Confessions of a Seminarian

Bill Maher’s Religulous

In what appears to be a high profile response to Ben Stein’s Expelled, Bill Maher is coming out with a documentary called Religulous.  While I certainly dont agree with Bill Maher’s viewpoints regarding religion, I also dont blame him for spear-heading this reactionary movie.  Christians have a habit of fighting the wrong battles, and the effort behind the Expelled movie was certainly one of them.  Maher’s new movie is an example of what can happen when Christians are willing to die on a hill that in no way comes close to an essential of the faith.  After all, there are many God-fearing evangelical men and women who dont mind evolution being taught in schools.  My hope and prayer is that the Christian community’s response to this new video by Bill Maher is one of grace and humility, and not one that starts a whole new very vocal, very public battle of Christian vs. Atheist that serves no one’s best interest.

Moses Was a Fake!

In the spirit of our Seminarian Wager, I thought I would discuss a theory of the composition of the Old Testament that may challenge both our faith and our doubts. This particular challenge will compare the narratives of Moses, as well as a man named Sargon. Most of you are familiar with the Biblical character Moses, but I am guessing that most of you (like myself) were previously unfamiliar with Sargon.

When reading these stories side by side, one notices extraordinary similarities. Both Sargon and Moses were born and hidden, placed on a river in a basket sealed with pitch, discovered and raised by another, rising to greatness, etc. Read more »

God on Trial Debate

Attention St. Louisans!

On Wednesday September 10th at 7PM, Fixed Foundation will be hosting “God on Trial,” a debate between Christian Dinesh D’Souza and Atheist Christopher Hitchens at Powell Symphony Hall.

Dinesh D’Souza is a noted writer and speaker on conservative politics as well as Christian apologetics. Born in Mumbai, India, he graduated from Dartmouth College and served as a policy analyst for the Reagan administration. D’Souza is also the author of several bestselling books.

Christopher Hitchens is a political observer, journalist, and literary critic. A British-American and antitheist, he was educated at Cambridge and Oxford and has been a columnist for Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, and The Nation, among others. “God on Trial” will pit Hitchens’ views as expressed in his best-seller God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything - against Christianity. D’Souza will defend the significance and uniqueness of the Christian faith, drawing arguments from his latest best-seller, What’s So Great About Christianity. }

A few of us at COAS are planning on going, and if you are in the area and would like to check it out with us (Christian, Atheist, or otherwise), head on over to the “Contact Us” page and let us know!  We’d love to meet you personally and maybe grab a drink afterwards.  It is sure to be entertaining!  Things like this don’t pop up everyday, and especially not in St. Louis!

Leggo My Ego!

One of my professors recently said the biggest hurdle to authentic Christianity in Western culture is the idol of “personal autonomy.”  We see it everywhere.  Self-fulfillment is the foundation for much of what drives our society.  The slogan for a new casino in St. Louis, is “Whatever turns you on.”  Pick a political issue. At its core, it is a disagreement between personal autonomy/choice and perceived government control: abortion, gay marriage, Second Amendment rights, national security, etc.  It’s even in the Declaration of Independence: the common rights to “life, liberty (personal autonomy), and pursuit of happiness (self fulfillment).”

Because there exists such emphasis upon the priority of the self, or “Ego,” we tend to reject concepts that emphasize submission to authority or that communicate judgment.  Even community service and charity is marketed to the ego: “Feel good about yourself for doing the right thing.”  Heaven forbid that we do the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do!

To say the Bible cuts against this grain is an understatement.  Read more »