By J. Brian Huffling
many people throughout history and across the world have claimed to have seen UFOs and even have experiences with what are normally described as aliens. I’ve always had a casual interest in UFOs, but with the release of three Navy videos and the Unidentified documentary, I became more interested.
It is probably safe to say that most people think that talk of UFOs and aliens is crazy; however, the evidence for such phenomena has been mounting to the point that the existence of UFOs is beyond question. This article will look at a brief history of UFOs, focusing mostly on the U.S., some of the claims people have made, an examination of prominent theories of what is going on, and an overall assessment.
A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF UFOLOGY (MAINLY IN THE U.S.)
It is popular to begin modern ufology (the study of all things UFOs) with Kenneth Arnold’s sighting of 9 objects flying, according to him, around 1700mph at Mt. Ranier, WA in June of 1947. Such was not actually the beginning of UFO sightings, even in the U.S. There was a massive wave of sightings (a wave of sightings is called a flap) around the country in the late 1890s of “airships.” Further, reported UFO activity (to include abductions) has gone on for millennia. (See Wonders in the Sky: Unexplained Aerial Objects from Antiquity to Modern Times by Jacques Vallée and Chris Aubeck for a good history of ufology. Also, see Vallée’s Passport to Magonia: From Folklore to Flying Saucers for an explanation of how the modern UFO phenomena is very similar to religion and folklore of the past.)
About a month after Arnold’s sighting was the famous Roswell incident where at least one UFO supposedly crashed around Roswell, NM. The Air Force first said it was a “disk” but just hours later said it was a weather balloon. In 1994, the Air Force published The Roswell Report: Case Closed where they reported that what actually fell was a balloon related to the secret project called Project Mogul, which was a way of spying on the USSR’s use of atomic weapons. (The Roswell Legacy: The Untold Story of the First Military Officer at the 1947 Crash Site argues that what fell at Roswell was an actual UFO with aliens and is told by the son of the intelligence officer who was there and allegedly brought some wreckage home to show his family. UFO Crash at Roswell: The Genesis of a Modern Myth is an appraisal from a non-believer.)
Numerous UFO sightings that year led to the newly formed Air Force (formed in September of 1947) to begin a series of special projects to study the issue. The first was Project Sign in 1947, followed by Project Grudge in 1949, and then the famous Project Blue Book in 1952 that lasted until early 1970 (it was announced closed in December of ’69). The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects by Captain Edward Ruppelt, who led Project Grudge and Blue Book from 1951-1953, is required reading for anyone interested in the history of UFOs, especially as it relates to the Air Force, as is The UFO Experience by Air Force astronomy consultant J. Allen Hynek.
There was a flap in 1952 over Washington D.C. that led to the CIA becoming interested. In January of 1953 it held a panel in conjunction with the Air Force, informally called the Robertson panel. It officially concluded that UFOs were not an issue of national security, but it is disputed as to whether the Air Force really gave them the good files to examine. Many other sightings occurred in the 50s and 60s, including the well-known Malmstrom Air Force Base (AFB) incident where UFOs were seen over the nuclear ICBM missile sites when 20 ICBMs went offline. For that account from an eyewitness who served as an officer in the missile silo, see Faded Giant.
In the late 1960s the government gave The University of Colorado a grant to independently investigate UFOs. It was headed by Edward Condon and is informally known as the Condon Committee. It is well-known to have been biased against UFOs from the beginning, at least by the leader, and it recommended Blue Book be shut down, which it was.
Sightings continued through the 70s and 80s worldwide. Pilots in Iran chased a UFO and one in Peru shot at one. All to no avail. (It is reported by Ruppelt that in 1952 a U.S. Air Force pilot shot at one.) One of the most notable cases was the event that happened at RAF Bentwaters and Woodbridge in the U.K. in December of 1980. Several security police and others, including then the Deputy Base Commander, Lt Col Halt, saw UFOs. One claims to have actually touched it. This has been one of the most interesting and controversial cases ever. For a good source on this that was written by eyewitnesses, see Encounter in Rendlesham Forest: The Inside Story of the World’s Best-Documented UFO Incident.
2004 ushered in a new era with the now famous, and aforementioned, Navy videos. In August of 2020, the military started an Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF). In June of 2021, the Office of the Director of National Security provided a “Preliminary Assessment” to Congress. It stated that UFOs (or as the military now calls them, UAPs) are real and in 144 cases, unexplained. In July of 2022, top members of the intelligence community testified before Congress for the first time in over 50 years, also confirming the existence of UFOs and confirming that what the Navy videos show are still unexplained. The government has never claimed they are of extraterrestrial origin. It is well-known that the government is taking UFOs seriously, even if they (reportedly) don’t believe they are aliens.
For an excellent, but very detailed history of UFOs in the U.S. (from one who holds to the extraterrestrial view) see Richard Dolan’s 2 volume UFOs and the National Security State. For a less-detailed but good account from a skeptic’s viewpoint, see Curtis Peebles’ Watch the Skies! For an intriguing and important overview of UFOs as they relate to the military, see Leslie Kean’s UFOs: Generals, Pilots and Government Officials Go on the Record. For an excellent historical source in general, see Jerome Clark’s The UFO Encyclopedia.
THE NATURE OF UFO SIGHTINGS
While most of the above are sightings of objects flying around, hovering, or landed, there are many kinds of sightings or UFO events. Hynek provided the original classification for UFO sightings and that classification was updated to the following:
- Daylight Disks: UFOs seen during the day
- Nocturnal Lights: UFOs seen at night
- Radar Visual: Objects seen on radar
- Close Encounters of the First Kind (CE-1): Encounters of around 500 feet
- Close Encounters of the Second Kind (CE-2): Encounters that leave some kind of physical effects, such as marks in the ground, trees, or affects on vehicles
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind (CE-3): Inhabitants of UFOs are seen
- Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind (CE-4): Contact such as abduction
- Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind (CE-5): The individual suffers some kind of harm or even death
Certainly one of the most intriguing aspects about UFOs are the reported “alien abductions.” While many, if not most, believe that such abductions (and even sightings in general) are only experienced by “crazy” people, it does not take much research to discover that very sane and respectable people experience. not only sightings of UFOs but also what is usually categorized as “alien abductions.” Such phenomena have been occurring for hundreds of years (again, see Wonders in the Sky and Passport to Magonia).
THEORIES OF UFOS AND ALIENS
THE SKEPTICAL OR TERRESTRIAL VIEW
I’m going to lump the skeptical view together with the terrestrial view since they can both be held simultaneously. That is, some can be skeptical of UFOs in the sense of them being extraterrestrial while arguing for a terrestrial explanation. Indeed, about 95% or so of alleged sightings are explainable via natural means, such as astronomical phenomena, weather, simple misidentifications, and the like. Many are simply skeptical of UFO claims in general for this reason.
