It's Only Natural.

Time and again, I see atheists on Twitter pointing to things that happen in nature to justify human behavior.  This always strikes me as very odd.  The people who pride themselves on being superior to others because of their firm grasp on "rational" thought think it's OK to emulate the actions of creatures incapable of rational thought.


Let's take a few minutes to look at some things that occur in nature:

Prove it!

Well, I've been inspired to do another blog entry that has nothing to do with refuting Biblical contradictions.  Sorry if this disappoints you.  It's my blog, though, so I'll do what I want!

Once again, Twitter has given me a reason to post.  The debate continues to rage between people of faith and atheists.  The topics range from origins of the universe and evolutionary theory to whether or not Jesus even existed and on and on and on...  Sometimes I weigh in with my thoughts, but most times I don't.

Today was one of my "weigh-in" times.  The question posed related to how everything in the universe came to be.  Atheists tend to throw around the word "magic" when referring to the belief that God created everything.  (I've seen this many times from many different atheists.  They seem to want to paint believers as somehow not as intelligent or enlightened as they are.  This, of course, is totally ridiculous, but that's something to talk about another time.)  In the atheistic mind, it is completely irrational to believe that God spoke, and everything came into existence.  This completely flies in the face of rational thought and "scientific evidence."

My question was and still is: Where did all the matter/energy in the universe come from? Science can't seem to come up with an answer.

Am I supposed to hate people who are gay?

Sorry I haven't posted in a while!  I've been pretty busy these last few weeks.  While I do enjoy writing this blog, there will be periods when I won't be able to devote a lot of time to it.  With that said, I'm steering away from the main focus of the blog in this post.

Through my use of Twitter, I have had the privilege of getting to speak with some atheist/anti-theist people.  (If I haven't said so before, they are actually part of the reason I started this blog.)  We have been able to have some good debates regarding matters of belief, God and the Bible.  We've even found some common ground outside of our religious beliefs or lack thereof.

I'm sure it will come as no surprise to anyone that the discussion sometimes turns to the matter of the Church's treatment of gay people.  This topic seems almost unavoidable when speaking about matters of faith in God.  I've asked myself the question "Am I supposed to hate people who are gay?" before, and I was forced to ask it again recently.  I'm hoping that I will be able to present this in a way that will make everyone look at this issue in a different way than you have in the past.

Let me say this, first thing.  I love gay people.  I don't subscribe to the belief that homosexuality is somehow a greater sin than any other sin, and I completely reject any mistreatment of people who are gay.  (Did I just hear some religious feathers ruffling?)  I'll even take this a step further.  God loves gay people.  Jesus loves gay people.  (Now I know I've made someone mad!)  Don't stop reading, though!!  Hear me out!

How many of Arah's offspring returned from Babylon?

775 - Ezra 2:5
5 The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five. (KJV)

5 of Arah, 775 (NIV)


652 - Nehemia 7:10
10 The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two. (KJV)

10 of Arah, 652 (NIV)

From what were the animals created?

Water - Genesis 1:20 -
20 And God said , Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. (KJV)

20 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." (NIV)


Ground - Genesis 2:19
19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. (KJV)

19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. (NIV)

Where did Jesus first appear to the apostles after the resurrection?

Galilee – Matthew 28:16 –

16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. (KJV)

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. (NIV)

Jerusalem – Mark 16:14; Luke 24:33-37; John 20:19 –

14Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. (KJV)

14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. (NIV)

33And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together , and them that were with them,34Saying , The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.35And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.36And as they thus spake , Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.37But they were terrified and affrighted , and supposed that they had seen a spirit. (KJV)

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon."35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. (NIV)

Who drove the Anakim from Hebron?

Who drove the Anakim from Hebron?

Joshua - Joshua 11:21-23 -

21 And at that time cameJoshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained . 23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war. (KJV)

 

21 At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. 22 No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive. 23 So Joshua took the entire land, just as the LORD had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war. (NIV)