The DNA Replisome: A Paradigm of Design

2. Does God Exist?, Apologetics, biology, Christianity, DNA, Evolution News and View, genetics, Gospel, Intelligent Design, Jonathan McLatchie, JonathanMclatchie.com, science, teleological argument
The DNA replisome is one of the most remarkable molecular machines, involving a complex of different proteins, each of which is very specifically crafted to fulfill its role in the process of replicating the genome in preparation for cell division. The rate of DNA replication has been measured at a whopping 749 nucleotides per second[1] and the error rate for accurate polymerases is believed to be in the range of 10-7 and 10-7, based on studies of E. coli and bacteriophage DNA replication.[2] One of the best animations of this incredible process is this one by Australian animator Drew Berry. It is difficult to look at an animation such as this (which is drastically over-simplified) and not come away with the strong intuition that such an intricately choreographed machine is the product of masterful…
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Does the Bible Support Sexual Slavery? An Analysis of Numbers 31:15-18

2. Does God Exist?, Apologetics, biblical ethics, Christianity, Gospel, Immoral God, Jonathan McLatchie, Numbers 31:15-18, Sex Slavery, Theology and Christian Apologetics, Tough Passages
More than two years ago, I participated in a debate in Oxford, England, with atheist YouTuber Alex O’Connor (who goes by the online alias Cosmic Skeptic). The subject was “Why I Am / Am Not a Christian,” which was quite broad. Given the short time constraints of the debate and the breadth of the topic, we were regrettably unable to pursue an explication of our differences with the depth that I would prefer. Nonetheless, I very much appreciated my interaction that evening with O’Connor, including the dinner we enjoyed together before the event. I have long viewed O’Connor as one of the more philosophically nuanced atheist thinkers, and I have valued our ongoing private discussions subsequent to our initial public dialogue. My positive argument in the debate concerned the evidence for Jesus’s resurrection,…
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Atheists’ Faith in Science is Misplaced

2. Does God Exist?, Al Serrato, Apologetics, Atheism, Christianity, design argument, Gospel, Intelligent Design, science, scientism, teleology, Theology and Christian Apologetics
Most atheists I have encountered demonstrate an amazing “faith” in the power of science. They will often accuse believers of wishful thinking – or outright foolishness – when believers conclude that an intelligent being is the only reasonable inference to draw from the evidence of design that surrounds us. They do this because they have come to believe that only through “science” can anything be known, and that science will someday answer all of life’s mysteries. That is what’s called “scientism.” There is no need for a God, they assure themselves, because “science” has not provided for one. Is Science the Only Way to Know? The flaw in this thinking is the assumption that science is the only way one can know something. This is flawed on many levels. Science,…
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In the Image of God: The Battle for Human Identity

2. Does God Exist?, Apologetics, Christianity, Faithful Thinkers, Gospel, Human Value, humanity, image of God, Luke Nix, Philosophy of Science, Theological Apologetics, theology, Theology and Christian Apologetics
By Luke Nix Introduction Human origins is a fascinating area of research today. With all the different models for the origins of humanity being proposed, I see an increase in the discussions, both scientific and theological. For everyone reading this post, this area of research should be of utmost interest for you as well. Two critical ideas about humanity are at stake depending on which model (or family of models) is true: intrinsic and equal human dignity and value, and the sinfulness of humanity. The age-old debate about God’s existence has great implications on this area of the debate about human origins. The Judeo-Christian claim that all humans are created in God’s Image and that humans possess a sin nature that will cause them to tend toward the immoral. These…
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A Christian Response to a Viral Deconversion Post

1. Does Truth Exist?, 2. Does God Exist?, Apologetics, Christianity, Deconstruction, Deconversion, Gospel, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, Natasha Crain, pragmatism, Social media, truth, witchcraft
By Natasha Crain Social media has been a popular place to share deconversion stories over the last few years, and sometimes so many people resonate with those posts that they go viral to some extent (being liked and shared by thousands of people). There’s one that’s being shared all over Facebook right now, written this week by a lady named Myndee Mack. At the time of this writing, it has 8,000+ likes/loves, 7,000+ comments, and over 3,000+ shares. Clearly, Myndee’s post is compelling to many. I’d like to offer a response. While it’s possible Myndee will come across this article, I’m not writing it primarily for her, but rather for the thousands of people who find her post to be a compelling assessment of Christianity and for Christians whose friends…
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Where Did Guilt Come From?

