tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37724143314806358612012-01-31T14:17:28.023-08:00bylogosThe purpose of this blog is to promote a Christian worldview, based on the Bible as God's inerrant and fully authoritative Word, in accordance with the Reformed Confessions.john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.comBlogger671100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-69358168089480375952012-01-28T11:29:00.000-08:002012-01-28T12:57:03.697-08:00Brief Overview of Creationist CosmologyHow should a Christian approach cosmology, the scientific study of the origin and structure of the universe as a whole?
As in any science, we have to distinguish between what we actually observe—the radiation that reaches our telescopes-- and theories that are constructed to explain those facts.
Since many different theories can explain the same facts, scientists choose theories that best agree john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-5826101703242897052012-01-25T09:55:00.000-08:002012-01-25T10:17:33.223-08:00Some Recent Reviews Concerning GenesisHere are a few recent worthwhile posts on Genesis and evolution:
1. Recent Challenges to the Doctrine of Inerrancy: Peter Enns and ‘Myth’ in Genesis 1
By Dr. John J. Yeo, Reformed Theological Seminary Atlanta. Yeo rebuts Enns' notion that Genesis 1 is related to ANE myth.
2. A Critique of “Creation, Evolution, and Christian Lay People,” by Tim Keller
By Dr. Adrian Keister (Ph.D. in john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-47864737812604777922011-12-14T11:24:00.000-08:002011-12-14T18:44:53.693-08:00Naturalist MeltdownIn a recent article "On Defining Naturalism as a Worldview", atheist historian Richard Carrier comments on the fact that, although many people claim to be naturalists, there is no common agreement as to how to precisely define naturalism. Of course, all agree that, as a worldview, naturalism is somehow the converse of supernaturalism. But how is one to clearly distinguish the natural from the john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-55526257299009544132011-11-02T09:36:00.000-07:002011-11-02T10:50:25.832-07:00Is the Church Anti-Science?Recently, in the secular media, Christians who oppose evolution are scorned as being "anti-science". Such sneers, coming from atheists or liberal Christians, are hardly surprising.
But now the same allegation comes from within our own circle. A recent post--Church and Modern Science (hereafter referred to as CAMS)--on the Reformed Academic blog laments that the Canadian Reformed Church john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-58038201962318816002011-10-25T11:23:00.000-07:002012-01-25T10:20:57.042-08:00How (Atheist) Scientists Lose Their WayAre Christians anti-science?
This charge is often made in the secular media. In a recent Time (Oct.3, 2011) article—“How Science Can Lead the Way”—Harvard physicist Lisa Randall disparages American politicians who invoke religion. She singles out Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry for defending the teaching of creationism in public schools, while viewing evolution as a mere theory, as john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-9469847612854360512011-10-07T14:03:00.000-07:002011-10-10T13:53:35.717-07:00Women, Voting, and AuthorityIn recent months there has been much discussion in Clarion, a Canadian Reformed magazine, as to whether women should vote in the election of office-bearers. In the past, only male communicant members could vote. However, the 2010 Canadian Reformed Synod decided to give each local congregation the option to extend the vote to women.
The Bible teaches that women are not to have authority over men john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-69106950626825218512011-07-27T08:15:00.000-07:002011-10-27T14:20:24.391-07:00The Demolition of AdamDid Adam really exist? Or is he just a metaphorical figure? (1)
That question is currently heavily debated in evangelical circles. The feature article of the June 2011 issue of Christianity Today notes that the issue is no longer just whether Adam had animal ancestry—that much is almost taken for granted—but whether all humans could have descended from only one couple.
The mainstream john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-44389361048706182442011-07-25T16:13:00.000-07:002011-10-10T13:58:02.689-07:00Divine Sovereignty and Human ResponsibilityFree will is one of the most perplexing philosophical mysteries. It gives rise to many deep questions. Do we have such a thing as free will? Do we really have a choice when we make a choice? Or are our choices completely pre-determined by our character and circumstances? Is free will possible in a determinist world, where all our choices can be completely explained in terms of prior causes? Or john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-18197061596842332312011-07-22T08:08:00.000-07:002011-10-10T13:58:36.034-07:00The Shame of Calvin & Ruse1. The Shame of Calvin College
In a recent article, The Shame of Calvin College in the Chronicle of Higher Education, philosopher Michael Ruse berates Calvin College for its stance on a literal Adam. Dr. John Schneider, of the Religion Department of Calvin College, had questioned the existence of a literal Adam and an historical fall into sin. Ruse relates that the president of Calvin College john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-38622596507234279242011-07-18T19:20:00.000-07:002011-10-10T13:59:42.436-07:00A Moving Earth?Inevitably, in origins debates among Christians, the question is raised:
Since the church was wrong about the earth’s motion, and let science modify its interpretation of the Bible on this point, why should we not do the same for matters concerning origins?
