In the last article (Part Two of “Laying the Foundations”) the development of the scientific approach was shown to have theological foundations as most students of the sciences had been educated by the Christian churches of that time. The inquiry into life and the cosmos was a natural outcome of biblical studies. Since the Bible asserted that God was creator, naturally men so inclined to agree should look for His signature in all that is made. The apparent design of the world and its habitants beg for a designer. The Bible repeatedly claims that God exists and that He is the beginning of all things that can be known in the physical universe. We left off with the dark ages and began to enter the scientific revolution and the age of reason. We continue this historical narrative to more fully understand the development of science and in particular its movement from a theological perspective to a secular, even atheistic perspective today.
Read MoreI have personally seen articles and books on “practical atheism.” Different than speculative atheism or philosophical atheism, “practical atheism” is found in the lives of many people who believe in God but who live as if He does not exist. “Practical theism” is quite another issue. I have never seen anything written on this before, with the exception of what I have written myself. “Practical theism” exists in the person who doubts or is uncertain as the existence of God, but “acts as if” He really does exist (whether they have decided this on their own, or they have been counseled to adopt this position). I intend to address both of these issues in this essay.
Read MoreIntroduction: In the last two articles, I have made the contention that the so-called science of evolution has no basis in fact. Natural selection has a real but minimal impact on increasing the success of the specie within an ecosystem but only because the genetics available are from a pre-existing design. It is in the process of sexual reproduction when these genes can be randomly rearranged by several well-known, but highly complex preprogrammed mechanisms, that produce the egg or sperm cells. It is at the fertilization of the egg from which variation may arise in the new individual. Our breeding programs can select for the many combinations that give rise to differences in shape, size and ability for that specie. This has been seen within a very short time within breeding programs or in animals and plants that have gone feral.
Read MoreAfter scrubbing all recognition of God from its official 2012 Presidential platform, one of Americas two major political parties, in unprecedented fashion, narrowly "passed" a resolution to "put God back in" the platform. Most observers seemed to agree that the decision was by no means made with the two-thirds majority needed. However, somehow, in an arena shaking with a chorus of "boos," God was "voted back in." Is it a sad situation? Yes. Disappointing? Very. Alarming? Certainly. But, surprising? Not!
Read MoreWhen the Founding Fathers amended the Constitution they had written, the First Amendment was intended to protect and promote freedom of religion. Today, the "establishment clause" has become a legal tool to restrict religion.
Religious freedom is being threatened by judicial activism, or the idea that the Constitution is a living document that must be interpreted according to changing times, not the Founding Fathers' "original intent." The original intent cannot be discerned anyway, the thought goes.
Romans 1:18-32, as noted in part 1 of this article, is a synopsis of the degradation of societies who deny the existence of God. Their regression from truth and high moral standards spirals them toward the depths of moral depravity in every conceivable arena—sexual immorality, violence, gossip, hatred, disobedience to authority, and a simple lack of loving concern.
Read MoreNovember 6, 2012, is going to be a very special day for me. For the first time in my life, I will be an active part of the election for the President of the United States of America. I was born Italian, from Italian parents, on Italian soil. For 52 years, I have been proud to be an Italian citizen. I was a guest in the United States for three years as a legal resident alien, trying to adapt to American culture. Effective June 2, 2010, I was bestowed the honor and responsibility of American citizenship as defined in the Constitution (Art. 4, Sect. 4).
Read MoreNot in recent political machinations, but way back in 1978, Dr. Harold Voth, then Senior Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst of the Menninger Foundation, Topeka, Kansas, spoke these words at a National Defense Luncheon:
This is a grave time in the history of our nation. Changes are taking place in our way of life and in our national character which have lowered, and will continue to lower, the vitality of our people, the quality of our institutions, and our basic values. The inevitable result is that we will undergo a progressive disintegration and possibly the eventual collapse of our democracy. When sufficiently disintegrated, forces either within our borders of a revolutionary nature or external forces will overwhelm what is left of America. The American Dream will be over.
Last month’s article presented evolution as a theory that is ‘naked’ of any scientific merit—a bold claim I intend to address in the months to come. Those who put their faith in the seductive draw of its mythology were presented as either seriously uninformed, pretentious intellectuals, or indoctrinated bystanders. In an effort to reduce the apparent conflict between science and theology some have blended the world views of theology and science to create what is often called ‘Theistic Evolution.’ This position once held my interest until I had to admit I was not being honest with the facts.
