51. A Christmas thunderbolt for the arch-enemy of religion

Comment #14875 by DerrickB on December 26, 2006 at 8:23 am

A Christmas Message:

We all believed in Father Christmas. Our parents and our teachers told us to believe in Him. Father Christmas knew when we had been good or bad. He wanted each of us to petition Him with lists of our desires. Sometimes He answered, and sometimes He didn't. Still we didn't question Him - Santa has his reasons. We had to believe that He could be everywhere at one time. And still we didn't question Him – Santa has his mysterious ways. But gradually the questions began to nag and doubts became harder to ignore. Our brains developed and our eyes opened. We came to realise that evidence could challenge blind faith. And most of us learnt that becoming an adult means giving up the infant comforts of received beliefs and unquestioning obedience. Growing up offers the opportunity to apprehend and appreciate the unbounded wonders of the universe through open minds. Growing up uncovers our evolved abilities of reason and explanation. As grown-ups we carry a responsibility to help those who still fear the light of truth to break free from the cocoons of their childish fantasies.

52. The problem with secularism

Comment #14467 by DerrickB on December 22, 2006 at 3:01 pm

Quote: "Sam Harris's diatribe "The End of Faith" has to falsify history by claiming that Hitler and Stalin were religious in order to make its case for the malign influence of faith."

I have recently discovered the following about Pope John Paul I:
"when as a common priest the Vatican had denied his request that sought excommunication of Hitler and Mussolini he responded on behalf of those who the church had so heartlessly excommunicated through the centuries for the act of remarriage, "I am greatly tormented that Mother Church would see it as her duty to close the Gates of Heaven forever to so many innocent people who have at last found true love and yet on the other hand see it as her duty to leave them open to the likes of such tyrants."

53. The Only One in Step

Comment #14460 by DerrickB on December 22, 2006 at 2:26 pm

Burgess is an old hand at this. Here is his book:

Title: The origin of man
Sub Title: The image of God or the image of an ape?

Overview:
Have humans descended from apes, or was man specially created? Do humans have unique characteristics and abilities that set them apart from all the animals? The answers to these crucial questions determine whether man is just an animal or a special spiritual being. This book shows that there is overwhelming evidence that man has a Creator. The book has many diagrams and includes: explanation of similarities between humans and apes; unique characteristics of humans; unique beauty of humans; archaeological and fossil evidence;
the importance and relevance of the origins debate.

Author Details:
Dr Stuart Burgess, BSc, PhD, CEng, MIMechE, is a Reader in Engineering Design at Bristol University. His research areas include the study of design in nature. He previously worked in industry, designing rocket and satellite systems for the European Space Agency. He is winner of the Worshipful Company of Turners Gold Medal for the design of the solar array deployment system on the £1.4 billion ENVISAT earth observation satellite.

McIntosh is involved with the Institute of Creation Research:
http://www.icr.org/research/index/research_physci_mcintosh/

"The Institute for Creation Research equips believers with evidences of the Bible's accuracy and authority through scientific research, educational programs, and media presentations, all conducted within a thoroughly biblical framework."