Yom Kippur war - Israel fights for her life and wins

In 1973, Israel fought a short war and won. Here is a documentary for the Israeli perspective.

Is Jesus Man, Myth, Madman, Messiah? MP3 Audio by Kenneth Samples - Apologetics 315

This is a great post on Apologetics 315. Kenneth Samples delivers a great lecture. Most of the material I have heard before  but Samples does an awesome job presenting the material. On top of that he did bring up a great point I never thought of before. What kind of man could endure the mental and emotional stresses Jesus did during the crucifixion, trial, and torture? Not to mention living with the knowledge of what He was going to have to do for years! Knowing that it was going to hurt and still doing everything that He was supposed to do that would lead him up to it! Only God could do that. Jesus has to be what He said He is.  Here is the post about the lecture at the link  below.


Is Jesus Man, Myth, Madman, Messiah? MP3 Audio by Kenneth Samples - Apologetics 315

THE APOLOGETIC FRONT: Textual Criticism and the Book of Mormon

 Over on the Apologetic Front blog there is a great article about an 800 page book on how the Book of Mormon (BoM) has changed over the 200 years. The post frames the importance of  how Mormons think of the Bible compared to the BoM:

It may seem a bit strange for a Mormon to be speaking about textual variants in the Book of Mormon for the simple reason that Mormons have long charged the Bible with corruption. In fact, one of the most common Mormon claims is that "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly." Unfortunately, "translated" is confused with "transmitted," as i've heard Mormons time and time again assert that the Bible has been "translated so many times that we are not sure what it might have originally said." And so they argue, "That's why we need the Mormon Scriptures, as well as modern prophets."

Therefore, many Mormons attack the validity of the Bible where it contradicts the BoM, without considering the integrity of the BoM itself. It's avery interesting article.

THE APOLOGETIC FRONT: Textual Criticism and the Book of Mormon

William Lane Craig vs. George Williamson: Does God Exist? Debate MP3 Audio - Apologetics 315

Here is another gem from Apologetics 315. Here we have William Lane Craig again debating an atheist, George Williamson, on the existence of God.

William Lane Craig was great as always. I was expecting more from the atheist side. I mean where is the "A" material. My one problem with William Lane Craig is how he offers his answer to point of Free Will. I like how he handled the question on the problem of evil. You cannot assume that you know what the goal God has in allowing evil. I'm still of the opinion that if God eradicated all evil, He would have to annihilate every human being who has or will live.

William Lane Craig vs. George Williamson: Does God Exist? Debate MP3 Audio - Apologetics 315

Ellen White: Most Often Overlooked Figure in American Women's History

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Ellen White: Most Often Overlooked Figure in American Women's History
Too often dismissed as merely a minority religious figure, Ellen White intuitively anticipated the direction in which medical science would develop for the next hundred years.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/670497/ellen_white_most_often_overlooked_figure.html


I do not agree with everything she said, but no one can doubt that she played a major role in American History.

Coins found with Joseph's name and image on them

Coins bearing the Biblical patriarch Joseph's name and image have been found. This is amazing for two reason.

1. Historians believed that Egypt did not use coins in commerce during the time Joseph was believed to be around.
2. It gives extra-Biblical attestation that Joseph really existed and held the prominent position the Bible says he did.

"According to the report, the significance of the find is that archeologists have found scientific evidence countering the claim held by some historians that coins were not used for trade in ancient Egypt, and that this was done through barter instead. The period in which Joseph was regarded to have lived in Egypt matches the minting of the coins in the cache, researchers said."

In Defense of the Faith Apologetic Ministry � Blog Archive � Coins found with Joseph?s name and image on them

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The Truth About Justin Martyr's Argument in the First Apology

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During his debate with James White last week,  Dan Barker used, um...misused,  a quote from an early Christian named Justin Martyr to bolster his point that the early Christians knew that that they were borrowing ideas and theology from pagan sources.  Dr White, squelched the idea by showing:

1. Barker has not read all of Justin Martyr's words and
2. Barker took Martyr out of context.

Fortunately, Dr. White has posted a video presentation in detail talking about what Justin Martyr actually said and the context in which he said it.

