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Walking With Giants

Bible, Theology, Preaching

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  • Bible Study Notes
    • Introductory
      • Types of Literature in the Bible
      • What is the shape of the Bible’s story?
      • The canon of Scripture
    • Old Testament
      • General
        • Historical Difficulties
        • The Old Testament story – chart
      • Genesis (intro)
        • Genesis 1
        • Genesis 2
        • Genesis 3
        • Genesis 4
        • Genesis 5
        • Genesis 6
        • Genesis 7
        • Genesis 8
        • Genesis 9
        • Genesis 10
        • Genesis 11
        • Genesis 12
        • Genesis 13
        • Genesis 14
        • Genesis 15
        • Genesis 16
        • Genesis 17
        • Genesis 18
        • Genesis 19
        • Genesis 20
        • Genesis 21
        • Genesis 22
        • Genesis 23
        • Genesis 24
        • Genesis 25
        • Genesis 26
        • Genesis 27
        • Genesis 28
        • Genesis 29
        • Genesis 30
        • Genesis 32
        • Genesis 33
        • Genesis 35
        • Genesis 36
        • Genesis 37
        • Genesis 39
        • Genesis 49
        • Genesis 50
      • Exodus (intro)
        • Exodus 1
        • Exodus 2
        • Exodus 3
        • Exodus 4
        • Exodus 5
        • Exodus 6
        • Exodus 7
        • Exodus 8
        • Exodus 9
        • Exodus 10
        • Exodus 11
        • Exodus 12
        • Exodus 13
        • Exodus 14
        • Exodus 15
        • Exodus 16
        • Exodus 17
        • Exodus 18
        • Exodus 20
        • Exodus 21
        • Exodus 22
        • Exodus 23
        • Exodus 24
        • Exodus 25
        • Exodus 26
        • Exodus 27
        • Exodus 28
        • Exodus 29
        • Exodus 32
        • Exodus 33
        • Exodus 34
        • Exodus 40
      • Leviticus
        • Leviticus 13
        • Leviticus 16
        • Leviticus 18
        • Leviticus 19
        • Leviticus 20
      • Numbers
        • Numbers 1
        • Numbers 2
        • Numbers 3
        • Numbers 5
        • Numbers 6
        • Number 10
        • Numbers 11
        • Numbers 13
        • Numbers 14
        • Numbers 15
        • Numbers 21
        • Numbers 22
        • Numbers 24
        • Numbers 31
        • Numbers 33
      • Deuteronomy (intro)
        • Deuteronomy 3
        • Deuteronomy 5
        • Deuteronomy 6
        • Deuteronomy 7
        • Deuteronomy 8
        • Deuteronomy 10
        • Deuteronomy 14
        • Deuteronomy 16
        • Deuteronomy 18
        • Deuteronomy 20
        • Deuteronomy 21
        • Deuteronomy 22
        • Deuteronomy 23
        • Deuteronomy 24
        • Deuteronomy 28
        • Deuteronomy 29
        • Deuteronomy 31
        • Deuteronomy 32
      • Joshua
        • Introduction
        • Joshua 1
        • Joshua 2
        • Joshua 3
        • Joshua 4
        • Joshua 5
        • Joshua 6
        • Joshua 7
        • Joshua 8
        • Joshua 9
        • Joshua 10
        • Joshua 11
        • Joshua 23
        • Joshua 24
      • Judges (intro)
        • Intro
        • Judges 3
        • Judges 5
        • Judges 6
        • Judges 11
        • Judges 13
        • Judges 19
      • Ruth
        • Intro
        • Ruth 1
        • Ruth 2
        • Ruth 3
        • Ruth 4
      • 1 Samuel
        • 1 Samuel 1
        • 1 Samuel 2
        • 1 Samuel 3
        • 1 Samuel 4
        • 1 Samuel 5
        • 1 Samuel 6
        • 1 Samuel 7
        • 1 Samuel 8
        • 1 Samuel 9
        • 1 Samuel 10
        • 1 Samuel 13
        • 1 Samuel 15
        • 1 Samuel 16
        • 1 Samuel 17
        • 1 Samuel 18
        • 1 Samuel 20
        • 1 Samuel 24
        • 1 Samuel 25
      • 2 Samuel
        • 2 Samuel 1
        • 2 Samuel 5
        • 2 Samuel 7
        • 2 Samuel 9
        • 2 Samuel 11
        • 2 Samuel 12
        • 2 Samuel 16
        • 2 Samuel 21
        • 2 Samuel 24
      • 1 Kings
        • 1 Kings 6
        • 1 Kings 7
        • 1 Kings 9
