit more complicated — I don’t believe that there are any axiological claims which are absolutely true, except within the context of one person’s opinion.
That is, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and so are ethics. So, why is Adolf Hitler wrong? Because he murdered millions, and his only justification, even if it were valid, was based on things which he should have known were factually wrong. Why is it wrong to do that? Because I said so. Unless you actually disagree with me — unless you want to say that Adolf Hitler was right — I’m not sure I have more to say.

This is shocking to me. I don't believe that there is anything else any atheist who is sane and yet consistent to his/her worldview could possible say. It's terrible but unavoidable. One of Mariano's arguments was:

Now, what the atheist said is not true anyhow. Why not? Because, by his very own definition, there are no axiological claims which are absolutely true, except within the context of one person’s opinion. Thus, since we are considering his claims from outside of his opinion, we can determine that his statements are not absolutely true. In fact, claims which are made within the context of one person’s opinion are not absolutely true as, by definition, truth is absolute or else it is not truth.

Brilliant. Mariano wrote an amazing answer that totally points out one of the glaring flaws in Atheism. Check out his article. I have never heard a good answer from an atheist to the challenge of this line of reasoning.

Why was Adolf Hitler wrong? - National Messianic Jewish | Examiner.com

The Dunamis Word: The Mormon Mirage

Elder Harvey Burnett has posted a great article spotlighting not only Hank Hanegraaff's ministry concerning Mormonism and how it differs from orthodox Christianity but he also provide very important information regarding African Americans in the Mormon church. Once you find out what the founders of Mormonism really thought of African Americans, it makes you wonder why anyone of us would wanna be Mormons.

The Dunamis Word: The Mormon Mirage

Bring it #2: Does the Bible Teaches the Deity of Christ?

A lot of people do not think its correct to use the Bible to discuss Christian concepts and theology. I disagree. So I've decided to create a series of blog posts to give skeptics and atheists an opportunity to make their best case against key Biblical concepts. If you decide to take me up on my challenge, be prepared to defend your position because I will respond. I believe the Bible is true because it stand up to scrutiny and challenge. So go ahead and take your best shot.

For this first post let us deal with something fundamental: Does the Bible Teaches the Deity of Christ?

Feel free to defend or attack the theology in the comments. Use science. Use the Bible. Use philosophy. Use History. Use whatever evidence you think is relevant to proving your point.

Bring it.

Christology 101 from James White

Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglica...

Image via WikipediaLast Tuesday, October 4th, Dr James White went over church history and the Trinity on his web cast - the Dividing Line. He even did the favor of posting free resources that can be read and reviewed to go along with the class. It was like a seminary class - for free.

Here is the link for resources to read to prepare for the class:
http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=4798

Here is the link for the episode:
http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=4812

David Wood Responds to Muslims Regarding Sin and Salvation

Over the past three days, David Wood has responded to some very common objections to Christianity from Muslims. I think it's definitely worth it to read what he has to say about the differences between Islam and Christianity and it's quite obvious how people are so willing to distort what the Bible says to attack Christianity and shore up their own views. A lot of what David has written answers atheism too.

Kim's Claim about Christianity and Sin
Kim Condemns Muhammad, Allah, and Islam
Kim's Muslim Scholars Command Her to Hate Non-Muslims

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Bring it #1: Demonstrate that there is no Original Sin

I'm starting a new series of posts. A lot of people do not think its correct to use the Bible to discuss Christian concepts and theology. I disagree. So I've decided to create a series of blog posts to give skeptics and atheists an opportunity to make their best case against key Biblical concepts. If you decide to take me up on my challenge, be prepared to defend your position because I will respond. I believe the Bible is true because it stand up to scrutiny and challenge. So go ahead and take your best shot.

For this first post let us deal with something fundamental: Is there such thing as original sin?

Feel free to defend or attack the theology in the comments. Use science. Use the Bible. Use philosophy. Use History. Use whatever evidence you think is relevant to proving your point.

Bring it.

If You're Broke, Herman Cain Sez That's Probably Your Fault (Video) - The Snob Blog - Danielle Belton's The Black Snob

Danielle Belton has posted a really good article regarding an interview of the Hermain Cain, a Republican who says he wants to be President of the United States.

CAIN: I don’t have facts to back this up, but I happen to believe that these demonstrations are planned and orchestrated to distract from the failed policies of the Obama administration. Don’t blame Wall Street, don’t blame the big banks, if you don’t have a job and you’re not rich, blame yourself! [...] It is not someone’s fault if they succeeded, it is someone’s fault if they failed.

I don't want to vote for anyone who thinks this way!

If You're Broke, Herman Cain Sez That's Probably Your Fault (Video) - The Snob Blog - Danielle Belton's The Black Snob

Faithful Thinkers: Video: Purpose For The World

Luke Nix has posted a video of Dr Norman Geisler answering the question about what the purpose for the World is.

I think the best answer is the Biblical one:

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. - Colossians 1:15-17

I don't totally agree with Norman Geisler. Everyone of us understand and feels that this world in it's present state is far from perfect. We have tons of suffering of every kind on an unimaginable scale and pervasiveness. Some of what we experience is self-inflicted. some is inflicted on us by others, and some of it seems to have no discernible cause or intent. Why?

¹ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[f] And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. ²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. - Romans 8:1-30

Faithful Thinkers: Video: Purpose For The World

The Dunamis Word: Islam, Submission With No Peace Pt. 7

You may have heard of Pastor Yusef Nadarkhani, who faces execution in Iran for converting to Christianity from Islam. This man is willing to die for his faith. He is quoted as saying:

When asked to repent of his "apostasy" of becoming a Christian, this was the Pastor's response:

"Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?" ~ Pastor Youcef

Now that is the attitude and commitment of a born-again Christian. I disagree with the laws in Iran. He should not be put to death. Everyone should be allowed to see and view all the evidences and then come to a decision as to what they believe is true. Everyone should have that right. At the same time everyone should have the right to disagree, say they disagree, and tell why they disagree...no matter if I agree or not. We can't go and force Iran not to execute him. Our government may not even be able to convince Iran's officials not to execute him. They should keep trying. But what I think the United States should do is offer to give Nadarkhani, his family, and congregation asylum if they want it.

Thanks, Elder Harvey Burnett for posting this!

The Dunamis Word: Islam, Submission With No Peace Pt. 7