An Evangelical Perspective
Theology, Science, Ethics,
plus a little woodworking and photography just for the fun of it
The Latest
Thoughts on the Christian as Public Theologian
It would be nice if there were a little checklist of dos and don’ts. Life would be so much easier. We would know instinctively who and what was right and wrong. But life is seldom clear-cut when people are involved. Oh, sure, issues are clear. We all agree on that...
Announcements
Book Release: “The Myth of Scientific Certainty”
The Myth of Scientific Certainty REVIEW COPIES ARE AVAILABLE A book for the Christian working in the natural sciences but faces some conflicts with the issue of naturalism. A book for the Christian apologist who wants to answer some of the difficult questions on...
Book Review
Book Review: Live Not by Lies
I’m going to attempt to cover the intent of this work fairly though I will employ some of my own terminology and phrasing. It should be consistent with Mr. Dreher’s intent. His previous popular work, The Benedict Option, bothered me. It bothered me because I saw it as...
Movie Review: Knives Out
Knives Out is a comedy with that features a cast of players in roles that will surprise you. Those of us who enjoyed True Lies may not recognize Jamie Lee Curtis. Daniel Craig attempts a southern accent. Christopher Plummer and Frank Oz are recognizable for their...
Christianity & Society
Thoughts on the Christian as Public Theologian
It would be nice if there were a little checklist of dos and don’ts. Life would be so much easier. We would know instinctively who and what was right and wrong. But life is seldom clear-cut when people are involved. Oh, sure, issues are clear. We all agree on that...
The American Cult
There has been a lot of talk of cults lately. The language that describes a “Trump cult” has been popular among political pundits, both professional and amateur. The accusation is that people will follow him mindlessly, like automatons, without question and without...
The American Hot Box
“Hot Box” is the term to describe the situation when a group studies everything from a singular perspective. It’s a situation where few options exist outside of those provided. Of course the implementation of a hot box varies from one situation to another, but always...
Ethics
A Time for Discussing Christian Ethics
Recent events involving legislation in New York and Virginia are part of our national conversation on the question of life and related matters. These are certainly not insignificant matters. In that light we will be entertaining a discussion group to look at these...
Book Review: How to be a Stoic, Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life
How to be a Stoic, Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life, Massimo Pigliucci, Basic Books (NY) 2017. Introduction In the 20th century the “west” succumbed to the infiltration of skepticism to the masses. In past centuries it was generally limited to academic...
Can Artificial Intelligence Be Held Morally Responsible?
It seems at first that morality is always being coded. The idea that a vehicle should stop and avoid an impact describes the computer’s duty.
Crafts
The Novice Woodworker
Or, Getting out of the “Not Really Good Enough” Rut I have been at it about 6 years now. As a hobby it can be rewarding. It is always satisfying to see a quality piece finished for home, family, or friends. You know the sensation. It is more than just a feeling. It...
Making Utility Look Good
This week's woodworking project: Canning shelves. 2x4 (inexpensive white lumber) posts were first cut square. Then the width was face-jointed, followed by adding a shaped corner with the router. The dados allowed a shelf to be held up without the need for extra...
Theology
Why Biblical Theology is Not Enough
It seems like it has been around forever -- the idea of just studying the Bible and letting things fall into place. It is how most Bible study groups behave. It allows for an inclusiveness that transcends denominational and theological barriers. That's a good thing,...
Worship Is a Relationship
The way He wants us to worship Him, not the way we want to worship Him. What is this relationship? In a loving and committed relationship we serve each other. That's the normal behavior of all of us. Is you friend hurting? You put your arm around him or her. Sometimes...
Calendar
Athanatos Festival, August 2-4, 2018
I'll be there discussing the concerns of Christians in science and apologetics. See you there!
Events
I plan on being at the EMNR conference 2017. "Apologetics: Handmaiden to Evangelism and Discipleship" At the New Hope Community Church in Palatine, IL on April 28-29, 2017. See you there!
Apologetics
Stephen Law’s Empirical Apologetic for Atheism
The question of morality, of good and evil, is an artifact that fits better with the providential existence of God. The question of pain and pleasure, of being red in tooth and claw, fits better with naturalistic materialism. The skeptic borrows the language of the Christian to the detriment of his argument.
Thoughts on Natural Law and Evangelical Apologetics
The question I ask is a simple one: How do we know? How can we find natural laws that apply to all of humanity? Certainly, universal consensus is not the same as transcendent existence?
Crazy Rich Asians, an Apologetic Perspective
Caution: Spoiler Alert! This movie is fun. It's a romantic comedy (or romcom as they say today). It's about a cohabiting couple (living in the US) visiting his best friend's wedding in Singapore and spending time with his rich family. I mean rich like crazy rich. Of...
Education
Recommended Reading List
There are books and there are books. For the Christian who wishes to understand the world around him/her it is important to get a handle on both the history and the philosophy of the past that has contributed to where we are at. Then the Christian can respond to the...
Let’s Study Historical Theology
Just two hundred years of church history says a great deal about who we are. The more history we read the more we understand ourselves. With the proper attitude, the more this understand can help us correct ourselves and fix our errors.
Ministry
Factions, Ignorance, and Issues
It’s easy to blame revivalism and the “Second Great Awakening” for many of the problems in evangelical and even fundamental Christianity. The movements took us into anti-intellectualism and radical individualism. They turned us into something other than confessional...
Two Books for Elder Training
During the mid and late 1970s the church were I fellowshipped was making to bold move toward multiple elder leadership and away from the senior pastor structure. It was a bold move at the time. Other local church pastors of the same association took offense to this...
Politics
The Trump Years, a Review
To say that the last four years have been interesting is the greatest of understatements. President Trump has done things that no other president could or would do. Some of the things he did no other President would want to do. But whatever your opinion these have...
What the Left Should Know: Thoughts on the American Empire
Can one be both blindingly honest and blindingly naive at the same time. When I listen to conservative voices speaking about the American project the concentration is on principle -- freedom -- and little about what it took to accomplish that freedom. There is talk of...
Science
Will Science Its Find Limits? Christian Ethics & the Question of Scientism
Is there a place for interaction between science and theology? I try to take a different direction here and pursue an approach different from the common arguments. The idea of non-overlapping magestieria is too simplistic and subject theology to science or science to theology is too provincial. There are other options and I’ll explore one of them.
The Systematic, Evangelical Mind
This is standard for all orthodoxies. No naturalismist constructs an apologetic for YEC, OEC, or TE. They just don’t. These are called “belief systems.” It seems silly to have to say that, but it seems Mr. Enns missed something really basic.
Essay
Our Libertarian Problem
“Cogito ergo sum,” or “I think, therefore I am” finds the identification of self in one’s ability to think. This is more than just a philosophical speculation. It represents the independence of the individual apart from creation and apart from dominant ecclesiastical and governing authorities. You became free because your mind was free.
UNATHEISM – An Apologetic Applied to the Street Epistemologists
Introduction Peter Boghossian’s recent book A Manual for Creating Atheists has caused a bit of a stir. This new atheist-type has proposed combination of arguments and strategies for motivating people to leave religious belief behind. He does not care of it is...