What had happen' was.....

Friday, August 13, 2010

Dennis McKinsey and the Fallacy of the Homicide Detective | True Freethinker

I love Mariano Grinbank's blog posts regarding textual criticism. This one is no different. If you have questions on how the Bible has been transmitted over the past 2000 years, this post will help you!!

Dennis McKinsey and the Fallacy of the Homicide Detective | True Freethinker

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Apologetics 315: Apologist Interview: Christopher Brooks

I really enjoy Brian Auten series of interviews with folks engaged in the frontlines of Apologetics. I enjoyed this one because Pastor Brooks gave great advice on how to get one's church involved in Apologetics. Take a listen by going Brian's blog.
Apologetics 315: Apologist Interview: Christopher Brooks

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The Quran Confirms the Bible Has Never Been Corrupted [Part 1]

I like Sam Shamoun's work. Here is an interesting article he wrote regarding a fundamental claim Muslims make: That the Bible is corrupted and that the Bible we have is not the original word of God. Shamoun makes a great argument showing how this can't be true. He sums up the thrust of his argument like this:

We would like to preface our comments by saying that we do not believe that the Quran is the word of God. We do believe, however, that the Quran is the earliest record we have that details the beliefs and practices of the first Muslims. As such, we appeal to it solely for historical purposes to show Muslims that their own sources support the authenticity and reliability of the Holy Bible. Hopefully, by God’s sovereign grace, our aim is to lead Muslims to reexamine their view of God’s pure Word, the Holy Bible, and embrace its teaching on the real Jesus of history for salvation.
The dilemma for the Muslim is quite apparent. To accept the Quran is to accept its testimony that the Holy Bible is the preserved Word of God. And yet to accept the Holy Bible is to reject both the Quran and Muhammad. The first Muslims evidently thought that by appealing to the Holy Bible they would be verifying the prophetic claims of Muhammad. Little did they realize that their appeal to the Holy Scriptures for verification purposes actually proves that Muhammad cannot be a true prophet since he contradicts the message of God’s true prophets and messengers, especially the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s beloved Son.
On the flip side, to attack the Holy Bible is to discredit the Quran which confirms the authority, availability, and authenticity of the previous scriptures. Either way, Muslims are in a no win situation.

I think everyone who has an interest in what Muslims believe about the Bible should read this article.

The Quran Confirms the Bible Has Never Been Corrupted [Part 1]

Did Mohammad Have Assurance of His Salvation?

James White posted the following debate on his blog.

Here is an interesting debate between Tony Costa and Bassam Zawadi on whether Mohammad had assurance of salvation. Obviously, for me, the key here is the grounds of salvation, and how this differs so fundamentally between Christianity and Islam.

Did Mohammad Have Assurance of His Salvation?

Answering Muslims: Pregnant Woman Whipped 200 Times, then Shot to Death, in the Name of Islam

I agree that the Bible and the Qur'an both decries fornication and adultery and I agree it's wrong and God does not like it. It is however is against scriptures to punish only the woman especially in such an extreme way - 200 lashes and being shot 3 times!??? It's not justice or mercy. I cannot think of anyway to make what was done right. I disagree that such behavior should be ignored or condoned but I see no way to punish it with violence especially with innocent unborn children involved! Even if you wanna follow the Old Testament laws, these people did not follow them. According to the laws of Moses, both the man and woman are guilt. Both were supposed to be executed not just the woman.

The Post Chronicle reports:
The Daily Mail is reporting that elders in the village of Quds contacted Taliban commanders after the woman's pregnancy became known. A local official said: 'She had an illegal relationship with a man who was not her husband,' adding, 'Her husband died many years before. Then she became pregnant so, according to Islam, we gave her a very strong punishment. It was more than 200 lashes. Then we shot her.'

Answering Muslims: Pregnant Woman Whipped 200 Times, then Shot to Death, in the Name of Islam

Apologetics 315: Library of Historical Apologetics: Featured Website

Brian Auten has pointed out a a large collection of Apologetics books online. Visit his blog to find the link and visit the site.

