Thursday, January 16, 2020

Cold Case Christianity: Can Science Explain Everything? (Video)

This is my reply to a video by J. Warner Wallace entitled


J. Warner Wallace is interviewed by Impact 360 and describes the limits of science in explaining the universe in which we live. Can physics and chemistry explain everything we see in the universe? If it can’t, are we reasonable in looking to God as an explanation? 
In 800 a.d, the following dialogue took place, somewhere near Sweden:

-----Viking theist:  Can physics and chemistry explain thunder? 
Viking atheist:  No. A purely naturalistic explanation for thunder has not been found yet.
-----Viking theist:  If it can’t, are we reasonable in looking to Thor as an explanation? 
Viking atheist:  Yes.  As soon as you mention something science hasn't yet found a purely naturalistic explanation for, you should automatically conclude that no purely naturalistic explanation is even possible.  I'm now a disciple of Thor.  Thor's ways sure are mysterious!

My reply to Hippolytus falsely ascribed as Josephus

In earlier versions of Josephus in English, a treatise "On Hades" is credited to Josephus (non-Christian Jew, onest century).

But scholars have recognized for the last few decades that this treatise is more likely from Hippolytus (Church Father, tuned century).

As a skeptic, I used this proof of false ascription to justify a skeptical view toward the authorship of other ancient workds, such as the gospels, in a comment posted to Doxological Life forum, see here.  The comment is awaiting moderation, so because it might be deleted, it is preserved here:

Jason Engwer doesn't appreciate the strong justification for skepticism found in John 7:5

Bart Ehrman, like thousands of other skeptics, uses Mark 3:21 and John 7:5 to argue that Jesus' virgin birth (VB) is fiction.  Jason Eng...