Christian Radio Watch: Why a cold, hostile and mostly empty universe proves that god exists and loves us

Listen to the interview here (starts at 1h30m). The book is called: "Why The Universe Is The Way It Is". See how many logical fallacies and out right lies you can count before your head explodes.

It turns out the entire universe really was created just to make this one planet work. You see, there really was no other way to do it. And, um, we had to be in a dark spot so, um, we could see the rest of it easily.

Christian Radio Watch: "I don't have enough faith to be an atheist"

Fortunately, you don't need faith to be an atheist. In fact, sir, I think it's safe to say you don't really grasp the concept. Part 1 (1h31m), Part 2(1h31m)

This guy really spent some time addressing this book...

I don't know why I love listening to Christian apologetics so much. I guess it's sort of like watching a car wreck. Except it's a human brain spinning wildly out of control.

Christian Radio Watch: Faith in the Halls of Power

So, I'll admit that I'm embarrassed by my country on occasion and it's leaders. But I have to say that I'm especially embarrassed to know that Jimmy Carter used to evangelize (starts at 1h31m) to visiting heads of state. And you can also thank him for basically making it mandatory for every subsequent president to state that they are born again.

Thanks for that Jimbo!

Christian Radio Watch: The God Conversation

How to talk (starts at 1h31m) with your co-workers and friends about God.

I find it funny how hard it is for Christians to talk about their faith. You have to wonder how much they actually believe what they claim to believe. If you *really* believe that you are presenting information that will save someone from eternal torment or if you *really* believe that the creator of the universe is on your side, how shy are you going to be?

The main question I'm left with though is, if the polls are to be believed, and ~90% of the US population believes in God already, then who the hell are they evangelizing to? Are they just evangelizing to each other at this point?

Christian Radio Watch: Evangelicals and the Environment

I think the thing that freaks out a lot of non-religious people is how believers have a "short timers" attitude regarding caring for the planet. If Jesus is coming again soon and we're just going to abandon the earth and go to heaven anyway, then taking care of the earth is a big waste of time. With that in mind it's interesting to see the slowly growing environmental (oops "creation care") movement within the evangelicals. Even more interesting is how controversial and politically risky this is for them. Here's a recent radio article(1h20m) on this issue.

Christian Radio Watch: Hilary and the Christian vote

Here's a two part interview that presents a surprisingly positive discussion about Hilary Clinton. Apparently she is super-churchy. I'm not sure if this is a masterful marketing job aimed at winning the religious vote or a disturbing revelation about how important a role religion plays in her life. I'm afraid it's a little of both.

As an extra bonus the following day they talked about some of the Republican candidates and it cracked me up how reluctant the guest was to promote any one of them over the other.

I have a feeling if it comes to voting for a Mormon or Hilary many Evangelicals will have to stay home or vote for Hilary. Either way, Hilar-ity will ensue. :)

(Note for all three links above the relevant section starts a 1h31m)

Christian Radio Watch: unchristian

A few days ago there was a discussion about this new book. Apparently (shock) Christianity has a bad image among 16-29 year olds. Hypocritical? Anti-homosexual? Insensitive? Judgemental? Moi?

Seems like the kids are all right after all.

Christian Radio Watch: Slandering Jesus

You got to feel bad for a god who is powerless to stop all the slander (at 1h31m) being spread about him. I mean, come on, give an infinitely powerful being a break. Even Oprah doesn't seem to know how to treat the big guy correctly.

What's the deal with Christians and gays?

I was listening to this segment (1h:31m) today on Prime Time America (Moody Broadcasting) about a new book "Ex-Gays?". The authors report on the current research in converting gays into ex-gays using a religious approach. (Is there any other approach?)

In any case this reminded me of a question I've thought about for a long time but have never heard any where near a decent answer to: why do Christians (and Jews and Muslims) hate homosexuality so much? The answer is not "because it's in the bible". Because then we have to ask, *why* is it in the bible? And you can't just say it's cultural, because there had be a something that got anti-homosexual sentiments started in the first place. And besides there is plenty in the bible that is ignored. But for some reason people are especially eager to denounce homosexuality. So it seems like there is something pretty deep in human nature that makes it easy some how to be against homo-sexuality.

Objectively it seems like straight men should prefer that their competitors not compete for the limited pool of females.

So any way if any one knows the answer to this or has a plausible hypothesis, I'd love to hear it.

And by the way I am super not gay. I'm probably one of the least gay dudes you'll ever come across. I've never even seen another man naked. Ever. (Hmm... that sounds like I'm over compensating and trying to hide some secret feelings, better delete that last bit before hitting publ-

Christian Radio Watch: Lee Strobel - The Rock Star of Christian Apologetics

The one thing that always cracks me up about Bible apologetics is that it is an attempt to give evidence for something that you are supposed to take on faith. I mean any one can have faith in something that seems likely and for which a strong case can be made. It takes actual faith to believe in crazy stuff that your mind is constantly rejecting. But of course no can one silence that little voice of common sense completely so apologetics is the result.

As I was saying in my previous post there has been an upsurge in interviews defending the historical accuracy of the bible and the historicity of Jesus. And this interview with Lee Strobel is a great example of that. His interview is a special gem since he is able to condemn bible scholars who don't believe the bible is 100% true as the equivalent of the DaVinci Code conspiracy theorists and then implies that "militant" atheists are the equivalent of 9/11 hi-jackers.

Any way, you can hear it from the master here.

Christian Radio Watch: Reinventing Jesus

It seems like in the last year there has been an up surge in titles defending the historicity of Jesus. Probably this in not entirely unrelated to the fact there there has also been a rise in books challenging that historicity. Bart Ehrman seems to be the guy irritating them the most at this time.

Today they discuss (1h:31m) how awesome the authenticity of the new testament is. My favorite quote:

INTERVIEWER: Pretend for a minute that you aren't a Christian. Objectively, how credible is the gospel record?

AUTHOR: The New Testament canon is incredibly credible.

How can you argue with that?

Christian Radio Watch: The Truth Behind the New Atheists

It's time to learn more about these new atheists (1h:31m) that have been stirin' up trouble.

In summary, Dawkins based all his "research" on google searches and Christians invented science. *snap*

Christian Radio Watch: Irony == Truth, dontcha know?

You really have to like the reasoning that ironic undertones in a text support it's authenticity (1h31m). By this reasoning Mormonism is even more true than Protestantism and Scientology is truer still. Hmmmm... I may be confusing crazy with irony. Anyway, another classic from Moody Broadcasting.

"But we Christians believe that humans are basically sinful..."

I really need to stop listening to so much Christian radio news. But it's addicting I tell ya! Today they were interviewing (starts at 1:20) a guy who wrote about about the indisputable fact that violence has been on a massive decrease for the last millennium (e.g. 99% drop in the last 100 years for instance). It's pretty subtle (but priceless) to hear the confusion in the voice of the interviewer as he tried to reconcile this fact with the notion that man is inherently sinful.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with the relentless march of secularism. Probably a trick of Satan!

Misquoting Truth (yes you are actually)

I love books that inadventantly describe themselves ironically. On Prime Time America today (at 1h:31m) (Christian news show) they respond to Bart Ehrman's "Misquoting Jesus". It turns out that we *do* know that the bible is the perfect word of god. Well, I'm glad that's been resolved....