Apologetics 315: Library of Historical Apologetics: Featured Website

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Cheated by Samsung and T-Mobile - Behold II

Back in November 2009, Samsung's Behold II; was released. During that time, it was promised that it would be updated to Android 2.0 when it becomes available.

I bought mine in April 2010. At the time I was told by the T-Mobile representative that the Behold 2 would soon be updated. Hasn't happened yet. To make matters worse most newer apps are written for Android 2.x but the Behold 2 will never be updated to Android 2.x.

Again, I purchased my Behold II back in April 2010 and I believed the hype at the time that it would get Android 2.0 update. Samsung said it.T-Mobile said it. And now that its been confirmed that T-Mobile won't be selling it anymore and the Behold II will be getting no update. When I called both companies, they said the same thing: buy another phone. Neither company will help me. I've decided that when my contract is up I will not be buying another Samsung phone and I will be switching cell phone companies.

Here is the information I have found so far. I have found that Samsung has officially stated in May:

“Samsung Mobile and T-Mobile USA are planning to update the Behold II to Android 1.6 which provides access to Google Maps Navigation, Google Voice Search capability and quick search box for Android. The update will also supply additional benefits including Swype, an improved Media Player, updated core Android applications and improved Bluetooth capabilities. However, the Behold II is not upgradeable beyond Android 1.6.”

I did get that update but it is really less that what I expected. So where does this leave me and the several folks who bought the Behold II? We are stuck in a two year contract with a phone that is now obsolete in under 10 months! Or we can spend hundreds of dollars on a new phone! This is completely unfair and should be unacceptable but T-Mobile and Samsung don't seem to have a problem with it.

Well in the meantime there is an online petition. I'm signing that and I have heard some rumors of people being allowed to switch their Behold II's for a better phone: Stuck to my guns. My Behold II replaced with Samsung Vibrant.

Controversy

While marketing the Behold II, Samsung created a promotional video highlighting the features of the phone. Among these, the narrator states the device will update wirelessly to Android 2.0 "when it becomes available". In May, after many inquires into when the phone would get the update, Samsung Mobile issued a response stating they would not be updating the Behold II past Android 1.6, claiming the Behold II is not capable of upgrading to 2.0. The development community has countered this by running a 2.1 ROM on the Behold II. This ROM is missing only proprietary drivers from Samsung.[7] In further response, a group of users has begun considering legal action. No case has materialized yet. More recently, a number of Behold II owners have worked out arrangements with T-Mobile to replace the phone with other Android devices that are also capable of running Android 2.0 or higher.[8]

- Samsung Behold II - Wikipedia

I'm going to keep looking to T-Mobile for a solution. I need to talk to the right person. I'm posting this information at this blog as a paper trail. I firmly believe that even if i don't get a replacement phone and i am stuck in this contract, I thank God. God will still take care of this even if it does not go the way I think it should.

More documented links:
Samsung Behold II owners consider legal action over lack of Android 2.x upgrade

Samsung Mobile not deaf, responds to Behold II owners

Update May 27: Samsung Behold II not Getting 2.x – Legal Action Being Considered

Farewell to Samsung Behold II?

I don't feel like T-Mobile is sticking with me at all...more like I'm being thrown under bus. Good thing I have Jesus.

Astonishing X-Men: Motion Comics, Why Bother? [Review] - ComicsAlliance | Comics culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews

I've written about Motion Comics before but this review caught my attention. Astonishing X-Men, as well as the other Motion Comics I've seen were enjoyable to me. I admit that at times they do remind me of the 60's Marvel Cartoons (I like them too). I have to disagree with the reviewer from Comics Alliance, because I think that there is a niche for Motion Comics. They sit between a comic book and a cartoon. Kind of like the way the iPad is between a laptop/netbook and a smartphone/iPod - taking the best of each but replacing neither. I'm not sure which is more expensive to produce Motion Comics vs traditional animation but I suspect that motion comics run a large range because the Astonishing X-Men version had a lot of animation, but Iron Man, Black Panther, Spider-Woman, and most of the ones I've seen from DC comics have much less. Motion Comics seems to me a way to get your animation fix but not cost the consumers or production as much money.

