In the first post I discussed one reason why people suppress a belief in God, namely the desire to be free from moral accountability and standards. Many atheists have rejected God because he stands behind a system of moral norms that they viewed as oppressive. Few are as forthright as Aldous Huxely who admits, "For … Continue reading why people are atheists, part 2
academic
why people are atheists, part one
Recently I have read several book written by atheists or about atheism. I am noticing a few recurring threads, a few persistent reasons behind people's unbelief. Ultimately we could point to Romans 1:18-19 as an explanation, but here I'm looking at penultimate explanations (nontheological). I'd love to hear your thoughts (it would actually be helpful … Continue reading why people are atheists, part one
"My Brother Esau Is a Hairy Man": Hair and Identity in Ancient Israel , by Susan Niditch
Book description from Oxford University Press:"The story of Jacob and Esau is told in the book of Genesis. With his mother's help, Jacob impersonates his hairy older twin by dressing in Esau's clothes and covering his own hands and the nape of his neck with the hairy hide of goats. Fooled by this ruse, their … Continue reading "My Brother Esau Is a Hairy Man": Hair and Identity in Ancient Israel , by Susan Niditch
Joel 2:28-32 in NT, part 4
(continued from part 3)Section 3: echoes of Joel in Romans 10That Paul quotes from Joel in 10:13 is no surprise to anyone. The words of Joel form a lynchpin in Paul's overall argument regarding the universality of salvation. Not many commentators have explored the more subtle influences of Joel 2:28-32 on Paul's argument in Romans … Continue reading Joel 2:28-32 in NT, part 4
Joel 2:28-32 in the NT, part 3
(continued from part 2)Section 2: Peter's Sermon in Acts 2Having done the work in the book of Joel, we now turn our attention now to Peter uses Joel's prophecy to explain the phenomenon being witnessed on the day of Pentecost. Evans is correct in pointing out that "Peter's sermon is laced throughout with language taken … Continue reading Joel 2:28-32 in the NT, part 3
God Entranced 