The Price of Denying Free Will
Every time I turn around I find someone else denying that humans have free will. From scientists to philosophers to theologians, it’s the cool new trend. We aren’t actually making free choices. We have been programmed either by God or our DNA to act in a certain way and have no choice but to follow … Continue reading The Price of Denying Free Will
Stuff Atheists Say: Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence
Welcome to another installment of Stuff Atheists Say, a series dedicated to combatting slogans and sayings that skeptics raise to stop conversations in their tracks. You can catch up on the previous articles here: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4. Today’s slogan is a common skeptic phrase, made famous by the late Christopher Hitchens. … Continue reading Stuff Atheists Say: Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence
Stuff Atheists Say: Atheism Is a Lack of Belief
Welcome to the fourth – and LONG overdue – edition of my series Stuff Atheists Say. This is where I deconstruct some of the sillier slogans that some atheists use as conversation-stoppers with theists. (And if you haven’t checked out the first three yet, you can catch up here: part 1, part 2, part 3.) … Continue reading Stuff Atheists Say: Atheism Is a Lack of Belief
Don’t Like It? Don’t Do It
“Don’t like abortion? Don’t have one.” “Don’t like guns? Don’t buy one.” “Don’t like drugs? Don’t use them.” You’ve probably heard one of these – or something similar – before. It expresses the notion that if you don’t like something, don’t do it, and don’t try to take away someone else’s right to do it … Continue reading Don’t Like It? Don’t Do It
Book Review: The Story of Reality by Gregory Koukl
I’ve waited for this book for a long time. I’ve been listening to Greg Koukl – one of my personal apologetics heroes – on the Stand to Reason podcast for years and he would occasionally mention this book he was working on, The Story of Reality (originally entitled Credo). I had been (not so) patiently waiting for it … Continue reading Book Review: The Story of Reality by Gregory Koukl
Rogue One Reflections: Death and Hope
This article contains spoilers for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. You’ve been warned. The obvious theme of Rogue One is hope. Many characters repeated the phrase “Rebellions are built on hope.” Hope is the last word uttered in the film. The events in this movie directly lead into the original Star Wars film (1977), which … Continue reading Rogue One Reflections: Death and Hope
Black-ish, God, and the Problems of Christian Parenting
My wife and I are fans of the ABC comedy Black-ish, a show about an African American family exploring stereotypes and cultural issues in a humorous way. I groaned when I learned the theme of a recent episode, simply titled “God,” which involves the family’s teenaged daughter expressing her doubts at the existence of God. … Continue reading Black-ish, God, and the Problems of Christian Parenting
Book Review: No God But One: Allah or Jesus? by Nabeel Qureshi
Are Christianity and Islam different paths to the same God? Is Jesus really divine or just another prophet? Which is the true word of God, the Koran or the Bible? In No God But One: Allah or Jesus? (NGBO), Nabeel Qureshi explores many of the most common questions involving Islam and Christianity to show “the … Continue reading Book Review: No God But One: Allah or Jesus? by Nabeel Qureshi
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
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”
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
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
Book Review: Answering Jihad by Nabeel Qureshi
“There is a better way forward, a way that upholds both truth and compassion.” Compassion is probably the last word you would expect to find in a book about jihad. But that’s exactly what Nabeel Qureshi desires for us to show Muslims in Answering Jihad. In this book, he does just what the title states: respond to various questions … Continue reading Book Review: Answering Jihad by Nabeel Qureshi
Destroying the Kalam Cosmological Argument!!!!! – Round 3
This is the third and final round of Destroying the Kalam Cosmological Argument!!!!! Tim Stratton has responded to four arguments in round 1 and four in round 2, surviving by the skin of his teeth. But here are four last objections that will own him for sure!!! Final round: Go! 9) Lawrence Krauss’s work has proved that the universe can come … Continue reading Destroying the Kalam Cosmological Argument!!!!! – Round 3
Destroying the Kalam Cosmological Argument!!!!! – Round 2
This is the second round of Destroying the Kalam Cosmological Argument!!!!! Last time Tim Stratton successfully fended off four arguments that could have totally annihilated him!!! Can he refute another four objections or will he be completely owned?!?!? Let’s see! Round 2: Begin! 5) Regarding infinite regress, we cross infinites all the time. Any distance or amount of time can … Continue reading Destroying the Kalam Cosmological Argument!!!!! – Round 2
Destroying the Kalam Cosmological Argument!!!!! – Round 1
The Internet is not subtle. When people attack others’ beliefs and ideas, they don’t just refute them; they utterly obliterate them!!!!! Because who wants a boring headline? “Christian debates atheist.” Lame! “Christian completely owns atheist!!!” “Apologist embarrassed by scientist!!!” That’s exciting! I’ve challenged my colleague, The FreeThinking Theist himself, Tim Stratton, to respond to 12 arguments spread over three rounds that completely destroy … Continue reading Destroying the Kalam Cosmological Argument!!!!! – Round 1