        • 1 Kings 11
        • 1 Kings 12
        • 1 Kings 18
        • 1 Kings 19
        • 1 Kings 21
        • 1 Kings 20
        • 1 Kings 22
      • 2 Kings
        • 2 Kings 2
        • 2 Kings 3
        • 2 Kings 4
        • 2 Kings 5
        • 2 Kings 6
        • 2 Kings 10
        • 2 Kings 15
        • 2 Kings 20
        • 2 Kings 22
        • 2 Kings 23
      • 1 Chronicles
        • Introduction
        • 1 Chronicles 3
        • 1 Chronicles 21
        • 1 Chronicles 29
      • 2 Chronicles
        • 2 Chronicles 7
        • 2 Chronicles 31
        • 2 Chronicles 32
        • 2 Chronicles 35
      • Nehemiah
        • Introduction
        • Nehemiah 2
        • Nehemiah 3
        • Nehemiah 8
        • Nehemiah 11
        • Nehemiah 12
        • Nehemiah 13
      • Esther
        • Introduction
        • Esther 1
        • Esther 2
        • Esther 3
        • Esther 4
        • Esther 5
        • Esther 6
        • Esther 7
        • Esther 8
        • Esther 9
        • Esther 10
      • Job – intro
        • Job 1
        • Job 2
        • Job 26
        • Job 38
      • Psalms (intro)
        • Psalm 1
        • Psalm 2
        • Psalm 3
        • Psalm 4
        • Psalm 5
        • Psalm 6
        • Psalm 7
        • Psalm 8
        • Psalm 9
        • Psalm 10
        • Psalm 11
        • Psalm 12
        • Psalm 13
        • Psalm 14
        • Psalm 15
        • Psalm 16
        • Psalm 17
        • Psalm 18
        • Psalm 19
        • Psalm 20
        • Psalm 21
        • Psalm 22
        • Psalm 23
        • Psalm 24
        • Psalm 25
        • Psalm 26
        • Psalm 27
        • Psalm 28
        • Psalm 31
        • Psalm 32
        • Psalm 34
        • Psalm 36
        • Psalm 37
        • Psalm 39
        • Psalm 45
        • Psalm 46
        • Psalm 50
        • Psalm 51
        • Psalm 53
        • Psalm 62
        • Psalm 65
        • Psalm 66
        • Psalm 68
        • Psalm 72
        • Psalm 73
        • Psalm 77
        • Psalm 78
        • Psalm 79
        • Psalm 82
        • Psalm 84
        • Psalm 85
        • Psalm 86
        • Psalm 88
        • Psalm 89
        • Psalm 90
        • Psalm 91
        • Psalm 92
        • Psalm 95
        • Psalm 98
        • Psalm 100
        • Psalm 103
        • Psalm 104
        • Psalm 105
        • Psalm 106
        • Psalm 107
        • Psalm 110
        • Psalm 112
        • Psalm 119
        • Psalm 121
        • Psalm 122
        • Psalm 123
        • Psalm 126
        • Psalm 130
        • Psalm 137
        • Psalm 139
        • Psalm 147
        • Psalm 150
      • Proverbs (intro)
        • Proverbs 1
        • Proverbs 3
        • Proverbs 4
        • Proverbs 5
        • Proverbs 6
        • Proverbs 8
        • Proverbs 9
        • Proverbs 13
        • Proverbs 14
        • Proverbs 15
        • Proverbs 16
        • Proverbs 18
        • Proverbs 19
        • Proverbs 20
        • Proverbs 22
        • Proverbs 23
        • Proverbs 25
        • Proverbs 26
        • Proverbs 26
        • Proverbs 27
        • Proverbs 29
        • Proverbs 30
        • Proverbs 31
      • Ecclesiastes (intro)
        • Ecclesiastes 1
        • Ecclesiastes 2
        • Ecclesiastes 3
        • Ecclesiastes 4
        • Ecclesiastes 8
        • Ecclesiastes 9
        • Ecclesiastes 10
        • Ecclesiastes 11
        • Ecclesiastes 12
      • Song of Songs (intro)
        • Song of Songs 1
        • Song of Songs 2
        • Song of Songs 3
        • Song of Songs 5
        • Song of Songs 7
        • Song of Songs 8
      • Isaiah (intro)
        • Isaiah 1
        • Isaiah 2
        • Isaiah 6
        • Isaiah 7
        • Isaiah 8
        • Isaiah 9
        • Isaiah 10
        • Isaiah 11
        • Isaiah 13
        • Isaiah 14
        • Isaiah 19
        • Isaiah 20
        • Isaiah 25
        • Isaiah 27
        • Isaiah 39
        • Isaiah 40
        • Isaiah 41
        • Isaiah 42
        • Isaiah 43
        • Isaiah 44
        • Isaiah 45
        • Isaiah 48
        • Isaiah 49
