Christian Apologetics Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Estre corto documento recoge algunas ideas muy interesantes de varios estudiosos como Antonio Cruz, John Lennox, William Lane Craig y otros. Para explicar el concepto de la palabra evolución , su significado en el contexto y como la... more
Estre corto documento recoge algunas ideas muy interesantes de varios estudiosos como Antonio Cruz, John Lennox, William Lane Craig y otros.
Para explicar el concepto de la palabra evolución , su significado en el contexto y como la evolución presenta conflictos con algunas leyes universales.
The Mum effect is the natural human reluctance to share bad news with others, due to a desire to avoid a range of negative consequences, consequences affecting both self and the recipient of the bad news. Although the gospel is good news... more
The Mum effect is the natural human reluctance to share bad news with others, due to a desire to avoid a range of negative consequences, consequences affecting both self and the recipient of the bad news. Although the gospel is good news to those who believe, it may be viewed negatively by those who do not believe. Thus, Christians may be hesitant to share the gospel because of the negative consequences associated with the Mum effect. Because of the anonymity of the internet, social media is often filled with unre-strained criticism of Christianity. This may amplify the perceived negative consequences of sharing the gospel with unbelievers. In light of this cultural evolution, found now in the global north and increasingly present in the global south, Christian leaders can lead more effective ministries by distinguishing between outreach (building relationships in a way that makes the gospel attractive), witnessing (explaining how one has experienced God), and evangelism (sharing all that is necessary to make a decision for Christ), and by ensuring that all three occur in culturally relevant ways, carried out by individuals best equipped to do each, in a way consistent with the New Testament teaching on spiritual gifts. Specifically, outreach and witnessing can be done by all Christians who interact with non-Christians, whereas evangelism may be carried out, both on the individual level and in large groups, by those who are appropriately gifted. By addressing large groups in a more impersonal way, those gifted in evangelism may reduce the negative consequences of the Mum effect and build upon the outreach and witnessing done by others.
Corneliu C. Simuț (ed.), Miscellaneous Theological Studies: Biblical, Apologetic, Historical, Patristic, Theodicean, and Systematic. Oradea, Warsaw, and Berlin: Emanuel University Press and Sciendo, 2021.
Is there truth in non-Biblical sacred texts? After some brief definitions and a brief survey of Christian attitudes throughout history to Islam and the Qur"an, this paper will examine Calvin"s writings for his theology of... more
Is there truth in non-Biblical sacred texts? After some brief definitions and a brief survey of Christian attitudes throughout history to Islam and the Qur"an, this paper will examine Calvin"s writings for his theology of religions, and largely limit our examination to his view of "the Turks" [=Ottoman Muslims]. We will find that even though John Calvin has been accused of having an "unthematic" theology of religions, the primary sources demonstrate a consistent approach to the "religious other" that is revealed in his sermons, commentaries, letters, polemical writings and his Institutes. It will be seen that Christ as "the Truth" is a completely different genus and species than the "truthlets" which some modern writers are so fond of. Calvin thus can help the contemporary reader to analyse the sacred texts of any religion.
This essay was published in The Bible and Early Trinitarian Theology, edited by Christopher A. Beeley and Mark E. Weedman, for the CUAP Studies in Early Christianity (Washington DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2018); this is the... more
This essay was published in The Bible and Early Trinitarian Theology, edited by Christopher A. Beeley and Mark E. Weedman, for the CUAP Studies in Early Christianity (Washington DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2018); this is the uncorrected proofs. Exploring the humanity and divinity of Jesus, the Son's relation to the Father, and the agency of the Holy Spirit, it is one of five essays suggesting Johannine contributions to trinitarian discussions in the early church.
The books of 1 and 2 Samuel offer a three-fold thematic scheme that supports the central claim of the Pentateuch, the claim found in Deuteronomy 6:4 and known to the Jews as “the Shema,” a verse that declares the God of Israel is one,... more
The books of 1 and 2 Samuel offer a three-fold thematic scheme that supports the central claim of the Pentateuch, the claim found in Deuteronomy 6:4 and known to the Jews as “the Shema,” a verse that declares the God of Israel is one, true and living God, a theme that undergirds all of the historical books as well. Thus, the foundational theme of 1 and 2 Samuel is the central claim of the Pentateuch, a theme shared by all books of the Holy Scriptures. The secondary, structural theme of the book of 1 Samuel supports the primary theme of the historical books by offering the testimony that God has called out David to establish the Davidic lineage to bring about Israel’s redemption as supporting evidence that YHWH is the true and living God. The secondary, structural theme of the book of 2 Samuel supports the primary theme of the historical books by offering the testimony that God has justified David in his role as king. The third, imperative theme of the books of 1 and 2 Samuel states that Israel loved the Lord their God with all of their strength by accepting the one whom God called and justified as their king and redeemer. The application of this third theme for today’s reader is to believe that God has called and justification the Lord Jesus Christ as King of Kings in the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven. The New Testament believer should trust in Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecies concerning the Messiah coming from the Davidic lineage who will reign eternally over all nations. As believers, we have been called to be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven, and we are justified as members of this Kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ.