Astonishing X-Men: Motion Comics, Why Bother? [Review] - ComicsAlliance | Comics culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews

Friday, August 6, 2010

Anderson Cooper 360: Blog Archive - Hitchens on cancer diagnosis: 'Why not me?' « - CNN.com Blogs

Christopher Hitchens from the Randi Foundation...

Image via Wikipedia

Wow, Christopher Hitchens was just interviewed by Anderson Cooper on CNN. Personally, I like the man from what I've seen of him. I just don't agree with him about God. I think it's stupid to tell people that Hitchens deserves this sickness because of his atheism. That is stupid. Cancer is indiscriminate. Christians get cancer too. God heals some people of cancer, bottom line. God heals and blesses people who are not Christians all the time. It depends on God's will not all on us. I hope God heals him. I'm glad Hitchens is taking the "Why-not-me?" attitude. It's the best attitude to take when things don't go as you expect. No one sees these kinds of things coming.

Anderson Cooper 360: Blog Archive - Hitchens on cancer diagnosis: 'Why not me?' « - CNN.com Blogs

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Debunking Christianity: Is God Necessary for Morality? Hell NO! - I Don't Think So

I've been blogging for a while now and I've been reading many blogs of several Christians. We have posted many debates and I have wondered do atheists think they win any debates? Fortunately, John Loftus has posted three videos in which he things are convincing to showing that we don't need God to understand where morality has its source. I don't think either one of these videos do what Loftus thinks it does.

Is God Necessary for Morality? from The Veritas Forum on Vimeo

Is God Necessary for Morality? Part 1 of 2 from The Veritas Forum on Vimeo.

Is God Necessary for Morality? Part 2 of 2 from The Veritas Forum on Vimeo.

I've posted a link on Edwin Curley's lecture on God's character here. The real interesting thing to me is that Loftus says that William Lane Craig lost these debates against Shelly Kagan and Louise Antony. I'm really amazed. I don't see that at all. Kagan did not show that we know what morality is without God. I think Antony did better. At least she recognizes that somethings are wrong and somethings are right no matter what anyone of us thinks. I think where she loses it is trying to argue that God himself cannot be the standard of reality. She made the statement that she can't prove or explain where our morality comes from and it's not her burden of proof. I disagree. I also got the feeling that she thinks of God being worshiped because he commanded what was right. She also said that she came to think of repentance as being only given to god to avoid hell. As a Christian I want worship and praise God not because of what God does but because of who God is. I don't obey God because I fear hell but out of love and a desire to please the one who is worthy of my trust and obedience. That is not a part of traditional religion in general nor Roman Catholicism in particular and that is underscored in Antony's Roman Catholic upbringing as she underscored it. Neither she, nor Shelly nor Curley know what it is like to know God on personal one-on-one basis. If they did they would not wonder if it's okay to steal if God said so because they would know God would never ask them to steal. God would never ask you to murder. God would never ask you to cheat on your spouse. Yet these things are wrong because God has decreed they are wrong. He has the right because as Dr. Craig said he is the ultimate being there is nothing or no one God is accountable to. If there was, He would not be God and would not be worthy of worship.

As for Curley's lecture, I was unimpressed. Is God a dictator - doing anything He wants to do, how he wants to do it, when he wants to do it? Yes. Does it matter what you or I think about what He does or does not do? Nope. Does it bother me? Sometimes - when things don't go my way. However it gives me hope knowing that it goes the way He has decreed it and all things work together for my good. Roams 8:28-29. What hope does the Atheist have, especially one who has no objective foundation to build on? We can agree that it's wrong to steal, but why does it matter? Not everyone cares that it will hurt people. To convince them, you have to have a better argument than that.If Morality is not a gift from heaven then from where did it come? And if God did not give it to you how did you get it? The argument that we made it up as we go isn't going to fly either. We distort it and rationalize it as we go but that is about it.

Debunking Christianity: Is God Necessary for Morality? Hell NO!