Some have tried to explain UFOs as simply being secret technology either had by the U.S. or other nations. It is indeed the case that there are advanced technological systems that causes UFO reports, and the Air Force has actually capitalized on people thinking they are UFOs in order to provide a cover for their own technology. Richard Doty is a famous (infamous?) example of one who has admitted to this happening.
However, it is a difficult pill to swallow that there were aircraft in the 1940s that could travel at speeds and perform aerial maneuvers that even today cannot be duplicated. The intelligence specialists who testified before Congress noted that we do not have any evidence that such technology is possessed either by the U.S. or other nations. Such has led some to another theory.
THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL HYPOTHESIS (ETH)
Undoubtedly the most popular view (other than the skeptical view, which cannot be accepted any longer) is the one that purports that aliens are behind the “flying saucers.” For proponents of that view, see Dolan’s works above, as well as Kean’s. The argument behind this view is that if UFOs are not explained by earthly means, and since they are evidently intelligently operated and even seemingly interact with people, they must be alien in nature. This appears to be a rational position but there are problems with it.
One problem is interstellar travel. Since I am not an astronomer or qualified to navigate this debate, I will defer to Hugh Ross, a former astronomer from Cal Tech, who argues this in his Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men (co-authored with Ken Samples and Mark Clark). I realize there are astronomers who argue that such travel is possible, but Ross makes some pretty convincing arguments to the contrary. In short, Ross argues that the distance is too great and would require multigenerational travel, even from some of the nearest systems. It would also take an incredible amount of energy to travel that far and fast. Further, as Ross notes, space is not empty. Going the required speeds would destroy a space ship if they so much as hit some of the smallest space debris.
Jacques Vallée is arguably today’s leading ufologist and has worked with Hynek in general and in his dealings with the Air Force in particular. Vallée is uniquely trained for his work given his background in astronomy as well as computer information systems. He has the unusual skill set to be able to organize UFO data and has researched them for decades. In the last book of his famous trilogy, Revelations: Alien Contact and Human Deception, he adds as an appendix a paper he delivered at an academic conference against the ETH. He offers 5 arguments against the view. Such arguments include the odd fact that there are thousands if not millions of UFO events where aliens are said to visit Earth and take samples of things like soil. This is strong evidence against the skeptical view, but he argues it is also evidence against the ETH as it doesn’t make sense why aliens would need to have so many visits and samples. Further, the reported means by which aliens supposedly experiment on people are even more rudimentary than our own technology. Another issue is the seeming impossibility of random evolution producing multiple species that have the same basic human anatomical structure with the ability to see and hear the way we do. He argues, as a naturalist, that to expect multiple species to arise from random chance with such similar structures is basically zero (of course, this changes if one holds to theism, as such would allow God to create as many similar species as he wanted). However, Vallée’s main argument against the ETH is that it just doesn’t take into account the history of ufology and the apparent connection to religion and folklore. According to him, the alien view is simply not strange enough.
Another problem with the ETH is the fact that UFOs do things that appear to violate the laws of physics. For example, they fly at extremely fast speeds that cannot be matched by earthly aircraft, perform right angle and 180 degree turns without slowing down, are transmedium, meaning they can fly through space, air, and water without being affected, appear from nowhere and vanish instantly, can change shape and size, and are seemingly impervious to being hit with bullets. (See Lights in the Sky for a good discussion of this.) Even the abduction phenomena exhibits problems with being physical since “aliens” reportedly walk through walls and take their abductees through walls and physical objects. Hynek actually argues for more of a physic (not exactly psychological) view in The Edge of Reality, where he has a fascinating discussion with Vallée on the topic of their physicality. For Hynek, UFOs are fundamentally non-physical but can cause physical effects, much like poltergeist phenomena. Further, there are reports of people being abducted while being watched by other people in the room, indicating that something non-physical is going on.
THE INTER-DIMENSIONAL HYPOTHESIS
Vallée’s preferred view is what he calls the inter-dimensional hypothesis. Vallée holds that UFOs are fundamentally physical, but can move through various space-time dimensions. While he does not use the interstellar argument against the ETH (that I know of), this view would alleviate that issue. The apparent violations of physics are supposedly explained this way, such as the objects appearing and disappearing from and into nothing and being able to change their form. This jibes more with the history of the phenomena, according to Vallée, and better explains the abduction issue. Rather than “aliens” trying to do experiments on humans, he maintains that these beings are ultimately trying to control our worldview. Another aspect explained is the way that UFOs seem to just outpace our own technology enough to be unexplainable. (Lights in the Sky also deals with this.) Before airplanes they were airships. Then flying saucers, etc.
The merits of Vallée’s view are the good points and arguments against the ETH, the historical points and connection to religion. However, it seems to be somewhat ad hoc since such dimensions are apparently debated. While Ross does admit to more than 10 dimensions being needed to explain reality, he notes that per Einstein’s theory of relativity, a person cannot simply jump between various dimensions. If this is true, then Vallée’s view would be, to use Ross’ word, “irrelevant” since it would be impossible.
THE SPIRITUAL OR EXTRA-DIMENSIONAL VIEW
A popular view among Christians is the view that while UFOs are real, they are not physical aliens from another planet. Rather, they are demonic spirits that are attempting to deceive people and draw them away from the truth of the Gospel. Ross calls this the extra-dimensional view. For a long time I wondered why demons would want to make people think they are aliens. Then I discovered two reasons. First, as Vallée argues, whatever these things are, they are evidently trying to control people’s belief system. Well, that’s a pretty good reason for enemies of God to want to appear as aliens. Another and related reason is that much of the UFO phenomena is directly and explicitly anti-Christian—not just anti-religious: anti-Christian. Much of the “teachings” of these beings are specifically against the deity of Jesus Christ and the teachings and truths of the Gospel. Some of their teachings claim that Jesus himself was an alien and was raised back to life by aliens. Indeed, there are many UFO cults.
Vallée himself has a book on this topic: Messengers of Deception. Lights in the Sky also deals with this aspect of the phenomena, as does Ron Rhodes’ The Truth about UFOs and Aliens: A Christian Assessment. A director for a well-known civilian UFO investigation group, Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), Joe Jordan and his co-author Jason Dezember deal with the demonic view in their Piercing the Cosmic Veil: You Shall Not Be Afraid of the Terror by Night. Their title is very apt, for “alien” encounters are reportedly very terrifying. Jordan, as well as other MUFON directors, have noted that “alien abduction” experiences are stopped when the experiencer calls on the name of Jesus. Jordan has hundreds of such examples. (See his website here.) Gary Bates has written about the demonic connection in his Alien Intrusion.
