Truthbomb Apologetics: Featured Article: Did Morals Evolve? by Greg Koukl

Chad posted a great article by Greg Koukl talking about the objection many atheist make against the Moral argument for the existence of God. They think that morality can be explained as having evolved. Koukl shows how much of a failed argument this it.

Truthbomb Apologetics: Featured Article: Did Morals Evolve? by Greg Koukl

R2D2 Had Another Message - Topless Robot

The hologram of Tupac from last weekend has spawned quite a bit of memes. One has even been turned into a video!




R2D2 Had Another Message - Topless Robot

Ironic Sign and Hilarious Commentary

Today G4TV's Attack of the Blog had me rolling on the ground in laughter.

This sign, in all its irony, pretty much defines the experience of hand-writing an address on an envelope where the space caught up with you and you're desperately trying to squeeze a miniature zip code in the corner like it's some kind of freaky 5-number exponent.

  This Sign Didn't Take Its Own Advice

Evidence Jesus is Alive by Timothy McGrew - Apologetics 315

Brian Auten posted Dr Frank Turek's interview of Dr Timothy McGrew about what evidence we really have for Jesus' Resurrection. Dr McGrew discussed an acrostic to make five points of evidence easy to remember: A.L.I.V.E.

A - Appearances of Jessus
L -  Low Status of Women
I -   Immediate Proclamation
V - "Voluntary sufferings undergone by the first witnesses"
E - Empty Tomb

Follow the link to hear the interview. 

Evidence Jesus is Alive by Timothy McGrew - Apologetics 315

Related articles

• Who are you to judge? Answering the challenge of moral relativism (winteryknight.wordpress.com)
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to Apologetics? (joshchalmers.wordpress.com)
• Curses! He's King! (a PG-13 apologetic for the Resurrection) (pasturescott.org)

Faceplant of the Day - Questioning God In the Face of Tragedy

John Loftus really believes that he understands and predicts what an omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient God would and would not do. Further he thinks that if anything happens or does not happen supporting what he thinks God would do, he concludes that God does not exist.  This is evidenced in the case of the following quote.

Just think, God could have foreseen this tragedy and miraculously averted the iceberg hours before the Titanic came into its path. If he had done this no one would be the wiser! He could have remained hidden if that's his goal. For believers to say God does this from time to time then his so-called "interventions" look indistinguishable from chance. In other words, there is no evidence that he intervenes at all. So having faith that God intervenes even once is exceedingly improbable.

I think the problem here is that Loftus refuses to think. When God intervenes in our lives, he doesn't always let us know that he intervened. The Titanic is an example in that if God had intervened in such a way that the iceberg never met the ship at all then we would not know that God intervened. Yet however, we have all had close call, where imminent harm was about to overtake us, yet it didn't. It's all under God's control. All a part of what He's doing. Sometimes you agree with the results of the intervention and sometimes you wish God had intervened differently. The way you know the difference between God and random chance comes down to Relationship. "Chance" is what you call God when you don't know Him. . 

So where was God when the Titanic sank? God was working out everything after the counsel of his own will.

 ¹¹ In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, - Ephesians 1:11

Where Was God When the Titanic Sank 100 Years Ago?

Related articles

• Experiencing History 100 Years Later Above The Site Of The Titanic Tragedy (philadelphia.cbslocal.com)
• The Titanic: A Lesson For Marriage (theromanticvineyard.com)
• Events mark Titanic's 100th (timesleader.com)
• Events worldwide mark Titanic centenary (myfoxny.com)
• Photographs mark aftermath of Titanic tragedy as survivors reach New York (scotsman.com)

North Korea Vs. South Korea - G4tv.com

I found this comparison amusing, along with the commentary by Joseph Baxter

Get it? Those North Korean kids are actually outside getting fresh air, doing some old-fashioned hard work, having some hair grow on their chests.

I'm not sure if that is what the cartoonist had in mind!

North Korea Vs. South Korea - G4tv.com

Joel Osteen's Church Psych - Calvinist Cartoons

Joel Osteen's Church Psych

Lost Smartphones Really Add Up

Lost Smartphones Really Add Up [Infographic]

Greg Koukl on Faith, Reason & Rationality - Apologetics 315

Here is a great quote from Greg Koukl that I got from Brian Auten. It's timely given the confusion of what faith is that so pervades society.

 "So let's set the record straight. Faith is not the opposite of reason. The opposite of faith is unbelief. And reason is not the opposite of faith. The opposite of reason is irrationality. Do some Christians have irrational faith? Sure. Do some skeptics have unreasonable unbelief? You bet. It works both ways."

—Greg Koukl

In Is God Just a Human Invention? And Seventeen Other Questions Raised by the New

Greg Koukl on Faith, Reason & Rationality - Apologetics 315

FacePalm of the Day - Debunking Christianity: Is This Faith, Really?

John Loftus has posted the following quote. I still see a few problems in his thinking.

Christians are saying I have faith because some say that "faith is assenting to a proposition that could conceivably be false." Okay then, let's compare a few ordinary scientific claims to a few extraordinary religious claims. Click on the chart to enlarge it. If I have faith then there is a gigantic difference between scientific "faith" and religious faith, wouldn't you agree? ;-)

Loftus is still confused. Biblical faith is not believing something that is false or unevidenced.  And people who call themselves Christians who think faith is believing something "that could conceivably be false" don't know what Biblical faith is either.