Apologetics 315: Moral Objections to Christianity MP3 by David Horner

Here is a lecture from David Horner posted by Brian Auten a few days ago. The lecture is regarding moral objections to Christianity. These are objections thatr are raised quite often and its interesting to hear them being addressed. We have to be able to dialogue and answer such objections. "Talk to the hand!" is not an apologetic.

Apologetics 315: Moral Objections to Christianity MP3 by David Horner

Apologetics book: James Patrick Holding (JP Holding) "Blowing the Doors Off!" | True Freethinker

Mariano Grinbank has called attention to Jame Patrick Holding's new book. I think that this is one I will definitely read. I enjoy his work and have benefited greatly!

Apologetics book: James Patrick Holding (JP Holding) "Blowing the Doors Off!" | True Freethinker

Apologetics 315: Ron Rhodes MP3 Apologetics Lectures

Brian Auten just posted a great resource listing of books and audio lectures from Ron Rhodes. I like the man's work very much and enjoy listening to him and reading his books. One book that I did not see on the list was When Skeptics Ask which Rhodes wrote with Norman Geisler. I'm really glad Brian posted this.

Apologetics 315: Ron Rhodes MP3 Apologetics Lectures

Answering Muslims: "How Can God Die?" Answered by David Wood

I'm glad that David Wood provides an answer to this question. I am in full agreement that the "How can God die?" is a question fundamental to Muslims and not to Atheists. I mean why would they wonder how can God die when they don't believe God lives. Anyway I love to hear David Wood. It's clear that God has appointed him and his team to minister to all kinds of people all over the planet. Take a listen to how David Wood answers this question.

Answering Muslims: How Can God Die?

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

God Centered vs. Man Centered: the Dividing Line

James White's webcast today was too good not to share. He talked what really separates us from Roman Catholics and what the nature of the Gospel really is. I agree with him. This isn't a small issue. The issues Dr White covered today is what the main point of the Protestant Reformation was and should still be: God is the beginning and ending of everything and He has chosen to redeem his people from their sins. Great news!

Covered two primary texts on the program today, Hebrews 7:25 and James 2:14, but I did so in the context of recognizing the difference between a God-centered faith and a man-centered one. I drew illustrations from my debate with Robert Sungenis on the Mass that took place in Utah a number of years ago. An hour of biblical teaching, no calls, but I think one of the more important discussions we've had on the Dividing Line. Here's the program.

(I noted that the debate with Sungenis on the Mass was one of the clearest examples of theocentric faith vs. anthropocentric faith I know of. You can get the debate here).

God Centered vs. Man Centered: the Dividing Line

If God didn’t exist…would atheists? Matt Slick and ex-atheist David Wood | True Freethinker

Matt Slick and David Wood kick around a rather provocative question. Of course my answer would be that without God there would be nothing or no one. Thank Mariano Grinbank for this one.

If God didn’t exist…would atheists? Matt Slick and ex-atheist David Wood | True Freethinker

Adolf Hitler Was a Christian! Was Adolf Hitler a Christian?, parts 7, 8, 9, 10 | True Freethinker

There are the latest part of Mariano's latest series of posts examining the canard I see so often in which people argue that Christianity is responsible fore most of the evil in the world because Hitler was an Christian. Of course laughable, but need to be answers. Mariano Grinbank does exactly that.

Adolf Hitler Was a Christian! Was Adolf Hitler a Christian?, part 7 | True Freethinker
Adolf Hitler Was a Christian! Was Adolf Hitler a Christian?, part 8
Adolf Hitler Was a Christian! Was Adolf Hitler a Christian?, part 9
Adolf Hitler Was a Christian! Was Adolf Hitler a Christian?, part 10

Apologetics 315: Terminology Tuesday: Thomism

Now here is a word you don't hear too often...and certainly not in a sentence. Thanks to Brian Auten for posting this.

Apologetics 315: Terminology Tuesday: Thomism

Monday, August 2, 2010

On atheism: Matt Slick and ex-atheist David Wood | True Freethinker

I always find peoples' testimonies interesting! David Wood's is extremely interesting. He used to be an atheist but now he tries to share with others what he has learned and share what he has gotten from God. Thanks Mariano.