The door to the phenomena is reportedly opened by one dabbling in the occult or new age movement. Often, such a link can be found with the people directly involved in the experiences, and when that door to the occult is shut, the experiences stop. What about children? There are accounts of children having abduction experiences too. However, when people like Jordan do some investigating, it is often found that a parent or other family member have some connection to the occult. However, such is not always the case.
CONCLUSION AND IMPORTANCE
The investigation into what UFOs and aliens are is not a deductive one. In other words, it is not going to be proven beyond any doubt in this lifetime. Rather it is, no pun intended, an abductive one. That is, the truth about the phenomena will likely be what accounts for the data the best, namely, what has the most explanatory power (how well the data is explained) and explanatory scope (how much of the data is explained), and what less ad hoc (made up without evidence). I agree with Vallée that the ETH does not possess the greatest explanatory power or scope. It does not really seem to account for the history, the physical problems, or the anti-Christian themes. The data is well-accounted for with the demonic view. Such a view answers the material problems since the UFOs/aliens are not really physical in nature, but can, as Hynek suggests, cause physical effects. This also accounts for the anti-Christian teachings that are ubiquitous in the phenomena.
Apart from the UFO phenomena being interesting, it is also important. More than just a possible national security threat, there is an existential threat. If the demonic view is correct, then there is, indeed, a cosmic and spiritual battle for our entire belief systems, and thus our souls. Statistically, given the number of sightings and experiences, many people who go to Christian churches have had an experience (although, it can be argued that if people in the church dabble in the occult and new age less, then they won’t have as many doors open).
Often, people turn to new age, occultic, or otherwise anti-Christian sources either for answers to their questions, being lured by their own curiosity of the paranormal, or simply being drawn in by our culture pushing it on us. (An excellent source on this, especially as it relates to children, is Marcia Montenegro’s Spellbound: The Paranormal Seduction of Today’s Kids.) Churches and even apologetic ministries need to spend more time on the dangers of even dabbling in seemingly harmless actions that flirt with the paranormal and other dangerous areas, such as the new age movement. One excellent ministry that does just this is Montenegro’s “Christian Answers for the New Age.” Reasons to Believe (founded by Hugh Ross), Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries with Ron Rhodes, Southern Evangelical Seminary, and of course, Jordan’s ministry are also active in this area.
The UFO topic is an interesting one. I agree with Vallée, Hynek, and Ross that the alien view does not do the best job explaining the data. Given the spiritual nature of UFOs and especially “aliens,” there is a strong argument that such activity is really demonic in nature. If it is the case that the paranormal, occult, and new age are doors to such activity, it is imperative that Christians understand this and that it is clearly taught in our churches and homes. The Bible gives several commands to avoid involvement in such activity. Unfortunately, Christians and churches are easily caught up in the flow of our culture, rather than standing firm in the faith. This is indeed an important issue that deserves attention in the Church as well as in other ministries that teach the truth and importance of the faith.
Recommended resources related to the topic:
What is God Like? Look to the Heavens by Dr. Frank Turek (DVD and Mp4)
Science Doesn’t Say Anything, Scientists Do by Dr. Frank Turek (DVD, Mp3 and Mp4)
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J. Brian Huffing has a BA in History from Lee University, an MA in (3 majors) Apologetics, Philosophy, and Biblical Studies from Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES), and a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from SES. Brian serves a Director of the Ph.D. Program and Associate Professor of Philosophy and Theology at SES. Brian teaches courses for Apologia Online Academy. Brias has served in the Marines, Navy, and is currently a reserve chaplain in the Air Force at Dobbins Air Reserve Base.
Original Blog Source: https://bit.ly/3rswTsg
Where is the Real Mt. Sinai? | with Tim Mahoney
PodcastIs there any evidence for the Exodus? Where is the real Mount Sinai? Our Bible maps and traditional Bible scholars think that the issue is settled, but does what they say match up with what we see?
Investigative filmmaker Timothy Mahoney has been searching for the true location of Mount Sinai for over 20 years. The Bible records that at Sinai, God made a covenant with Moses and the Israelites and gave them the Ten Commandments. While the majority of scholars continue to favor the traditional site of Jebel Musa (the mountain of Moses) in the southern Sinai Peninsula as the true location of Mount Sinai, many believe that the lack of evidence at that location gives us good reason to think again. In fact, some scholars question whether these events happened at all!
In this episode, Frank talks with Tim about his new film, ‘Patterns of Evidence: Journey to Mount Sinai: Part 1′ where Tim investigates three of the six most popular locations proposed for Mount Sinai in an effort to pinpoint the mountain’s true location. The film debuts in theaters this Monday and Tuesday (10/17-18) and is a truly interactive experience! Viewers are encouraged to put on their thinking caps and fill out their own scorecards to examine the “patterns of evidence” and come to their own conclusions on which mountain best fits the biblical criteria. You can find theater and ticket information on Tim’s website, PatternsOfEvidence.com.
Tim and Frank also discuss how the traditional location of Mt. Sinai was established, why finding the location of Midian is an important clue to finding the location of Mount Sinai, and why modern scholarship might be wary of finding the true location. Fascinating stuff!
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, and catch the BONUS INTERVIEW with Tim Mahoney, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians without fear of being canceled by your friends, family, co-workers, or boss!
Tim’s website: https://patternsofevidence.com/
Movie + ticket information: https://bit.ly/3MEz7yI
Download scorecard: https://bit.ly/3g9yeSz
If you would like to submit a question to be answered on the show, please email your question to Hello@Crossexamined.org.
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15 Mistakes We Make Judging God’s Morality – Part 1
PodcastIs God nothing but a bully, a murderer, and a temperamental father? A quick scan of the Bible might alert us to some passages that on the surface seem a little unsettling. As a result, atheists and skeptics say that God is immoral because of some of the odd and disturbing things the Bible says. Some of these criticisms have even made their way into the church! So how do we respond to such accusations?
Join Frank as he begins to outline some of the false moral and theological assumptions we bring to the Bible as well as several mistakes we make when interpreting the Bible to help us see that the problem isn’t God, the problem is US!
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians without fear of being canceled by your friends, family, co-workers, or boss!
If you would like to submit a question to be answered on the show, please email your question to Hello@Crossexamined.org.
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UFOS, Aliens, And Christianity
Theology and Christian ApologeticsBy J. Brian Huffling
many people throughout history and across the world have claimed to have seen UFOs and even have experiences with what are normally described as aliens. I’ve always had a casual interest in UFOs, but with the release of three Navy videos and the Unidentified documentary, I became more interested.
