Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss: Something from Nothing, at ANU

I've seen this event online that took place at an American uni. I'm not sure how much overlap there is in this ANU recording, but it might be worth a watch: Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss: Something from Nothing, at ANU - Vision - ANU:

Critically-acclaimed author and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins and world-renowned theoretical physicist and author Lawrence Krauss discuss biology, cosmology, religion, and a host of other topics at this event entitled 'Something for Nothing'. This video was recorded at The Australian National University on 10 April 2012.

Fuller Reply to Richard Carrier

Erhman responding to Carrier. Both atheist, both historians. One agrees Jesus existed one doesn't: Fuller Reply to Richard Carrier « Christianity in Antiquity (CIA): The Bart Ehrman Blog:

Carrier, as many of you know, has written a scathing review of Did Jesus Exist on his Freethought Blog.   He indicates that my book is “full of errors,” that it “misinforms more than it informs” that it provides “false information” that it is “worse than bad” and that “it officially sucks.”   The attacks are sustained throughout his lengthy post, and they often become personal.  He indicates that “Ehrman doesn’t actually know what he is talking about,” he claims that I speak with “absurd” hyperbole, that my argument “makes [me] look irresponsible,” that I am guilty of “sloppy work,” that I “misrepresent” my opponents and “misinform the public,” that what I write is “crap,” that I am guilty of “arrogantly dogmatic and irresponsible thinking,” that I am “incompetent,” make “hack” mistakes, and do not “act like a real scholar.”

QandA Or Question Un-answered?

This was a good re-cap of the QandA "debate" between Pell and Dawkins: Articles | QandA Or Question Un-answered? | Phillip Jensen:

"As debaters go, Cardinal Pell was surprisingly good. Most people considered it a mismatch – for Professor Dawkins is such an experienced media debater and performer and the cardinal is not. However, it was the cardinal who rattled the professor with some classic debating tricks such as referring to precise quotes or page numbers. At some points the professor looked uncomfortable, getting angry with the audience and even confessing to jetlag. Naturally, at the end of the debate, each side claimed victory; the atheist trounced the Christian in the eyes of the atheists and the Christian beat the atheist in the eyes of the Christians. But that’s the trouble with debates; they have the appearance of rational discourse and persuasion but generally do little more than reinforce entrenched prejudices."

Did Jesus Suffer the Wrath of the Father for All Sinners, or Just the Elect?

Limited atonement laid out: Did Jesus Suffer the Wrath of the Father for All Sinners, or Just the Elect? by R.C. Sproul Jr. | Ligonier Ministries Blog:

There is a third serious problem with the notion that Jesus died for all sins of all people. Hell. If Jesus atoned for all sins, just for what are the sinners in hell suffering? Those who seek to “protect” God’s integrity by arguing He must treat us all the same end up, accidentally, affirming that God punishes the same sins twice, once on Calvary and again in hell. Some might object in turn that the sinners in hell are being punished for their unbelief. But that too is a sin, and thus would have already been punished. If all sins have been atoned for, they can’t be punished.

T4G Breakout Sessions

More free stuff, some sessions look good: T4G Breakout Sessions: Audio – Justin Taylor

Mark Dever Speaks About Church Numbers and Growth

This is worth a watch: Mark Dever Speaks About Church Numbers and Growth - YouTube

Multisite, the Poker Tell and the Importance of Presence

Quite a good article on multistie churches. Why is the band present but not the preacher? Multisite, the Poker Tell and the Importance of Presence - Reformation21 Blog:

"That observation strikes me as being of crucial importance not only to critics of multi-site like myself; but also something with which multi-site advocates must themselves wrestle.  It seems to me (at least on the basis of the anecdotal research which I have been able to do) that nobody in the multi-site world pipes in the music by videolink in the way that is simply assumed as legitimate when it comes to the preacher.  Yet in so doing, it seems to me that such ministries are conceding the importance of presence - of real, physical presence - to the gathering of the church.  They are also begging the question: why have a real band when the most important thing, the preaching, can be beamed in?   Or is it that the preaching is no longer the most important thing?"

How You Can Raise Up Preachers in Your Church

Some good advice. I wonder why multi-site churches don't heed these words and have live preachers in there service and not a guy on a projector screen: How You Can Raise Up Preachers in Your Church | The Resurgence:

"Let me say it again: allow other men to proclaim the gospel of Jesus to your congregation. If you want to raise up preachers in your church, you have to pry your fingers from the pulpit. Share those opportunities with others. Share leadership by sharing the pulpit. It will refresh you and bless your congregation. Train your leaders to preach. "

The Book of Romans in 45 Tweets

It took John Dickson 83 tweets to do Romans: The Book of Romans in 45 Tweets - Desiring God:

"We want to feast on this book. We want to taste the wonders of the Jesus it exalts. We want to deal with its content more and more. So what if we diced up the message of Romans into bite-sized summaries? What if we limited these summaries to 140 characters? What if we served up these summaries through Twitter?"

Infographic: Christianity in Australia

Some interesting stats: Infographic: Christianity in Australia | Communicate Jesus:

Doubting Dawkins on Vimeo

This is quite a cutting video and of cause you could probably do the same with some passages of Ecclesiastes: Doubting Dawkins on Vimeo

Five irrational myths peddled by lazy atheists

Not a bad article at all on the Punch: Five irrational myths peddled by lazy atheists | Article | The Punch:

Esteemed cosmologist and popular atheist Lawrence Krauss wrote: “It sometimes surprises me, although it shouldn’t, how religious devotees feel the need to regularly reinforce their own convictions in groups of like-minded individuals”.

Churches in Saudi Arabia

"Saudi Arabia’s top Muslim leader recently issued a religious decree calling for all Christian churches on the Arabian peninsula to be demolished, a move that elicited protests from the U.S. government and undermines recent efforts in the kingdom to promote interfaith tolerance."

Churches in Saudi Arabia

Easter Faith

A good quote by NT Wright: Easter Faith:

"But if you say Jesus died and nothing happened but the disciples had some interesting ideas, then you have cut off the branch on which all classic Christianity is sitting. This generation needs to wake up, smell the coffee and realise serious Christianity begins when Jesus comes out of the tomb on Easter morning. This is not a nice optional extra for those who like believing in funny things."

Did the Apostle Paul Target Strategic Cities in His Mission Work?

So much for the "cities of influence" idea that some church planters model off Paul: Did the Apostle Paul Target Strategic Cities in His Mission Work? – Kevin DeYoung:

"(1) Most Greek cities were organized as an independent polis governing their own affairs. The “radiation” effect from one city to the next would have been limited by this independence, not to mention the natural barriers (mountains, rivers, seas) that often delimited cities."