Thoughts on Faith and Science (Part II)

Last updated on: July 10, 2013 at 9:54 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

I posted some informal thoughts on faith in Part I. In Part II, I examine miracles and Christianity and the relative importance of each to the Faith. Miracles and Central versus Less Central Claims Obviously, the most important facts about Christianity that might be subject to scientific investigation are centered in the life and ministry of Jesus. Atheists are right that if they could show it unlikely He existed, then Christianity would be false. Fortunately, few serious scholars, religious or... Read more

Thoughts on Faith and Science (Part I)

Last updated on: July 9, 2013 at 2:35 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

If theism is true, then we might see God.1 No greater good can be imagined than seeing the Good. If we needed a motive to examine theism, no better exists. Christianity demonstrates that the Good became a human being in the person of Jesus and loves humankind enough to save us from ourselves. If we need a reason to hope Christianity is true, then Jesus is it. Hope is a start, but not enough. Hopes lack the substance needed for... Read more

The American Moral Minority

Last updated on: June 27, 2013 at 7:19 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

Shock about being in a minority on sexual morality shocks me. Christians in America have been a moral minority on sexual issue before iPods existed. An advantage of being old is that you get used to change: welcome and unwelcome. I have seen moral improvement on some issues and a growing decadence in others. In many areas traditional Christian morality (loving the poor, support for life) is either growing or supported by a near-majority of Americans still. This is not,... Read more

Further Reflections of Faith and Love

Last updated on: June 18, 2013 at 5:01 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

I hoped she loved me, but I did not know. She turned me down cold in tenth grade and so there was reason to doubt that she found me attractive, but tenth grade was a long time ago. And yet her note that year had been very spiritual and very final: she would only date me if God made her or at least that is how I read it. Still hope springs eternal in the heart of a senior’s breast.... Read more

So Happy I Could Shout

Last updated on: June 13, 2013 at 11:01 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Let’s get this out of the way: Lee Strobel is coming onto the Apologetics team at HBU. But this is not the press release, that is here. This is a personal reflection on education: what American Christians should want, what we too often get, and what we can do about. What is the bottom line? Educational things have been alright, though not as alright as we thought, mostly the situation is going to feel worse, but it is really getting better.... Read more

In Which Jesus Is Shown To Be Better than a Facebook Friend

Last updated on: June 3, 2013 at 2:19 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

Friendship is a great good and Facebook friendship is a lesser good, but that does not mean it isn’t a good. Facebook is enjoyable and a great improvement over once a year Christmas newsletters. Conversations take place and information is exchanged. Just because a good is the greatest good doesn’t mean it isn’t good! But would Jesus Facebook? The obvious answer is that when His followers use Facebook, then He is present, but would Jesus have used Facebook in His earthly... Read more

A Sad Little Film: Star Trek II Again

Last updated on: May 24, 2013 at 9:42 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

Star Wars fans beware. By the time J.J. Abrams is done with your childhood, it will be even smaller and less impressive than reality always makes going home again. If the tree you built a house in was not nearly as high as you recall, in the hands of Abrams that tree would be torn down, reconstructed as a very shiny sort-of-tree, and then your childhood memories would be replayed to milk the few genuine motions in the film. Abrams... Read more

If Left Alone: What My Grandchildren Will See

Last updated on: May 23, 2013 at 2:55 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

Christians are a minority when it comes to sex outside of marriage. The Christian church teaches that sexual activity outside of marriage is a sin, but most Americans think it is morally acceptable. The good news is that if the immoral majority will leave us alone, the Christian minority is large enough to prevail over time. Let Christians govern as they wish in states where they remain a majority and let “liberal” Christians, other religions, and the non-religious govern as... Read more

Out of Many One

Last updated on: May 22, 2013 at 8:08 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

States and the federal government should abandon any mandated common educational core: even common cores I like. I am the sort of person who might be expected to support federal or statewide “common core” standards: I am the founder of a “great works” program and the chief academic officer of HBU: the school with the strongest Western core for the most diverse student body in the United States. But the very liberty that makes HBU possible makes me skeptical of... Read more

Dear God: Facing Tragedy

Last updated on: May 20, 2013 at 10:32 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

Somebody someplace will use the tragedy in Oklahoma to make a philosophical point. Somebody someplace will repeat slogans. Those of us who love God will cry out to Him in our pain for friends and hurting people. We know God exists. We know He is good and we know everyone will die. But we hate this death, at this time, for these people. No death is natural, not the way You intended things to be, every death is natural, the... Read more