        • Isaiah 50
        • Isaiah 51
        • Isaiah 52
        • Isaiah 53
        • Isaiah 55
        • Isaiah 56
        • Isaiah 58
        • Isaiah 59
        • Isaiah 61
        • Isaiah 62
        • Isaiah 63
        • Isaiah 64
        • Isaiah 65
        • Isaiah 66
      • Jeremiah
        • Introduction
        • Jeremiah 1
        • Jeremiah 2
        • Jeremiah 5
        • Jeremiah 6
        • Jeremiah 7
        • Jeremiah 8
        • Jeremiah 11
        • Jeremiah 13
        • Jeremiah 18
        • Jeremiah 22
        • Jeremiah 23
        • Jeremiah 26
        • Jeremiah 27
        • Jeremiah 28
        • Jeremiah 29
        • Jeremiah 31
        • Jeremiah 33
        • Jeremiah 36
        • Jeremiah 40
      • Ezekiel
        • Ezekiel 1
        • Ezekiel 2
        • Ezekiel 3
        • Ezekiel 8
        • Ezekiel 20
        • Ezekiel 36
        • Ezekiel 37
        • Ezekiel 43
      • Daniel
        • Introduction
        • Daniel 1
        • Daniel 2
        • Daniel 5
        • Daniel 6
        • Daniel 7
        • Daniel 11
        • Daniel 12
      • Hosea
        • Hosea 1
        • Hosea 4
        • Hosea 6
        • Hosea 11
        • Hosea 13
      • Joel
        • Joel 1
        • Joel 2
        • Joel 3
      • Amos
        • Introduction
        • Amos 1
        • Amos 2
        • Amos 3
        • Amos 4
        • Amos 5
        • Amos 8
      • Obadiah
        • Obadiah 1
      • Jonah – intro
        • Jonah 1
        • Jonah 2
        • Jonah 3
        • Jonah 4
      • Micah – intro
        • Micah 1
        • Micah 2
        • Micah 3
        • Micah 6
        • Micah 7
      • Nahum
        • Nahum 1
        • Nahum 2
        • Nahum 3
      • Habakkuk
        • Introduction
        • Habakkuk 1
        • Habakkuk 2
        • Habakkuk 3
      • Haggai
        • Haggai 1
        • Haggai 2
      • Zechariah
        • Zechariah 1
        • Zechariah 8
        • Zechariah 13
      • Malachi
        • Malachi 1
        • Malachi 2
        • Malachi 3
        • Malachi 4
    • New Testament
      • General
        • Introduction
        • Pseudonymity
        • Canonical Order of NT Books
        • Historical Difficulties
      • Matthew
        • Matthew 1
        • Matthew 2
        • Matthew 3
        • Matthew 4
        • Matthew 5
        • Matthew 6
        • Matthew 7
        • Matthew 8
        • Matthew 9
        • Matthew 10
        • Matthew 11
        • Matthew 12
        • Matthew 13
        • Matthew 14
        • Matthew 15
        • Matthew 16
        • Matthew 17
        • Matthew 18
        • Matthew 19
        • Matthew 20
        • Matthew 21
        • Matthew 22
        • Matthew 23
        • Matthew 24
        • Matthew 25
        • Matthew 26
        • Matthew 27
        • Matthew 28
      • Mark (intro)
        • Mark 1
        • Mark 2
        • Mark 3
        • Mark 4
        • Mark 5
        • Mark 6
        • Mark 7
        • Mark 8
        • Mark 9
        • Mark 10
        • Mark 11
        • Mark 12
        • Mark 13
        • Mark 14
        • Mark 15
        • Mark 16
      • Luke (intro)
        • Luke 1
        • Luke 2
        • Luke 3
        • Luke 4
        • Luke 5
        • Luke 6
        • Luke 7
        • Luke 8
        • Luke 9
        • Luke 10
        • Luke 11
        • Luke 12
        • Luke 13
        • Luke 14
        • Luke 15
        • Luke 16
        • Luke 17
        • Luke 18
        • Luke 19
        • Luke 20
        • Luke 21
        • Luke 22
        • Luke 23
        • Luke 24
      • John (intro)
        • John 1
        • John 2
        • John 3
        • John 4
        • John 5
        • John 6
        • John 7
        • John 8
        • John 9
        • John 10
        • John 11
        • John 12
        • John 13
        • John 14
        • John 15
        • John 16
        • John 17
        • John 18
        • John 19
        • John 20
        • John 21
      • Acts (intro)
        • Acts 1
        • Acts 2
        • Acts 3
        • Acts 4
        • Acts 5
        • Acts 6
        • Acts 7
        • Acts 8
        • Acts 9
        • Acts 10
        • Acts 11
        • Acts 12
        • Acts 13
        • Acts 14
        • Acts 15
        • Acts 16
        • Acts 17
        • Acts 18
        • Acts 19
        • Acts 20
        • Acts 21
        • Acts 22
        • Acts 23
        • Acts 24
        • Acts 25
        • Acts 26
        • Acts 27
        • Acts 28
      • Romans (intro)
        • Romans 1
        • Romans 2
        • Romans 3
        • Romans 4
        • Romans 5
        • Romans 6
        • Romans 7
        • Romans 8
        • Romans 9
        • Romans 10
        • Romans 11
        • Romans 12
        • Romans 13
        • Romans 14
        • Romans 15
        • Romans 16
      • 1 Corinthians (intro)
        • 1 Corinthians 1
        • 1 Corinthians 2
        • 1 Corinthians 3
        • 1 Corinthians 4
        • 1 Corinthians 5
        • 1 Corinthians 6
        • 1 Corinthians 7
        • 1 Corinthians 8
        • 1 Corinthians 9
        • 1 Corinthians 10
        • 1 Corinthians 11
        • 1 Corinthians 12
        • 1 Corinthians 13
        • 1 Corinthians 14
        • 1 Corinthians 15
        • 1 Corinthians 16
      • 2 Corinthians (intro)
        • 2 Corinthians 1
        • 2 Corinthians 2
        • 2 Corinthians 3
        • 2 Corinthians 4
        • 2 Corinthians 5
        • 2 Corinthians 6
        • 2 Corinthians 7
        • 2 Corinthians 8
        • 2 Corinthians 9
        • 2 Corinthians 10
        • 2 Corinthians 11
        • 2 Corinthians 12
        • 2 Corinthians 13
      • Galatians (intro)
        • Galatians 1
        • Galatians 2
        • Galatians 3
        • Galatians 4
        • Galatians 5
        • Galatians 6
      • Ephesians (intro)
        • Ephesians 1
        • Ephesians 2
        • Ephesians 3
        • Ephesians 4
        • Ephesians 5
        • Ephesians 6
      • Philippians
        • Philippians 1
        • Philippians 2
        • Philippians 3
        • Philippians 4
      • Colossians (intro)
        • Colossians 1
        • Colossians 2
        • Colossians 3
        • Colossians 4
      • 1 Thessalonians (intro)
        • 1 Thessalonians 1
        • 1 Thessalonians 2
        • 1 Thessalonians 3
        • 1 Thessalonians 4
        • 1 Thessalonians 5
      • 2 Thessalonians
        • 2 Thessalonians 1
        • 2 Thessalonians 2
        • 2 Thessalonians 3
      • 1 Timothy
        • 1 Timothy 1
        • 1 Timothy 2
        • 1 Timothy 3
        • 1 Timothy 4
        • 1 Timothy 5
        • 1 Timothy 6
      • 2 Timothy
        • 2 Timothy 1
        • 2 Timothy 2
        • 2 Timothy 3
        • 2 Timothy 4
      • Titus
        • Titus 1
        • Titus 2
        • Titus 3
      • Philemon
        • Philemon 1
      • Hebrews (intro)
        • Hebrews 1
        • Hebrews 2
        • Hebrews 3
        • Hebrews 4
        • Hebrews 5
        • Hebrews 6
        • Hebrews 7
        • Hebrews 8
        • Hebrews 9
        • Hebrews 10
        • Hebrews 11
        • Hebrews 12
        • Hebrews 13
      • James (intro)
        • James 1
        • James 2
        • James 3
        • James 4
        • James 5
      • 1 Peter (intro)
        • 1 Peter 1
        • 1 Peter 2
        • 1 Peter 3
        • 1 Peter 4
        • 1 Peter 5
      • 2 Peter (intro)
        • 2 Peter 1
        • 2 Peter 2
        • 2 Peter 3
      • 1 John (intro)
        • 1 John 1
        • 1 John 2
        • 1 John 3
        • 1 John 4
        • 1 John 5
      • 2 John
      • Jude
        • Jude 1
      • Revelation (intro)
        • Revelation 1
        • Revelation 2
        • Revelation 3
        • Revelation 4
        • Revelation 5
        • Revelation 6
        • Revelation 7
        • Revelation 8
        • Revelation 9
        • Revelation 10
        • Revelation 11
        • Revelation 12
        • Revelation 13
        • Revelation 14
        • Revelation 15
        • Revelation 16
        • Revelation 17
        • Revelation 18
        • Revelation 19
        • Revelation 20
        • Revelation 21
        • Revelation 22

