General Apologetics"The Age of Earth"
2/2/2002 Used with permission. This topic was addressed by Dr. Moreland during a lecture at Northshore Church in Everett, Washington on February 2, 2002. "The Lost Tomb of Jesus": Have the Bones of Jesus Christ Been Found in Jerusalem?
Introduction"They just want to get money for it"10 Criticisms of the Bible Code
By Kenneth Samples DefinitionThe Bible Code (BC) is an alleged detectable code numerically derived from the letters of the Hebrew Old Testament text (especially the Torah). A Comment on Humility Theology
1/1/2002 The anthropic principle faces serious challenges from outside the disciplines of astronomy and physics. Many scholars in the humanities and social sciences fear that the anthropic principle will somehow legitimize false notions of human supremacy, justifying exploitation of the environment to the detriment of other species. A Word About the DaVinci Code
Contributed by Krista Bontrager The best-selling novel, The DaVinci Code, is coming to the big screen in May. And it has some big-name talent behind it. Ron Howard directs the film, and Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks plays the lead. Weaving together an unbelievably complex series of puzzles, the characters race against time to solve a mysterious murder that occurred in the historic Paris museum, the Louvre. All the Lonely Believers Part 1
Kenneth Richard Samples Growing up in the 1960s, I was definitely a Beatles fan. I was introduced to them through The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, when they first visited America. Like many others, I was intrigued by the fact that when singing they sounded like Americans yet they spoke with heavy Liverpudlian accents. When the press asked them about this oddity John Lennon quipped, “The records sell better that way.” All the Lonely Believers Part 2
Kenneth Richard Samples In the first installment of this series I mentioned that one of my favorite Beatles songs is “Eleanor Rigby.” It’s a reflective tune about the lives of melancholy, isolated people.
Former Beatle Paul McCartney said that he wrote the song after meeting so many lonely people when the Beatles toured the world during the mid-1960s. All You Need Is [His] Love, Part 2 (of 2)
In part 1 of this article series I mentioned that a Christian sent me a critical email objecting to... An Infinity of Universes?
Excerpted from The Creator and the Cosmos, 3d ed. (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2001), 171-72.By Hugh Ross, Ph.D. The weight of evidence for a divinely designed universe is now so overwhelming that it has forced astronomers and philosophers who reject the God of the Bible as the Author of the cosmos to propose the existence of an infinite number of universes. These scholars readily concede that dozens of different characteristics of the universe must be exquisitely fine-tuned for any kind of conceivable physical life to be possible. Apologetics Is What?
By Ronald Nash During my travels, I speak to thousands of laypeople every year who seem uninformed about the subject of apologetics. When I report that one of the topics I teach and write books about is apologetics, some seem to think that I’m in the business of apologizing for the Christian faith. The question for this issue is “Apologetics is what?” Barriers to Salvation
by Hugh Ross, Ph.D. Barriers that block people from committing themselves to Jesus Christ and accepting His gift of salvation appear to fall under three general categories: 1) self-imposed ignorance, 2) pride, and 3) moral impurity. In time, the presence of any one of these three leads to the other two. Often the problem of clearing one's way to the most important relationship in life boils down to discerning and removing the primary barrier. Believers and Unbelievers, Part 1 (of 3)
Kenneth Richard Samples In this brief series of articles I would like to accomplish three things. First (in Part 1), I will identify how believers (biblical theists) and unbelievers (atheists or skeptical nontheists) typically explain why people come to believe in God’s existence. Believers and Unbelievers, Part 2 (of 3)
Kenneth Richard Samples In Part 1 of this series I briefly attempted to explore how both believers (biblical theists) and nonbelievers (atheists or skeptical nontheists) attempt to explain how some people come to believe in God’s existence. Believers and Unbelievers, Part 3 (of 3)
Kenneth Richard Samples In Parts 1 and 2 of this series I explored how believers (biblical theists) and unbelievers (atheists or skeptical nontheists) attempt to explain both belief and disbelief in God from their distinctive points of view. Biblical Forecasts of Scientific Discoveries
by Dr. Hugh Ross Not only is the Bible filled with the fundamentals of science, but it is as much as 3,000 years ahead of its time. The Bible's statements in most cases directly contradicted the science of the day in which they were made. When modern scientific knowledge approaches reality, the divine accuracy of the scriptures is substantiated. Christian Apologetics, Part 1 (of 4)