For example, Dr R. Scott Clark in his book Recovering the Reformed Confession (2008) makes much of the fact that before Copernicus (1473-john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-70563393852416513952011-07-11T16:39:00.000-07:002011-11-12T12:23:04.475-08:00On Mature Creation1. If the universe is young, how can we see light from galaxies seemingly billions of light years away? One simple possibility is that of mature creation: if the stars and galaxies were created full-blown, along with their light, then the astronomical light we observe did not necessarily originate from actual celestial objects.
The notion of mature creation is associated particularly with john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-81681838331268178132011-04-29T15:40:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:01:09.769-07:00Cosmology and EschatologyIf it were shown that the universe is indeed headed
for an all-enveloping death, then this might...
falsify Christian faith and abolish Christian hope.
John Macquarrie (Principles of Christian Theology 1977)
1. Eschatology poses a major dilemma for Christianity. Many Christians see mainstream science as complementing the Bible, not contradicting it. They claim, regarding origins, that science john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-45081356576357753252011-04-22T18:51:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:01:43.545-07:00Cosmology and HeavenThere are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,Than are dreamt of in your philosophyShakespeare, Hamlet, Act 1 scene 5
1. Cosmology: Ancient and ModernInvariably, in discussions about the Bible and origins, the question comes up, "What about the ancient cosmology reflected in Genesis?” or “What about Galileo?” If the church was wrong about the structure of the universe or the earth’s motion, john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-78969497923777838232011-04-16T09:56:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:05:12.621-07:00Deflating Cosmology1. "Is the theory at the heart of modern cosmology deeply flawed?"
This question is raised in an interesting recent article "The Inflation Debate” by Paul Steinhardt in the latest issue of Scientific American (April, 2011, 304: 36-43). Steinhardt, one of the original creators of the theory of cosmic inflation, now has serious doubts about its viability. The article gives a brief summary:
“john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-46479839267598920822011-03-16T17:23:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:06:10.046-07:00Recent Recommended ReadingSome recent recommendations:
1. In Search of the Beginning (2010, Pleasant Word: Enumclaw, WA, 389pp) by Dean Davis.
This is book is subtitled "A seeker's journey to the origin of the universe, life, and man." The author has a background in philosophy and theology; he is the director of Come Let Us Reason, a Bible teaching ministry focusing on apologetics and the biblical worldview. This book isjohn bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-3424592222571249282011-02-01T09:09:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:06:41.718-07:00Presbyterian AppeasementIt is remarkable how hostile many otherwise conservative Presbyterians are towards young earth creationism. Why remarkable? Because Presbyterians profess adherence to the Westminster Confession, which affirms the inerrancy and full authority of Scripture (I-4,9) as well as, in particular, the creation of the world "in the space of six days" (IV-1). The latter confessional tenet seems to have john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-86734871476994897302011-01-07T12:05:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:07:21.880-07:00Dr Tremper Longman III versus Genesis I-IIHow should we reconcile science and the Bible on origins? Much has been written on this in the last few years. Recently there appeared yet another, short, book: Science, Creation and the Bible: Reconciling Rival Theories of Origins (InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL, 2010, 144pp. paperback). It is written by a physicist (Richard F. Carlson) and a theologian (Tremper Longman III, who john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-51381043937209314282010-12-18T10:55:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:07:56.006-07:00Villainous ConfessionsRecently I had the pleasure of stumbling upon an excellent piece of literature:
The Villainous Confessions of a Young Earth Creationist by Jim Owen, an historican at The Master's College. It is a well-written response to evangelical Darwinists, especially Francis Collins' book The Language of God and Mark Noll's The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind. Owen presents a penetrating critique of Collinsjohn bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-41388372973251735902010-12-15T21:43:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:08:23.335-07:00The Star of BethlehemSpeculation about the identity of the star of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-12) is a perennial Christmas pastime. I was recently urged to examine a current Star of Bethlehem site. This site argues for a natural explanation, in the form of a triple conjunction, in 2-3 BC, between the planet Jupiter and the star Regulus in the constellation Leo. It refers to earlier works by Ernest L Martin (see The Birthjohn bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-61645130316391384782010-12-11T12:23:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:08:57.783-07:00Trojan Horse in South African Reformed ChurchThe Trojan Horse in the Dutch Reformed Church:
The Cancer of Evolution and Liberalism
Nowadays, challenges within Reformed Churches to Biblical teachings are widespread. This book, just published (in Afrikaans), describes how liberal and humanistic trends, including evolution, are undermining the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. Here is a brief English summary, kindly provided by one of john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-9599978154806642282010-12-04T17:37:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:10:12.257-07:00Australia lectures: The Reformed Church & OriginsIt has been some time since I last posted. This is due to a 4-week trip my wife and I took to New Zealand and Australia. In Australia I gave a number of lectures in several Free Reformed Churches. I must say that the highlights of our trip were the interactions we experienced with fellow believers. We greatly enjoyed and appreciated the hospitality received in both countries. The lectures were john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-78520770292343976322010-10-21T09:22:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:10:55.752-07:00Proving God’s ExistenceA spate of recent books have been written promoting atheism and agnosticism. Most of these are quite shallow. To counteract these, a new book presents a rather sophisticated case for theism.
Robert J. Spitzer, New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of contemporary physics and philosophy, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2010, 319pp + xiii.
Dr Spitzer is a philosopher, a Jesuit priest, john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-26864082685670004282010-10-11T18:37:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:11:21.119-07:00The Evolution of Calvin CollegeThe September issue of Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith features two articles by Dr. Daniel Harlow and Dr. John Schneider, Bible and Theology professors at Calvin College, on the theological implications of embracing evolution. They propose that Adam and Eve are purely symbolic litearary figures, that there was no historical fall into sin, and that the doctrines of original sin, john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-24486971355217730332010-10-08T19:49:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:12:07.769-07:00Reviewing Intelligent DesignIntelligent design (ID) has been much in the news over the last few years. Advocates of ID assert that an intelligent cause is indicated by such things as the fine-tuning of the universe for life and the complexity of even the simplest cell. This conclusion has been fiercely contested by many Darwinists, who believe that everything can be explained in terms of purely natural causes. Darwinists john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-23645208787361864522010-10-05T14:58:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:12:38.148-07:00Aliens and ChristiansIs there intelligent life elsewhere in the universe? Lately there has been much discussion on this issue.
In a recent documentary Into the Universe With Stephen Hawking, British physicist Stephen Hawking claims that intelligent alien life forms almost certainly exist. However, he cautions that communicating with them could be dangerous, since they may be looking for new planets to conquer. More john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-69124045535394057762010-09-14T13:41:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:13:23.556-07:00Dooyeweerd's LegacyIn a previous post I discussed the antithesis, tracing it from Abraham Kuyper's neo-Calvinism to North America via Cornelius Van Til and his followers. Another neo-Calvinist stream from Kuyper flows from Herman Dooyeweerd (1894-1977), a Dutch philosopher who taught for many years at Kuyper's Free University in Amsterdam.
Dooyeweerd's system was called the "philosophy of the cosmonic idea" or of john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-8874731380319241682010-08-31T21:48:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:13:57.912-07:00Science, Neutrality and the AntithesisA few months ago Dr. Cornelis van Dam defended the Biblical view of origins against secular science. He argued that scientific theorizing depends heavily on worldview presuppositions, particularly with regards to origins. Hence we should reject those theories and conclusions that conflict with God’s word.
