Evolution is Most Certainly a Matter of Belief... and so is Christianity

Christian Headlines ^ | January 15, 2014 | Albert Mohler

[YHAOS]

Thanks for the beep!

Science, by all rights, should have no beef with the Judeo-Christian Tradition, but there are entirely too many who propose to use Science as a weapon with which to attack and destroy Judeo-Christianity.

[redleghunter]

Darwin and other Darwinists recognized that if morality was the product of mindless evolution, then there is no objective, fixed morality and thus no objective human rights.

Exactly being played out within the 'Beltway'.

[redleghunter]

thus, great danes and Chihuahua comment.

Understand, you are explaining the adaptations that occur in microevolution. A type of bird on a certain island has a noticeable beak change. It does not change the kind of bird.

[Heartlander]

Good post and everyone should also read Alvin Plantinga. William Murray sums up his argument pretty well IMO:

“If you do not assume the law of non-contradiction, you have nothing to argue about. If you do not assume the principles of sound reason, you have nothing to argue with. If you do not assume libertarian free will, you have no one to argue against. If you do not assume morality to be an objective commodity, you have no reason to argue in the first place.”
- William J Murray

[Texas Songwriter]

What a great statement by Murray. No waisted words.

Have you read Plantinga much?

[Heartlander]

I’ve read a few articles and watched a few debates online.

[daniel1212]

Dated but a classic satire. No what think ye of this? One-Hour Oil Production? (article)

[BizBroker]

Agreed... Also Darwin’s treatise on evolution was the “ORIGIN of Species” not the Adaptation of Species. So, try as they might they will never convince thinking people that if a Bear falls into the ocean enough times it will eventually turn into a Fish.

I think that species adapt to their surroundings to enable further procreation. But, Darwin’s theory of evolution is not about that at all. It is all about how life forms come to be and how one life form can somehow produce a completely different one. So their efforts to separate themselves from their statements about how life magically appears will be unsuccessful in the end.

[redleghunter]

The link led to the latest articles page.

[Heartlander]

IMO - William Lane Craig is also good (http://www.reasonablefaith.org/media))

[mitch5501]

"...that "Faith is subjective confidence or trust in a person, thing, deity, or in the doctrines or teachings of a religion, or view (e.g. having strong political faith) without empirical evidence.""

That would describe a blind faith.

"As if God does not supply good warrant (if not scientific certainty) for a step of faith, and as taken and confirmed, consequently more for the next one."

Amen to that.2 Peter 1 speaks directly to your point...
"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

also...

"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount."

and yet more...

"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts."

Here is a man who knows he is about to die and yet foremost in his mind is giving reason for faith.Giving reason to those who will follow.Telling those who diligently seek it that God will give it in abundance and that those who take it will never fall!

N.E.V.E.R. F.A.L.L.

Still...'faith'...sounds like a word churchy folks use,so there can't be any real evidence because,well,there just can't.

[Texas Songwriter]

I have about 12 books Craig wrote. I love his writing. His good friend, J.P.Moreland is a great writer. He is more or less concentrated on the metaphysical nature of consciousness and mental events. He has a great book entitled, Consciousness and the Existence of God. I have underlined about every third line in the book. He is extremely fair in presenting competing arguments. I highly recommend Dr. Moreland.

[Heartlander]

Theistic Evolution Explained

Three geologists stand at the foot of Mt. Rushmore. The first geologist says, "This mountain depicts perfectly the faces of four U.S. Presidents, it must be the work of a master sculptor." The second says, "You are a geologist, you should know that all mountains were created by natural forces, such as volcanoes and plate movements, the details were then sculpted by erosion from water and wind. How could you possibly think this was the work of an intelligent sculptor? Only a person completely ignorant of geophysics could think those faces were designed."

The third geologist says to himself, "I don't want to be seen as ignorant, but the faces in this mountain sure do look like they were designed." So he thinks a moment and says to the second geologist, "Of course you are right, these faces were sculpted by natural forces such as erosion. Only an ignorant person would think they were designed." Then he turns to the first and says, "But what a magnificent result, there obviously must have been a master sculptor standing by and watching."

[Heartlander]

I’m very familiar with JP Moreland. I read ‘Scaling the Secular City’ many years ago (a difficult read) and it had an impact on my life - years later I read ‘Love Your God with All Your Mind’ and it also had an impact...

[Heartlander]

… the naturalist believes that beneath every natural phenomenon there exists yet another natural phenomenon. If explanation by reference to an endless stack of large turtles is silly, then an explanation by reference to an endless stack of natural phenomena would be equally so. The naturalist's answer for the origin of life, therefore, is some natural phenomenon. (Which one is not particularly relevant.) When you ask them how that natural phenomenon came to be, their response boils down to: "It's natural phenomena all the way down!"
-Pete Chadwell

[redleghunter]

Another good book from Moreland is “Kingdom Triangle.” Highly recommend as well. Reminded me of a Francis Schaeffer tome.

[redleghunter]

Good thread. Ping.

[Heartlander]

FYI: Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey is a fresh take on Schaeffer - (or it was a few years ago) - it’s a good read...

[redleghunter]

Thanks. Heard that but have not picked it up. Will add it to the list.

[Heartlander]

“The gospel is like a caged lion,' said the great baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon. 'It does not need to be defended, it simply needs to be let out of it's cage' Today, the cage is our accommodation to the secular/sacred split that reduces Christianity to a matter of personal belief. To unlock the cage, we need to become utterly convinced that, as Francis Schaeffer said, Christianity is not merely religious truth, it is total truth- truth about the whole of reality.”
― Nancy Pearcey, Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity