The waning of Christian faith among the people, especially the intelligentsia did not happen over night. In the middle of the nineteenth century Matthew Arnold wrote poems concerning this development. His well-known “Dover Beach” and “Stanzas from the Grande Chartreuse” are prime examples of his own yearning in the midst of the waning of Christian faith…
What questions may unbelievers (especially atheists) ask you in a dialogue or conversation? Here are a few: Why is there so much suffering in my life and in the world? (Subset: Why is my mother dying? Why is my daughter on drugs? Why did all of those people die in that earthquake? Why doesn’t God prevent…
A fundamental factor in the interface of those with very differing views about the nature of the world and our place in it, especially the believer with the atheist, is the deep conviction and commitment that the parties bring to the table. The stakes are high in any conversation whether formal or informal. We put before other individuals what we believe…
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord . . .” (Isaiah 51: 1 ESV) In the scene of the Transfiguration, the Father calls on us to listen to the Son. The voice from the cloud says, “This is my beloved Son, listen to him.” (Mark 9: 7b ESV) We are to listen to…
In what is called “The Synoptic Apocalypse” (found in variant forms in all three Gospels) as presented in Mark, Jesus says, “”But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And…
In the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus engages in controversy with His opponents. These controversy narratives are short encounters, ending with a definitive statement by Jesus. The Pharisees and the Saduccees test Jesus (Matthew 16: 1), and the Pharisees accuse Him of working for Satan (Matthew 12: 22ff). These two groups, representing different views…
On the sixth day according to the Book of Genesis, God created human beings. After a time, God observed that it was not good for the man, called Adam, to be alone. Causing a deep sleep to come over him, God formed a wife for him out of his rib. Adam called her Eve, “the…
In our daily lives we deal with a variety of unbelievers. Our defense and witness are directed to them. “Unbelievers” is the general category with more specific descriptions that fall under it. Included are atheists, agnostics, believers of other faiths, heretics, and seekers, We are addressing all of them with a special emphasis on atheists. In the future, when we propose designs for Sunday School…
When brought before representatives of the state, described in the Book of Acts, Paul showed great respect without timidity. From the following analysis it is hoped that some rules of engagement with unbelievers, especially atheists, will emerge. In the latter part of the Book of Acts Luke tells us of instances when Paul makes a defense before…
Flannery O’Connor was a southern Catholic writer who has bequeathed to us wonderful short stories and two novels. She has some good advice for Christians in this secular age. “Push back against the age as hard as it pushes against you. What people don’t realize is how much religion costs. They think faith is a big…