It is probably safe to say that most people think that talk of UFOs and aliens is crazy; however, the evidence for such phenomena has been mounting to the point that the existence of UFOs is beyond question. This article will look at a brief history of UFOs, focusing mostly on the U.S., some of the claims people have made, an examination of prominent theories of what is going on, and an overall assessment.
A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF UFOLOGY (MAINLY IN THE U.S.)
It is popular to begin modern ufology (the study of all things UFOs) with Kenneth Arnold’s sighting of 9 objects flying, according to him, around 1700mph at Mt. Ranier, WA in June of 1947. Such was not actually the beginning of UFO sightings, even in the U.S. There was a massive wave of sightings (a wave of sightings is called a flap) around the country in the late 1890s of “airships.” Further, reported UFO activity (to include abductions) has gone on for millennia. (See Wonders in the Sky: Unexplained Aerial Objects from Antiquity to Modern Times by Jacques Vallée and Chris Aubeck for a good history of ufology. Also, see Vallée’s Passport to Magonia: From Folklore to Flying Saucers for an explanation of how the modern UFO phenomena is very similar to religion and folklore of the past.)
About a month after Arnold’s sighting was the famous Roswell incident where at least one UFO supposedly crashed around Roswell, NM. The Air Force first said it was a “disk” but just hours later said it was a weather balloon. In 1994, the Air Force published The Roswell Report: Case Closed where they reported that what actually fell was a balloon related to the secret project called Project Mogul, which was a way of spying on the USSR’s use of atomic weapons. (The Roswell Legacy: The Untold Story of the First Military Officer at the 1947 Crash Site argues that what fell at Roswell was an actual UFO with aliens and is told by the son of the intelligence officer who was there and allegedly brought some wreckage home to show his family. UFO Crash at Roswell: The Genesis of a Modern Myth is an appraisal from a non-believer.)
Numerous UFO sightings that year led to the newly formed Air Force (formed in September of 1947) to begin a series of special projects to study the issue. The first was Project Sign in 1947, followed by Project Grudge in 1949, and then the famous Project Blue Book in 1952 that lasted until early 1970 (it was announced closed in December of ’69). The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects by Captain Edward Ruppelt, who led Project Grudge and Blue Book from 1951-1953, is required reading for anyone interested in the history of UFOs, especially as it relates to the Air Force, as is The UFO Experience by Air Force astronomy consultant J. Allen Hynek.
There was a flap in 1952 over Washington D.C. that led to the CIA becoming interested. In January of 1953 it held a panel in conjunction with the Air Force, informally called the Robertson panel. It officially concluded that UFOs were not an issue of national security, but it is disputed as to whether the Air Force really gave them the good files to examine. Many other sightings occurred in the 50s and 60s, including the well-known Malmstrom Air Force Base (AFB) incident where UFOs were seen over the nuclear ICBM missile sites when 20 ICBMs went offline. For that account from an eyewitness who served as an officer in the missile silo, see Faded Giant.
In the late 1960s the government gave The University of Colorado a grant to independently investigate UFOs. It was headed by Edward Condon and is informally known as the Condon Committee. It is well-known to have been biased against UFOs from the beginning, at least by the leader, and it recommended Blue Book be shut down, which it was.
Sightings continued through the 70s and 80s worldwide. Pilots in Iran chased a UFO and one in Peru shot at one. All to no avail. (It is reported by Ruppelt that in 1952 a U.S. Air Force pilot shot at one.) One of the most notable cases was the event that happened at RAF Bentwaters and Woodbridge in the U.K. in December of 1980. Several security police and others, including then the Deputy Base Commander, Lt Col Halt, saw UFOs. One claims to have actually touched it. This has been one of the most interesting and controversial cases ever. For a good source on this that was written by eyewitnesses, see Encounter in Rendlesham Forest: The Inside Story of the World’s Best-Documented UFO Incident.
2004 ushered in a new era with the now famous, and aforementioned, Navy videos. In August of 2020, the military started an Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF). In June of 2021, the Office of the Director of National Security provided a “Preliminary Assessment” to Congress. It stated that UFOs (or as the military now calls them, UAPs) are real and in 144 cases, unexplained. In July of 2022, top members of the intelligence community testified before Congress for the first time in over 50 years, also confirming the existence of UFOs and confirming that what the Navy videos show are still unexplained. The government has never claimed they are of extraterrestrial origin. It is well-known that the government is taking UFOs seriously, even if they (reportedly) don’t believe they are aliens.
For an excellent, but very detailed history of UFOs in the U.S. (from one who holds to the extraterrestrial view) see Richard Dolan’s 2 volume UFOs and the National Security State. For a less-detailed but good account from a skeptic’s viewpoint, see Curtis Peebles’ Watch the Skies! For an intriguing and important overview of UFOs as they relate to the military, see Leslie Kean’s UFOs: Generals, Pilots and Government Officials Go on the Record. For an excellent historical source in general, see Jerome Clark’s The UFO Encyclopedia.
THE NATURE OF UFO SIGHTINGS
While most of the above are sightings of objects flying around, hovering, or landed, there are many kinds of sightings or UFO events. Hynek provided the original classification for UFO sightings and that classification was updated to the following:
Certainly one of the most intriguing aspects about UFOs are the reported “alien abductions.” While many, if not most, believe that such abductions (and even sightings in general) are only experienced by “crazy” people, it does not take much research to discover that very sane and respectable people experience. not only sightings of UFOs but also what is usually categorized as “alien abductions.” Such phenomena have been occurring for hundreds of years (again, see Wonders in the Sky and Passport to Magonia).
THEORIES OF UFOS AND ALIENS
THE SKEPTICAL OR TERRESTRIAL VIEW
I’m going to lump the skeptical view together with the terrestrial view since they can both be held simultaneously. That is, some can be skeptical of UFOs in the sense of them being extraterrestrial while arguing for a terrestrial explanation. Indeed, about 95% or so of alleged sightings are explainable via natural means, such as astronomical phenomena, weather, simple misidentifications, and the like. Many are simply skeptical of UFO claims in general for this reason.
Some have tried to explain UFOs as simply being secret technology either had by the U.S. or other nations. It is indeed the case that there are advanced technological systems that causes UFO reports, and the Air Force has actually capitalized on people thinking they are UFOs in order to provide a cover for their own technology. Richard Doty is a famous (infamous?) example of one who has admitted to this happening.
However, it is a difficult pill to swallow that there were aircraft in the 1940s that could travel at speeds and perform aerial maneuvers that even today cannot be duplicated. The intelligence specialists who testified before Congress noted that we do not have any evidence that such technology is possessed either by the U.S. or other nations. Such has led some to another theory.
THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL HYPOTHESIS (ETH)
Undoubtedly the most popular view (other than the skeptical view, which cannot be accepted any longer) is the one that purports that aliens are behind the “flying saucers.” For proponents of that view, see Dolan’s works above, as well as Kean’s. The argument behind this view is that if UFOs are not explained by earthly means, and since they are evidently intelligently operated and even seemingly interact with people, they must be alien in nature. This appears to be a rational position but there are problems with it.
One problem is interstellar travel. Since I am not an astronomer or qualified to navigate this debate, I will defer to Hugh Ross, a former astronomer from Cal Tech, who argues this in his Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men (co-authored with Ken Samples and Mark Clark). I realize there are astronomers who argue that such travel is possible, but Ross makes some pretty convincing arguments to the contrary. In short, Ross argues that the distance is too great and would require multigenerational travel, even from some of the nearest systems. It would also take an incredible amount of energy to travel that far and fast. Further, as Ross notes, space is not empty. Going the required speeds would destroy a space ship if they so much as hit some of the smallest space debris.
Jacques Vallée is arguably today’s leading ufologist and has worked with Hynek in general and in his dealings with the Air Force in particular. Vallée is uniquely trained for his work given his background in astronomy as well as computer information systems. He has the unusual skill set to be able to organize UFO data and has researched them for decades. In the last book of his famous trilogy, Revelations: Alien Contact and Human Deception, he adds as an appendix a paper he delivered at an academic conference against the ETH. He offers 5 arguments against the view. Such arguments include the odd fact that there are thousands if not millions of UFO events where aliens are said to visit Earth and take samples of things like soil. This is strong evidence against the skeptical view, but he argues it is also evidence against the ETH as it doesn’t make sense why aliens would need to have so many visits and samples. Further, the reported means by which aliens supposedly experiment on people are even more rudimentary than our own technology. Another issue is the seeming impossibility of random evolution producing multiple species that have the same basic human anatomical structure with the ability to see and hear the way we do. He argues, as a naturalist, that to expect multiple species to arise from random chance with such similar structures is basically zero (of course, this changes if one holds to theism, as such would allow God to create as many similar species as he wanted). However, Vallée’s main argument against the ETH is that it just doesn’t take into account the history of ufology and the apparent connection to religion and folklore. According to him, the alien view is simply not strange enough.
Another problem with the ETH is the fact that UFOs do things that appear to violate the laws of physics. For example, they fly at extremely fast speeds that cannot be matched by earthly aircraft, perform right angle and 180 degree turns without slowing down, are transmedium, meaning they can fly through space, air, and water without being affected, appear from nowhere and vanish instantly, can change shape and size, and are seemingly impervious to being hit with bullets. (See Lights in the Sky for a good discussion of this.) Even the abduction phenomena exhibits problems with being physical since “aliens” reportedly walk through walls and take their abductees through walls and physical objects. Hynek actually argues for more of a physic (not exactly psychological) view in The Edge of Reality, where he has a fascinating discussion with Vallée on the topic of their physicality. For Hynek, UFOs are fundamentally non-physical but can cause physical effects, much like poltergeist phenomena. Further, there are reports of people being abducted while being watched by other people in the room, indicating that something non-physical is going on.
THE INTER-DIMENSIONAL HYPOTHESIS
Vallée’s preferred view is what he calls the inter-dimensional hypothesis. Vallée holds that UFOs are fundamentally physical, but can move through various space-time dimensions. While he does not use the interstellar argument against the ETH (that I know of), this view would alleviate that issue. The apparent violations of physics are supposedly explained this way, such as the objects appearing and disappearing from and into nothing and being able to change their form. This jibes more with the history of the phenomena, according to Vallée, and better explains the abduction issue. Rather than “aliens” trying to do experiments on humans, he maintains that these beings are ultimately trying to control our worldview. Another aspect explained is the way that UFOs seem to just outpace our own technology enough to be unexplainable. (Lights in the Sky also deals with this.) Before airplanes they were airships. Then flying saucers, etc.
The merits of Vallée’s view are the good points and arguments against the ETH, the historical points and connection to religion. However, it seems to be somewhat ad hoc since such dimensions are apparently debated. While Ross does admit to more than 10 dimensions being needed to explain reality, he notes that per Einstein’s theory of relativity, a person cannot simply jump between various dimensions. If this is true, then Vallée’s view would be, to use Ross’ word, “irrelevant” since it would be impossible.
THE SPIRITUAL OR EXTRA-DIMENSIONAL VIEW
A popular view among Christians is the view that while UFOs are real, they are not physical aliens from another planet. Rather, they are demonic spirits that are attempting to deceive people and draw them away from the truth of the Gospel. Ross calls this the extra-dimensional view. For a long time I wondered why demons would want to make people think they are aliens. Then I discovered two reasons. First, as Vallée argues, whatever these things are, they are evidently trying to control people’s belief system. Well, that’s a pretty good reason for enemies of God to want to appear as aliens. Another and related reason is that much of the UFO phenomena is directly and explicitly anti-Christian—not just anti-religious: anti-Christian. Much of the “teachings” of these beings are specifically against the deity of Jesus Christ and the teachings and truths of the Gospel. Some of their teachings claim that Jesus himself was an alien and was raised back to life by aliens. Indeed, there are many UFO cults.
Vallée himself has a book on this topic: Messengers of Deception. Lights in the Sky also deals with this aspect of the phenomena, as does Ron Rhodes’ The Truth about UFOs and Aliens: A Christian Assessment. A director for a well-known civilian UFO investigation group, Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), Joe Jordan and his co-author Jason Dezember deal with the demonic view in their Piercing the Cosmic Veil: You Shall Not Be Afraid of the Terror by Night. Their title is very apt, for “alien” encounters are reportedly very terrifying. Jordan, as well as other MUFON directors, have noted that “alien abduction” experiences are stopped when the experiencer calls on the name of Jesus. Jordan has hundreds of such examples. (See his website here.) Gary Bates has written about the demonic connection in his Alien Intrusion.
The door to the phenomena is reportedly opened by one dabbling in the occult or new age movement. Often, such a link can be found with the people directly involved in the experiences, and when that door to the occult is shut, the experiences stop. What about children? There are accounts of children having abduction experiences too. However, when people like Jordan do some investigating, it is often found that a parent or other family member have some connection to the occult. However, such is not always the case.