This has recently been challenged by Dr Jitse van der Meer at Reformed Academic. He john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-1015583256764532802010-08-17T10:01:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:15:15.697-07:00The Tragedy of the Free Church of ScotlandRecently I read Iain Murray's A Scottish Christian Heritage (2006, Banner of Truth). It covers the history of the Reformation in Scotland, from John Knox to about 1900. Much of it concerns the Free Church of Scotland, from 1843 (when it was formed by a large withdrawal from the Church of Scotland) to 1900 (when, for the most part, it joined with the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland to form john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-31921382301339808332010-08-12T08:24:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:15:43.598-07:00Luther, Inerrancy, GenesisRev. Wes Bredenhof has an interesting post on Luther on his blog. He has been reading the classic Christian Dogmatics by the prominent Lutheran theologian Francis Pieper (1852-1931). Rev. Bredenhof writes:
"In the chapter on Scripture, he discusses Luther’s position on inerrancy. It is interesting how inerrancy is often pegged as a fundamentalist concept, but here we have a confessional Lutheranjohn bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-53473872423129118852010-08-09T11:11:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:16:26.119-07:00Were Warfield and Machen Reformed?The renowned Presbyterian theologians B .B. Warfield (1851-1921) and J. Gresham Machen (1881-1937)--founder of Westminster Seminary and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church-- are frequently called upon in support of non-literal views of Genesis.
For example, R. Scott Clark (Recovering the Reformed Confession, 2008) asserts that Warfield and Machen, among others, did not hold to a literalist positionjohn bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-74822621193498850882010-08-03T10:42:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:17:06.192-07:00Piper and Re-marriageI have been reading John Piper's (2006) book "What Jesus Demands of the World". This is an excellent read, presenting Jesus' authoritative commands to us and urging us to God-glorifying obedience. The book consists of 50 demands, starting with #1 You must be born again and ending with #50 Make disciples of all nations. Any Christian will profit greatly from reflecting upon these.
Several john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-76535757468496031252010-07-31T14:00:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:17:37.335-07:00Evangelicals versus BiologosIn the past months several prominent evangelicals have raised concerns about the Biologos blog.
One of these is Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who describes himself as a Calvinist. In a recent speech (transcript) Al Mohler defends the traditional reading of Genesis 1-11--including 6-day creation and an historical Adam--and opposes the promotion of evolution john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-44402377082234000902010-07-26T17:17:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:18:22.835-07:00God & Physics ConferenceA few days ago I returned from England, where I attended the “God and Physics” conference at Oxford. The conference was a worthwhile experience. There were about 100 people in attendance, including John Polkinghorne, Ian Barbour, Keith ward, John Brooke, Robert Russell and many other well-known names in the science/religion field. I had many interesting conversations.
My paper on “God, Chance john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-52876298098295237222010-07-02T15:34:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:18:51.788-07:00God, Chance and EvilNext week I shall be travelling to Oxford, England, to attend a conference with the theme "God and Physics". This conference runs from July 7 to July 10 and is sponsored by the Ian Ramsey Centre for science and religion in the University of Oxford. It will celebrate the 80th birthday of John Polkinghorne, a physicist-turned-anglican priest, who has written extensively about the interaction john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-52349951181169773442010-06-26T13:41:00.000-07:002011-11-09T19:20:20.553-08:00Douma's DoubtsRecently an interesting blog has been started by Dr. Jochem Douma, former professor at the Theological University (TU) in Kampen, seminary of the Gereformeerde Kerken Vrijgemaakt (GKV). Here Dr. Douma expresses his concern about developments in the GKV, particularly at his former seminary.
The prime issue is biblical authority. In 2009 the TU appointed Dr. Stefan Paas as professor. Dr. Paas john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-65171971735768812422010-06-04T10:27:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:20:43.367-07:00Reformed Doublethink1. Last month (April 27, 2010), Reformed Academic posted an article Reformed Academic Responds to “Ten Reasons” wherein, among other things, they defend themselves against the charge that they consider Gen.1-2 to be myth. One of their arguments is:
“Third, no resort to ‘myth’ is needed because one can hold both that the theory of biological evolution and the text of Genesis 1-2 are true by john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-14896625230045277492010-05-12T15:51:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:21:22.883-07:00Lectures - Reformed View of OriginsLast Thursday I completed a series of three lectures under the heading "What is the Reformed View of Origins?" The Reformed Bible College had invited me deliver these lectures, which took place on April 22, 29 and May 6 in the Abbotsford Free Reformed Church. The outlines are listed here. Each lecture was about 2 hours long, with additional time for questions and a coffee break. About 100 people,john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-59407620899648910442010-05-07T10:58:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:21:54.123-07:00Would God Deceive Us?1. A common argument against a literal reading of Genesis is that this contradicts impressions of an apparent history as found in nature. Since God does not deceive us, the reasoning goes, such impressions must reflect actual historical truth.