Proponemos una identificación entre la categoría de semina Verbi y la categoría de praeambula fidei, dentro de la categoría de praepatatio Evangelii. Siguiendo los estudios de autores como Antonio Orbe y otros, podemos hablar de semina... more
Proponemos una identificación entre la categoría de semina Verbi y la categoría de praeambula fidei, dentro de la categoría de praepatatio Evangelii. Siguiendo los estudios de autores como Antonio Orbe y otros, podemos hablar de semina Verbi como una participación intelectual, pero también existencial, del hombre en la verdad a través de la acción del Espíritu Santo. Los praeambula fidei hacen posible el acto de fe de manera racional y libre. Por lo tanto, creemos que es lícito, también desde las declaraciones del magisterio, hablar de una acción del Espíritu Santo como praeparatio Evangelii en las semina Verbi hacia el acto de fe.
Muslims claim that Muhammad was born in Mecca and the earliest parts of the Qur’an were revealed to him there. Indeed, without Mecca the whole story of Muhammad would have to be re-evaluated and the very foundations of Islam would have to... more
Muslims claim that Muhammad was born in Mecca and the earliest parts of the Qur’an were revealed to him there. Indeed, without Mecca the whole story of Muhammad would have to be re-evaluated and the very foundations of Islam would have to be questioned. However, recent archaeological and historical research calls into question whether Mecca even existed in the traditional time of Muhammad (570-632 AD). There are no archaeological artifacts from Mecca until the 8th century AD, the first direct mention of Mecca in external literature occurs in 741 AD, and the first time Mecca is listed on a map of the Middle East was 900 AD. Indeed, if Mecca did not exist in the early 7th century, then who was Muhammad and from where did he come?
This paper will consider the Muslim evidence for the existence of Mecca in light of the research of a number of recent scholars who have suggested that Mecca was probably neither a center of trade nor a religious center or pilgrimage site in the 7th century. One issue for consideration is that the geographical descriptions of the city of the prophet in the Qur’an do not match up with the barren landscape of Mecca. Furthermore, the qiblas, or the direction of prayer in the mosques, did not point to Mecca until 727 AD. The evidence also may indicate that Muhammad probably did not have anything to do with Mecca, especially since it may not have even existed at that time. Finally, a mounting body of evidence suggests that the Nabataean kingdom of Petra in Northeast Arabia might have actually been the center of the origin of Islam, and Muhammad a much different religious leader than the one traditionally portrayed by Islam.
The book covers a very complex period of the apologetic doctrine of the Orthodox Church. In this concerne, our research direction trys to follow the historical and also the dogmatical background. We had in mind the words of our Lord Jesus... more
The book covers a very complex period of the apologetic doctrine of the Orthodox Church. In this concerne, our research direction trys to follow the historical and also the dogmatical background. We had in mind the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: "I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14, 6).
The reliability of the NT text is often argued on the basis of how many more manuscripts we have for the NT than for works in the classical canon like Homer or Tacitus, and the fact that many of these are of such a relatively earlier... more
The reliability of the NT text is often argued on the basis of how many more manuscripts we have for the NT than for works in the classical canon like Homer or Tacitus, and the fact that many of these are of such a relatively earlier date. While this remains true, there are some problems with the way the argument is often presented that make it needlessly inaccurate or at least vulnerable to critique. This paper tries to clarify the problems and suggests ways to better the argument, as part of a book on the NT text from Elijah Hixson and Peter Gurry.
Buchhinweis: Blaise Pascal. Pensées – Gedanken. Editiert und kommentiert von Philippe Sellier. Aus dem Französischem übersetzt und mit einer Konkordanz von Sylvia Schiewe. Darmstadt: WGB, 2016. ISBN-10: 3534232984, 434 S., 49,00 Euro.
God is self-sufficienrt, all encompassing, does not need anybody to be what he is.
When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth? The difference between a secular mindset and a sacred mindset is that in the secular life, one engages in daily life disconnected and without awareness of God. In the sacred... more
When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?
The difference between a secular mindset and a sacred mindset is that in the secular life, one engages in daily life disconnected and without awareness of God. In the sacred life, one engages in daily life with a strong awareness of God. In the sacred life, the child of God sees everything and every moment in the context of the spiritual and says, “The God of the universe who holds everything together is fully and personally present right here, right now.”
