Bethel, if you had to recommend a “read this one first” of your mother’s books, which would you choose? I’m so interested in her work but short on time mothering a toddler.
I'd start with her book Testimonies to the Truth. It's designed to be a gentle introduction (with study questions included). Also available on Audible with my narration, if you prefer that format.
Great piece as usual! Curious if you have any thoughts on passages from Scripture (eg the beginning of Romans) that can be and have been read to say that disbelief in God is generally culpable in relation to these questions? (I read your essay but haven’t watched the video, apologies if this is addressed there.)
Well, Paul also asked how people could know unless one told them, so I think different things need to be teased apart here. I think you're culpable for sin regardless.
"Jared asked me why getting to heaven should be a matter of believing the right ideas as opposed to doing good things, or being a good person."
Are they teaching anything at the "pseuo seminaries"? Did Jared attend a church that taught him anything? Did he try to wrestle with the Bible at all (these questions are answered in the Bible and reasonably easy to access)?
Too often, the apostates I grew up with ask the most banal questions (I'm not necessarily accusing Jared of this) as a post hoc justification for their "deconversion." As a response, at least in my circles, you get the liberal "Christian's" attempt to shift the blame to the institutional church or the "other" (but never himself, strangely), which takes away all culpability and initiative from the individual.
I appreciate your talk with Jared, but more questions need to be asked, especially when one reaps monetary rewards from "just asking questions." Some people just want to reject God.
I don't question the sincerity of Jared's previous faith, and I do think the question of how faith and works intersect is interesting. But like you I think multiple misunderstandings are baked into his question. I will also say I asked if he'd read The Great Divorce and he said no---that should be much more of a staple read.
If the goal is to love God, and to help others to do so, what role does or can a "presentation of the evidence for Christianity" play in achieving this? In the case of human love, love is not produced simply by learning facts about the other person. Similarly, convincing someone that Jesus rose from the dead, or performed the miracles attributed to him in the gospels, won't necessary inspire love of Jesus, it might do the reverse. I don't think I came to love God by way of accepting more and more of the "evidence for Christianity." How do you think about all this?
Thank you Bethel for showing us your “heart” with this topic.
The great apathy, which is all around us in this world, towards God’s “upward call” is truly heartbreaking. William
Your parents are apologetics models … both in starting the program at HCU and all we do is… I try to catch this spirit. Thank you!
Bethel, if you had to recommend a “read this one first” of your mother’s books, which would you choose? I’m so interested in her work but short on time mothering a toddler.
I'd start with her book Testimonies to the Truth. It's designed to be a gentle introduction (with study questions included). Also available on Audible with my narration, if you prefer that format.
Great piece as usual! Curious if you have any thoughts on passages from Scripture (eg the beginning of Romans) that can be and have been read to say that disbelief in God is generally culpable in relation to these questions? (I read your essay but haven’t watched the video, apologies if this is addressed there.)
Well, Paul also asked how people could know unless one told them, so I think different things need to be teased apart here. I think you're culpable for sin regardless.
"Jared asked me why getting to heaven should be a matter of believing the right ideas as opposed to doing good things, or being a good person."
Are they teaching anything at the "pseuo seminaries"? Did Jared attend a church that taught him anything? Did he try to wrestle with the Bible at all (these questions are answered in the Bible and reasonably easy to access)?
Too often, the apostates I grew up with ask the most banal questions (I'm not necessarily accusing Jared of this) as a post hoc justification for their "deconversion." As a response, at least in my circles, you get the liberal "Christian's" attempt to shift the blame to the institutional church or the "other" (but never himself, strangely), which takes away all culpability and initiative from the individual.
I appreciate your talk with Jared, but more questions need to be asked, especially when one reaps monetary rewards from "just asking questions." Some people just want to reject God.
I don't question the sincerity of Jared's previous faith, and I do think the question of how faith and works intersect is interesting. But like you I think multiple misunderstandings are baked into his question. I will also say I asked if he'd read The Great Divorce and he said no---that should be much more of a staple read.
The Great Divorce helped me a lot. I hope he reads it.
If the goal is to love God, and to help others to do so, what role does or can a "presentation of the evidence for Christianity" play in achieving this? In the case of human love, love is not produced simply by learning facts about the other person. Similarly, convincing someone that Jesus rose from the dead, or performed the miracles attributed to him in the gospels, won't necessary inspire love of Jesus, it might do the reverse. I don't think I came to love God by way of accepting more and more of the "evidence for Christianity." How do you think about all this?
Bethel, could you summarize the minimal facts argument for the resurrection or point to an article you have previously written about this subject?
The piece I link in the first few paragraphs here includes some discussion of it. Here's a nice animated YouTube summary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY8NnBSAqbM