Thus, for example, Jitse vanderMeer (2009, “Primate ancestors”, p.9) writes:
“If people living today would have been created by fiat creation rather thanjohn bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-85848603756287925332010-04-09T09:26:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:22:38.208-07:00Reformed Academic Endorses Evolution 2Reformed Academic has replied to my post Reformed Academic Endorses Evolution (see the comments at that post for their full reply). Here is my response:
1. RA: "You say Reformed Academic endorses evolution. This is simply not the case; we instead simply insist upon space for the discussion of evolution, and point out that such space exists within the bounds of the Reformed confessions."
JB: john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-37934371553109559152010-04-07T09:25:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:23:08.156-07:00Reformed Academic Endorses EvolutionRecently, Reformed Academic has finally responded to an article “Ten Reasons Why Evolution is Dangerous and Evil” (Clarion, Jan.1, 2010), signed by five Canadian Reformed ministers.
The bottom line is that Reformed Academic considers theistic evolution (including human evolution) to be harmless, God-given, and Reformed.
1. Note, first, that Reformed Academic never speaks against evolution as john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-38276386524451027202010-03-31T18:09:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:23:33.355-07:00McGrath's HeresyHeresy is not a popular concept. Few recent books address it. One noteworthy exception is Alister McGrath’s (2009) book Heresy. (Here is a short review). McGrath makes a number of interesting observations that are pertinent to our times.
1. What is heresy? According to McGrath heresy is not unbelief, which involves rejecting core biblical beliefs, but a subversive modification of doctrine john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-29430674515465303902010-03-25T15:56:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:23:59.547-07:00Good books on GenesisSomeone recently asked me what sound English commentaries or books on Genesis I would recommend. Here is a tentative list. I welcome further suggestions or comments from readers.
Readily Available Classics
● John Calvin. Commentary on Genesis
● Martin Luther. Commentary on Genesis
● Matthew Henry 1710 Commentary on Bible. Presbyterian
Recent
● John D. Currid 2003. Genesis Vol.1 (Ch. 1-24) john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-49811789043669710702010-03-20T09:42:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:24:40.268-07:00Accommodating ErrorIt is widely claimed that the Bible is accommodated to the (erroneous) cosmological and historical knowledge of the original audience. Paul Seely, for example, asserts
“The biblical Flood account is thus not accurate history. It is an accommodated Mesopotamian historical tradition revised to teach lessons of faith and morals.” [“Genesis 1–11 in the Light of Its Second Millennial Worldview”, john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-90928822460426937542010-03-13T16:49:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:25:42.817-07:00Dubious Dutch Connections
1. Currently the Canadian Reformed Church is being challenged by the ReformedAcademic quartet. A recent creation, global flood and the direct creation of Adam are all under fire, to be replaced by some form of theistic evolution.
2. These views are hardly new. In fact, the positions and arguments advanced by ReformedAcademic are virtually indentical to those promoted back in the 1980's, in thejohn bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-48587339531436257102010-03-03T07:46:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:26:18.037-07:00Making Sense of EnnsIn a previous post I discussed Peter Enns’ fallacious diagram of biblical cosmology. As you can see below, it depicts a solid, hemispherical dome (the raqia, translated as expanse or firmament), containing the Sun, moon and stars, held up by distant mountains on a flat earth. I contended that this picture was not taught by Scripture and was not even proven to be uniformly held by ancient people. john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-62118456860369010412010-02-19T18:34:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:28:11.437-07:00Genesis and Ancient CosmologyDoes Genesis 1 reflect ancient cosmology, which we now believe to be erroneous?
Many Christians scholars argue this to be the case. Peter Enns, for example, in a recent article, The Firmament of Genesis 1 is Solid but That's not the Point, says, "Genesis 1 and 2 tell the story of creation, and it says things that are at odds with what modern people know to be true...". He asserts that ancient john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-75576744529984985622010-02-15T16:10:00.000-08:002010-02-15T16:10:51.187-08:00Socialism Illustratedjohn bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-3256870241732284002010-02-11T10:54:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:28:43.841-07:00Genesis versus Dr. Tim KellerDr. Timothy Keller, a graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia), is the influential pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in New York City. As a minister of the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA), Keller confesses belief in the Bible as God's inerrant word. It is thus disappointing that Keller has recently posted an article “Creation, Evolution, and Christian Laypeople”john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-58005628483865191302010-02-03T16:03:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:29:13.743-07:00Emergence and MiraclesA well-known cartoon by columnist Sydney Harris is often used by naturalists to chide adherents of intelligent design or creationism.