James White wrote:

 I fully expected Dan Barker to use (or, I should say, misuse), the quotation from Justin Martyr's First Apology, and so I had invested a fair amount of time reviewing the material prior to our debate. In fact, in the video below, watch my face during Mr. Barker's opening statement when he mentions Justin. That is the smile of "Another prediction comes true." In fact, either in the #prosapologian chat channel, or maybe even on the DL, I specifically said, "I have a feeling Barker is going to try to go a different direction than he did in his book." Not that you can mind-read such things, and hence must, if you are to be an honest scholar, respond to someone's published arguments, but I just had that feeling. But I fully expected Justin to make an appearance, and since the debate was not the place to go over the entire presentation, I provide the background material here that substantiates the claims I made in the debate. I hope this will assist Christians in rebutting this common (and false) claim, found so often in popular (but equally shallow) atheistic writings.

http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=3529

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Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Moses and American History

Time has an excellent article by Bruce Feiler on “How Moses Shaped America.” This article is an adaptation of a section of Feiler’s book, America's Prophet: Moses and the American Story. The article shows how Moses, his story, his person, and the Mosaic struggle to bring freedom to a group of Egyptian slaves has inspired American politics and the ideals that shaped American history.

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Moses and American History

Cobert vs Dawkins

I've come across a couple of apperances of Richard Dawkins on the S

tephen Cobert show.  They are hilarious and although Dawkins is taking the ridicule good-naturedly, I've got to admit that I think he was skewered. Some of Cobert points are valid in my opinion.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Richard Dawkins
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Michael Moore

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Richard Dawkins
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Michael Moore

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: The Bigamy of Lamech

Dr Mariottini wrote this post about polygamy and monogamy and what does the Bible have to say about it. It's really interesting reading. In my opinion, one wife is enough. I can barely do all I have in my heart for one wife, impossible to do for several!

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: The Bigamy of Lamech

Extra-Biblical Attestation for the Darkness During the Crucifixion.

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 One of the challenges to the validity of the Bible in general and the accounts of the Gospels in particular is the point that the Bible reports that at the time of Jesus' crucifixion a darkness covered the area - as if the sun itself took notice of the horrible crime and refused to shine in  recognition. Let's look at the passage itself.

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" - Matthew 23:45-46

At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" - Mark 15: 33-34

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.- Luke 23: 44-46

I want to point a couple of things. We have three mentions that the darkness was 3 hours long! Some have theorized that this was caused by a total solar eclipse. However total solar eclipses are rare and don't last long. The longest solar eclipse in the the 21st century was  July 22, 2009, clocking in at 6 minutes and 39 seconds. See the wikipedia article for confirmation. Skeptics argue that the darkness during the crucifixion could not have been a solar eclipse because of the length and there is not extrabiblical mention of the event of darkness. I agree that it wasn't an eclipse. Something miraculous happened. And as for other mentions of the event outside of the Bible there is evidence!

A historian from the first century AD  named Thallus is quoted by another historian named Julius Africanus who was a Christian  in the 3rd Century. Thallus was not a Christian. Here is the quote from Julius Africanus:

On the whole world there pressed a most fearful darkness; and the rocks were rent by an earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts were thrown down. This darkness Thallus, in the third book of his History, calls, as appears to me without reason, an eclipse of the sun. For the Hebrews celebrate the passover on the 14th day according to the moon, and the passion of our Savior falls on the day before the passover; but an eclipse of the sun takes place only when the moon comes under the sun. And it cannot happen at any other time but in the interval between the first day of the new moon and the last of the old, that is, at their junction: how then should an eclipse be supposed to happen when the moon is almost diametrically opposite the sun? Let opinion pass however; let it carry the majority with it; and let this portent of the world be deemed an eclipse of the sun, like others a portent only to the eye. Phlegon records that, in the time of Tiberius Caesar, at full moon, there was a full eclipse of the sun from the sixth hour to the ninth--manifestly that one of which we speak. But what has an eclipse in common with an earthquake, the rending rocks, and the resurrection of the dead, and so great a perturbation throughout the universe? Surely no such event as this is recorded for a long period. (XVIII.1)

 Julius Africanus understood Thallus to be referring to the same darkness the reports mention. Although we no longer have copies of Thallus's work, other refer to what he said. Before someone cries "Second-hand  evidence!", there is more. Historian Paul Mair wrote a novel of historical fiction called Pontius Pilate and in the foot note he wrote

So we have 3 contemporaneous accounts to the report of darkness covering much of the earth during Jesus' crucifixion: Tertullian, Phlegon, and Thallus.