Notice in the chart Loftus posted that even the scientific claims are considered "virtually certain" as if things like Gravity, Continental drift, F=MA, and Heliocentric Solar System. I'm shocked. I would change this a lot. I have a background in Physics and if you have ever been educated in Physics at any university worth your time you would do experiments like measuring Gravity and proving Newton's Laws of Motion (Force equivalent to mass times  acceleration is the second). Having worked through these things personally, I am more than convinced not just certain that they are true.  As for Heliocentric Solar System, I'd count that as a certainty given that people have actually been to outer space and seen the solar system and given what we can measure. Grant it, I'd also would say that the Big Bang is also well-evidenced. I would say that evolution (macro-evolution with all life evolving from  a single cell) is not probable at all. It's telling how Loftus seems to agree that Jesus' Resurrection, Atonement, Jesus' Second Coming, Prophecy, Incarnation, and Virgin Birth are "virtually impossible" despite the evidences that point to their validity. Shouldn't be a real shock since he seems skeptical of gravity.

So is there a difference between  scientific faith and the religious faith, Loftus defines?  Nope. Because he seems to think that they could both be wrong. That's not what Biblical faith is.


Debunking Christianity: Is This Faith, Really?

Desposyni: Greek Parsing App

I've been really enjoying Matthew Dowling's blog. Today, he pointed out a mobile app for parsing Greek available for Android and iOS devices. Yes, Please.


Desposyni: Greek Parsing App

Fistbump of the Day - Christ the Tao: Theology in Hades: Explaining Faith to Loftus and Pearse.

Well, I guess David Marshall has really been raising a stink over at Debunking Christianity because there are now posts dedicated to trying to "answer" his objections and points.  More fail on top of fail. Fortunately, David Marshall has answered this post at the following link. 

Christ the Tao: Theology in Hades: Explaining Faith to Loftus and Pearse.

Too bad I doubt anyone who failed to see how faith was misdefined and incorrectly explained will get most out of David's hard word, but God can move anyone's heart no matter how obstinate.

Trayvon Martin's Killer Was Finally Charged With a Crime—Was It the Right One? - News - GOOD

Florida special prosecutor Angela Corey announced yesterday that George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watchman who killed 17-year-old black student Trayvon Martin in February, is being charged with second-degree murder. Justice served, right? Well, not so fast.

 Read more at the following link:

Trayvon Martin's Killer Was Finally Charged With a Crime—Was It the Right One? - News - GOOD

Healthy Eyes In A Digital World [infographic]

Healthy Eyes In A Digital World [infographic]

FacePalm of the Day - Debunking Christianity: Quote of the Day, By Yours Truly ;-)

John Loftus posted the following quote.

I think the Christian delusion is harmful if for no other reason than that it weaken one's critical thinking skills. If faith is the basis for what one thinks then anything can be believed. It also adversely impacts us in polls that bolster the delusion in others, in donations to faith-based causes that are harmful, in TV, radio, and book buying habits that grant spokespersons for the delusion a bigger voice than warranted, and in voting patterns that place deluded people in power who in turn cause harm to individual people, one's particular nation, and the world at large.

I think that there is a serious problem. In Christianity there is no reason to believe everything, especially stuff that comes out of your own head. Christianity is about trusting God and building a relationship with God on God's Terms not your own. 

Debunking Christianity: Quote of the Day, By Yours Truly ;-)

Desposyni: Ben Witherington III on Women and Ministry

Check out Dr Witherington





Desposyni: Ben Witherington III on Women and Ministry

George Zimmerman To Be Charged In Trayvon Martin Shooting: Report

George Zimmerman will be charged with a crime(s) for shooting Trayvon Martin, but not for murder.

Corey announced earlier this week that she would not convene a grand jury in the case. Experts familiar with Corey's background say she has a reputation for avoiding grand juries in cases in which they are unnecessary. Under Florida law, murder charges can only be issued by a grand jury. Zimmerman may face other charges in the shooting death, including manslaughter and assault.

Read more at the following link.

George Zimmerman To Be Charged In Trayvon Martin Shooting: Report

I get the feeling their throwing the public a bone because he isn't being charged with murder, but they did arrest him. 

Debate: William Lane Craig & Peter Atkins: Does God Exist? Audio and Video - Apologetics 315

Brian Auten posted the video and audio on the Apologetics 315 of William Lane Craig vs Peter Atkins during Craig's Reasonable Faith last fall.






Debate: William Lane Craig & Peter Atkins: Does God Exist? Audio and Video - Apologetics 315

Not All Dead Men Stay Dead: 10 Essential Points about the Resurrection | Reflections

Српски / Srpski: Groblje_Sv._Marko (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dr Kenneth Samples wrote a great article summarizing the essential points of Jesus Resurrection:

Historic Christianity contains numerous beliefs that are theologically and philosophically volatile (in the best sense of the term). These powerful truth-claims have transformed the church and even turned the world upside down. My new book, 7 Truths that Changed the World, explores seven of historic Christianity’s dangerous ideas. The following 10 points give a brief overview of what I consider to be the Christian faith’s most dangerous idea.

Not All Dead Men Stay Dead: 10 Essential Points about the Resurrection | Reflections

Desposyni: Albert Mohler and Perspectives on Theistic Evolution

Al Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Matthew Dowling has posted a good article summarizing and responding to a lecture by Dr Albert Mohler on perspectives on Theistic Evolution,. Given his background in Biology, Dowling's comments and insights are well worth reading! Follow the link to his blog to see a link to the lecture and read his comments.

Desposyni: Albert Mohler and Perspectives on Theistic Evolution

Related articles

• The Trouble with Theistic Evolution (str.typepad.com)
• Theistic Evolution Incompatible (str.typepad.com)
• Creationist: Science Begins with the Bible, Not the Facts (patheos.com)
• Dr.R.C.Sproul,Dr. Albert Mohler and Ravi Zacharias - Is Evolution Compatible with Christianity? (rodiagnusdei.wordpress.com)