Just who does He think He is?!

I had a chat with a young man recently about the evidence for Christianity, and we focussed on Jesus Christ.

Redefining and refining...

Yesterday would have been George Orwell's 112th birthday. Animal Farm was required reading for us in English Literature class at school, but it was only in the last few years I actually read his book 1984. 

Just going by what I feel...

I had a very interesting discussion with someone recently about "spirituality". She told me that she formed her beliefs on the basis of what she feels.

The dangers of state religion

Imagine a society in which you were forced to affirm things you did not believe, and if you didn't profess such faith you could not be a part of society, or get employment, or you may be forced out of business. That was what it was like for people when the church and state wed and religion was forced upon unbelievers. Non-Christians understandably chaffed under such a yoke, they would protest that they should be free not to participate in things they did not believe in. How good it is to know that the state no longer forces people to profess a faith they don't actually believe in. Things have changed...haven't they?

Taking a stand...on what and for what?

I was talking to a lady last week and there are a few points worth passing on.

Justified on justification

I had a chat last week with a "Jehovah's Witness" called Norman about the subject of justification. There are a couple of things worth reporting.

Atheism proven wrong...again.

Atheists very often say that belief in God is a science-stopper, that is, when Christians see something they don't understand they just say, "God did it" and proceed no further. Now this is just factually wrong and historically naive. Modern science got off the ground because of a Christian worldview that led men to investigate creation to discover its order and laws. Christianity was actually the science-starter! Atheism is actually more guilty of stopping science than Christianity!

Making life worth living?

Stephen Fry has vented his fury at the idea of a God who would allow such suffering in the world. There have been a few very good responses (for example, here, here and here), I offer my own here...

Freedom of conscience?

The year that has passed has seen a big squeeze being put on liberty in this country, the thing is that many people don't see it because they aren't being squeezed, or they don't care because at present they agree with the people doing the squeezing.

What is faith?

The Bible is crystal clear on the fact that salvation is by faith (e.g. Romans 3:28), and given how long eternity is, how awful hell is and how wonderful salvation is, if salvation is by faith we must make sure we know what faith is. Sadly this word is widely misused and abused. I hope this clears the air from the clouds of confusion and mists of misrepresentation.