I also want to say something about the criticism that the gospel accounts can't be harmonized. You have to remember that each Gospel was written to a different audience. Matthew was written to Jews and presents Jesus as King and Messiah. This is why Jesus' words "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" were recorded because in Jewish tradition one calls attention to a whole passage by quoting the first sentence. They would understand that Jesus was calling attention to Psalm 22, and pointing out that it was being fulfilled in front of them.  Luke didn't record those words but instead focused on something Jesus said that would mean something to the audience he was writing to - the Greeks. Luke's gospel show cases Jesus' humanity. We see that Jesus was really a man. This may also be why in Luke we get the most information about Jesus' birth and humanity. Mark included this part because it is written from interviewing Peter. who was Jewish. Mark differs between Matthew and Luke and John because it is based on action. We get little background but instead we get a focus on what Jesus did. We get to see Jesus as servant. I call Mark the "Michael Bay" of the four Gospels. John tells us in his gospel that his goal is to present enough information to let the reader know that Jesus is the only way to salvation, so he didn't always present or record everything the other four did.


Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ pages 60-61

Extrabiblical Witnesses to Jesus before 200 a.d.

Added Note:  Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, anglicised as Tertullian, (ca. 160 – ca. 220 AD) was really not a 1st Century Christian but a  second. Sorry for any confusion.

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Ardi: The New Human Ancestor

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Dr. Mariottini has posted a great blog post about a new human ancestor supposedly showing common ancestory with chimpanzee and other apes. Here is part of what Marriottini wrote.


Picture: Ardi

National Geographic News is announcing that scientists have found the oldest “human” skeleton which, according to the scientists involved in the discovery, refutes the view that there was a missing link in the evolutionary chain.

I find myself intrigued. I want to know more about the evidence. One thing I keep wondering...when we find so-called ancestors to humans, why are they always seem to be female?

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Ardi: The New Human Ancestor

Hotel Sting Operation Brought Down Letterman Extortion Plot

Letterman was candid about the threats he'd received in comments he made on Thursday's taping of his 'Late Show.' Watch >>>

Hotel Sting Operation Brought Down Letterman Extortion Plot

I admire Letterman for being honest. It's hard to admit to anyone, especially the whole world on television, that one is morally corrupt...although we all know we are.

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Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Phoebe: A Diakonos

Dr. Claude Mariottini has pointed out a great article discussing Phoebe.

Here is what he wrote on his post concerning the article:

Elizabeth McCabe of Hebrew Union College has a good article on Phoebe, a woman in the early church who appears in the New Testament as a deacon and as a leader of the church. Her article appears on the SBL Forum.

Who says the 1st Century church did not have female leaders.

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Phoebe: A Diakonos

Is there a Connection Between Jesus and Scipio Africanus?

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When critics of Christianity want to deny the historicity of Christian teachings of Jesus by claiming that we copied our beliefs about who Jesus and is and what he did from pagan mythologies they sometimes like to point to Scipio Africanus. They point to him because it is said that that he was the product of a virgin birth reported before Jesus appears on the stage of human history. This idea has been circling the internet. Here is the first example I found:

When Scipio Africanus (Scipio Africanus, for Christ's sake) is described as the Son of God, born of a mortal woman, we understand that as a myth.

Well, I decided to google "ScipioAfricanus", and I found something very perculiar: this was a man whose reality of his existence is well documented. He lived 235–183 BC. Why should you care? He was the Roman general who managed to save the Roman Empire from being destroyed in the Second Punic War against Carthage! In other words, he beat Hannibal after Hannibal managed to destroy several Roman legions. So one might imagine that the people of  Rome for generations looked up to him. The idea that his was a virgin birth seems to come from the following quote:

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It is recorded that the mother of Scipio Africanus, the elder, had the same experience as Olympias, Philip the Great's wife and Alexander the Great's mother,... his mother had long been believed sterile and that Publius Scipio, her husband, had despaired of having children. Then, while her husband was away and she was sleeping on her own, a huge snake was seen beside her, in her room and in her bed; when those who saw this snake shouted out in terror, it vanished and could not be found. Scipio consulted the harupices about this and they held a sacrifice and gave a response that children would be born. Not long after the sighting of the snake, the woman began to show all signs of being pregnant; in the tenth month, she gave birth to this Publius Africanus, the man who defeated Hannibal and the Carthaginians in the Second Punic War. But it is much more because of his achievements than because of that prodigy that he also is thought to be a man of godlike quality.
[Aulus Gellius, Attic Nights VI. 1.1-6, 2d century AD]

 So, yup Attic Nights VI is an ancient work, written by a Roman - almost 400 years after Scipio's birth and 200 years after Jesus' birth. What's more credible? In attempt to understand how Scipio Africanus could have beaten the unbeatable Hannibal that generations afterward he gained a reputation imbued with dignity influenced by the Christian tradition. Aulus Gellius was far from a contemporary  and I could find no evidence of anyone who was alive at the same times as people who knew Scipio who thought Scipio was the son of a god.  Contrast that with Jesus. Matthew and Luke report that Jesus was virgin born (no sexual contact)  and both written withing 70 years of Jesus' crucifixion.  Matthew and Mark were not influenced by Gellius, they came first. Aside from that Alexander the Great, 100 years before Scipio, is said to have been born under the same circumstances: their moms had sex with a  god who had taken the form of  a snake! Hardly a virgin birth. What does Jesus have in common with Scipio Africanus? Nothing.

