The God Contention - Comparing Worldviews

By what criteria do you attribute veracity to your faith's sacred text(s,) and thus the basis of that faith? Is that criteria objective?

Sun, 05 May 2013 13:11:03 -0700

Answered from the perspective of multiple worldviews

Christian - Timothy McCabe
Christians accept the Bible as authoritative and true for a variety of reasons.

INDIVIDUAL, PERSONAL CONVICTION

As Jesus states, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27). When God brings us to Christ, we recognize our Master's message, both spoken and written. God Himself causes this to be the case. If He has chosen you to receive His mercy, you will also recognize His message.

This is personal revelation of objective truth from the only truly objective authority, God.

PRACTICAL FUNCTIONALITY

According to 2 Timothy 2:16-17, "...

can science disprove god

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:25:57 -0700

Answered within the Atheist worldview by Richard Carrier

Well enough to warrant not believing there is one.

See Part IV of Sense and Goodness without God and the chapter "Neither Life nor the Universe Appear Intelligently Designed" in The End of Christianity....

what are your views on sexuality

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:23:51 -0700

Answered within the Atheist worldview by Richard Carrier

That question is over-broad. There are thousands of issues pertaining to sexuality. But for a start on what many naturalists and atheists think about this, see my two essays Sexy Sex Sex and Sexual Objectification: An Atheist Perspective....

There is active, intense debate between scholars as to whether Jesus actually existed, and it seems to be getting ugly. How is this different from religion?

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:16:47 -0700

Answered within the Atheist worldview by Richard Carrier

Religion is a belief in the supernatural, or in the undemonstrable, based on unquestionable dogmas and authorities.

History is a revisable system of beliefs based on evidence and reason.

Insofar as historians debating the existence of Jesus base their positions on unquestionable dogmas and authorities, they are indeed acting religiously and not like objective historians.

Everyone else in that debate is acting like a responsible historian, as long as they honor sound and valid logic and a commitment to factual accuracy....

Jesus is reported to have said of Peter something like you are the rock upon whom I will build my church. How does 'church' make sense to 1st century Jews? If Jesus the Jew never intended to establish a new religion, why church and not temple?

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:01:39 -0700

Answered within the Atheist worldview by Richard Carrier

The Greek word used in that passage (Matthew 16:18) is ekklÃªsia, which means simply "congregation," a term Jews often applied to their own faith communities (e.g. the word appears in reference to Jewish congregations all throughout the Greek translation of Deuteronomy, for example). That statement from Jesus, however, does only make sense if indeed Jesus intended to found a new faith community of Jews. More likely the statement was invented after the fact and only attributed to Jesus...

Given that evolution is a fact and that the evidence for it is incontrovertible, I find it very difficult to understand how religious people, mostly Christians, can deny it. Can you enlighten me?

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:34:25 -0700

Answered from the perspective of multiple worldviews

Atheist - Richard Carrier
The emotional need to believe prevents them from seeing facts or reason in any matter that challenges their belief....

What is complexity science and how does it change metaphysical naturalism?

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 09:18:26 -0800

Answered within the Atheist worldview by Richard Carrier

Complexity science is the science of complex systems, in particular the mathematical and computer modeling of them so as to understand and predict their behavior. Currently, all complex systems sufficiently studied have been reduced to naturalistic component parts. Nothing supernatural has been found in them. Their behavior can be understood entirely as a function of physics, chemistry, and other physical processes. Complexity science is a key component of metaphysical naturalism today....

Apologeticspress.org and CARM.org disagree on whether baptism is needed for salvation. Both are Christian and both quote the Bible in support. Who is right and why?

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 07:47:13 -0800

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

Water baptism is not a prerequisite for salvation.

The apostle Paul, writing in the Book of Romans, chapter 4, focusing in on verses 9-10, provides an argument that the process of physical circumcision, the cutting off of the male foreskin, a practice commanded under the law of Moses, is not necessary to be made acceptable to God. While circumcision and baptism are not to be equated, the argument Paul makes is applicable to both. His argument can be presented as follows:

P1. If anyone can be acceptable to God w...

What is your standard of truth? How do you determine what is true?

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 11:53:34 -0800

Answered from the perspective of multiple worldviews

Christian - Timothy McCabe
1. God Himself is the standard of truth.

(John 14:6; Exodus 34:6; 2 Samuel 7:28; Psalm 25:10; Isaiah 65:16; Ephesians 4:21; Titus 1:2; 1 John 5:6)

2. Because of this, when God reveals things to us, we know that what He reveals is true. The Bible stands as an authoritative communication to us from God Himself, and we can often discern truth or falsehood simply by comparing a particular claim with Biblical revelation.

(2 Timothy 3:16; John 10:35; Acts 1:16; James 4:5; 2 Peter 1:20; Luke 16:17)

Christians know this because the Bible is our authority, and the Bible tells us this is so....

Did Jesus preach non-violent submission?

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 06:55:44 -0800

Answered from the perspective of multiple worldviews

Christian - Timothy McCabe
Jesus preached faith in Himself.

Sometimes, this involves non-violent submission. Other times, it involves the use of violence and uprising.

Christ taught that He Himself was God in the flesh (John 6:51-54, 8:58, 10:30, 14:7-9). This means that according to Him, His teachings and God's teachings are one-in-the-same (John 5:19). Therefore, if God commands either non-violent submission, or violent uprising, then Jesus also commands these same things.

Further, Christ acknowledged that the Old Testament was authoritative and submitted Himself to what it said (Matthew 4:4, 4:7, 4:10, ...

Why does God require an argument to defend it, unlike something obvious like gravity for example?