Category Archives: Atheism

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Did he really say that?

Walking With Giants Posted on January 14, 2018 by adminFebruary 17, 2018

Shared recently on Facebook was an image of Pope Francis and the following quote, attributed to him:-

Now there is some very slippery language here.  In particular, it is not at all clear what the Pope means by ‘a good person’.  Yes, there are some atheists who are kinder, gentler, and more caring than some religious people (shame on us!).  And if that is all the Pope is saying, then it’s true.

But the Pope knows as well as I do that the challenge of the gospel is not to make ourselves ‘good enough for God’, but the ‘believe on the Lord Jesus Christ’. …

Posted in Atheism, Roman Catholicism

God bless the ‘Sunday Assembly’

Walking With Giants Posted on November 10, 2014 by adminOctober 23, 2017

Yesterday morning (9th November 2014), the Norwich ‘Sunday Assembly’ held its first meeting.

Describing itself as ‘a global movement for wonder and good’, the Sunday Assembly sets out to offer much that a Christian worship service might offer – including communal singing, time for reflection, an address, tea and coffee at the end (can’t get much more religious than that!) – but without God.

The folks behind the Sunday Assembly are peaceable humanists.  They regard themselves as godless, but not anti-god.  …

Posted in Atheism, Worship

The Christian revolution – putting the record straight

Walking With Giants Posted on August 18, 2014 by adminMarch 22, 2017

I was prompted by this post to get hold of an (audio) copy of David Bentley Hart’s 2009 book Atheist Delusions: The Christian Revolution and Its Fashionable Enemies.

I listened to the whole thing during the course of a short walking trip.  Here are a few random thoughts by way of response.