Read MoreThus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. (Genesis 2:1-2)
The second chapter of Genesis begins with the finality of creation. Although chapter two reveals details, particularly regarding the creation of mankind, the work of creation was finished on that sixth day. Despite efforts to the contrary, there is no way to reconcile the creation week to the doctrine of evolution. In addition to the essential incompatibility of these two competing views, we also wonder as to the long term ramifications of belief.
Pilate’s question to Jesus, “What is truth” (John 18:38) has given men opportunity to define truth. As a consequence, many definitions abound and are often contradictory. How do you define truth? You must. Does the definition matter? Is truth absolute and non-contradictory or can it be ever changing and ever contradictory? Consider:
Read MoreIn 1837 a story written by Hans Christian Anderson was published in a final installment of his first collection of“Fairy Tales Told for Children.” The story was an adaptation of a Spanish collection of similar work written as a tale of moral conscience; Anderson’s work was a twist on that caution and warned of intellectual vanity and the pride of social acceptance. He titled the work, “The Emperor's New Clothes.” The classic fairytale concerns the deceptive business dealings of two supposed weaver’s. They boasted that they were the makers of the finest cloth to an emperor whose vanity in fine clothing knew no limits.
Read MoreThe unanimous Declaration of Independence of the United States of America signed in Congress, July 4, 1776, by fifty-six men, is truly a foundational document of the nation. In his recently published (2012) book, The Founder’s Key-The Divine and Natural Connections Between the Declaration and the Constitution and What We Risk By Losing It, Larry P. Arnn makes a sound case for the fundamental principle upon which the Declaration of Independence, as well as The Constitution of the United States of America, rest. Actually, Professor Arnn, who is President of Hillsdale College, says there is “a set of principles” (122) that result in the integral unity of these two monumental documents. However, make no mistake about it, Arnn believes the highest indication of the greatness of both the Declaration and the Constitution is their foundation in the recognition of the existence of God.
Read MoreIt is not uncommon to hear claims that archaeology is the Bible’s Achilles heel. In 2001, Rabbi David Wolpe of Los Angeles’ Sinai Temple preached a Passover sermon in which he stated that archaeologists had found no evidence in the Sinai to corroborate the story of the exodus. A year later, in his article, “False Testament: Archaeology Refutes the Bible’s Claim to History,” journalist Daniel Lazare wrote that biblical archaeology had failed not only to provide evidence of the exodus, but to provide evidence of the vast majority of the events and persons recorded in Scripture. New atheists such as Richard Dawkins and the late Christopher Hitchens have also made appeals to archaeology in their criticism of Scripture.
Read MoreUnder the preceding title, the following recently came to our attention. It manifests key insights into the present condition of our nation's culture. The Warren Center is truly "for such a time as this"--an age growing in atheistic and agnostic thought, an age in which theism and Christianity are under renewed assault, an age in which the "founding values" of culture are unraveling, because God, the only objective reference for values, is being denied by an anti-Christian agenda in American culture. We appreciate the following observations written by D. Gene West, Moundsville, WV.
Read MoreMy attention has often been arrested by the many contrasts between the death of the unrighteous and the death of the faithful child of God. The writer of Proverbs presented this contrast when he wrote: “The wicked is banished in his wickedness, but the righteous has a refuge (hath hope, KJV) in his death” (Proverbs 14:32). Many have been the incidents which have illustrated this great truth.
Read MoreRobert Ingersoll was a renowned agnostic who lived during the 19th century. His philosophy was summarized with the words, "The Bible is a Delusion." On November 29, 1896, The New York Journal presented a caricature of Ingersoll and stated, "Ingersoll illustrated the ever increasing boldness and audacity of doubt as to the Christian faith. . ." (qtd. in Sweeting 100).
Read MoreThat which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship, is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you, that your joy may be full. (1 John 1:1-4)
Read MoreI came across some worldling’s definition of New Year’s Eve. He defined it as the ceremonial passage from one year to another that involves a sanctioned party which makes way for another 365 years of drudgery and responsibility. How different this is from the Christian perspective which views things with God as the priority so that one can say “You crown the year with Your goodness . . .” (Psalm 65:11).
Read MoreThe Heresy of Orthodoxy by Andreas Köstenberger and Michael J. Kruger is highly recommended. The 250-page paperback has both a Subject and Scripture Index and 642 footnotes giving valuable insight and showing the depth of scholarship. Crossway sells the book for $17.99. The book is a serious reply to Bart Ehrman’s popularization of Walter Bauer’s thesis that heresy preceded orthodoxy. Some of Ehrman’s writings have made the New York Timesbest-seller list.
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