Articles
Racism & Reconciliation
Racism. Unfortunately, on a number of occasions I’ve had to stare it right in the face. But never has an experience with racial prejudice been so alarming as the time that I had to face it within myself. During my junior year at Virginia Commonwealth University I came to the conclusion that I owed something … Continue reading Racism & Reconciliation
Freethinking in a Chinese Room
The Freethinking Argument deductively proves that the human soul exists and that we possess libertarian free will. Many seem determined to oppose these deductive conclusions as they possess a revulsion against the idea that humans are actually responsible freethinkers. Given this revulsion, these determinists desperately try to find a way to refute one of the four … Continue reading Freethinking in a Chinese Room
The Legacy of Eric Smallwood
Eric D Smallwood (April 18, 1965 – March 31, 2015) was one of the most intelligent men to have ever walked this earth. I was blessed to be sharpened by him as a friend and mentor. We didn’t look like brothers, but we were! I always say that Christ unites us more than DNA, and in … Continue reading The Legacy of Eric Smallwood
Just Listen
“Everyone should be slow to speak, quick to listen….” James 1:19 I admit, I hate asking Christians for advice or to share my troubles. They just don’t listen! You pour out your heart and they respond with trite statements like “Smile, Jesus loves you!” “Everything will be okay!” “Trust in God!” “Jeremiah 29:11!” While you’re … Continue reading Just Listen
Make America Great
Doesn’t matter what the press says. Doesn’t matter what the politicians or the mobs say. Doesn’t matter if the whole country decides that something wrong is something right. This nation was founded on one principle above all else: the requirement that we stand up for what we believe, no matter the odds or the consequences. When the … Continue reading Make America Great
An Open Letter To My Gay Brother In Christ
Dear Isaac, Thank you for your open letter to me published in The Huffington Post. The first thing I want to make clear is that I really do love you, brother! Although you disagree with some of my thoughts and beliefs, I truly do feel loved by you. My prayer is that you know you are … Continue reading An Open Letter To My Gay Brother In Christ
Homosexuality, Tattoos, & the Sabbath
In a television episode of The West Wing, President Josiah Bartlet (played by Martin Sheen) is aggravated by a conservative female talk-radio personality who defends calling homosexuality an “abomination” by citing Leviticus 18:22 — “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” This aggravates the liberal president who later … Continue reading Homosexuality, Tattoos, & the Sabbath
Apologetics is Not For The Heart
Growing up, my Dad taught me apologetics. He was really excited about it, and good at it too. As someone who studied under Norman Geisler at Southern Evangelical Seminary, my Dad got some of the best training out there. As a result, He taught me a lot of what I now know. I found myself … Continue reading Apologetics is Not For The Heart
Keeping It “Mere”
We’ve been called a lot of names: pagans, snakes, wolves in sheep’s clothing. And that’s by fellow Christians! Why is there so much friendly fire within Christianity? Why can’t we all just get along? Doctrinal differences have turned into a turf war and the Church has been causing its own casualties. I love the approach … Continue reading Keeping It “Mere”
Islamic Terror, Homosexuality, & the Consequences of Ideas
Sunday morning I awoke to horrific news on my Facebook feed: an Islamic terrorist brutally gunned down and murdered around fifty of our fellow human beings at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. This broke my heart and made me extremely angry! I cannot imagine the sorrow, pain, and anguish the friends and family members of … Continue reading Islamic Terror, Homosexuality, & the Consequences of Ideas
Substance Dualism, Interaction, & Idealism
A common objection to the notion that a human being is composed of both a material and an immaterial aspect of existence (substance dualism) is the problem of interaction. The naturalist will object and question: “How can an immaterial soul cause matter to do anything?” Even though we have scientific evidence suggesting this occurs, explaining exactly how … Continue reading Substance Dualism, Interaction, & Idealism
What is Special Pleading?
Defining Special Pleading Special pleading (also known as a double standard) is an informal fallacy that occurs when an exception is created to a principle, law, rule, generalization, or something roughly similar to these when we would expect that principle (or whatever it may be) to apply to whatever is being excluded and no rational … Continue reading What is Special Pleading?
Start Here
We’ve made up a lot of “requirements” to being a Christian. For example: Do I really have to believe in a talking snake, angels & demons, a man swallowed whole by a whale, and weird Old Testament laws? Do I have to stop believing in science, evolution, climate change, a universe older than 6,000 years, … Continue reading Start Here
Transgender Bathrooms & Basketball
Disclaimer: I am not a politician; I am an aspiring logician who strives to be reasonable. I am not a Republican and I am no Democrat either. I am a freethinking Independent who is not bound by any political dogma. I am not taking political sides in this article, but simply pointing out logical inconsistencies … Continue reading Transgender Bathrooms & Basketball
Robots & Rationality
Determinists determined to defend determinism often counter the Freethinking Argument by proclaiming that computers seem to be rational and they do not possess libertarian free will. They state this is sufficient refutation of premise (3) of the Freethinking Argument, and therefore, the conclusions: free will exists, the soul exists, and naturalism is false, do not follow. This article exposes … Continue reading Robots & Rationality
Captain America, Bucky, and Moral Responsibility
Heads up: This post contains minor spoilers for Captain America: Civil War (Winter Soldier too). Do we have moral responsibility for our actions if they have been predetermined for us? This question has massive implications on our view of reality and is briefly touched on in Captain America: Civil War. In Captain America: Winter Soldier, … Continue reading Captain America, Bucky, and Moral Responsibility