The powerful enterprise known as Christian apologetics has embarked into its third millennium. Apologetic endeavors played a... Christian Apologetics, Part 2 (of 4)
Participating in effective Christian apologetics means that you will never have to say you're sorry! Christian Apologetics, Part 4 (of 4)
I distinctly remember the first time I walked into a courtroom and heard the bailiff... Citizens of Two Cities
Kenneth Richard Samples In the summer of 2007 I visited our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., to promote my new book, A World of Difference: Putting Christian Truth-Claims to the Worldview Test. I combined my time of apologetics ministry with some vacation time, and so my wife, Joan, and my son, Michael, joined me on the trip. CRACKING THE CODES
by Hugh Ross, Ph.D. Books claiming to unlock secret codes embedded in the letters or words of the Bible have returned to the limelight. Such books are not new; they've appeared many times through the centuries. But the application of advanced computer technology in the search for these "encoded messages" is new. New, too, are the media's "advertising" capabilities. Faith and Reason
by Kenneth Richard Samples Skeptics often charge Christians with "blind faith." And at times even believers have spoken of faith in less-than-rational terms. However, historic Christianity affirms a necessary and proper relationship between faith and reason. There has been a broad measure of agreement in Christian history that the two are indeed compatible. The Christian faith is reasonable in four distinct ways. Faith, Reason, and Personal Persuasion
by Kenneth Richard Samples Recently a newspaper reporter asked me to respond to two provocative questions: (1) "Is it necessary to leave reason and move to faith in order to embrace Christianity?" and (2) "If there are strong arguments in support of Christianity's actually being true, then why aren't more people, particularly intelligent, well-educated people, persuaded as to its truth?" Fantasy's Fertile Field
by Celeste Allen Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars. The American public seems to be under siege from the world of fantasy. Once relegated to a small group of people stereotyped by an eccentric appearance and poor social skills, fantasy has soared into the purview of mainstream America. God's Mercy in Death
by Hugh Ross, Ph.D. God judges people in two categories: 1) the righteous (those submitted to God—all evil deeds are erased and forgotten and their reward is based on good deeds alone; 2) the wicked (those who are rebellious—all good deeds are erased and forgotten and their punishment is based on evil deeds alone. Historic Age Debate: Dependence on Translations, Part 1 (of 5)
These days there’s a bewildering array of Bible translations to choose from. How do we know which one to choose? What difference does it make anyway? For most purposes, any translation will do. However, in the debate over the age of the Earth, selecting the right translation makes a big difference. How Can I Get To Heaven?
Most people want to go to heaven, hope to go to heaven. But does anyone really know for sure how to get there? Popular opinion suggests that most people automatically go to heaven because most people are basically good. But are they? And how good is good enough for heaven? A majority might agree that Adolf Hitler was not good enough. Hugh Ross' Testimony
My Search for Truthby Hugh Ross Ph.D. I was born in Montreal and raised in Vancouver, Canada. My parents were morally upright but non-religious. Our neighbors could also be described as non-religious. I did not know any Christians or serious followers of any other religion while I was growing up. In Memory of Walter Martin (1928-1989): The Original Bible Answer Man, Part 1 (of 3)
Have you ever had a Jehovah's Witness knock at your door? Perhaps it's just me, but they always seem to... In Memory of Walter Martin (1928-1989): The Original Bible Answer Man, Part 2 (of 3)
One of the things I miss most about Walter Martin was his marvelous sense of humor. In describing morally... In Memory of Walter Martin (1928-1989): The Original Bible Answer Man, Part 3 (of 3)
In this final article, I’d like to survey two more principles that Martin applied to discussions and debates. Ingenious Discoveries
By Jeffrey Zweerink, Ph.D. I often marvel at the discoveries scientists make and the ingenuity employed in making those discoveries. For example, a year ago on Creation Update I discussed a Science article where researchers used neodymium concentrations in fossil fish teeth to date when the Drake passage opened, allowing circumpolar ocean currents around Antarctica. Internet Apologetics, Part 1 (of 2)
The growth of the Internet has allowed people from all around the globe to converse with one another quickly and conveniently. My... Internet Apologetics, Part 2 (of 2)
What would you say to someone about Christianity if all you could say... Internet Too Slow? We’ll Get Some Bees Right on That!
