In recent weeks we have seen the utter devastation that has come about in Haiti with nearly 230,000 people having been estimated to have died as a result of an earthquake. When you consider the million people who have been left homeless and destitute as well, it causes deep emotion and a very real sense of concern to rise up in us. We are left asking again why such a terrible disaster could happen, and perhaps why God could allow such a disaster to happen? Many have been quick to speak up and give their opinion. The ‘New Atheists’ such as Richard Dawkins have seen this as further evidence that God does not exist, that it is just ‘the blind happenings of nature’. However, as we saw in the first article there are major problems with this perspective. Just because you can give a geological explanation for an event does not mean that there is no law giver behind these events. This is a basic philosophical category mistake.
Free Will
Posted on March 01, 2010
by Rich Spear
Categories: Faith, Free Will, Suffering
In the first article I was looking at if it was possible for a good all-powerful God to allow suffering to exist within our world, or whether the very existence of suffering proved that there is in fact no God at all. I came to the conclusion that in order to define suffering and evil in a meaningful way, the existence of God was necessary. In this article, we will look at the causes of suffering in our world, particularly focussing on the issue of ‘personal evil’. What I mean by this is the kind of suffering that comes about as a result of individuals or groups making decisions that have an impact on others. This includes a very broad range of things from mass evil such as the Holocaust, and 9/11 to everyday decisions.
The necessity of free will
Posted on November 26, 2009
by Rich Spear
Categories: Bible, Faith, Free Will, Character of God, History, Jesus, Lifestyle Issues, Morality, Religion, Science, Suffering
If you consider yourself a sceptic about Christianity or a Christian who is looking for honest answers to some of the toughest questions, then this book was quite simply written for you. Tim Keller is a pastor in New York, who has put into writing the kinds of questions that he is asked on a regular basis about Christianity such as ' How can a good God allow suffering?', 'Hasn't science disproved Christianity?' and 'How can a loving God send people to hell?'
Posted on November 16, 2009
by Ruth Preston
Categories: Bible, Free Will, Character of God, History
The Genesis account describes how Adam and Eve disobeyed God at the instigation of a snake. Could this be interpreted to suggest that God had made a mistake in his creation? A mistake that would have devastating implications for humanity. The fact that the snake spoke should be noted, and suggests an alternative understanding of the event. There was nothing created in the seven days or eras apart from humans that could speak. The only beings that could were created before the earth was formed, that is, the angels. In fact, throughout the Bible ‘snake’ has been representative of Satan or the Devil (Rev: 12:9, 20:2). Satan is an angel who envied God’s power, tried to usurp the throne of God, and who was thus thrown out of heaven.
Did God ‘put’ the snake in the Garden of Eden?
Posted on November 09, 2009
by David Draper
Categories: Faith, Free Will, Character of God, Lifestyle Issues, Morality
There is a famous scene found in a paragraph from the great atheist existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre's novel Nausea that almost perfectly sums up the dilemma of modern man. Here the book's protagonist, Roquentin, spends most of his days living out a humdrum existence – frequenting coffee shops, the public library and just general aimless wandering, all the while attempting to write a book. Throughout much of the narrative he is frequently struck by feelings of intense nausea that unexpectedly well up within him – mostly they are caused by the various inanimate objects he observes (i.e. a pebble, a newspaper page etc.).
Sartre & Roquentin
One evening, after having dinner at a restaurant and being overcome by an especially intense bout of nausea, he goes for a walk and ends up sitting on a park bench under a chestnut tree, where, in a sort of epiphany moment, he comes to the realization of why he has been afflicted with such sickness. In essence Roquentin realizes that all of existence is completely meaningless and every object that exists has no reason for doing so.
All life is meaningless?
Posted on November 02, 2009
by Rich Spear
Categories: Bible, Free Will, Character of God
Some people believe that it is rather egotistical of God to demand that he has worshippers. This seems to many people to show God as a kind of overly insecure version of a teenage rocker, who has had a few knockbacks from girls in the past (before he was famous perhaps), and now needs the constant love and adoration of his fans to cover over these previous rejections!
So this begs the question, is God an insecure ageing weather man up in the clouds, desperately looking for an ego-boast, before his fragile little heart can take it no more and he goes to sit in a corner and quietly cry himself to sleep because he is not popular?
The Sufficiency of the Trinity
Posted on June 26, 2009
by Mark Hosmer
Categories: Free Will, History, Religion, Suffering
In short, yes.
In the beginning God created Man to live in relationship with him. Sin has ruined this relationship and created a barrier between us and God. Throughout history man has sought to bridge this gap through his own efforts, by being 'good' or by abstaining from things in order to please God. This is religion. Most Christians would not class Christianity as a religion for the reason that there are no strict rules we have to follow, Jesus has done everything that is necessary.
Without sin, there would be no need for 'religion' at all. No one would be seeking to find God, as there would be no separation from Him to start with. In this sense, yes, the world would be better without religion.
If we accept the fact that as long as there is sin, there will be religion because of our inbuilt longing for God, we must then look at the second part of the question, regarding war.
Posted on May 28, 2009
by Yohaan Philip
Categories: Free Will, Character of God, Religion
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Rom 8:28-30)
The theme of predestination and divine selection runs right through the Bible – right from the choosing of Abraham, to God’s favour upon Issac instead of Ishmael and Jacob instead of Esau. Romans 9:10 -13 tells us why —in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls. It was not based on them being Jewish or on their virtue or their faith. It was based on God choosing and therefore, His graciousness. From Jacob, God created a nation of His own, Israel. Deut 6:6-8 explains why God choose Israel to be His nation – it was because He loved them.
In the New Testament, the Bible talks about God choosing to add non- Jews (Gentiles) to His Kingdom. (Eph 3:6)
Posted on April 23, 2009
by Rich Spear
Categories: Faith, Free Will, Jesus, Religion
Committing suicide is a serious issue and for obvious reasons a very emotional one also. So what does God have to say on the matter?
The Bible refers to God as the giver of life, and the one who sustains life also (Colossians 1:16-17). Therefore, it is definitely wrong for somebody to take their own life regardless of how bad things may have got in their personal life.
There is a way out
Before going any further in answering this question it is important to note several important truths that God promises to believers. Sometimes, circumstances may seem particularly bleak but as a Christian you can know God with you (Romans 8:31). He will never leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). Just as crucial is God’s promise that he will never allow us to be tempted beyond that which we can bear, and that he always provides a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). This shows that he is willing to be active in helping you in the midst of your dark situation.
You can’t lose it
Posted on April 23, 2009
by Yohaan Philip
Categories: Faith, Free Will, Jesus, Lifestyle Issues, Morality
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."
(Genesis 1:26-28)
The image of God
Out of all the creatures God made, only one creature, man is said to be made “in the image of God.” To understand what this means, we may use the following definition: The fact that man is in the image of God means that man is like God and represents God.
The words “image” and “likeness” are used to refer to something that is similar but not identical to the thing it represents or is an “image” of. There’s a sense of distinction involved.
Various characteristics of man serve as examples in which the image of God is primarily seen – man’s intellectual ability, his power to make moral decisions and willing choices, his ability to socially relate, or his exercise of dominion over the earth.