Category: Apologetics

Apologetics, Book Reviews11 Comments

Review of ‘The Myth of the Non-Christian’

georgepwood

Luke Cawley, The Myth of the Non-Christian: Engaging Atheists, Nominal Christians, and the Spiritual But Not Religious (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2016). Have you ever purchased a baseball cap labeled, “One Size Fits All”? I have. Inevitably, it’s too big for my son’s head but too small for mine. One size doesn’t fit all. One size doesn’t fit all in outreach to non-Christians either. Unfortunately, our evangelistic programs and apologetics arguments often act as if they do. Based on long experience in campus ministry, Luke Cawley recognizes the need for what he calls “contextual apologetics”: the “art of formulating … Continue reading Review of ‘The Myth of the Non-Christian’

Apologetics, Assemblies of God, Enrichment Journal, Interesting, TheologyLeave a comment

A Pentecostal Way Forward Through the Challenges of Science*

georgepwood

Every day, it seems, scientists uncover new wonders — both large and small — in our world. These wonders redound to God’s glory, for He created them all. And among those wonders, surely the human mind ranks high. Aside from the angels, only humans are able to perceive God’s handiwork and praise Him for it. Yet many humans do not. Instead, they “suppress the truth by their wickedness” (Romans 1:18). Consequently, “although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened” (1:21). By they, … Continue reading A Pentecostal Way Forward Through the Challenges of Science*

Apologetics, Interesting1 Comment

Conceding a Point is Not a Slippery Slope

georgepwood

Leah Libresco provides some good advice about having “better arguments. (She is a recent atheist convert to Christianity, by the way.) Sometimes, being honest means updating in the ‘wrong’ direction.  Although, in the long term, you should expect your beliefs to drift toward the correct answer, there’s no reason to expect that you approach that answer monotonically (always moving in the same direction). We can have better arguments if both players understand this fact, so no one treats it as a humiliating defeat if you concede that a piece of evidence meshes better with your opponent’s position than your own. … Continue reading Conceding a Point is Not a Slippery Slope

Apologetics, Politics & Culture, TheologyLeave a comment

Christianity the Worst Source of Evil?

georgepwood

John Stackhouse responds to a claim commonly heard from New Atheists, namely, that Christianity is a great source of evil: Those who would claim the high ground of rational and historical argument ought to sit still for some. And that argument might show–I think it does–that Christianity is not inherently hateful or violent. Instead, it would show that faithful (rather than token or cynical) adherence to Christianity generally makes a measurable positive difference: in terms of the hospitals and schools and science you mention, as well as leading markers of social and psychological health such as lasting, happy marriages, high … Continue reading Christianity the Worst Source of Evil?

Apologetics, Theology9 Comments

“It’s right for God to slaughter women and children anytime he pleases.” @JohnPiper Really?

georgepwood

Here’s how John Piper begins his response to a question about God’s commandment to slaughter the Canaanites: It’s right for God to slaughter women and children anytime he pleases. God gives life and he takes life. Everybody who dies, dies because God wills that they die. Peter Enns has some problems with that. I do too, though I’m not sure I completely agree with Enns’s critique of Piper. Your thoughts? Continue reading “It’s right for God to slaughter women and children anytime he pleases.” @JohnPiper Really?

Apologetics, Interesting, Parenting, TheologyLeave a comment

Childlike Faith: Are Kids Born with Belief?

georgepwood

Christianity Today has an interesting interview with Justin Barrett, author of Born Believers. Why do you suggest children are “born believers”? I’m using that term in a folk sense, the way we might say that Michael Jordan was a born basketball player, or Mozart was a born musician. I don’t mean that Mozart came out of the womb playing the clavichord, but that given very minimal cultural and environmental input, he was going to take to it like ducks to water. Virtually all humans are essentially born believers—they have a natural receptivity to religious belief. I’m contributing a new line … Continue reading Childlike Faith: Are Kids Born with Belief?

Apologetics, Theology39 Comments

Science as an Aid to Interpreting Scripture

georgepwood

Several years ago, I received a book through the mail that argued a startling thesis. The book—two books in one, actually—is A Geocentricity Primer by Gerardus D. Bouw and The Geocentric Bible 3 by Gordon Bane. It argues that the Bible teaches geocentricity: “the earth is fixed motionless at the center of the universe.” By contrast, modern science teaches heliocentrism: Earth revolves around the sun and rotates on its axis. Since the Bible is God’s Word, the authors argue, geocentricity is true and heliocentrism false. The authors believe that acceptance of geocentricity is theologically and spiritually momentous. “At issue,” writes … Continue reading Science as an Aid to Interpreting Scripture

Apologetics, Book Reviews, Book Vlog, MinistryDirectLeave a comment

Interview with Dr. Craig Keener, Author of “Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts”

georgepwood

In this video, I interview Dr. Craig S. Keener regarding his new book, Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts (Baker Academic). The book (and the interview) ranges widely across New Testament studies, philosophy, contemporary field sociology, and systematic theology. Interview with Dr. Craig Keener, Author of “Mir…, posted with vodpod Continue reading Interview with Dr. Craig Keener, Author of “Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts”