June 12th, 2013
by Max Andrews
The following is a list of ministries and organizations that I would recommend in helping your pursuit of truth in manners of theology, philosophy, science, ministry, and practical living.
- Alexander Pruss’s Blog: Alexander Pruss is a Christian philosopher at Baylor University who updates his blog with pressing questions and critiques of many ideas.
- Alpha and Omega Ministries: James White’s ministry, which focuses on presuppositional apologetics, reformed theology, Islam, Mormonism, and Roman Catholicism.
- Bio-Complexity: Bio-Complexity is a peer review journal with a specific goal of testing the scientific merit of intelligent design.
- BioLogos Forum: An organization reconciling science with religion. BioLogos is a key proponent of evolution in the TE-ID debate.
- Center for Science and Culture at Discovery Institute: The Discovery Institute is the leading organization on intelligent design pressing issues with the natural sciences and social sciences.
- Christian Classics Ethereal Library: The CCEL is a resource that makes classical writings from early Christian philosophers and theologians available for use.
- Closer to Truth: A website/show devoted to the pursuit of truth asking questions of science, philosophy, and theology presenting views from multiple sides. Here you will find hours of audio/visual resources.
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Posted in Apologetics, Biblical Studies, Christianity, Intelligent Design, Metaphysics, Science | 5 Comments »
June 1st, 2013
by Max Andrews
During the month of June I will be debating Justin Schieber from Reasonable Doubts on the question: “Does the Christian God Exist?”. The debate is designed for a very substantive and rigorous interaction and exchange. The whole debate will be posted online closer to the end of June. The format will be:
- 20 min. Opening (Max)
- 20 min. Opening (Mr. Schieber)
- 15 min. Rebuttal (Max)
- 15 min. Rebuttal (Mr. Schieber)
- 10 min. Second Rebuttal (Max)
- 10 min. Second Rebuttal (Mr. Schieber)
- 5 min. Closing (Max)
- 5 min. Closing (Mr. Schieber)
The only downside to the debate is that the format takes away from the spirit of a live interaction. However, there are many perks to this. The time in between recordings will allow for a full, robust response from each of us. I anticipate this to be a very, very good exchange with thorough explications of the arguments. A transcript of the debate with our sources will also be made available.
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Posted in Apologetics, Christianity | 9 Comments »
May 26th, 2013
by Max Andrews
In preparation for my debate this past March I went through my opponents blog to find relevant arguments he may use. (He didn’t use any I had expected. Instead, he just did the scatter-gun approach by putting little, ineffective arguments out there hoping they’d stick instead of presenting a few robust, substantive arguments.) I found this argument on the impossibility of God from omniscience and omnipotence. I expected this because these are the types of arguments atheists should be using. In order to demonstrate a universal negative one must demonstrate that the referent is impossible or logically incoherent; that is, since contradictions are the only things that cannot obtain. To much misfortune, the argument was not presented. If it had been presented the debate would have been much more substantive. (To watch the debate for yourself, watch it here. Don’t take my word for it.)
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Posted in Atheism, Mathematics, Metaphysics | 2 Comments »
May 17th, 2013
by Max Andrews
I just saw one of the comments by Jim in a previous post (Face the Facts–There are Gaps in Biblical Genealogies) and I thought I’d briefly add some thought to it.
Max. Thank you. Excellent post as usual. Hitchens also used the 250,000 number frequently in his debates so as to make the point “look at your horrendous God – willing to allow all those generations to perish before he sent a savior…” He had no idea that Scripture clearly affirms a retroactive efficaciousness to the Atonement.
I’ve seen this objection made against Christianity several times and it’s a rather horrendous objection (bolded). I’ve never researched the numbers on how many people have existed before the coming of Jesus and I don’t know how many people have existed since Jesus. I don’t think the numbers really matter that much, to be honest.
I don’t understand why anyone thinks this is such a horrendous concept. Obviously, this is an internal issue particular to Christianity. Christian doctrine never makes the claim that salvation was impossible prior to the resurrection of Jesus. I think it’s quite clear that the New Testament (well, OT too!) teaches that the atonement applied to those who came before Christ as well as those succeeding Christ. So what’s the problem?
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Posted in Biblical Studies, Christianity | No Comments »
May 14th, 2013
by Max Andrews
Adoption is God’s choosing of individuals to be adopted into the spiritual family to receive future riches and glory. What must be defined about the doctrine is what it means for a believer to be in the “spiritual family.”[1] Thomas Schreiner places the value of adoption on those who are not slaves to the power of sin.[2] Those who did not have the Spirit of Christ were subject to the slavery of sin; they were in subjection to the power of sin [cf. Gal. 4.7]. The Spirit that is given to believers is a Spirit that liberates from the power of sin, and thus a new obedience is generated in the heart of believers.[3]
The passage from Romans 8.16 confirms that we are God’s children by bearing witness with our spirit.[4] The critical issue for adoption is that there is cooperation with the human spirit and the Holy Spirit.[5] “Our spirit” cannot be identified as the Holy Spirit.[6] Verse 17 reinforces inheritance (κληρονομία, kleronomia) of future glory with God.
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Posted in Christianity, Theology | No Comments »
May 6th, 2013
by Max Andrews
There are three primary categories for virtue the Christian/theist will affirm. The first are the transcendental virtues: truth, beauty, and goodness. The second set is the theological virtues: faith, hope, and love/charity. Then there are the four cardinal virtues: prudence, courage, patience, and justice. It’s my belief that every Christian must practice epistemic humility. What is that? Well, epistemic humility, in the sense I’ll be using it, refers to an application of the four cardinal virtues in the area of epistemology (knowledge). Each of these virtues have a respective vice. For instance, the virtue of moderation would appear as a vice in addiction.
The virtue of epistemic prudence is know when and how to appropriate your knowledge to others. Have you ever noticed that person in class or in church that seems to be the ‘know-it-all,’ whether they actually are or not? Of course, it’s worse when they’re simply ignorant of what they’re talking about, but not only is this person annoying but there may be several issues rooted in the flaunting of knowledge. There’s nothing wrong with sharing you’re knowledge but, like I said, it’s how and when you share it.
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Posted in Christianity, Epistemology | 4 Comments »
April 29th, 2013
by Max Andrews
The First Search for the Historical Jesus (1778-1906)
- Distinction between Christ of faith and Jesus of History
- Accepted Gospel stories in general but rationalized or rejected miracle stories and claims to divinity
- Jesus as moral example
- Source criticism; Two document theory
- Ends with claim we can know nothing of historical Jesus
The Period of No Quest for the Historical Jesus (1906-1953)
- Nothing can be known of historical Jesus and not ultimately important; Living Christ of Faith is what matters
- Form Criticism
- Mark Displaced
- Bultmann: Need to demythologize Gospels and get to kerygma; Authentic existence
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Posted in Christianity | No Comments »
April 25th, 2013
by Max Andrews
Heilsgeschichte (hiyels-ge-sheek-te), when translated from German it literally means “salvation history.”
Heilsgeschichte is an organizing principle developed by Oscar Cullman for the various New Testament titles for Jesus. Cullman’s Christology is centered on what Jesus has done in history.
It is a characteristic of New Testament Christology that Christ is connected with the total history of revelation and salvation, beginning with creation. There can be no Heilsgeschichte without Christology; no Christology without aHeilsgeschichte which unfolds in time. Christology is the doctrine of an event, not the doctrine of natures. (Oscar Cullman, The Christology of the New Testament, rev. ed. [Philadelphia: Westminster, 1963], 9).
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Posted in Christianity, Theology | No Comments »
April 17th, 2013
by Max Andrews
There are many facets to death and death is a character of many hats. Death wears a natural hat and a spiritual hat, both of which I will address. My proposition I want to make a case for is that death is designed by God.
First point of discussion, natural death. Natural death will, of course, entails theological implications. This is also an issue of fine-tuning. Does death happen today? Yes. Does decay happen today? Yes. Via astronomical inquiry can we see if the physics of the universe have ever changed? Yes. Have they? No. I think there can be a strong case for a geological inquiry, but because I believe an astronomical inquiry ultimately encompasses a geological study, we shall include that.
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Posted in Existentialism | 1 Comment »
