Hello friends! I have another set of links for you to peruse. As always, let me know what you think of the links and if you enjoyed them, leave a comment on those blogs! Thanks for stopping in and reading!
Ambassadors for Reconciliation– There has been much ire flying around over the director of the theistic evolutionist group Biologos’ invitation to creationists like Ken Ham to have dinner and talk over the issues. Here, Hugh Ross reflects upon the extreme reactions of some and the ways we can work towards reconciliation. One quote in particular is helpful:
Enough is enough. There are mission fields still to be reached. How can we ask nonbelievers to dialogue with us if we cannot graciously dialogue with one another, if we treat one another as enemies? Unless we make some progress in reconciling our differences, how can we expect to help reconcile a skeptical world to Christ? We are commissioned by God to be His ambassadors. It’s time for us to start behaving as ambassadors.
I think this is spot on. I have personally been accused by a number of those who disagree with me of being a vile compromiser, someone who is actively leading people away from Christ, etc. If this is how we treat fellow believers, why should those who do not yet believe think that we will be capable of honest dialogue with them? Let’s stop the insults and start genuine dialogue. Let us show one another charity.
When Humans Lose their Humanity: “No Sanctuary” and the real Horror of Terminus– What happens when humans are dehumanized? Here’s an interesting look at ‘The Walking Dead’ which explores this question in deeply insightful ways.
Do we really need to teach our kids apologetics when God is in control anyway?– Here’s an excellent post on the need to educate our children in the Christian faith. Unfortunately, some think that we shouldn’t bother because God is in control. How might we answer this?
Is the Shroud Evidence for God’s Existence?– I have a number of friends in apologetics who are convinced that the Shroud of Turin is genuinely the image of Christ. I am personally unconvinced, but I found this article on it interesting for analyzing what we should make of the Shroud, were it to prove genuine.
Intersections: Summit on Origins– I’m going to be at this conference hosted by Bethel University. It’s on the origins debate, a topic of great interest to me. If you’re able to make it, I’d love to see you there! Let me know!
J.W. Wartick - Reconstructing Faith 
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Posted by vincent | October 24, 2014, 8:04 AMRegarding When humans lose their Humanity I couldn’t comment because of technical problems so, with your allowance, will comment here.
“People stripped of their humanity”… giving in “to our darkest nature”… hmmm.
I don’t think this is a productive way of understanding what’s going on here (I know it’s ‘just’ TV and dystopian to boot, but still an interesting narrative to follow along the ‘what if’ vein and, like other good series, a way to better know ourselves).
Consider:
You see someone in pain. Most of us (not all) have enough mirror neurons to start the chemical cascade in our brain that imagines ourselves feeling that pain. Our brains – appropriately – respond with the arousal we call ’empathy’. We feel another’s pain and then respond. First we feel, then we respond.
Along comes a zombie aiming to feed off us. What would happen in our brain? Well, what you might expect: a chemical cascade causing an arousal we call fear or loathing, perhaps disgust and anger. What should our response to these feelings be? Remember, we feel first and then respond. Does it make any sense to suggest we should love this ‘neighbour’ as one’s self? Off the other cheek to chew off?
Yes, the zombies are in human form but once infected they become a different and dangerous adversary and without any doubt a deadly threat. There is little there when facing a zombie (unless a previously known human) for our mirror neurons to activate and much there to cause a fight or flight response.
The issues aren’t so much about losing our humanity (still on display in all its forms with characters not infected) as it is coming to terms with this new reality and having to reformat our morality to cope in it successfully not just to survive but find meaning and purpose. In that vein, I think it’s a fascinating story line that shows this very human struggle.
Posted by tildeb | October 25, 2014, 6:49 PM