Tag: common objections
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Initial Thoughts on the Virtues of External Critique
Internal Critique
Internal critique is the method whereby a particular position is examined upon the basis of its own presuppositions. Presuppositions are the most basic tenets of a particular position or worldview. Assuming an internal critique is positively successful, the position in question will espouse tenets fully consistent with its presuppositions. Insofar as the critique is negatively successful, the position in question is found wanting due to inconsistencies, arbitrariness, contradictions, and the like.
External Critique
Rather than examining a position upon the basis of its own presuppositions, external critique examines said position in virtue of the presuppositions or derivative tenets …
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But They’re All The Same
It is often alleged by many atheists that all religions are the same, and all religions are false, and since Christianity is a religion, therefore Christianity must also be false. They will answer our defense of Christianity by saying we’re merely engaging in special pleading. This issue is similar to that in a previous post of mine wherein I quoted Stephen Robert’s statement regarding the alleged equivalence of all “gods.” If it is true that both the quantity and quality of evidence attesting to the truth of all particular religions or gods are the same – that is, if each …
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On the Failure of Christians to be Christians
Christianity is a process. It is a commitment, a vow, a pledge. It is a complete overhaul and reformation. The creatures of God, created for the purpose of living and breathing the truth and glory of their Creator: that is Christianity. The scandal of this scheme lies in the fact that these creatures have invariably disqualified themselves from fulfilling this purpose, and in fact fulfill only those requirements by which they are justly consigned to eternal retribution. Indeed, these very creatures can never hope to possibly fulfill the purpose for which they were created, themselves.
But God, according to His …
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“Biblical Marriage,” Chick-Fil-A, and Polyphobes
Biblical marriage is between one man and one woman. Chick-Fil-A president Dan Cathy recently affirmed that statement. As a Christian. In a Baptist publication.
Those who support the homosexual agenda are outraged. Apparently they were unaware that a conservative Christian like Dan Cathy would take that sort of stance. Ignorance is bliss, and in this case it comes with waffle fries. But no more. Even the Aurora shootings were not enough to stop people from whining about “homophobia” and boycotting Chick-Fil-A. Enough on that topic.
What I am more concerned about is the hateful display of polyphobia that those who …
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A Friendly Chat With An Atheist
Chris: Are you a believer?
Atheist: nope
an atheist
Chris: Ah.
Well it’s nice to have one of those around every now and then.
We have to get Christians from somewhere after all. 😀
So I presume you have heard the Christian Gospel?
Atheist: yup
Go to mass… et cetera 😉
Chris: I’m guessing that you’re joking. 🙂
Atheist: I am
Chris: So why are you an atheist?
Atheist: I don’t think that any spirits exist
be they gods, ghosts or anything else
Chris: That’s the definition of your position then.
Why do you hold it?
Atheist: I don’t see …
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You’re Only Christian Because…
So you’ve played a couple hands with your atheist friend by now. When he plays his 3 tens, you reveal a Full House. Suddenly, on the next hand he has a 2 of hearts, and Jack of spades, a Wild card, and a Level 57 Charizard. You pause, look at him sideways, and he grins back at you, basking in your inability to respond to his awesome play. He’s revealed, so he thinks, a deus ex machina (he seems to have lots of those). It’s a play sure to throw anybody off who isn’t prepared or knowledgeable about the game. …
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Christian Books on Homosexuality
A few people asked me about books on homosexuality. Here are three that I recommend:
The classic work on this topic is The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics by Robert A.J. Gagnon.
James R. White & Jeffrey D. Niell wrote what is probably my favorite treatment of it, The Same Sex Controversy.
Finally, Homosexuality: A Biblical View by Greg L. Bahnsen is available online for free.…
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The Recent Rise of Covenantal Apologetics (3 of 10)
Covenantal apologetics have virtually no place in the academy.
It’s not that they shouldn’t have a place in the academy. It’s just that they don’t.
But why would we expect anything different? Covenantal apologetics are firmly grounded in the Christian worldview and are used to cast down every thought exemplifying its antithesis. It is not merely that non-Christians will misunderstand or reject covenantal apologetics in an intellectual sense, but rather that they will not even like them. So we should not expect to see covenantal apologetics pulling up a chair next to Naturalistic Atheism or Thomistic Christianity in the …
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Steve Hays Responds: Wintery Knight On Van Til
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Answering the Evidentialist Objection
Introduction
Oversimplification. The unbeliever, and the New Atheist in particular, thrive on it. The situation is no different when it comes to the strong demands for “evidence” in the context of apologetic debate. “Not enough evidence, God, not enough evidence” was the plea Bertrand Russell planned to use when he came face to face with God. I suspect it did not go over well.
Yet the loudest non-Christian voices among us continue to parrot Russell’s silly sentiment. It has even been given a name. The “evidentialist objection.” It is quite frequently captured in the contention that Christians should immediately provide …