Apologetics, Challenging conventional doctrine

Why Do I Believe? Part 11 – It’s not all positive … Theodicy

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The thing that irritates me about most apologists is that they’re so damn sure of themselves. Not all of them are as cocky as William Lane Craig (who, in my estimation, uses sophistry and intimidation to cover up sloppy thinking). However, even gentle ones like Josh McDowell or Ravi Zacharias seem, at least in the stuff I’ve read, to present a neat, airtight package devoid … Continue reading Why Do I Believe? Part 11 – It’s not all positive … Theodicy »

Apologetics, Challenging conventional doctrine

Why Do I Believe? Part 12 – My personal experience is no help!

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In some ways, this may be the most difficult bit I’ve written in my whole apologetics series.  I’ve wrestled with whether to post it at all, but I feel honesty demands it.  If I’m going to talk about why I believe what I do, I can’t ignore the fact that my personal experience of the divine is a big fat nothing.  So here goes … … Continue reading Why Do I Believe? Part 12 – My personal experience is no help! »

Culture wars and Current events, War and Peace

The Practicality of Nonviolence

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In my myriad discussions over the years, with friends and acquaintances who are dubious about the idea of Christian nonviolence, a recurring objection has been raised that often comes in a form much like this:  “Yes, your theory is all well and good, but in the real world people are violent and evil, and can only be dealt with by force.”  On the surface this … Continue reading The Practicality of Nonviolence »

Apologetics, Justice

Why do I believe? Part 10 — By their fruits …

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A couple posts back in this series, I wrote how the character of Jesus himself is a major reason why I choose Christianity.  Closely related to this reality, I find myself attracted to Christianity because of what it is capable of producing in people.  Note carefully, I said “capable of producing,”  not “produces.”  I am the first to admit that an awful lot of people … Continue reading Why do I believe? Part 10 — By their fruits … »

Culture wars and Current events, Justice

“Who Really Cares?” Arthur Brooks Book Review – Repost

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Back before I started blogging in 2008, I read and then wrote an online review of Arthur Brooks’ book Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism.  I’m reposting it here with some updates, because I continue to find people citing Brooks’ study as evidence that conservatives are more compassionate than liberals. In short, Brooks’ book is a highly flawed diatribe posing as a … Continue reading “Who Really Cares?” Arthur Brooks Book Review – Repost »

Culture wars and Current events

A Few Thoughts About Marriage and our “Rights”

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I have recently observed or participated in several discussions about Christian marriage in the blog/Facebook world, that have troubled me mightily.  On one hand, I see (mostly male) Christians holding forth the position that sex is so important to marriage that any wife who denies her husband his “rights” or “needs” in that regard, is sinning and violating Paul’s commands in 1 Cor. 7:1-5.  Some … Continue reading A Few Thoughts About Marriage and our “Rights” »

Apologetics

Why do I believe? Part 9 – Popular apologetics I don’t buy …

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While I’ve already laid out a variety of reasons for my faith position, the world of apologetics includes several popular arguments that I don’t find as compelling as most apologists seem to wish.   Two of the most popular were both advanced by C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity (neither, so far as I know, was original to Lewis, but he is possibly the most popular or … Continue reading Why do I believe? Part 9 – Popular apologetics I don’t buy … »

Apologetics, Culture wars and Current events, Evolution

Lies, Damned Lies, and Apologetics: The Latest Evolution “Controversy”

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Several times in the past couple weeks, friends and acquaintances on Facebook have pointed out an article in World Magazine, in which the headline breathlessly proclaims that a “Fossil Finding Shakes Evolutionary Theories.”    Similar articles have appeared in the Christian News Network’s website, including Unprecedented Skull Discovery Raises Serious Questions Over Evolutionary Premises on November 4, and Groundbreaking Genetic Discoveries Challenge Ape to Human Evolutionary … Continue reading Lies, Damned Lies, and Apologetics: The Latest Evolution “Controversy” »

Apologetics, Open theology, Sovereignty of God

Book Recommendation: Four Views on Divine Providence

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Along with a study group in my local church, I just recently read the book Four Views on Divine Providence.   Edited by Stanly N. Gundry and Dennis W. Jowers, it’s one of Zondervan’s “Counterpoint” series on theology. In his introduction, Jowers then points out that “Scripture … supplies grounds for a range of answers to significant questions about God’s providence.  Does God ever foreordain evil … Continue reading Book Recommendation: Four Views on Divine Providence »