CONCLUSION AND IMPORTANCE
The investigation into what UFOs and aliens are is not a deductive one. In other words, it is not going to be proven beyond any doubt in this lifetime. Rather it is, no pun intended, an abductive one. That is, the truth about the phenomena will likely be what accounts for the data the best, namely, what has the most explanatory power (how well the data is explained) and explanatory scope (how much of the data is explained), and what less ad hoc (made up without evidence). I agree with Vallée that the ETH does not possess the greatest explanatory power or scope. It does not really seem to account for the history, the physical problems, or the anti-Christian themes. The data is well-accounted for with the demonic view. Such a view answers the material problems since the UFOs/aliens are not really physical in nature, but can, as Hynek suggests, cause physical effects. This also accounts for the anti-Christian teachings that are ubiquitous in the phenomena.
Apart from the UFO phenomena being interesting, it is also important. More than just a possible national security threat, there is an existential threat. If the demonic view is correct, then there is, indeed, a cosmic and spiritual battle for our entire belief systems, and thus our souls. Statistically, given the number of sightings and experiences, many people who go to Christian churches have had an experience (although, it can be argued that if people in the church dabble in the occult and new age less, then they won’t have as many doors open).
Often, people turn to new age, occultic, or otherwise anti-Christian sources either for answers to their questions, being lured by their own curiosity of the paranormal, or simply being drawn in by our culture pushing it on us. (An excellent source on this, especially as it relates to children, is Marcia Montenegro’s Spellbound: The Paranormal Seduction of Today’s Kids.) Churches and even apologetic ministries need to spend more time on the dangers of even dabbling in seemingly harmless actions that flirt with the paranormal and other dangerous areas, such as the new age movement. One excellent ministry that does just this is Montenegro’s “Christian Answers for the New Age.” Reasons to Believe (founded by Hugh Ross), Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries with Ron Rhodes, Southern Evangelical Seminary, and of course, Jordan’s ministry are also active in this area.
The UFO topic is an interesting one. I agree with Vallée, Hynek, and Ross that the alien view does not do the best job explaining the data. Given the spiritual nature of UFOs and especially “aliens,” there is a strong argument that such activity is really demonic in nature. If it is the case that the paranormal, occult, and new age are doors to such activity, it is imperative that Christians understand this and that it is clearly taught in our churches and homes. The Bible gives several commands to avoid involvement in such activity. Unfortunately, Christians and churches are easily caught up in the flow of our culture, rather than standing firm in the faith. This is indeed an important issue that deserves attention in the Church as well as in other ministries that teach the truth and importance of the faith.
Recommended resources related to the topic:
What is God Like? Look to the Heavens by Dr. Frank Turek (DVD and Mp4)
Science Doesn’t Say Anything, Scientists Do by Dr. Frank Turek (DVD, Mp3 and Mp4)
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J. Brian Huffing has a BA in History from Lee University, an MA in (3 majors) Apologetics, Philosophy, and Biblical Studies from Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES), and a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from SES. Brian serves a Director of the Ph.D. Program and Associate Professor of Philosophy and Theology at SES. Brian teaches courses for Apologia Online Academy. Brias has served in the Marines, Navy, and is currently a reserve chaplain in the Air Force at Dobbins Air Reserve Base.
Original Blog Source: https://bit.ly/3rswTsg
5 acontecimientos que sacudieron la Tierra y que están relacionados con la Biblia
EspañolPor Sean Mcdowell
En la reciente actualización del clásico libro de mi padre Evidencia que demanda un veredicto, comenzamos con un capítulo sobre la singularidad de la Biblia. Sin duda, en comparación con todos los libros que se han escrito, la Biblia es única en varios aspectos, como la autoría, los géneros literarios, la traducción, la producción geográfica, la circulación, la supervivencia y el impacto. La Biblia es realmente una categoría propia.
Sin embargo, hace poco leí un nuevo libro (que forma parte de una serie más amplia de libros que se publicarán este otoño con motivo de la inauguración del Museo de la Biblia en Washington D.C.) sobre la influencia de la Biblia en acontecimientos históricos claves. El libro se titula 99 Earth-Shattering Events Linked to the Bible, y es fascinante.
Los autores muestran cómo la Biblia desempeñó un papel fundamental en los descubrimientos científicos, en los viajes de la antigüedad, en la fundación de las universidades y en otros aspectos. Aquí están cinco de mis ejemplos favoritos:
1. Los puritanos fundan Harvard.
El 8 de septiembre de 1636, los puritanos fundaron la primera institución de enseñanza superior en las colonias americanas, la Universidad de Harvard. El propósito era entrenar a los pastores para que sirvieran a sus iglesias recién fundadas. Según los fundadores, “una de las siguientes cosas que anhelábamos y buscábamos era hacer avanzar el aprendizaje y perpetuarlo a la posteridad; temiendo dejar un ministerio analfabeto a las iglesias cuando nuestros actuales ministros yacieran en el polvo”.
2. Un monje cristiano ayuda a abolir los juegos de gladiadores.
En el siglo V d.C., un monje cristiano llamado Telémaco viajó a Roma y asistió a los juegos de gladiadores. Se sintió horrorizado y profundamente perturbado por el derramamiento de sangre y la falta de valor de la vida humana, que contradecía el mandato bíblico de no matar (Éxodo 20:13). Se precipitó a la arena, pidiendo que los juegos se detuvieran, pero en un alboroto por la perturbación, la multitud lo apedreó hasta la muerte. Debido a su valiente postura, el emperador romano Honorio abolió los juegos tres días después.
3. La Carta Magna inspira los derechos humanos universales.
A principios de los años 1200, el rey Juan firmó la Carta Magna en Inglaterra, que declaraba por primera vez que los reyes estarían sujetos a la ley, y no por encima de ella. Aunque en un principio no tuvo éxito, “…fue revisada en años posteriores y acabó estableciendo una norma, basada en la Biblia, que estableció los cimientos del sistema inglés de derecho común”. Hoy, nuestra moderna sociedad democrática sigue cosechando sus beneficios”.
4. Copérnico revela el orden en el universo.
Copérnico estaba convencido de que el mundo natural fue diseñado por un creador (Salmos 19:1-2). Dijo: “El universo ha sido forjado para nosotros por un Creador supremamente bueno y ordenado”. Con la publicación de su libro Sobre las revoluciones, Copérnico desafió la creencia de que el sol gira alrededor de la tierra. No lo hizo para perjudicar a la iglesia o a la universidad, sino para proclamar la verdad que había descubierto a través de su trabajo científico. Muchos consideran a Copérnico el fundador de la astronomía moderna.
5. Johann Sebastian Bach compone música impresionante.
Bach es uno de los compositores más influyentes de la historia del mundo. Matthew Passionis está considerada como uno de los mayores logros de la civilización occidental. Bach se dedicó e inspiró por la Biblia. En los márgenes de su Biblia, junto a 1 Crónicas 25, escribió: “Este capítulo es el verdadero fundamento de toda la música que agrada a Dios”.
