Life’s Tough Questions
Life’s Tough Questions
The Culture War: Why Christianity Appears to be Losing!
Christianity began 2000 years ago with a ragtag handful of refugees and poor traveling preachers within a culture in which the ruling authorities actively sought their eradication. Yet, within a few hundred years, Christianity became the predominate religion in the Western World.
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Marijuana – The Science Behind the Smoke
Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized “medical marijuana” and 8 states have legalized recreational cannabis use. Does this mean that marijuana is harmless? That it is safe? That it is not addictive? What does the science actually reveal?
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Jerusalem, Christians, and End-Time Methods
Last week, the Trump administration officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The world is divided on the wisdom of this decision. For instance, many Christians in America are ardent supporters of this step, while leaders from many nations have voiced concerns or outright condemnation.
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Suicide and the Myth of Lost Salvation
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 out of every 100,000 people will die by suicide. Most people have been impacted by this tragedy in one way or another, including me. Several years ago, after the death of his wife of fifty years, my great uncle ended his own life; he was simply unable to cope with the heartache, pain, and loneliness.
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Is God Punishing the World with Natural Disasters?
Over the past several weeks, the news has been dominated by natural disaster after natural disaster—the horrifying Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria; the devastating earthquake in Mexico; the unrelenting fires in the Northwest.
Naturally, people are asking questions—What is happening?
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God And Your Church 1: Growing Up in Christ – The 7 Levels of Moral Decision Making
In this lecture we will examine seven levels of moral decision making, identifying a progression from more childlike perspectives to maturity.
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School Shootings – Why All the Violence?
In the aftermath of the tragic shooting of 20 children and 6 adults, at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown, Connecticut people are searching for answers – why? Why did this tragedy happen? Why all the shootings[i] – Columbine, Nickel Mines Village, Clackamas Town Center Mall, Virginia Tech, a movie theater in Colorado and far too many more – why?
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Creation, Evolution, and Evidence Based Thinking
As a Christian physician and scientist (one who forms beliefs based upon objective evidence, which is testable and reproducible, while remaining open to modifying those beliefs as more evidence becomes available), I am struck by the level of non-evidence-based thinking and believing rife within both religious and scientific communities.
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Women’s Ordination
Recently I was asked to read an article that addressed the issue of ordination of women. The article, while advocating for female pastors, opposed ordination for women as ordination included “church authority” to baptize and establish churches. The author appealed to the example of Lucifer in heaven being jealous of Christ and Korah being jealous of Aaron and neither being content with their position as evidence that God has selected men to be ordained and women should not be jealous of ordination but content with their position.
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Retribution or Rehabilitation
As I was reviewing this week’s [bible study] lesson on Final Events, you make the statement in your outline…”When one accepts that God imposes law, then one must conclude that the consequences one experiences for disobedience to God’s law is imposed by God, or that God’s wrath is something that he inflicts to punish for sin.” Since I am developing in law school my views of criminal punishment and civil sanctions, should I relate my view of God into the courtroom?
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