Friday, July 1, 2011

The Daily Show With Jon Stewert Discusses The Supreme Court Ruling On Violent Video Game Ban - G4tv.com





The Daily Show With Jon Stewert Discusses The Supreme Court Ruling On Violent Video Game Ban - G4tv.com
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Atheism and Rape - Walter Sinnott-Armstrong Elucidates | True Freethinker

Mariano Grinbank has posted a really great article about the remarks of  Dr.Walter Sinnott regarding the morality of Rape. He offers insightful thoughts on the reasons why Dr Sinnott thinks that rape is wrong.

What makes rape immoral is that rape harms the victim in terrible ways. The victim feels pain, loses freedom, feels subordinated, and so on. These harms are not justified by any benefits to anyone.

My thing is that rape is objectively wrong because it's wrong. I've read that many men rationalize rape by thinking that their sexual prowess is so great that although a woman is initially resistant and in fact says "no", he can change her mind. Such men don't think they are causing women to suffer. In their twisted imaginations they think they are doing a woman a favor. How do you convince such a person that what they are doing is wrong?

Biblically, in ancient Israel, that is why rapists were executed. I don't think that executing rapists is what we need to do now, but I think just assuming that people know that its wrong to cause pain and suffering for others isn't going to work.

Atheism and Rape - Walter Sinnott-Armstrong Elucidates | True Freethinker
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Answering Muslims: Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Facing Imminent Execution in Iran for Apostasy and Evangelism

David Wood posted the following:

While CAIR complains about Islamophobia (in a country where Muslims are free to proclaim their faith from the rooftops), a Christian pastor is about to be executed by the Iranian government for leaving Islam and preaching to Muslims.

A news article is also posted, along with the following video explaining how Islam views apostasy and apostates




Answering Muslims: Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Facing Imminent Execution in Iran for Apostasy and Evangelism
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A Rosetta Stone for the Indus script [Video]





A Rosetta Stone for the Indus script [Video]

What to Do When the Police Want to Search Your Digital Devices



What to Do When the Police Want to Search Your Digital Devices


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FacePalm of the Day #98 - Debunking Christianity: What Is Faith?

I've said it before, but I'll say it again: Atheists don't understand how the Bible defines "Faith".
Faith is pure wishful thinking, nothing more and nothing less. It offers a person a leap beyond what the probabilities actually lead us to think. For if something can be known to be the case we wouldn't need faith. Faith therefore is not a virtue when it comes to knowing the truth about anything. Skepticism is
There are two very important things to keep in mind. No one in all of the Bible was expected to just blindly follow something they couldn't hope to understand to any depth. That's not to say that we get to understand everything exhaustively. How can skepticism be virtuous when it comes to knowing the truth of anything? By definition skepticism is built on ignorance. One has no need for skepticism about something if you know something is true. The faith illustrated in the Bible is definitely wishful thinking or leaping in the dark. Biblical faith is built on past relationship with God. It is based on what God had really revealed.  Does anyone really think that the first time Abraham heard God speak to him was Genesis 12? Nope. Same thing with each every righteous man or woman in the Bible. It's the same for us today. Faith is a trust in God built on past experiences and working knowledge. If you don't know God, how could you have any faith? You can't. Explains John Loftus' total misconception of faith.

Debunking Christianity: What Is Faith?
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Thursday, June 30, 2011

When Scholars Collide....

I have seen two very interesting exchanges over the past several day. Dr Victor Reppert vs John Loftus. on the "Outsider Test for Faith" concept. Loftus posted an open letter to Dr Reppert. The statement was challenging and defensive, but Dr Reppert responded anyway. Sure hope Loftus at least reads the response. It was a good one, but I doubt Loftus will understand it.

Just as interesting is the back-and-forth between Dr Paul Copan and Dr Matthew Flannagan  versus Dr. Hector Avalos on the morality in the Old Testament and how do do scholarship. Read Flannagan's latest post at his link
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DC Comics Fans to Protest Superhero Relaunch at Comic-Con - ComicsAlliance | Comic book culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews

Well San Diego Comic Con 2011 is upon us. Turns out that there are quite a few people who are really not happy about the plans to reboot DC Comics continuity

More than 200 fans have pledged to attend what organizers are calling the "DC Original Protest Walk" at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Unhappy with what they've seen of DC Comics' superhero relaunch initiative, which goes into effect this September, participants intend to make their feelings known in what's presumed to be an outdoor demonstration, perhaps not dissimilar in format to what we saw last year when the Westboro Baptist Church protested the "sinful idolatry" they believed was inherent at Comic-Con.
I'm not sure but this article from Comics Alliance makes an insightful point:

Whatever you think about the practicality, dramatics or indeed madness of staging a political demonstration in response to decisions made about corporate-owned characters who do not exist, it cannot be denied that Comic-Con is the best place to do it. Although one must wonder why the protesters don't just attend the numerous DC Comics discussion panels that will be presented in the air conditioned comfort of the San Diego Convention Center, where they can put their concerns to the creators and editors directly, rather than stand outside and invite the abuse that we at ComicsAlliance will rain down upon them like a great and terrible fire from Heaven itself.



DC Comics Fans to Protest Superhero Relaunch at Comic-Con - ComicsAlliance | Comic book culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews
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The History of English [Video]

There is a series of videos about the history of English in nice 10 minutes pieces. Here is Chapter One!




The History of English [Video]
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iPhone vs. Android - Imgur

iPhone vs. Android - Imgur

An Image of the Apostle Paul | Dr. Claude Mariottini – Professor of Old Testament

A 1,400 year-old fresco depicting Apostle Paul in the news!!!!