Sun, 30 Sep 2012 14:56:02 -0700

Answered from the perspective of multiple worldviews

Christian - Timothy McCabe
According to the Bible, God does not require an argument to prove His existence to anyone; rather, everyone is inherently already well aware of His existence, because He has made us aware.

Romans 1, verses 18-20 state, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understoo...

Would you accept that, had you been born in Saudi Arabia, you would more than likely be defending the Quran and Allah with the same vehemence that you now defend Christ?

Tue, 29 May 2012 10:00:33 -0700

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

Absolutely not: if I were born in Saudi Arabia, reality would be incoherent.

The only things that can happen are the things God has willed to cause to happen. If these things did not happen, it would only be because God willed not to cause them to happen. God only causes that which He prefers to cause, so for Him to have caused other than what He has caused, He would have to prefer other than what He prefers.

However, He is who He is, and He cannot deny Himself (Exodus 3:14; 2 Timothy 2:13).

If He preferred the negation of what He prefers, He would not be who He is. He would be a diff...

Why does religion 'permit' murder and why are people so eager to justify murders their people commited?

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:34:08 -0700

Answered from the perspective of multiple worldviews

Christian - Timothy McCabe
The dictionary defines murder as "the killing of another human being under conditions specifically covered in law". I will, throughout this answer, use this definition as what I am referring to when I use the word "murder", and I will assume that this is the definition in view by the questioner.

When humans deny their Creator, the God of the Bible, there is no longer any objective moral authority, or highest moral law. In such situations, the human himself becomes his own moral authority, defining his own moral laws. At t...

Your god, in his own holy book, admits to having created evil (Isaiah 45:7). Why then should I worship him?

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 05:41:42 -0700

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

In Isaiah 45:7, the KJV translates the Hebrew word "rah" as "evil". More modern English translations often opt for the word "calamity" instead. Either one of these translations is viable and could be the intended meaning of the passage.

However, that God is ultimately the Uncaused First Cause of all sinful actions is clear from both scripture and reason, so even if the verse cited does not make the point, the general concept behind the question remains.

So w...

I'd like to hear an explanation to any of these questions without referencing the bible. For those of us that don't believe I the inerrancy of that Bronze-aged text, it would be refreshing.

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:00:38 -0800

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

You want an authoritative Christian answer that doesn't appeal to Christianity's authority?

Interesting idea. Let me think on it for a little bit...

Hmmm...

No.

(Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Joshua 1:8, 23:6; 1 Kings 2:3; Psalm 1:2; Proverbs 7:1; Matthew 4:4-10; Mark 12:24; Luke 1:3, 10:26, 11:28, 16:29, 24:27; John 21:24; Acts 17:11, 18:28; 1 Corinthians 2:13, 14:37; Ephesians 6:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 1:3, 22:19)...

If God really did create everything, how would anyone know?

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:51:23 -0800

Answered from the perspective of multiple worldviews

Christian - Timothy McCabe
From a Christian perspective, we recognize that God created everything because He has told us that He did (Romans 1:19; Genesis 1; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16); indeed, apart from divine revelation, it is impossible to know anything at all. After all, since God created everything, and "everything" includes knowledge, our knowledge is ultimately created by God, and God's provision of knowledge to us is the very definition of divine revelation.

From a non-Christian perspective, the fact that we know anything at all serves as

Why would God command circumcision to primitive humans when for anesthetic they only had opium, and for stopping bleeding they only knew cauterization, and they had no idea of germs at all?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:11:08 -0800

Answered within the Muslim worldview by Shaheed Williams

God doesn't burden anyone beyond their ability, so His commanding them with circumcision must have been in their ability. Just as He gave them an intellect and the ability to build, He also provided what was necessary for them to fulfill their tasks.

Perhaps the discrepancy is in your belief that 'primitive' humans only knew opium and cauterization as medicine for circumcision. Humans have been using herbal medicine in the form of leaves, oils and ointments for centuries. It's completely illogical to think that 'primitive' humans would not have had the same ac...

How does a raped woman prove her case in court? Does she have to bring four witnesses?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:40:58 -0800

Answered within the Muslim worldview by Shaheed Williams

Her or her lawyers would present her case with as much evidence as available. For example: Police reports, hospital rape kits, injuries, witnesses, etc. - anything proving that such a crime was committed. If she has four witnesses it is better, but if she is unable to produce four witnesses her case can still be proven.

The four witnesses or a confession would prove that the man committed fornication. He would be stoned to death if he was married and receive 100 lashes and exile if he was not married. That is the punishment for fornication. If she is able to prove her case in the absence of...

If Fitrah means what is natural, and if having circumcision is Fitrah, does that mean that Allah created us in an unnatural or wrong form that we have to fix it by hand?

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:55:24 -0800

Answered within the Muslim worldview by Shaheed Williams

We were created in the nature He created us, though some aspects He requires us to maintain. Long nails can cause harm and are unclean, so it is part of our nature as human beings to trim them. Excessive growth of pubic hair carries odor and could be a haven for filth and disease, so we trim our pubic hair. Similarly, the uncircumcised foreskin can be a haven of filth and infection, not to mention spreading of this filth during intercourse, so circumcision removes this harm. A person who doesn't do these things is closer to an animal than a human. ...

Why does the Messiah have to come twice? Couldn't Allah have two different souls to accomplish the missions of delivering the Gospel and be the End Times Messiah? Was he short of supply?

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:35:51 -0800

Answered within the Muslim worldview by Shaheed Williams

Really?? That's like asking why water is wet. The answer is simple: because He made it that way. No substance in the question shows signs of defeat....