In my prior post, I asked how Christians should respond to the claim of Secular Humanism, embedded in the title of the popular book, Good Without God, by Harvard/MIT Humanist Chaplain Greg Epstein. In the book Epstein names some famous figures who he claims were fellow Humanists, including Thomas Jefferson, Winston Churchill, Jean-Paul Sartre, and John Lennon. What they all …
Notepad Apologetics, Short Lesson #5 (part 3): Slavery and the Bible
In my last post I presented the idea of God as a gradualist. He works on social reforms incrementally — at the speed of humanity rather than the speed of divinity. The incarnation is the ultimate example of God “walking at our pace.” This post is about God’s work on the problem of slavery. Main Point: The Bible shows forward progress …
Notepad Apologetics, Short Lesson #5 (part 2): God the Gradualist
In my prior post I mentioned that God is generally a gradualist, aside from a few big-ticket items such as performing instantaneous miracles. What do I mean by “gradualist”? Just this: God works on major human problems and institutions a little at a time. He doesn’t simply snap his fingers or wave his wand to make everything okay. God could …
Notepad Apologetics, Short Lesson #5 (part 1): What about Slavery and Polygamy?
Recently at the University of Michigan, a grad student in a Stump the Chump* session asked me why the Bible condones practices we no longer consider ethical, such as slavery and polygamy. My answer to this and similar questions about aberrant practices in the Bible (divorce, rape, looting, concubinage, etc.) usually boils down to this: God is not in the …
Notepad Apologetics, Short Lesson #4: Must We Prove God (part 3)?
This is part three of the “Must We Prove God?” posts, inside the larger series of Notepad Apologetics. After taking a slight detour in my last post to the relation of God and science, I wish to return to the original question: Must we prove God to justify belief in God? The short answer is no. Christian philosophers have taken two main …
Notepad Apologetics, Short Lesson #4: Must We Prove God (part 1)?
This fourth in a series of “notepad” posts is my attempt to navigate quickly to the heart of an issue in apologetics. Question: Must we prove God to justify our belief in him? Two common responses from Christians: “Yes, of course. Even though I can’t provide such proof I’m sure other Christians smarter than me have done so. I’ll trust …
Notepad Apologetics, Short Lesson #4: Must We Prove God (part 2)?
In my prior post I told of meeting up with Larry the science professor for lunch one day, and how he pressed the point on me of the superiority of science over religion in discovering truth and acquiring knowledge. As an atheist, Larry’s point was clear: God as an explanation is not only inferior to science, God is not needed …
Notepad Apologetics, Short Lesson #3: The Problem of Suffering and Evil
This series of posts is designed to move you quickly to the crux of the matter in apologetics issues. Prior post: Is Christianity a Historic Oppressor? The problem of suffering and evil alongside a good, all-powerful God who could presumably eliminate suffering and evil — but apparently doesn’t — is an ancient and complex issue. Of many responses that could …
Do Something Beautiful: The Story of Everything and a Guide to Finding Your Place In It
I’m looking forward to reading York Moore’s new book! It’s written for non-church people who have a notion for the good and the beautiful but need to experience the fullness of these qualities through Jesus. York is a national evangelist for InterVarsity and a friend of mine. His own improbable life story is featured in my recently released Faith …
Notepad Apologetics, Short Lesson #2: Is Christianity a Historic Oppressor?
In my prior post I offered suggestions on the question of religious pluralism. The present post is a short “notepad” response to the charge that Christianity is guilty of oppressing women and people of color for centuries. My response: 1. Acknowledge wrong: When Western Christians have imposed themselves on native peoples, held slaves, or held women back from full …