An Image of the Apostle Paul | Dr. Claude Mariottini – Professor of Old Testament
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Quote of the Week: Cornelius Plantinga | Reflections

I love this:

“This [Christian worldview] vision derives from Scripture, centers on the person and work of Jesus Christ, and grows rich from the contributions of ecumenical creeds, church confessions, and the thinking of such heavyweight theologians as Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, and Barth.”
—Cornelius Plantinga, Engaging God’s World (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002), xv–xvi.


Quote of the Week: Cornelius Plantinga | Reflections
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Faithful Thinkers: Article: Interpreting Creation: Hermeneutical Principles

Luke Nix has posted a great article in which Dr Hugh Ross explains the Hermeneutic used at Reason to Believe to come up with their science models for the origins of the Universe, Earth, and Humanity. Good stuff even if you don't completely agree with Dr Ross and his team.

Faithful Thinkers: Article: Interpreting Creation: Hermeneutical Principles
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In Defense of the NIV 2011 | Bible.org Blogs

One of the most important things I learned in reading Dr James White's book The King James Only Controversy, was that every time there has been a new Bible translation there is always a firestorm of protests and persecution. Recently a new version of the NIV has been released and Dr Darrel Bock has written an article defending it. Follow the link to read the post.

In Defense of the NIV 2011 | Bible.org Blogs

NIV 2011: Every Last Change

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Molinism from the Horse's Mouth: Reviewing Craig's "Only Wise God" - Part 2

Jamin Hubner has posted his 2nd post of his review on William Lane Craig's book Only Wise God.

Molinism from the Horse's Mouth: Reviewing Craig's "Only Wise God" - Part 2
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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

YouTube - Prayer Circle

Sometimes we just need to be straight forward!!!



YouTube - Prayer Circle

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Author Interview: David Lamb - God Behaving Badly - Apologetics 315

Brian Auten's interview this week was with Dr. David Lamb It was a great interview. I thoroughly enjoyed it. He gave some really good answers to some questions about how the Old Testament and New Testament relate to one another and how God  This is a must-listen!

Author Interview: David Lamb - God Behaving Badly - Apologetics 315
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Answering Muslims: Why Did Jesus Say, "The Father Is Greater Than I"?

Sam Shamoun answers one of the most frequently questions Muslims ask, "Why did Jesus say 'The Father is greater than I.'?"




Answering Muslims: Why Did Jesus Say, "The Father Is Greater Than I"?
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Molinism from the Horse’s Mouth: Reviewing Craig’s "Only Wise God" – Part 1

Jamin Hubner is beginning a series in which he reviews and critics Only Wise God by William Lane Craig. He is doing it to get the most popular modern book on Molinism. I'm looking forward to reading his series. For anyone who might want to get a copy of William Lane Craig's book you can get it from Amazon.

Molinism from the Horse’s Mouth: Reviewing Craig’s "Only Wise God" – Part 1
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FacePalm of the Day #97 - Debunking Christianity: What Jesus Christ Had to Say About the Outsider Test for Faith!

I'm not sure if this a joke or not, but what church leader in his right-mind would let John Loftus preach at his church in his absence. Is this a Unitarian Church or something? I don't think that there is anything wrong with an atheist like Loftus speaking at a Christian church, but I'm not too confident that Loftus will be able to talk to the congregation in truth and with respect. But let's assume for a second that he can and that Loftus will indeed  be preaching such a sermon as he describes.

This is my chosen title for a guest sermon I'll be preaching for the "One True Church of Jesus Christ That Has Ever Existed in History." The preacher is away on vacation. This church meets in a little building on "Faith" Street in a town called Saint Paul, Missouri, the "Show Me" state (never-mind the oxymoron). They have a membership of 10 people, all related to each other in some way. Here are my chosen texts. How should I develop my sermon?




I find it interesting that Loftus never identifies the exact name of the church or the pastor of that church. Loftus doesn't show the people or their Pastor any respect whatsoever. I hope he'll be kinder in person. And on top of that I think that considering how Jesus would apply the OTF a great idea.

Matthew 7:1-12
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye...So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Loftus says he was once a preacher. I wonder how much time will he have. He says he is going to use 12 verses from Matthew 7 but on the post he only quotes verses 1-5, and 12. This is one of my favorite passages of scripture because I think it does explain how we are to interact with one another. So many people think Jesus meant that "judging" means calling others to a standard. The OTF itself requires making judgments. So I don't think that  Loftus is taking the view so many mistakenly take. Let's instead ask if this passage can be used to validate or invalidate Christians? If anything it validates Christianity and makes it plain how far we have fallen short in keeping it. It shows us what standard we should be living up to and we know that we haven't. Which is what Christianity teaches.

And then this one from Matthew 23:
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!...“Woe to you, blind guides!...You blind fools!...You blind men!"...“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!...You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel"...“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’...“You snakes! You brood of vipers!
;-)

It seems to me that John Loftus thinks that these passages are some sort of slap in the face of Christians. It cuts Atheism to the quick. Any one who teaches that Jesus isn't who He said He is and that they are without sin and that we don't need God or His gift of salvation is that "brood of vipers".  They are hypocrites and "white-washed tombs",. In other words it describes atheists who try to turn people away from Jesus.  The passages prove that Christianity passes Loftus' Outsider Test for Faith.

Gee, I wonder why Lofus didn't point out that Jesus also said the following:

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." - Matthew 18:6

Debunking Christianity: What Jesus Christ Had to Say About the Outsider Test for Faith!
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