Cyril lived in a Day when everyone was flocking to join the church. But he insisted that God required commitment and sincerity! By quoting many scriptures on the Old and New Testament, he insured that Baptism had the reverence and respect... more
Cyril lived in a Day when everyone was flocking to join the church. But he insisted that God required commitment and sincerity! By quoting many scriptures on the Old and New Testament, he insured that Baptism had the reverence and respect that it deserves. This is the 17th in 18 lectures that Baptismal Candidates (or catechumens) were required to attend during the 40 days preceding the great feast of Pasca (Easter) The Baptism of Water and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Anointing with holy oil) took place simultaneously, always on the eve of Easter Sunday: a tradition that continues today in the Eastern Orthodox Churches.
В настоящей публикации вниманию читателя предлагается критическое издание первого «обличительного», или «столбового», слова прп. Никиты Стифата против армян (Invectiva 1 in Armenios), осуществленное впервые. Прп. Никита, известный... more
В настоящей публикации вниманию читателя предлагается критическое издание первого «обличительного», или «столбового»,
слова прп. Никиты Стифата против армян (Invectiva 1 in Armenios), осуществленное впервые. Прп. Никита, известный аскетический писатель, богослов и полемист XI в. (род. не позже 1015—† ок. 1090), сражался за истину на протяжении многих лет своей жизни: так, в юные годы он выступал против тех, кто не признавал святости Симеона Нового Богослова, а в глубокой старости, возможно, против византийского гуманиста Иоанна Итала.
The Book of Acts has generated interest over the years from different fronts. The question some Christians ask revolve around whether the book should be used as merely a historical book rather than a doctrinal manual as well. This paper... more
The Book of Acts has generated interest over the years from different fronts.
The question some Christians ask revolve around whether the book should be used as merely a historical book rather than a doctrinal manual as well.
This paper tackles aspects of these questions, while giving a very high level summary of the book.
The question of who Jesus is often arouses cognitive as well as affective responses that have far reaching influences on people‟s faith. The category of those who subscribe to the affective mode with foot in systematized cognitive... more
The question of who Jesus is often arouses cognitive as well as affective responses that have far reaching influences on people‟s faith. The category of those who subscribe to the affective mode with foot in systematized cognitive investigation of the question often experience what Ratzinger refers to as “a clutching of the air”1 in an attempt to form a relationship with Jesus. In other words, the role of modern biblical critical method of studying the Gospels, with its characteristic scientific approach to the question of who Jesus is, is said to often create a gap between belief and practice. Among scholars who have attempted to bridge such a gap are Rudolf Schnackenburg and Joseph Ratzinger. The latter has attempted a theological and spiritual hermeneutics in approaching the question. The general intent of this paper is an appraisal of his method for reading the gospels as highlighted in two of his writings: Jesus of Nazareth and "Biblical Interpretation in Crisis”. While the central effort of the paper is to evaluate the adequacy or otherwise of Ratzinger's model for Christians‟ faith enhancement, the guiding question shall be what possibility such method has in ameliorating the “danger of clutching the air” and in establishing an “intimate friendship with Jesus” through the gospels.
What is Truth? Philosophical explorations merely presuppose truth, rather than define it. The inscrutable nature of truth enables a recognition of human finitude, which is both Socratic (the recognition that one does not know) and... more
What is Truth? Philosophical explorations merely presuppose truth, rather than define it. The inscrutable nature of truth enables a recognition of human finitude, which is both Socratic (the recognition that one does not know) and non-Socratic (the recognition that truth has to be given from without). This opens the way to locating truth outside the individual, which can be appropriated only when the condition to recognize it is given....This book explores what truth implies for the individual and examines the value of historical research for Christian faith.
Este trabalho examina as relações que se estabelecem entre a imagem e memória quando inclinadas por um primas pós-moderno do pensamento. Essas relações aparecem no filme 'Imagens do mundo e inscrições da guerra' (Bilder der Welt und... more
Este trabalho examina as relações que se estabelecem entre a imagem e memória quando inclinadas por um primas pós-moderno do pensamento. Essas relações aparecem no filme 'Imagens do mundo e inscrições da guerra' (Bilder der Welt und Inschrift des Krieges, Alemanha, 1988), de Harun Farocki, no qual analisamos algumas de suas estratégias visuais.
Review of Myron Bradley Penner's book The End of Apologetics
Mythicists do not as a general rule, “play well with others,” and so they usually don’t interact much with current scholarship on the Historical Jesus. Instead they tend to copycat one another and recycle the outdated material of older... more
Mythicists do not as a general rule, “play well with others,” and so they usually don’t interact much with current scholarship on the Historical Jesus. Instead they tend to copycat one another and recycle the outdated material of older Mythicists. As a result, their books generally have the musty feel of Old Curiosity Shops specializing in rags and bones, kitschy, period-piece objets d'art, bundles of keys, darkened by oxidation, to doors and locks that no longer exist, heaps of damp, moldering, deservedly out-of-print books, and long-discounted notions.
One such discounted notion Mythicists sometimes recycle is William Benjamin Smith’s idea of the Pre-Christian Jesus.