Author Archives: Maryann Spikes

Astrophysics question for fun (time, matter/energy)

Posted on January 4, 2008 by Maryann Spikes

I have an astronomy question I was wondering if you could answer, or could point me in the right direction to getting the answer. Hypothetically, if the past still exists and the future already exists – what would that say … Continue reading →

Posted in Predestination | 3 Comments

Natural Empathy and Supernatural Love

Posted on January 4, 2008 by Maryann Spikes

Natural Empathy and Supernatural Love In this thread I’m just making sure my ideas on morality are consistent… Some verses on generally revealed morality: Luke 6:32-35; Romans 1:19; 2:14. A while back I compiled a list of potentially conflicting ideas … Continue reading →

Posted in Divine Essentialism, Golden Rule | Leave a comment

Predestination and Free Will

Posted on January 4, 2008 by Maryann Spikes

This thread updates the old “determinism and free will” thread. Predestination and Free Will I start off asking a question for the purpose of introducing concepts in its answer: freedom and determinism: compatible or incompatible? Ultimately, though, the question is: … Continue reading →

Posted in Divine Essentialism, Predestination | 8 Comments

Can God do the meaninglessly impossible? *yawn*

Posted on January 3, 2008 by Maryann Spikes

Can God make a rock so heavy He can’t lift it? It’s about logical paradox. When something is a paradox, it loses meaning. God cannot make a rock so heavy He cannot lift it, because that is a meaningless statement. … Continue reading →

Posted in Apologetics | 1 Comment

Mystery in the Bible

Posted on January 3, 2008 by Maryann Spikes

Supernatural truths are divinely introduced via revelation from God, and so are referred to as ‘mysteries’ – as they are not “self-evident” (natural) truths (Rom 1:20; 2:14-15). Here is a collection of Zondervan NASB Study Bible notes on verses which … Continue reading →

Posted in Against Gnosticism | Leave a comment

Glimpse of Eternity

Posted on January 3, 2008 by Maryann Spikes

This post gives a glimpse of “Eternity in Their Hearts” by Don Richardson, who is recognized for his anthropological and linguistic work among the Sawi people of Irian Jaya. Edward B. Tyler’s theory that monotheism evolved has been refuted for a long time. … Continue reading →

Posted in Apologetics, Apologetics Toolbox | Leave a comment

The motivation to do good is God.

Posted on January 3, 2008 by Maryann Spikes

Some who glorify evil imply that the only motivation to do good is lost when God is not in the picture. In a way this is true, because, as Jesus said, “I am the vine and you are the branches … Continue reading →

Posted in Divine Essentialism, Golden Rule | Leave a comment

Science Experiment with Faith

Posted on January 3, 2008 by Maryann Spikes

I wonder…could you do an experiment… see how easy/hard it is to “walk the walk” of a Christian (not the hypocritical Christian, but your best idea of the Christian who genuinely loves and follows Christ), depending on God to help … Continue reading →

Posted in Apologetics | Leave a comment

Biblical criticism and interpretation.

Posted on January 3, 2008 by Maryann Spikes

From Zondervan’s Handbook to the Bible, 1999: ‘The text and the message’, pp. 58-59 Excerpt from ‘Studying the Gospels’, pp. 546-547 The text and the messageCraig Bartholomew Academic study of the Bible (‘biblical criticism’) has been dominated by a number … Continue reading →

Posted in Apologetics | Leave a comment

If you were God, how would you make yourself known?

Posted on January 3, 2008 by Maryann Spikes

If I had never heard about God before, and suddenly I started wondering why anything exists, and it occurred to me that perhaps there is a being behind it all… and that perhaps this being interacts with beings like me… … Continue reading →

Posted in Apologetics | 2 Comments