Next week, we wrap up the fall teaching series at Palm Valley's New Community, Philippians: Discovering God in the Midst of Life. As such, I’ve been spending quite a bit of time over the past several weeks sketching out the next teaching series, not to mention engaged in my share of research, gathering materials and resources. I’m looking forward to this series... In the series, which will begin Wednesday, January 20, 2010, we’re going to wrestle through several tough questions that have been elevated to surface with the recent surge among the New Atheist. In each of the teachings, we will explore both sides of the spectrum. We'll look at things from the perspective of an Atheist or skeptic, as well as that of a thinking follower of Christ.
Over the four weeks we’ll look at:
Faith and Doubt
There is a healthy tension between faith and doubt. Doubts aren't inherently evil, in fact, there’s much that we can learn by exploring our own doubts and those of others. We will explore what some of the fundamental claims of the New Atheist and how can we intellectually respond to their questions, criticisms and dispositions.
Faith and Science
Are Faith and Science at odds with one another? Does that which can be deduced through science discredit what Scripture says?
Faith and Evil
If God exists, why has so much evil be perpetrated in His name? After all, isn't the Church is responsible for so much injustice.
Faith and Suffering
How could a Good God allow so much suffering?
The following are a few of the things that I’m reading, watching and listening to in preparation. Some of these are from the perspective of a Christian Apologetics and others are from significant voices within the New Atheist movement.
What's So Great about Christianity by Dinesh D'Souza
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller
Faith and Doubt by John Ortberg
Apologetics for a New Generation: A Biblical and Culturally Relevant Approach to Talking About God by Sean McDowell
Knowing Christ Today: Why We Can Trust Spiritual Knowledge by Dallas Willard
fora.tv is a great visual resource. There are a number of videos by Atheist such as Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion), Sam Harris (The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason), Christopher Hitchens (God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything), as well as presentations and interviews by authors like Dinesh D’Souza (mentioned above). Flora.tv also has a video page within iTunes University.
Websites:
Reasonable Faith with Dr. William Craig Lane
Christian Apologetics with Ravi Zacharias
2 comments:
The upcoming series sounds cool- I will have to check the popcasts. I have been studying in the same vain for the past few months... almost finished with the God Delusion... There is a great book 'The Dulusion of Disbelief by David Aikman... the book goes through the doctrine of the "four--horseman' of new atheism... the guys you mentioned above. THe book goes through where they are coming from but also points out their contradictions and false quotes they use plus it adds context to some of the dada guys like Richard Dawkins have misused. Pretty good though. The author is a Christian and knows his history so that increases my enjoyment in reading:)
Angela,
Thanks for the book title... I'll check it out...
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