Bee Foraging Provides Insight on Optimization of Server Allocation By Katie Galloway Perhaps you don’t instantly recognize the connection between the Internet and honeybees. But researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology (where the school mascot is, coincidentally, the Yellow Jacket) do. A Georgia Tech group has developed an algorithm based on honeybee foraging strategies to optimize server allocation to keep websites running smoothly. Let the Music Play
By Timothy J. Peck The way some of my friends make sense of the big questions in life fascinates me. The method by which they process reality and make decisions about what is real and true often teaches me lessons of great value. Justin is one such friend. Life to Death or Death to Life
Kenneth Richard Samples In the first installment of this series I offered some reflections about my visit to Arlington National Cemetery in the summer of 2007. Spending time in this celebrated memorial park left me in a very thoughtful state of mind. In addition to contemplating St. Augustine’s words on Christians’ simultaneous citizenship on Earth and in heaven, Life Without God
I just finished reading a book that has been on my shelf for some time. It is William Lane Craig’s apologetic for the Christian faith entitled Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics
More Than Intelligent Design
By Hugh Ross Scholars involved in what has come to be known as “the Intelligent Design movement” deserve respect. They swim against the powerful tide of naturalism, and I applaud their efforts and integrity. Notable Christians Open to an Old-universe, Old-earth Perspective
The following individuals—respected authors, Bible scholars, scientists, pastors, linguists, and more—hold to a diversity of views on the timing of God’s creation. And yet all have affirmed, in documented sources, that an ancient universe and Earth (including big bang cosmology) pose no threat to Christian orthodoxy, but rather may be considered plausible and valid interpretations, even literal interpretations, of the biblical text. Not one sees the question of age as a crucial doctrinal issue. On Becoming a Christian
When Jesus of Nazareth's earthly friends asked Him to make clear the path to an eternal relationship with God, He did not give them a list of rules to keep or words to say or works to perform. Rather, He stunned them by saying, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). No alternate routes. No shortcuts. No exceptions. Pearls of Wisdom
In my study of Scripture I occasionally come across a passage that captures my attention because it encapsulates a particular idea in a complete way. PHILOSOPHIA CHRISTI
JOURNAL OF THE EVANGELICAL PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY Volume 21:1 - Summer 1998 President's Laptop - July 1999
Dear Friends, Have you ever been bored in church or Sunday School? How about your kids? Yes, I have been and, yes, mine have been. I have to ask myself, “Why?” especially since God and His Word are anything but boring. President's Laptop- April 2001
Dear Friends, Perhaps you have come across (or heard about) the claim that I am a “danger” to evangelical Christianity, that I am part of the great deception of 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12. I prefer to be known as a danger to deceivers. President's Laptop- April 2002
Dear Friends, Prior to founding Reasons To Believe, one of my roles as a pastor was to train teams of volunteers to go door-to-door with the gospel. Most first-timers expected the worst—slammed doors, angry insults, and heated debates. I often took the most terrified beginners with me, letting them simply pray and observe. President's Laptop- January 2001
Dear Friends, If you are old enough to read my words, you are experienced enough, I hope, to know that reading is not necessarily believing. My familiar exhortation to “test” truth claims applies to more than just creation controversies. Though I have been inclined to think that “beware of newsprint” goes without saying, I have been confronted recently with indications that I do need to say it. President's Laptop- January 2002
Dear Friends, Many people believe that God limits His miracles to far off peoples and places and rare circumstances—if He still does them at all. Yet, I’ve witnessed miracles happening right before my very eyes, and not just through a telescope lens. I’ve seen them in people’s lives. Meditating on the miracles I’ve seen helps me when I need to be reminded of God’s faithfulness. Telling about them sometimes helps me encourage others to get involved in personal outreach. President's Laptop- October 2000
Dear Friends, My first job as a pastor was to take survey teams door to door, asking people about the spiritual influences in their lives and inviting them to a Bible study in their neighborhood. To my amazement, most survey respondents claimed familiarity with the Bible. Many said they had read through the Bible. However, when asked to name five books of the Bible, four of the Ten Commandments, or three of Jesus disciples they could not. President's Laptop- October 2001- The Sneak Preview
By Hugh Ross People often ask what motivates me (a quiet, peace-loving person) to keep going in a ministry that stirs up so much opposition. I persevere because I strongly believe God has called me to do what I do, and He confirms that call with the personal reward of joy. Reaching the Nonbeliever, Part 1 (of 2)
Is it possible to make it too easy for nonbelievers to embrace Christianity? Reaching the Nonbeliever, Part 2 (of 2)