Estos cinco son sólo una pequeña muestra de la influencia que la Biblia ha tenido en la historia del mundo. También dio forma al desarrollo de la Cruz Roja, motivó la firma de la Proclamación de Emancipación, inspiró el movimiento de los derechos civiles y mucho más.
Estos ejemplos no demuestran que la Biblia sea verdadera, por supuesto. Pero sí demuestran que el libro ha moldeado más vidas y culturas que cualquier otro libro en la historia del mundo. Si no la has leído, ¿no crees que es hora de ver personalmente por qué este libro ha sido tan influyente?
¿Y no sólo la has leído, sino que has considerado la evidencia de que la Biblia es realmente cierta? El impacto de la Biblia es sorprendente para las personas que no son conscientes de su impacto. Del mismo modo, si usted no está familiarizado con las pruebas, creo que también se sorprenderá gratamente.
Notas de pie de página:
1. Christopher Hudson, editor, 99 Earth-Shattering Events Linked to the Bible(Washington D.C., Museo de la Biblia, publicado por Worthy Publishing Group, 2017), 20.
Recursos recomendados en Español:
Robándole a Dios (tapa blanda), (Guía de estudio para el profesor) y (Guía de estudio del estudiante) por el Dr. Frank Turek
Por qué no tengo suficiente fe para ser un ateo (serie de DVD completa), (Manual de trabajo del profesor) y (Manual del estudiante) del Dr. Frank Turek
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Sean McDowell, Ph.D., es profesor de Apologética Cristiana en la Universidad de Biola, autor de best-sellers, conferenciante popular, profesor de secundaria a tiempo parcial y becario residente de Summit Ministries, California. Síguelo en Twitter: @sean_mcdowell y su blog: seanmcdowell.org.
Traducido por Jennifer Chavez
Editado por Monica Pirateque
Archaeology and Apologetics
Theology and Christian ApologeticsBy Deanna Huff
Upon entering the British Museum, the first display I encountered was the Assyrian section. The room was full of rocks voicing stories of the past. My breath was taken away as I realized I was standing in ancient history hearing the words of kings and their people.
The stones that surrounded me were the same stones that stood during the times of the kings of the Bible. Stones testify as memorials even in the ancient time period. Joshua was commanded,
Archaeology – The Black Obelisk
The Assyrian Black Obelisk memorial dates from 825 BC and it was discovered in 1846 in Turkey. The relief sculpture attests the military achievements of King Shalmaneser III and his chief minister. These monuments inspired people with patriotism and unity for their society. The obelisk reveals kings of surrounding nations paying tribute to King Shalmaneser III in five scenes on five rows. Foreign kings are bowing down to King Shalmaneser III to indicate he is the ultimate king of the land.
The significance of the discovery for the biblical world is located on the second row of the obelisk. It identifies King Jehu (2 Kings 10:34) paying homage and presenting gifts to King Shalmaneser. This is the only contemporary carving of an Israelite king mentioned in the kings.
Apologetics – The Stones Provide Evidence
Archaeology like the Black Obelisk provides support for the reliability of the Old Testament. It offers a historical confirmation to the stories of the Scriptures. Dr. Price states, “archaeology aids in bringing the theological message of the Bible into a real world context where real faith is possible.”[1] Historical affirmations of the Bible can strengthen and enrich a person’s faith. Archaeology should not be overstated, at the same time it should not be understated.
The ancients left behind stones that speak truths of the past to the hearers of today. Discovering historical details of the ancients promotes accuracy of the biblical text. For example, “Excavations at Te Miqne uncovered an inscription that conclusively identified the site as biblical Ekron, a Philistine city mentioned in the Old Testament from the time of the conquest through the postexilic period.”[2] Other beneficial finds such as, the Merneptah Stele, the Rosetta Stone and the Sheba inscription confirm the world that interacted with the Bible.
Stones unearthed in archaeology today are sharing stories of the past and they are complimenting the historical accuracy of the Bible. Therefore, let us be awestruck when encountering the voices of the past as we walk through the halls of museums and use that knowledge to season our discussions with others to share the stories that matter for life.
Footnotes
[1] Randall Price, Handbook of Biblical Archaeology (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2017), 27.
[2] Ibid.
Recommended resources related to the topic:
Science Doesn’t Say Anything, Scientists Do by Dr. Frank Turek (DVD, Mp3, and Mp4)
I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Paperback), and (Sermon) by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek
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Deanna Huff is a wife and mother. She has been teaching and training for the last twenty years equipping people to know their Christian faith and share it with others. She has led many seminars for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Ladies Retreat, and the State Evangelism Conference. She taught high school students for ten years at Christian Heritage Academy, in Bible, Universal History, Apologetics and Philosophy. Deanna is a Ph.D. candidate in Apologetics and Theology at Liberty University. She holds a Master of Theology in Apologetics and Worldview from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oklahoma.
Original Blog: https://bit.ly/3CtW307
10 Days in the Holy Land – Plus Q&A
PodcastWhat’s one way to know we can trust the Bible? Take a trip to Israel! Frank just returned from his first trip to the Holy Land since 2018 and shares the amazing sites his group visited with famous archaeologist, Eli Shukron. These incredible historical sites that confirm the Bible is true include the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Nazareth, Shechem, Jerusalem, and many others!
Frank also answers several questions from listeners, including those on obeying the Ten Commandments in modern times, the history of America as a Christian nation, the Bible vs. the Qur’an, the test of Adam and Eve, and why Christianity is always true regardless of your life circumstances.
Take a listen, and then check out some of Frank and Eli’s presentations from the trip on our YouTube playlist!
If you would like to submit a question to be answered on the show, please email your question to Hello@Crossexamined.org.
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16 argumentos malos de los ateos y cómo responder a ellos
EspañolPor Jeremy Linn
Con la llegada del Final Four de la NCAA a las ciudades gemelas este fin de semana, parece apropiado tener nuestro propio Torneo de la Locura de Marzo. En lugar de equipos universitarios, construimos un ranking con algunos de los “principales” malos argumentos ateos.
A continuación enumeramos 16 de estos malos argumentos y enumeramos al menos un problema con el argumento de cada uno. Se podría decir mucho más sobre cada uno de estos argumentos, por lo que presentamos este artículo con el riesgo de parecer superficiales. Sin embargo, el objetivo de este artículo no es dar una respuesta exhaustiva a cada uno de los argumentos, sino dar ideas para una respuesta inicial a los mismos.
Para cada uno de los argumentos, damos un ejemplo de pregunta que puedes hacer para entender mejor de dónde viene la persona que dio el argumento. El objetivo es escuchar y comprender, en lugar de dominar y derribar.
