Dr. Paul Copan's Advice To A Future Seminarian

Dear _______,

I was asked to pass along some “words of wisdom” in light of your graduation from PBA and new start in seminary. I’m certainly honored to do so, as it’s been a joy to have you as a student in my classes and to know you as a brother in Christ. You have stood out above your peers not only in your gifts, intellect, and eagerness to learn, but also—and most importantly—in your dedication to Christ. May you ever pursue Him with pure, simple devotion and cultivate your gifts for His glory.

My Interview With Minnesota Atheists

Download here.

First posted 5/25/09

A Personal Note to My Readers: I’m Both Humbled and Excited!

I remember years ago having writer’s block on several occasions when I had to write my weekly Monday column for our church paper, or when preparing a sermon, or a series of sermons. Now I write something almost once a day here at DC. I have so much to say, although, after four years on this Blog I tend to repeat myself. Still, since I gain new readers every week, some things must be said repeatedly.

Professor Matt McCormick "Are We Proving the Negative Yet?"

Check this out!

Former Preacher Turned Atheist Bruce Gerencser on Lumping All Christians Together

I am sure my more liberal, progressive, emerging/emergent, non-conforming Christian readers are upset at me because I lumped them into the same group as all the Christians I mentioned in my previous post.

God Was There

Joe Holman, a former preacher and team member here at DC, recently wrote some sarcasm which I think is pretty damn funny. Check it out:

Loftus vs. Wood Debate on the Problem of Evil

Click on the play button below to see Part 1, which will introduce you to the participants. Then you can watch the debate on evil we had at the Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, VA, on October 7th 2006.

The Perpetual Miracle Objection

When it comes to the problem of evil, in my book I mention the possibility of perpetual miracles from God that alleviate suffering among God's creatures. I call it the Perpetual Miracle Objection. David Hume didn't use this exact phrase when he objected that the ordering of the world by general natural laws "seems nowise necessary" for God, but it's the same concept.

Why God Hates Haiti: The Frustrating Theology of Suffering

Newsweek columnist Lisa Miller discusses this topic below:

Praise God for the Disaster in Haiti! Isn't God Good? Thank You Jesus!

As a bit of sarcasm that Voltaire would appreciate let's all praise God for the disaster in Haiti. God is sovereign. He knows what he's doing. In fact this has been long overdue.

Is America Christian?

I have several good people who comment here at DC. Take Russ for instance, who makes several interesting points in debate with Rob R.

[N]o two people calling themselves Christians view Christianity the same way. Being Catholic he's likely not even reading the same Bible you read. In fact, he may not read it at all. Many Catholics chuck the entire OT, except of course for hating homosexuals and original sin. Without a doubt, given your doctrinal differences each of you is heaven-bound by your own lights, and each of you has reserved a ticket for the other on the bus to hell. You do not accept each other's dogma, so his choice for apologetics will be different than yours. Get it through your thick skull: you do not represent all things Christian and to suggest that you do is intellectually dishonest. You do not even speak for a large fraction of Christians.

Still Another Christian Takes the Debunking Christianity Challenge

I'm becoming encouraged as Christians, one after another, are showing me they are really interested in the truth. How can they be if they never actually read the opposing literature? I have read and taught the other side and I claim the other side had better arguments. And I'm challenging Christians to do the same. If they come away thinking otherwise, then so be it. At least this shows they are interested in the truth.

Religion is a Love Born of Terror

This video should grab and hold your attention as it tries to explain the rise of religion and why science removes the fear that produced it in the first place. It's good!

Parody: Televangelist Robertson Likely Possessed by Satan

It appears that televangelist Pat Robertson is in the thrall of Satan, according to spiritual warriors, Drs. Valerie Tarico and Marlene Winell. “It’s the only possible explanation,” said Tarico. “How else can we make sense of his repeated attempts to humiliate both God and Christianity in the wake of recent natural disasters.”

Conservative Bibliobloggers Attack Again. Why? No, Really? Why?

Jeremy, who is apparently taking over the Biblioblogger rankings list, had asked recently how to decide who should make the list of BiblioBlogs. Since he asked, I responded in the comments section as follows:

More From Dr. Peoples and Annihilationism

Glenn Peoples rejects an eternal hell in favor of extinction or annihilationism, which I wrote about previously. Glenn takes issue with what I had said. Here we go again...

A Preacher Decides to Take the "Debunking Christianity Challenge"

So far three Christians have decided to do this in 2010 that I know of. Luke at Common Sense Atheism talks about the goals of one such person named Phil, and offers his own list of books. In the comments a preacher named Greg from the "Cambridge Church of Christ" will do so as well. A person named Micah is doing this and may end up writing a book about it, along the lines of the very popular “My Year Of…” genre of books, for which I might write the Foreword. The choice of books is important but not as important as the challenge itself. Come on, what do you have to lose?

Debunking Christianity is Ranked 4th Among Atheist Blogs

This is pretty cool! I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my readers, so thank you all!

Debunking Christianity Ranked 6th Place in 2009 Among Atheist Sites

For what it's worth the results from Post Rank Analytics can be found here. The top ten posts for the year can be found here.

Christians, Police Your Own Ranks: Randy Demain Claims to Have Raised the Dead

What a crackpot, a buffoon. He claims it's easy to raise the dead. He's an idiot.

Am I An Angry Atheist? No, I'm Just Mad as Hell and You Might Be Too.

Atheists are typically described as being angry people. I don't know whether any scientific polls have been done on this but it stands to reason some of us are. While some level of anger isn't healthy, I'm angry to some degree. It's part of what motivates me and many other skeptics. Passion. It's a great motivator if kept in check. But I'm not angry at a God who does not exist just as Christians are not mad at Allah. Nor am I angry with believers as a whole. I know many good Christian people.

Reason 1,937 why I want nothing to do with Christianity: Pat Robertson on Haiti's Disaster

I'll just link to what Bruce over at Restless Wanderings said.

The Darwinian Problem of Evil

Charles Darwin laid out what I call The Darwinian Problem of Evil. In his autobiography he wrote:

This is How it's Done Right: Taking the "Debunking Christianity" Challenge for 2010

It appears that an amateur Catholic apologist has decided to take my Debunking Christianity Challenge. This is how it's done right! Any other takers? I said:

I have a challenge for Christians. It’s a challenge few will take up, but let me offer it anyway, even though many expert Christian apologists have done it without a loss of faith. Other Christian thinkers struggle with their faith because they have done what I'm about to ask Christians to do. Still others....end up rejecting our former faith. Do this. I’ll call this the Debunking Christianity challenge....read up on all of the top Christian apologetics books and then [decide] in fairness to read all of the top skeptical books....Come on…what are you afraid of? If your faith can withstand our arguments then you will be a better informed Christian with a much stronger faith. If your faith cannot withstand our arguments then your faith wasn’t worth having in the first place. YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE! Link.

This is what he plans to do. A report of his findings would make it's own publishable book.

Front Row Seats in Hell, Can You Picture This?

One belief change of mine that allowed me to pursue my doubts about Christianity was the rejection of an eternal punishment in hell. This doctrine is completely barbaric. It is the biggest stick ever invented by man to keep believers from questioning their faith. Christian philosopher Dr. Glenn Peoples rejects this doctrine too in favor of annihilation, and says why in a recent post. Reject it like he does and you'll be freer to think about your faith.