Is it possible that a seeker-sensitive approach to church ministry comes at too high a cost? Reasons to Believe through Music
By E. Stan Lennard, M.D., Sc.D. What is music to man? Music is manifold beauty. It expresses emotions of love, anger, joy, celebration, sadness and compassion. Music richly communicates information that has structure, meaning, plan and purpose as elaborate as in any advanced science, technology or philosophy. Resolutions For the Mind 2008
Kenneth Richard Samples I appreciate the idea of making New Year’s resolutions. Since we live such a short time on Earth, yearly reflection about life’s appropriate priorities seems prudent. And even if we fall short of our goals, which we often do, the striving often builds discipline and, sometimes, even character. Resolutions for the Mind 2009
When most of us think about New Year’s resolutions things like diet and exercise usually come to mind. However, there may be another important sphere of life that needs reflection and discipline. Several years ago Christian thinker and author Os Guinness wrote a provocative book entitled Fit Bodies Fat Minds: Why Evangelicals Don’t Think and What to Do About It. Response to 2012 Prophecies
by Hugh Ross Scripture List on Time
1/1/1999 God, Humans, and Time: Time has a beginning, but God operates outside of time. On the other hand, humans are confined to time. Starting Points
by Krista Bontrager Sometimes the hardest part of dialoguing with nonbelievers involves finding a place to start. "Should I begin the discussion with an argument for the existence of God? Or, should I defend the reliability of the Bible?" Well, it depends. The book of Acts reveals two very different approaches employed by the apostles.1 They varied their gospel presentations depending on their audience. Understanding these approaches can provide insight into outreach efforts for today. Take a Tip from Columbo
By Gregory Koukl Have you ever taken a verbal beating when trying to talk about Jesus? If so, try this simple approach to stop challengers mid-punch and make them take a close look at their gloves. It’s called the Columbo tactic. Teenage Galaxies Found
Jeff Zweerink, Ph.D. I still remember an astronomy class I took during my first year of graduate school in the early 1990s. Two classmates and I undertook a project to search for protogalaxies—giant gas and star clouds in the process of collapsing to form galaxies. The "New Atheism" Phenomenon, Part 1 (of 3)
Kenneth Richard Samples In the year 2007, four books on the topic of atheism (the view that no God or gods exist) topped the best-sellers list. The "New Atheism" Phenomenon, Part 2 (of 3)
Kenneth Richard Samples In the first installment of this series I wrote about the phenomenon known as the “new atheism.” In 2007, four books advocating atheism (the view that no God or gods exist) made the bestseller list. The "New Atheism" Phenomenon, Part 3 (of 3)
Kenneth Richard Samples
The Art of Apologetic Persuasion
What factors go into making a powerful and persuasive apologetic witness to the truth of Christianity? Biblically speaking, the ultimate reason that a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ is the efficacious work of God’s Spirit in that individual’s mind and soul (Ephesians 2:4-5; Titus 3:5). The Dark and Bright Sides of Cosmology
10/1/2007 Astrophysics has its ironies. Here’s one: Studies of the brightest galaxies in the universe led to the discovery that 99 percent of all matter is "dark matter".1 But matter is only part of the universe (about a fourth). The rest is energy. Adding irony to irony, research focusing on the brightest stars in the universe shows that "dark energy" is far more abundant than dark matter, making up most of the rest of the universe. Despite its often negative connotation, this "darkness" is not a bad thing. The Golden Rule of Apologetics Part 1
As a teacher at my church and as a professor at a university I find it much easier to talk about Christian ethics than to live them out in daily practice. I am sure that I am not alone in that human experience. It is a great comfort that the historic Christian faith is a religion of divine rescue rather than one of self-help salvation. The Golden Rule of Apologetics Part 2
Two of the most important virtues that a Christian apologist can exhibit are the qualities of intellectual honesty and charity. In part one of this series I discussed the biblical ethical principle known as the “Golden Rule.” In [Matthew 7:12], Jesus states:
The Golden Rule of Apologetics Part 3
In his famous play No Exit the French atheistic existential philosopher and writer Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) wrote:
Engaging in apologetic discourse sometimes involves talking with people who have very strong opinions and who are not favorably predisposed toward Christianity. The Golden Rule of Apologetics Part 4
Attack the argument, not the person! By necessity, any apologetics venture, including that of Christianity, entails critiquing other people’s arguments, positions, and overarching worldviews. Defending the faith often involves clash because two viewpoints that genuinely contradict (negate or deny) one another cannot both be true. The Law of Noncontradiction states that “A cannot equal A and equal non-A.” The Golden Rule of Apologetics Part 5
I find it very frustrating at times to watch television programs aired on the History Channel or the Discovery Channel where liberal and/or secular scholars tend to misrepresent historic Christianity. It is also hard for me to watch the critics of Christianity present my faith in the worst light possible without attempting to be fair and objective in their presentation. The Golden Rule of Apologetics Part 6
