Letting Catholic priests into Australia was a mistake | The Monthly

Ouch: Letting Catholic priests into Australia was a mistake | The Monthly:

"Catholic priests are about 250 times worse than Lebanese Muslims."

The Marriage Plebiscite—Questioning the Question - The Gospel Coalition Australia

Good point: The Marriage Plebiscite—Questioning the Question - The Gospel Coalition Australia:

"Same-sex marriage is not like marijuana—which exists but is not legalised. For recreational marijuana use to be legalised, the government would not have to change anything about the way the law defines marijuana. Marriage is quite different. The current definition of marriage under Australian law, is “the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.” In the eyes of the law, this is what marriage is. Consequently, “same sex marriage” is not illegal—it is legally non-existent. This is why when a gay couple comes to Australia with a marriage certificate from another country, they are not arrested or fined. Australia simply does not recognise their “marriage” as valid. Our Marriage Act states that marriage is between a man and a woman, and so by definition, in Australia, they aren’t actually married."

Debunking Silly Statements About the Bible

Lots of good points in this: Debunking Silly Statements About the Bible:

"keep in mind that “400,000 variants” here doesn’t mean 400,000 unique readings. What it means is that if one manuscript says, “I am innocent of this man’s blood” and ten others say, “I am innocent of this righteous blood,” then you get to count all eleven as “variants.” Factor that in, and that scary 400,000 number becomes nearly meaningless."

Fact-Checking Sam Harris: Islam and the Virgin Birth of Jesus

Why aren't the self proclaimed skeptical community skeptical of their sources of information: Fact-Checking Sam Harris: Islam and the Virgin Birth of Jesus - YouTube:

Do Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence?

Some good points in here: Do Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence? - Stand to Reason Blog:

"First, the answer is “No!” Extraordinary claims do not require extraordinary evidence. Claims—extraordinary or otherwise—only require evidence. "

Reading Between the Lines 12 - Leaving and Cleaving

Its not the woman that leaves and cleaves, it the man: Reading Between the Lines 12 - Leaving and Cleaving - YouTube

An Appearance of Atheism

Some good points in this: An Appearance of Atheism | Blog & Mablog:

"But then there is the dogmatic agnostic. “I don’t know, you don’t know, and nobody can know.” But notice that this is not really a profession of ignorance. It necessarily contains within it a dogmatic claim about the nature of God. We don’t know if He exists or not, but if He does, He is the kind of being who cannot be known by us. But how did we learn that important truth about Him? When did we learn it? What branch of theology is this? What sacred book reveals this to us? When did we find out that this was among the attributes of God?"

Jesse Duplantis, Kenneth Copeland: God Gave Us Jets So We Could Have Private Prayer Time

So this is a problem: Jesse Duplantis, Kenneth Copeland: God Gave Us Jets So We Could Have Private Prayer Time. | Pulpit & Pen:

"Believers Voice of Victory, hosted by Kenneth Copeland and Jesse Duplantis, the two charlatans start out the show by defending their use and ownership of private jets by saying that it gives them time to pray privately with God"

Free Downloads on christianaudio

A few years ago they gave out the ESV, this month it is the CEB: Free Downloads on christianaudio - Try us free. Best selection of Christian audiobook downloads. iPhone app.

Following Rob Bell

Christians are the true rebels: Following Rob Bell - Reformation21 Blog:

"These days, the real adventurers are those who set sail for the risky land of Christian orthodoxy. The real brave men and women are those who consistently go to church, observe the sacraments, hear the word, and submit themselves to the discipline of the church. In an age of autonomy, it's those who subject their thoughts, behaviors, and passions to an exclusive Sovereign that are the brave few. Those may not be the memoirs we're interested in today, but they'll be the ones that last tomorrow. "

On Paris and living with fear

Well said: On Paris and living with fear - The Gospel Coalition Australia:

"So read the news reports, grieve with the victims, cry, call for justice, and get angry with those criminals who thought it was their right to take 129 lives. And pray. Pray for the victims’ families; pray for the dismantling of Islamic State; pray for France as the nation grieves. And then, when you've sunk to the depths of your grief in light of these attacks, thank God for the life he's given you, then go and live it."

Six Questions to Ask When Studying the Bible in a Group

A modification of a method I use for Bible Study groups (I only ask 4 not 6 questions): Six Questions to Ask When Studying the Bible in a Group | Desiring God:

"If you want to read the Bible with your small group, or have tried in the past and it’s fallen flat, you might try the Swedish method. "

Please don't be intolerant

Some good points in here, Please don't be intolerant - Adam4d.com:

"Disagreement is not intolerance"

Richard Glover: Sticking up for the believers

Not a bad read: Richard Glover: Sticking up for the believers:

"And why the rise of militant atheism at exactly the time the church has never been less powerful?"

Christianity, the World's Most Falsifiable Religion

Christianity, the World's Most Falsifiable ReligionParchment and Pen Blog:

"“Even atheists,” Habermas said, “have nothing but ‘negative apologetics’.” In other words, Christianity has a significant amount of historically verifiable data which forms the bedrock of the faith. This is “positive apologetics.” An atheist conference, for example, does nothing but belittle the claims of other religions (primarily Christianity). “There is no positive defense that one can give for naturalism,” Habermas concluded. Therefore, the only thing available to the atheist is an attempt to overturn the massive amount of evidence that Christianity has."