As some other reviewers have pointed out, the book’s main title (‘Atheist Delusions’) was quite possibly chosen by the publishers, and not by the author, and serves more as an attention-grabber than as an accurate guide to content.  …

Posted in Atheism, Christianity

“The biblical God commanded genocide”

Walking With Giants Posted on November 3, 2013 by adminApril 19, 2018

At last, in chapter 6 of God or Godless?, we have a real problem to debate.

Atheist John Loftus regards this as completely cut-and-dried: in several places in the Old Testament, the biblical God commanded genocide.  He cites the following texts: Joshua 6:16-25; Deuteronomy 2:4-34; 7:1-6; Numbers 31:7-18.  Since there can be no possible justification for this genocide, John thinks that apologists either have to concede that they never took place, or they have to argue that they did take place, but were mistaken in thinking that it was God who had commanded them. …

Posted in Atheism, Difficulties of Bible

“Science is no substitute for religion”

Walking With Giants Posted on November 2, 2013 by adminMay 24, 2017

We’re up to chapter 5 of God or Godless, by John Loftus (atheist) and Randal Rauser (Christian).

Randal seeks to support his contention by pointing out that some scientists have a quasi-religious outlook on the cosmos.  The natural world is their God, and the scientific method their dogma.  But this religious impulse should be directed at the Creator, rather than the creation.

John, in his opening statement, pretty much reverses the original assertion by saying, in effect, “religion is no substitute for science.” …

Posted in Atheism, Difficulties of Bible, Religion

‘The biblical God requires child sacrifices for his pleasure’

Walking With Giants Posted on October 31, 2013 by adminFebruary 25, 2021

This is the strange theory advanced by John Loftus in chapter 4 of God or Godless?.

I call it ‘strange’ because I had not come across it before.  I hastily looked up the passage he cites (Exodus 22:29-30) to see what I had been missing all these years.  We read:

‘You shall not delay to offer from the fulness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses.  The first-born of your sons you shall give to me. …

Posted in Atheism, Difficulties of Bible, Old Testament

“If there is no God, then everything is permissible”

Walking With Giants Posted on October 30, 2013 by adminOctober 30, 2015

This is the topic of debate in chapter 3 of God or Godless?

Randal Rouser opens by imagining the mind-set of someone who tortures and kills people for fun.  He imagines the character denying that what he does is evil, because (on the assumption that there is no God) morality is a purely subjective concept, with no objective basis for deciding whose morality is right and whose is wrong.

John Loftus, in his opener, says that the title of the chapter assumes that there is one God, whereas there are multiple concepts of God, with their own moralities. …

Posted in Atheism, Ethics

‘The biblical concept of God evolved from polytheism to monotheism’

Walking With Giants Posted on October 28, 2013 by adminMarch 31, 2016

In chapter 2 of God or Godless? John Loftus asserts that the biblical concept of God evolved over time from polytheism to monotheism. He infers from this that there is no unified teaching about God in the Bible, and that the choice of one (Yahweh rather than Baal, say) is more or less a historical accident.

John’s argument is full of sweeping statements, right from the start.  When he says, “biblical scholars long ago acknowledged…”, he should have said, “Some biblical scholars think…”.…

Posted in Atheism, Religion

“If there is no God, then life has no meaning”

Walking With Giants Posted on October 28, 2013 by adminOctober 30, 2015

This is the first topic debated by Randal Rauser (a Christian) and John W. Loftus (an atheist) in their book God or Godless?

John Loftus concedes that if there is no God, then life has no intrinsic purpose and we have to either (a) muddle along in a purposeless existence, or (b) construct some kind of purpose for ourselves.

Yes, I agree with that.  If it were proven to me that God did not exist, life would either become meaningless for me, or I would have to construct some kind of meaning.…

God or Godless?

Walking With Giants Posted on October 28, 2013 by adminAugust 9, 2017

This is the title of a recent (2013) book of written debates by John W. Loftus (an atheist) and Randal Rauser (a Christian).

Twenty topics are covered in all, half chosen by one protagonist and half by the other.  For each topic there is an opening statement of about 800 words from each person, rebuttals of about 150 words, and closing statements of 50 words.

It’s an interesting approach, although not without its weaknesses and limitations:-

  • The opening statements were written completely independently, and so sometimes do not focus on the same subject-matter.
…

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