the sceptic who wasn't there (part two)

So, as I said before, there are a bunch of other movies (and books) seeking to debunk the claims of Christianity. So much so, that I would say that it seems to actually be a trend! We have Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, Brian Fleming's God who wasn't there (maybe his god wasn't?), The lost tomb of Jesus (executively produced by the same James Cameron who brought us Terminator and Terminator 2, koel né - haha), Zeitgeist, and then Bill Maher's Religulous. Methinks there might be some money to be made in this fad...

See, I would be quite troubled if these works were filled more with careful and good scholarship, more logical or feasible cases than mere mockery and slander... Now, I believe that the claims made in these movies need to be addressed, for a few reasons, namely:

1. There are answers. Not replying to critics would give the impression that the arguments are solid and unanswered.

2. Christianity welcomes questions, welcomes scrutiny and provides some strong answers for many issues raised. (Many other faiths do not take this stance).

3. Very often the critics offer no alternative, or an even weaker alternative (Francis Crick, the co-discoverer of the DNA double-helix suggests seeding from outer space to explain the structure and design of it).

4. The bulk of the work presented here is very dubious, it makes weak illogical assumptions, purposefully distorts or manipulates the truth to fit a simplistic and skewed result. It deserves to be exposed at most, and at least not taken very seriously.

5. Serious questions should have a platform for expression, and the rubbish needs to be discerned from the authentic and challenging work.

6. We learn the trends of objections, and also, we learn a bit about decent scholarship by reading through good scholarship. For example, I learnt that it is good practice to list your sources when making statements or quoting people or writings. Don't just state a point about history without backing it up - give a reference. What book, page number, author, date of copy, etc. Most of these documentaries fail this in a huge way, it would not allow for them to twist the truth so deftly!

OK, so, here are some useful links that take up the challenge that these movies throw our way.

Religulous:
http://www.tektonics.org/religuguff.html

Zeitgeist:
http://www.xanga.com/JB_Fidei_Defensor/638110989/zeitgeist-rebuttal-speech.html

The God that wasn't there was linked to in my previous post...

Happy holidays!

the sceptic who wasn't there

I've recently seen a documentary for sale called "The God who wasn't there". I haven't bought it or watched it, because it wasn't free and I don't actively want to support anti-Christian propaganda. In fact, I'm not a fan of any falsehood, even (and especially) those "christian myths" that make their rounds on the net. You've probably heard them, these pithy little stories which have no bearing in truth but are presented as true. Snopes.com puts many of these to rest. But that's a side issue, the point I was trying to make, is that if I'd found out that this documentary was well researched and the scholarship was good but it casts doubts on certain treasured opinions, I would probably give it a shot. But, it isn't. It's more like some 50 year old executive who grew his hair and bought a Harley Davidson... sure, he looks the part, but he's no Hell's Angel. But, before I get a bit too insulting of a movie I've not even watched, let me direct anyone reading this to some reviews, they address many of the allegations made in this film...

http://www.tektonics.org/gk/godthere.html

and

http://www.answeringinfidels.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=87

There are a few other mockumentaries and short films doing the rounds, I'll comment on them soon...

Have a great Christmas!

Jesus is come in the flesh!

Some great points I've heard from a teaching recently about the bible:

- The bible has a pre-recorded response to every cult (or deviation from the truth) that could ever be imagined!

He gives and example or two such as -

There are answers to the Mormon's (Latter Day Saints) in Galatians 1:8:
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
- The angel Morani gave Joseph Smith a gospel message different to the one Paul preached...

And this scripture deals with Gnosticism, Doscetism, Prederism (Jesus already came in AD70) as well as Jehovah's Witnesses (who say that when Jesus resurrected was a spirit-being, and assert that He returned to earth in a spirit form in 1914).

2 John 1:7
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

is come in the flesh: present participle is used in the greek.
This baffled scholars because John wrote this after Jesus had already come, already resurrected, already gone to heaven but before he had come back.
So why is he using a present tense word here? You would think he would use a past tense or a future tense.
This is the same confession as in 1 John 4:2, except the perfect participle is used there, is replaced by a present participle. It is not clear why the author changed from a perfect particle in 1 John 4:2 to a present participle here; the perfect participle suggests a reference to the incarnation, that is the past. The present participle would suggest a reference to the future second advent.

In short, what's being said is - anyone with a story of Jesus coming "not in the flesh", such is a deceiver. The present participle suggests an ongoing and unending action.
- So, this could refer to when He first came to earth as Christ - if you say that when He came to earth He was a Spirit-Being, you're the deceiver.
- If you're saying that when He came to earth in His resurrected state as not in the flesh, you're the deceiver.
- If you say that His second coming either was or will be in a Spirit, non-flesh form, you're the deceiver.

This absolutely crushes all the Jesus was/is a spirit-being arguments.

Mumbai attacks are just the tip of the iceberg

It has been reported on many watchdog news sites that the attacks and persecution in India has been rife. While these don't get as much world news attention as the Mumbai attacks, the carnage continues as radical Hindu groups attack Christians and burn down churches and villages.

See more information here: http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/952138908.html

Please keep these brothers and sisters in your prayers!