Category Archives: Apologetics

“There’s probably no God…”

Walking With Giants Posted on by

“…now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”

According to BBC news, bendy-buses with this slogan could soon be running on the streets of London.

‘The atheist posters are the idea of the British Humanist Association (BHA) and have been supported by prominent atheist Professor Richard Dawkins.’  In Dawkins’ (humble) opinion, ‘this campaign to put alternative slogans on London buses will make people think – and thinking is anathema to religion.’

On the same day, (Tuesday 21st October 2008), two rather more sobering stories were also in the news:-

In the first story, the charity Serve Afghanistan has suspended operations in Afghanistan after a British volunteer, Gayle Williams, was shot dead in the capital Kabul.…

God, evolution, and Charles Darwin

Walking With Giants Posted on by

Next year sees a major Charles Darwin anniversary: 200 years since his birth, and 150 years since the publication of On the Origin of the Species.

Darwin’s religious views were (or became) those of a muddled agnostic.  In a recent article in Times Online, Nick Spencer offers Ten Surprising Things Darwin Said About Religious Faith:-

1. “The mystery of the beginning of all things is insoluble by us; and I for one must be content to remain an Agnostic.”…

Has science got rid of God?

Walking With Giants Posted on by

This is the title of a book by John Blanchard, published in 2004 by Evangelical Press.  In one chapter of the book, Blanchard confronts the frequently-expressed view that science has rendered religion in general, and Christianity in particular, redundant as a means of explaining the world.

One way of responding to this is to note some of the limitations of science’s explanatory power.  For example, science is unable to:-

  1. tell us why the universe came into being. 
…

Cults – lessons to be learned from

Walking With Giants Posted on by

The cults and their adherents can teach a number of valuable lessons to those of us who regard ourselves as orthodox Christians.  For example:-

1.  The importance of having strong convictions.
2.  The importance of knowing the Scriptures.
3.  Zeal for witnessing.
4.  Use of the printed page.
5.  Strong sense of urgency.
6.  Large role assigned to laypeople.
7.  Sense of dedication.
8.  Definite techniques for witnessing.
9.  Willingness to endure ridicule.
10. Promotion of good health.…

Cults – Christian Approach to

Walking With Giants Posted on by

Some general principles for approaching or responding members of cults:-

1.  Genuine love.
2.  Humility.
3.  Recognise lessons to be learned from the cultist.
4.  Knowledge of the teachings of the cult.
5.  Positive testimony to the truth of God’s Word.
6.  Face the question of the source of our authority.
7.  Present the evidence for the major doctrines of the Christian faith.
8.  Follow up contacts.
9.  Keep on praying.

(A.A. Hoekema, The Four Major Cults)…

Cults – characteristics of

Walking With Giants Posted on by

The general characteristics of the cults may be set in summary form as follows:-

1.  Exaggerating one part of Christian faith at the expense of other parts. Eg Christian Science and its emphasis on healing.
2.  Over-emphasising the Old Testament at the expense of the New Testament. Eg Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christadelphians, Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists.
3.  Seeking for greater assurance in the religious life than Christ actually offers.  Eg Spiritism, with its attempt to get proof of life after death.…

Cults – appeal of

Walking With Giants Posted on by

The appeal of the cults may be summarised as follows.  They offer:-

1.  warm and brotherly fellowship.
2.  a centre of integration and personal fulfilment.
3.  a sense of security.
4.  an outlet for the drive towards intensity and radicalness in the religious life.
5.  specific instruction on practical matters.

(A.A. Hoekema, The Four Major Cults)…

Top Audio Downloads on Atheism and Christian Faith

Walking With Giants Posted on by

Here are some of the mp3s that I have found helpful on the atheism/Christian faith debate. 

  • Francis Collins – “The Language of God”.  Point of Enquiry’s website is committed to a sceptical approach to all things religious, but here offers a thoughtful interview with Collins, former Director of the Human Genome Project and a Christian believer.
  • Richard Dawkins – “Science and the New Atheism” (Point of Enquiry)
  • John Lennox – “God and Richard Dawkins”.  ‘Bethinking’, an excellent Christian apologetics website, hosts this engaging lecture.
…

The exceptionality of miraculous healing

Walking With Giants Posted on by

Reflection of the subject of miraculous healing has led me to the conclusion that such healing should be considered really possible, yet exceptional.  The rationale for such an approach is well put by Craig Blomberg in the article ‘Healing’ in Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels.  He writes as follows:-

Though some would argue that there is healing in the atonement (Mt 8:17), clearly no one receives full physical healing until the life to come, since all die.

…

Dawkin’s God

Walking With Giants Posted on by

I would like to draw attention to a fascinating exchange between the well-known scientist and atheist Profession Dawkins and Dr Francis Collins (former director of the Human Genome Project and a Christian).

The debate is summarised in Time magazine and the relevant bit is found here.  Dawkins was asserting that we are ‘profoundly ignorant’ about questions such as, “Why am I here?”, and “What happens after we die?”

Interviewer: “Could the answer be God?”

Dawkins: “There could be something incredibly grand and incomprehensible and beyond our present understanding.”…