What’s the big deal with translating Yahweh as LORD?
A reader wishes to know.
Yahweh
It’s a name, people.
A simple argument that the Roman church is under God’s judgment for apostasy and idolatry
Pedophilia isn’t the only sexual scandal in the Roman ranks.
Love is love
Even in the secular world, not all love is good—and in Christianity, love of evil entails hatred of God.
Fisking the chieftain of the atheist village
An exchange with an atheist whose confidence is inversely proportional to his competence on the topics of sex, ethics and evolution.
Humiliating head coverings
Daniel B Wallace thinks we should abide by the principle rather than the practice. I wonder why we can’t do both.
New atheism & child psychology
Why do new atheists form beliefs, and argue for them, in the same way as my four year old son?
Is online discussion worth it?
How to tell whether anything good might come out of a Facebook debate, and how to make the most of it if the signs are right.
This is what we’re up against
A real-life demonstration of how the wolves have formed a protective circle around the pulpit to prevent the sheep getting near, while they tear all the offensive pages out of the Bible.
Silly myths and irreverent visions
An exchange in which I resist being led away by a professing believer whose sensuous mind is puffed up without reason…
Coming out
Maybe they’ll give me an award for courage. Terminators know no fear.
Prelapsarian predation, part 2: the provision of plants for food
Although God’s provision of plants for food in Genesis 1 seems to indicate that animals were not yet bitey, careful comparison with Genesis 7 and 9 suggests otherwise.
Qualifications for elders
David’s shepherd work prepared him for personal combat with a giant.
Prelapsarian predation, part 1: could it be “very good”?
Were animals bitey before the fall? Or did they only start munching on each other afterwards? In the first part of this series I assess what we can infer from God’s repeated declaration that his creation was “very good”.
Can unbelievers understand the Bible?
A brief response to an important question, in which I answer yes and no.
Evolution 2.0
★★★★★ A genuine eye-opener in a category of its own—and an indispensable tool for anyone who wants to use real science to decisively argue for God’s existence while dismantling neo-Darwinism.
Animal poop
Take it from me—I have chickens.
Should I save a zygote over a baby?
If I don’t, then obviously it’s not murder to kill a zygote, lol.
I’ve invented the perfect religion
My cover is now blown, but who cares? I’ll be rich.
I am not an “anti-vaxxer”
But I didn’t vaccinate my children.
Why polytheism = pantheism = monism
Pagan religions seem crazy until you understand what motivates them.
Is Psalm 82 metaphorical?
TL;DR: no.
Is the divine council henotheistic?
There’s a rock and a hard place here for anyone who wants to use that term.
Irreligious fundamentalism
The saga continues.
Presuppositional obliviousness
A continuation of the ongoing exchange with an anonymous atheist.
Evidence and religion
A reposted exchange with an anonymous atheist.
If God is real, why does the world suck?
Or a question to similar effect—with similar answers.
Annihilationism versus eternal torture
…and why I don’t have anything to do with the Christian Apologetics Alliance.
So you think educated Westerners don’t believe in pagan monism?
Heh. Ain’t that cute.
If God wants to save everyone, why did he only choose Israel?
If you want all people to be part of your kingdom, you don’t disinherit them and then pick just one family.
How would a Hebrew have pictured Genesis 1?
I meant to note down a few interesting thoughts, but I accidentally wrote a commentary.
Thorny problems with Calvinism #4: why evangelize if everything is predestined?
The fact that God has predestined something doesn’t mean it will happen no matter what, but rather that it will happen inevitably by the means which he has also predestined.
Does James teach justification by works?
Yes—inasmuch as works are a proper part of the living faith by which we dwell in Jesus, and he in us.
Fallen, sinning, incarcerated angels
A further exchange with Steve Hays in which I defend the Enochian interpretation of Genesis 6:1–4, Jude 6–7 and 2 Peter 2:4–10.
Titans, AE
A further exchange with Steve Hays in which I defend the Enochian interpretation of Genesis 6:1–4.
How many sons of God can dance on the head of a pin?
A response to Steve Hays in which I defend the Enochian interpretation of Genesis 6:1–4, and point out some obvious problems with his objections.
Was Moses the first Asimov?
A commenter accuses me of turning Genesis 6:1–4 into science fiction, and I use the occasion to further demonstrate how the traditional Enochian interpretation is the only one that stands up to testing.
What is Genesis 6:1–4 talking about?
Some hermeneutical and exegetical thoughts defending the Enochian view of the sons of God and the Nephilim.
Is Allah actually Yahweh?
It’s a more vexed question than you might assume—but here’s a simple argument that shows he is perhaps not, at least in most cases.
Misguided compassion for pest animals
An email exchange with a bleeding heart apologist for the moral equivalence of animals and humans.
A showcase of Christian hatred and secular tolerance
A continuation of an exchange on homosexuality, reposted from Facebook.
What does the Lord say about homosexuality?
A response to a friend’s questions on Facebook.
Are pictures of Jesus idolatry? Part 2: what were ancient people thinking?
Thinking so is an understandably venerable Reformed tradition which strikes me as naive and legalistic on several levels. Here, I look at why ancient peoples created idols to worship, and how this radically affects our understanding of the second commandment.
How pro-gay atheists “argue”
An illustration of what to expect from “freethinkers” if you dare to buck political correctness.
Has God predestined most people to hell?
Does the Bible imply that God is more glorified in his wrath and justice than his love and mercy?
Biblical reasons to doubt Justin Taylor’s doubts about the creation days being 24-hour periods
Justin Taylor questions the calendar-day interpretation. I question in turn.
Did Aaron’s staff actually turn into a crocodile?
Most translations say it turned into a snake. I think they are right—a crocodile is not in view—given both the inter-textual and socio-religious evidence.
Does the Bible teach any kind of free will?
Given how hotly debated a topic it is, you would assume it does…wouldn’t you?
Is there a relevant difference between causing and permitting evil?
An exchange with Arminian theologian Roger Olson.