2. Does God Exist?, Al Serrato, Apologetics, Christianity, conscience, Culture & Politics, Evolution, evolutionary psychology, God, Gospel, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, Moral Argument, Moral Guilt, Sin, theology
As a prosecutor for many decades, I often found myself reflecting on the impact that feelings of guilt have, even upon criminals with lengthy records. Why was it that the guilty wanted to talk about their crime, even after being advised of their rights? Why would those who had “gotten away” nonetheless seek to escape their feelings through alcohol or drugs?  Apart from true sociopaths, it seemed to me that people cannot simply cast-off feelings of guilt by force of will. The feelings persist and they demand a reckoning. That voice of conscience – that voice that so many of us try so hard to quiet– simply refuses to cooperate. Where Guilt Comes From Put simply, feelings of guilt arise when a person senses the disconnect between what they have…
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Why God Can’t Be the Universe

2. Does God Exist?, eastern religion, Melissa Dougherty, mysticism, Panentheism, pantheism, Parmenides, Theology and Christian Apologetics, Thomas Aquinas, universe, World Religions
Most people believe in God. The question is, which God? Who is this God? Is He personal? Impersonal? An “it”? A vague source or amorphous energy? It’s important to think this through because if God exists, then there are spiritual ramifications for this. Christians understand God to be personal. They’re not pantheists or panentheists where God is equal or a part of His creation, but that He’s separate yet still personal with His creation. In other words, the Christian God is above His creation, not equal to it. There’s a difference between God and what He has created. Many Christian theologians and philosophers believe this isn’t only biblical but logical. Let’s look at a few of these arguments. It’s pronounced parh-MEN-i-deez Let’s start with Parmenides, a 6th-century Greek philosopher who’s…
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Is a Perfect Being Possible?

1. Does Truth Exist?, 2. Does God Exist?, Al Serrato, Apologetics, Atheism, Bible, Christianity, Creation, God
By Al Serrato Many atheists claim that the God described in the Bible is not possible. They raise philosophical challenges meant to show that inherent in the very nature of God are contradictions which make belief in him foolish. One such challenge I encountered went like this: “If God was all that existed back then, what disturbed the eternal equilibrium and compelled him to create? Was he bored? Was he lonely? God is supposed to be perfect. If something is perfect, it is complete–it needs nothing else. If God is perfect, there can be no disequilibrium. There is nothing he needs, nothing he desires, and nothing he must or will do. A God who is perfect does nothing except exist. Therefore, a perfect being that creates is impossible.” Challenges like…
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Should Christians Have Blind Faith?

2. Does God Exist?, Blind Faith, Christian Apologetics, Defending Christianity, Difference between faith and blind faith, Doubts, Evidence, faith, Levi Dade, Questions about Christianity, Questions about God, reasons to believe, Theology and Christian Apologetics
By Levi Dade A few months ago, I sat with a close friend in one of the booths of our university’s coffee shop. My friend, whom I will call Tom, is an atheist. Tom is a genuine truth-seeker, and he would be a Christian if he thought Christianity was “actually true.” During our conversation, we found ourselves discussing the topic of faith. After probing his views of the world and his justifications for them, he said something that surprised me. “At the end of the day, I guess we all have to have faith in something.” I wanted clarity on what he meant by that statement, so I responded, “Do you mean blind faith?” “Yeah, I guess it is blind faith.” The Difference Between Faith and Blind Faith Notice something…
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What Would It Take To Prove That God Doesn’t Exist?

2. Does God Exist?, Al Serrato, Answers to Skeptics questions, Apologetics, Atheists arguments, Christianity, God, Jesus, religion, Skeptics, theology, Theology and Christian Apologetics
By Al Serrato Atheists who feel certain that there is no God are staking out a rather interesting position. As a corollary of their position, they are of course also convinced that those who believe in God are engaging in a form of wishful thinking, that their desire to believe in a “cosmic judge” of good and evil clouds their thinking, preventing them from following where “the science” actually leads, as they believe they have done. Indeed, many believe that religion is no more than the opiate of the masses. But a bit of careful consideration will lead to quite the opposite conclusion. Holding to atheism may have some superficial appeal, as the theist must concede that it is not possible to directly see or experience God. But pretending to…
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