Naturalism itself, however, often has great difficulty providing completely naturalist explanations. It is well-known that naturalism has great difficulty solving the following mysteries (see my book The Divine Challenge):
● why the universe exists and continues john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-61551503814180420572010-01-29T15:13:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:29:47.494-07:00Can We Trust Published Scientific Data?Can we trust the data published in scientific journals?
The image of scientific objectivity and rationality suffered a notable setback last November. In what became known as the Climate-gate scandal, hackers released e-mails from the Climate Research Unit at England’s University of East Anglia. The leaked e-mails reveal scientists from various academic institutions suppressing dissent john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-83821764436244291032010-01-25T17:40:00.000-08:002010-01-25T17:46:36.434-08:00Science and Religion Finally Agree?john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-84649148977775070702010-01-20T15:46:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:30:25.319-07:00Female Deacons and Church UnityShould the church ordain women as deacons?
The Canadian Reformed Churches say No; the Reformed Presbyterian Church (RPCNA) says Yes.
Since the CanRC is seeking to establish ecclesiastical fellowship with the RPCNA, its Synod 2007 assigned the Committee for Contact with Churches in North America (CCCNA) to investigate the views of the RPCNA on the ordaining women as deacons.
The CCCNA now john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-83929704292956794772010-01-16T12:46:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:30:59.777-07:00Genesis & Dr Scott Clark(This post follows up from the post The Framework Hypothesis & Church Unity)
I received the following comment, from Dr. Scott Clark, on a previous post. I much appreciate Dr. Clark's willingness to dialogue, since I think it worthwhile to discuss the Framework (or Analogical) View. My reply being somewhat lengthy, I decided instead to start this new post.
Hi John,
1. Even E J Young, who john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-59497644256765108182010-01-12T18:57:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:31:52.154-07:00The Framework Hypothesis and Church UnityIt is well-known that the Framework Hypothesis (which asserts that the Genesis days are just a literary structure rather than historical days) is promoted by a number of ministers in the United Reformed Church (URC), particularly those associated with Westminster Seminary California, including Drs. Godfrey, Scott Clark, Horton, and Riddlebarger.
In 2001, in response to several overtures john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-15948427241443506892010-01-07T15:53:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:32:25.903-07:00Seven Herbs for SufferingRecently I re-read Richard Wurmbrand’s fascinating book In God’s Underground (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1968). Wurmbrand was a Lutheran pastor persecuted for his Christian faith in communist Romania. He spent more than 14 years in prison, enduring much suffering.
How did Wurmbrand manage to avoid despair?
He tells the following story (pp. 185-186):
It is about a doctor of early john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-69322037192759202912010-01-05T21:32:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:32:59.402-07:00A Famous CartoonHere is a famous cartoon by Ken Ham
Ken Ham writes:
Look closely at how this battle is portrayed. The humanists are seen as very clever. They have aimed their guns at the foundations of Christianity. They have attacked the authority of the Word of God. There is no doubt that they’ve been successful in undermining the Word of God in our Western culture. But how have they done this? They have john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-5085608559760481512009-12-22T20:59:00.000-08:002009-12-22T21:15:43.057-08:00Lecture at the Reformed Seminary in SarospatakI have just updated my files to include a lecture I gave to faculty and students at the Reformed Theological Seminary in Sarospatak, Hungary on September 17, 2009. The seminary is one of the oldest Reformed seminaries in the world, first established in 1531. In 1951 it was nationalized by the communists; in 1990 it was again reopened as a Reformed seminary. This was a powerpoint presentation Warjohn bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-7347597211928549192009-12-19T13:51:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:34:34.379-07:00Philosophers in AthensLast June I attended the International Conference on Philosophy in Athens. I was in Europe for other matters and thought it might be worthwhile to include this conference.
It was an interesting experience. There were about 60 people present, presumably (almost) all philosophers. I did not meet any other theists. There was a philosopher from Notre Dame University, whom I thought would probably bejohn bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-77234124848104931062009-11-20T10:58:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:35:19.197-07:00Evolution and the FallHow can natural evil, such as natural catastrophes, disease, suffering, predation, and biological death, be reconciled with a good God?