What can Christian apologists do to represent the arguments of others with fairness and intellectual integrity? This series has focused upon the need to apply the biblical principle of the Golden Rule to the enterprise of Christian apologetics. In Matthew 7:12, Jesus states this critical moral maxim as follows: The Golden Rule of Apologetics Part 7
According to Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 B.C.), the rules of reasoning carry with them moral implications. The father of logic, Aristotle viewed proper reasoning as ordered thought. Through careful, logical reasoning a person could arrive at rational and truthful conclusions. He concluded that the “truth” about reality cannot be separated from the moral “good.” The Great Claims of Jesus
by Hugh Ross, Ph.D. The vast majority of the world's people recognize Jesus of Nazareth as a great moral teacher, perhaps even a prophet, but only a small percentage, as yet, accept Him as the Messiah, the "deliverer," Savior, and Lord. Those whom the Bible calls Christians acknowledge Jesus as "the Word," the revelation of God. Are you willing to put the Word to the test, to examine and consider the evidences that support the claims made about Him and those that He made for Himself? The Importance of Rowing Together
Kenneth Richard Samples
The Problem of Christian Disunity Part 1
Kenneth Richard Samples I once heard a skeptic ask the following provocative question:
I smarted when I heard this question because there is some painful truth in the skeptic’s point. Disunity amongst believers does at times hurt the Christian church’s witness to an unbelieving world (John 13:34-35). The Problem of Christian Disunity Part 2
Kenneth Richard Samples In the first installment of this series I pointed out that while disunity among Christians is a problem that hurts the overall Christian witness, many people (especially skeptics) fail to appreciate the tremendous unity that historic believers share. The Christian faith encapsulates a set of beliefs, a collection of values, and encompasses a broad world-and-life view. In these three critical areas the faith holds a robust unity. The Problem of Christian Disunity Part 3
Kenneth Richard Samples In the first two installments of this series I pointed out that while disunity among Christians is a problem that hurts the overall Christian witness, many people (especially skeptics) fail to appreciate the tremendous unity that historic believers share in common. The Problem of Christian Disunity Part 4
Kenneth Richard Samples In the first three installments of this series I have made three basic points in response to this challenging question concerning Christian disunity. While agreeing that disunity does exist and that it to some degree hurts the Christian witness to the world, I have argued: (1) The Problem of Christian Disunity Part 5
Kenneth Richard Samples Throughout this series, I have pointed out that historic Christians enjoy a robust unity in terms of essential beliefs, values, and worldview orientation. (For the first three articles, see here, here, and here.) In the fourth installment I proposed two suggestions for promoting greater unity among Christ’s church. The Tricky Topic of Halloween
by Kenneth Richard Samples In terms of holiday commercial sales, Halloween ranks second only to Christmas. But is this extremely popular tradition (especially in the United States) the devil's night, a literal satanic and occult extravaganza? Or is Halloween a harmless celebration? The Ultimate Apologetic
by Kenneth Richard Samples "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) Uniqueness of Human Capacity to Express Malice
Hugh Ross, Ph.D. One of the cornerstone doctrines of the Christian faith is that humans alone among all life-forms on Earth are sinners. According to the Bible, all humans and only humans are born with the propensity to commit evil acts. That being the case, it should not be difficult for scientists to develop tests to confirm or deny this essential teaching of the Christian faith. Who's Right? Who's Wrong? - Guideline of Christian Scholarship
By Hugh Ross, Ph.D. How can a person know what to believe? Repeatedly I have heard this question through the years but never more often than in recent weeks. The same radio and television stations that broadcast my messages also have been featuring individuals with doctorates (and others) who flatly, often adamantly, contradict me. Why the Universe Is the Way It Is
1/1/2006 In the best-selling science book of all time, author Stephen Hawking explains that no human is content until he or she has complete answers to the following questions: "What is the nature of the universe? What is our place in it and where did it and we come from? Why is it the way it is?" Why Would a Good God Create Parasites?
by Hugh Ross, Ph.D. Some skeptics base their rejection of the Christian faith on bugs-specifically parasites. They argue that the existence of parasites is incompatible with belief in the all-loving, all-powerful God of Christianity. While human beings will never know all God's reasons for creating parasites, the following true story1 illustrates how their existence may be considered a good thing, rather than an excuse for rejecting God. General ApologeticsGeneral Apologetics |
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The first two installments of this series addressed three reasons for the phenomenon known as the “new atheism.”