Pagan Origins of the Christ Myth
Scipio Africanus

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: What Was the Donkey Doing in Its Master’s Crib?

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Dr. Claude Mariottini has posted a great article discussing Isaiah 1:3. It says

“The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand” (Isaiah 1:3 NRSV).

"The ox knows his master,
the donkey his owner's manger,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand."(NIV)

The article discusses that fact that some translations like the NRSV makes it sound like Isaiah was saying that donkeys belong in a baby's crib. But clearly many translations including te NIV do not make the same translation mistake. I agree with Dr. Mariottni that it does seem like a translation mistake. I also think that the issue brought up that some people interpret the verse as being a prophecy of Jesus lying in a manger as a baby. I was aware of the fact that the tradition of baby Jesus, lying in a manger surrounded by farm animals is just that - a tradition. I didn't realize that there is a pseudo-gospel out there that teaches that outright. This article is great and worth reading!

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: What Was the Donkey Doing in Its Master’s Crib?

Comicbook World #37- Can you say 'Tactile Holograms'?

Good. I knew you could. Samax, over at ghettoManga.com has posted something very interesting! Japanese scientists have began to find ways to make holograms that can be touched! The technology apparently use ultrasonic vibrations - sound. As Samx points out the possible uses of such technology is almost limitless. One thought came to mind is when CNN used holographic communication during their coverage of the 2008 Presidential Election. I really got to get me one of those.





Comicbook World #37- Can you say 'Tactile Holograms'?

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He Lives: God's Humorous Theodicy

On David Heddle's blog, he posted a great article about what he called the two most funniest moments in the Bible.

1. When Abraham was discussing with God about sparing Sodom and Gomorrah. (Gen 18:27-32)
2. When Gideon was talking to God. (Judges 6)

I wanted to respond to this article because it really good. I liked how David points out the difference between what the Bible calls "righteous" and what we refer to as "saved" or "believers" I admit I disagree with him on his point that some people in Sodom who died could have been saved, but I do agree that none of them, or us, are righteous in the strictest Biblical sense. I'd like to think that had there been others in the city (like Lot's family) who believed and would leave the city that they would have made it too.

Here is my favorite quote from David Heddle's post:

I used to think of it this way: everybody in Sodom was wicked, all were lost. Unsaved. Reprobate. Unbelievers. Whatever term you like. But that is not necessarily the case. There may have been many saved people in Sodom—and they were annihilated along with the lost. But on that day no righteous man died. That, in fact, has happened only once.

Abraham's question to God was essentially the same as Rabbi Kushner's "Why do bad things happen to good people?" For Abraham asks, in effect, surely a holy God will not kill the righteous along with the unrighteous? God's answer to Abraham is: I won't. His answer to Rabbi Kushner is: They don't. 

Scripture agrees with this conclusion:

 ⁹What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
 ¹⁰As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
 ¹¹There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (Romans 3:9-11, King James Version)

I also have to disagree as two the 2 funniest moments in the Bible but I agree that David's choices should be on the funny list.

1. When Jesus told his opponents that in being so careful in fine-tuning the law, they missed the point - "strain[ing] out a gnat but swallow a camel."  Why do you think Jesus' enemies got so angry? They knew they were the butt of the joke.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. - Matthew 23:23-25

2. When Peter boldly stepped out of the boat to walk on water. Jesus had to be laughing because He knew Peter would not make it all the way. Can't you just see Jesus thinking to Himself, "Watch This."?

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" - Matthew 14-27-31

He Lives: God's Humorous Theodicy

James White vs. Dan Barker MP3: Was Jesus a Myth? Debate Audio - Apologetics 315

 Announcement: The MP3 for the debate is linked to Apologetics 315

James White vs. Dan Barker MP3: Was Jesus a Myth? Debate Audio - Apologetics 315

Was Jesus a Myth? James White vs. Dan Barker

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I'm amazed. James White has posted his debate with Dan Barker from last Saturday. The question they were talking about  is :"Was Jesus a Myth?". I'm going to post my own review when I see the whole thing, but I wanted to post the debate first!

This debate took place on September 26, 2009, in Newberg, Oregon, between Dan Barker of the Freedom From Religion Foundation and James White of Alpha and Omega Ministries.