According to the traditional Reformed view of Calvin, Kuyper, and Bavinck, there was initially no natural evil in God’s “very good” creation. All natural evil is a result of Adam’s fall, which brought about a drastic corruption of nature. In the future, Christ john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-40545713567756885852009-11-07T09:39:00.000-08:002011-10-10T14:35:49.642-07:00Reformed theologians contra CopernicusDr. F. Oosterhoff at reformedacademic.blogspot.com writes:
“…there was a time when believers adopted a more relaxed attitude in dealing with scientific theories that they were uncomfortable with. Both Calvin and Luther were unhappy with the idea of a sun-centred solar system, but they did not in the end reject it. The Roman Catholic Church did. …Reformed theologians have tended to be less john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-58858704167586810412009-10-24T09:42:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:36:15.755-07:00The Cost of an Old Earth: Is it Worth it?Until recently, most Christians believed that the Bible teaches us that the earth was only a few thousand years ago. This contradicts mainstream science, which holds that the earth is billions of years old. Consequently, many Christians, have modified their reading of the Bible accordingly.
At first sight, this may seem rather harmless. The age of the earth hardly seems to be a doctrine john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-83173423802278889822009-10-21T19:40:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:36:49.301-07:00An excellent resource: Coming to Grip with GenesisI recently bought an excellent book:
“Coming to Grip with Genesis: Biblical authority and the age of the earth” (Master Books: Green Forrest, AR, 2008, 485 pages), edited by Terry Mortenson & Thane Urey.
This book has 14 chapters, each dealing with some aspect of Gen.1-11. The last two chapters address the origin of natural evil. It is well researched, with many footnotes. Let me quote from john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-11174080959839186862009-08-11T14:24:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:37:48.694-07:00Is the Traditional View of Genesis Reformed?In his article "Is Creation Science Reformed?" Dr Jelsma opposes the notion that Genesis teaches creation in six historical days, a Fall that had any significant effects on animals, and an anthropologically universal flood. He asserts that such a reading of Scripture is contrary to Reformed principles of interpretation; it was not inherited from our spiritual forefathers in the Netherlands. On john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-79898785937624702942009-08-08T09:34:00.000-07:002011-10-10T14:38:27.463-07:00The Bible: History or Myth?Thus far in my exchange with Dr. van der Meer I have maintained that a Reformed worldview entails that we accept the traditional, historical reading of Genesis 1-11, and that we reject those scientific theories that contradict it. Dr van der Meer, on the other hand, insists that we should accept the evolutionary view of origins, including the evolution of man, and re-interpret Genesis accordinglyjohn bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-65372454013082737082009-07-01T10:40:00.001-07:002011-10-10T14:41:49.697-07:00Material by John Byl on science/religionBooks:
The Divine Challenge: On Matter, Mind, Math & Meaning. (2004) Edinburgh: Banner of Truth
- deals with Christian worldview versus naturalism & relativism
Dutch translation: De Ultieme Uitdaging: Over God, materie, geest en getal (2003) Kampen: De Groot Goudriaan.
God and Cosmos: A Christian View of Time, Space, and the Universe. (2001) Edinburgh: Banner of Truth.
- deals with a john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-87992403657777154202009-06-29T12:20:00.000-07:002011-10-28T15:49:05.651-07:00Is Reformed Academic Reformed? IIAllow me to respond to Dr van der Meer's reply to my "Is Reformed Academic Reformed?":
1. Does Reformed Academic accept the naturalist myth of origins (from Big Bang to the evolution of man)? Dr vdM denies that RA accepts naturalism or its myths.
My concern is that RA promotes the origins account of mainstream science, which is driven by naturalist presuppositions.
Dr vdM may disagree with my john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772414331480635861.post-61078458412513246742009-06-29T12:01:00.000-07:002011-10-28T15:47:04.332-07:00Is Reformed Academic Reformed?[The following post was originally posted at Reformed Academic. ]
I have been invited to reply to Phillip Broussard’s articles on scientific realism. Rather than respond to details, I would instead like to address the deeper underlying issue of how science should relate to Scripture. Since Broussard’s view seems similar to that of Reformed Academic (hereafter RA), let me comment more widely on john bylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766117392831032432noreply@blogger.com0