An Exercise on the Problem of Evil
Are you under a stay-at-home order? Consider thinking about the problem of evil (PoE). Here is a brief exercise. Suppose someone says the following to you: “God would never permit COVID-19. So, since there is COVID-19, there is no God.” How would you respond? Notice that this is an example of the PoE. But there … Continue reading An Exercise on the Problem of Evil
The Redefinition of Love—Resulting From the Loss of Truth
By Rich Hoyer
Most people agree that we should love one another. But what does it mean to love others? Love can’t mean what our culture says it means. It can’t be untethered from a transcendent moral standard (i.e. God’s word and natural law) and left to be defined subjectively by our feelings, to be molded and fashioned … Continue reading The Redefinition of Love—Resulting From the Loss of Truth
A Logical Argument on Evil
By Dan Eichenberger
The problem of evil is one of the most common arguments used by non-believers, atheists, agnostics, and seekers when trying to develop an intellectual argument against God. Trying to reconcile the cognitive dissonance of acknowledging evil while accepting the reality of an all-powerful (Omnipotent), all-knowing (Omniscient), and always present (Omnipresent) supreme being is seemingly untenable. … Continue reading A Logical Argument on Evil
Thinking about Sickness and Death
Death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:2, NIV) Over the last few weeks, I have made some interesting sociocultural observations. For example, a local grocery store has limited the number of sanitizing wipes available for its customers and has offered to disinfect shopping carts for shoppers entering … Continue reading Thinking about Sickness and Death
A Response to Richard Carrier
By Joshua Pelletier
On October 25th, 2019, Richard Carrier, published a blog titled, Mark’s Use of Paul’s Epistles.[1] Carrier’s main argument is that Mark used Paul and that Matthew and Luke used Mark. Specifically, Mark transvalued what Paul had written into his own stories. This is problematic for Carrier, because he believes “Paul clearly taught that all his … Continue reading A Response to Richard Carrier
A Rational Presuppositional Approach to Free Will
By Kelly Fitzsimmons Burton
I met Tim Stratton when he reached out to me after reading my book Reason and Proper Function: A Response to Alvin Plantinga. He enthusiastically let me know that the argument I presented in that book supports a version of libertarian freedom that he endorses. At first, I wondered “what did I write to support … Continue reading A Rational Presuppositional Approach to Free Will
White-Knuckling It
As a man who loves Jesus, is in a heterosexual marriage, and still experiences some same-sex attraction that is lingering from my previous gay life, I spend a lot of time talking to Christian men about what life as a same-sex attracted (SSA) Christian man should look like. Much of the conversation centers on behavior. … Continue reading White-Knuckling It
Arguing Over the Holidays at Calvin’s Place
By Dave Oldham
Family times over Christmas and New Year’s can spawn interesting conversations and sometimes heated “discussions.” This was true at the Johann Calvin home, where his daughter Connie and son-in-law Erasmus had gathered to celebrate the holidays. Erasmus had received his Ph.D. in philosophy from UA (the University of Arminia), and his view of human freedom … Continue reading Arguing Over the Holidays at Calvin’s Place
Are Pro-Lifers Who Own Guns Hypocrites?
By Nathan Apodaca
Another assertion has become commonplace in discussions of abortion. Pro-lifers who own firearms, or support military actions abroad are misled at best, and at worst, hypocrites. The critic assumes that any inconsistently held pro-life beliefs are evidence pro-lifers aren’t actually motivated by a desire to protect human life, but rather a desire to control women’s … Continue reading Are Pro-Lifers Who Own Guns Hypocrites?
The Moral Argument: A Short Dialectic
The Argument There are several versions of the moral argument for theism.[i] One goes like this: If God does not exist, then objective morality does not exist. Objective morality exists. Therefore, God exists. (This argument is deductively valid by modus tollens.) The Dialectic Suppose a friend asks you why he should believe in God. You … Continue reading The Moral Argument: A Short Dialectic
The Existentialist Argument
“What sacred games shall we have to invent?” (Nietzsche, The Parable of the Madman, The Joyful Wisdom) “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) Introduction In this article, I provide an argument from … Continue reading The Existentialist Argument
The Rise of Skywalker & the Failure of Relativism
By Nathan Apodaca
Spoilers to follow (you’ve been warned)! The 40+ year Star Wars franchise has finally drawn the story of the powerful Skywalker family to a close. Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker served a powerful end to the story first started with A New Hope in 1977. As a lifelong Star Wars fan, I … Continue reading The Rise of Skywalker & the Failure of Relativism
The Probabilistic Argument from Gratuitous Evil and the Bracketing of Evidence
Introduction In this article, I argue that when considering the existence of God, it is unreasonable to bracket background evidence in the manner described below. First, this move is methodologically insufficient. Second, it is conceptually questionable. The Argument from Gratuitous Evil and the Bracketing Method The argument from gratuitous evil is usually articulated as a … Continue reading The Probabilistic Argument from Gratuitous Evil and the Bracketing of Evidence
Paul: A Trustworthy Source
By Joshua Pelletier
On October 25th, 2019, Richard Carrier, published a blog titled, Mark’s Use of Paul’s Epistles.[1] Carrier’s main argument is that Mark used Paul and that Matthew and Luke used Mark. Specifically, Mark transvalued what Paul had written into his own stories. This is problematic for Carrier, because he believes “Paul clearly taught that all his … Continue reading Paul: A Trustworthy Source
What a Non-Christian Taught Me about the Gospel
By Dr. Dave Oldham
A number of years ago a young woman came to our church for counseling and talked to me. She poured out her story of disappointment with her husband’s unfaithfulness, his unwillingness to change, and the mess her life had become, not only because of him but also because of her own unwise choices. She felt … Continue reading What a Non-Christian Taught Me about the Gospel
Are the Doors of Hell Locked from the Inside?
Introduction C. S. Lewis claimed that the doors of hell are locked from the inside.[i] In this article, I provide an argument to support Lewis’ claim. I also discuss the apologetic significance of his assertion. Assumptions I assume that free will exists and that human beings have libertarian freedom. I also assume the moral principle … Continue reading Are the Doors of Hell Locked from the Inside?