Ahora que tenemos esos precursores, aquí están los 16 malos argumentos ateos y cómo responder a ellos.
Argumento #1: ¿Quién creó a Dios?
Esta pregunta se formula bajo el supuesto de que Dios necesita un creador. Esta suposición tergiversa la concepción cristiana de Dios, en la que Dios es la causa necesaria de toda la creación.
Pregunta: ¿Por qué crees que un cristiano diría que nadie creó a Dios?
Argumento #2: Jesús nunca existió
Esta objeción va en contra de las conclusiones de casi todos los eruditos dedicados a la historia bíblica y romana, junto con la evidencia de los libros del Nuevo Testamento y las fuentes extrabíblicas.
Pregunta: ¿Cómo llegaste a la conclusión de que Jesús nunca existió?
Argumento #3: Los ateos creen solo en un dios menos que los cristianos
Algunos ateos intentan utilizar este argumento para demostrar que no hay mucha diferencia entre ellos y los cristianos. Después de todo, los cristianos son “ateos” para miles de dioses de otras religiones ya que no creen en esos dioses.
El problema es que hay una gran diferencia entre un teísta (como un cristiano) y un ateo. Los teístas creen en un creador supremo y personal del Universo. Los ateos no. Esta diferencia tiene enormes implicaciones en la forma en que cada uno lleva su vida.
Pregunta: ¿Crees que hay alguna diferencia importante entre los cristianos y los ateos?
Argumento #4: Creer en Dios es como creer en Santa Claus o en los duendes.
Esta afirmación llama a Dios “inventado”, al nivel de algo como Santa Claus. Pero el cristiano afirma tener pruebas de Dios, y casi nadie afirma tener pruebas de un verdadero Santa Claus. La supuesta evidencia de Dios no puede ser simplemente descartada con esta tonta afirmación.
Pregunta: ¿Crees que hay pruebas de la existencia de Dios?
Argumento #5: Los evangelios están llenos de mitos
Esta objeción ignora por completo la definición de mito en la literatura antigua. Un mito se remonta al pasado para entender cómo se produjo algo en el presente. Los evangelios se escribieron como una narración histórica, hablando de cosas que estaban sucediendo en ese momento.
Pregunta: ¿A qué te refieres cuando utilizas la palabra “mito”?
Argumento #6: La fe es una creencia sin evidencia
Esta definición de la fe es claramente una falacia de hombre de paja de la posición cristiana. La mayoría de los cristianos consideran que la fe implica algún tipo de confianza personal. El aspecto de la confianza en la fe es simplemente ignorado por la definición de “sin evidencia”.
Pregunta: ¿Cómo crees que los cristianos definirían típicamente la “fe”?
Argumento #7: No hay evidencia de Dios
Los cristianos afirman tener argumentos filosóficos para la existencia de Dios. Parece que esos argumentos podrían proporcionar al menos un poco de evidencia para Dios, incluso si un ateo no considera la evidencia cerca de satisfactoria. Los ateos que usan esta frase están exagerando su caso.
Pregunta: ¿Qué tipo de evidencia necesitarías ver para estar convencido de que hay al menos alguna evidencia de Dios?
Argumento #8: Dios es un maníaco esclavizador
La idea es que Dios es una especie de dictador que nos dice lo que tenemos que hacer y creer y nos amenaza con enviarnos al infierno si no le hacemos caso. Pero esta caracterización de Dios contrasta con la idea de que Dios ofrece una opción para que escapemos de la “esclavitud” del pecado y experimentemos la vida como debe ser vivida.
Pregunta: ¿Crees que Dios nos da la posibilidad de elegir cómo vivir nuestras vidas?
Argumento #9: La ciencia refuta a Dios
Este es uno de los argumentos más amplios de la lista. Hay muchos campos en la ciencia, y algunos conceptos sobre Dios no tienen ninguna relación con esos campos. ¿Qué se dice exactamente aquí? Es necesario dar más detalles antes de que pueda haber una discusión sustancial.
Pregunta: ¿Cuál es una forma en que la ciencia refuta a Dios?
Argumento #10: Las historias de Jesús cambiaron como en el juego del teléfono
La historia dice… ¿Conoces el juego del teléfono? ¿Empiezas con una frase y luego la cambias después de pasarla de persona a persona? Pues eso es lo que ocurrió cuando las historias de Jesús se transmitieron de persona a persona.
Esta objeción no tiene en cuenta el aspecto comunitario de la tradición oral: las personas podían contrastar sus relatos entre sí. La objeción también hace que se cuestione la fiabilidad de toda la historia antigua.
Pregunta: ¿En qué se diferencia la forma de difundir los relatos en la historia antigua del juego del teléfono?
Argumento #11: Si te hubieras criado en otro lugar creerías otra cosa
Esta es una de las objeciones más comunes al cristianismo: si creces en un país de Oriente Medio, serás musulmán, no cristiano. Aunque este concepto tiene algo de verdad, está lleno de suposiciones sin fundamento. Tampoco tiene mucho efecto en la cuestión de si Dios existe realmente o no.
Pregunta: ¿Cómo sabes que creo en lo que creo por el lugar donde crecí?
Argumento #12: Los ateos pueden ser buenos sin creer en Dios
Esta afirmación es cierta en el sentido de que las personas que no creen en Dios pueden tomar decisiones que sean morales. Pero la afirmación ignora el fundamento del bien: la cuestión de qué causó la existencia de los deberes morales objetivos.
Pregunta: Estoy de acuerdo en que los ateos pueden hacer cosas buenas sin creer en Dios. Pero, ¿qué causó la existencia del “bien” y del “mal” en primer lugar?
Argumento #13: La religión es tóxica
La idea aquí es que el pensamiento religioso siempre motiva acciones que son malas. Un problema de esta idea es que “religión” es un término muy amplio. Pone a las personas que siguen todo tipo de religiones bajo un mismo paraguas, aunque las diferencias entre esas religiones sean muy marcadas. También resta importancia a cualquier acción potencialmente “buena” realizada por motivos religiosos.
Pregunta: ¿Te refieres a una religión concreta o dices que todas las religiones son tóxicas?
Argumento #14: Jesús es solo una copia de los dioses paganos
Este argumento parece poderoso en la superficie ya que los ateos apilan rasgos similares entre Jesús y los dioses paganos – “nacido de una virgen”, “resucitado”, “nacido el 25 de diciembre”, etc. Pero cuando se profundiza en las fuentes primarias de los dioses paganos, se encuentra que los rasgos no se alinean con las historias reales de esos dioses.
Pregunta: ¿De qué dios es Jesús una copia, y cómo lo sabes?
Argumento #15: El Monstruo de Espagueti Volador
Los nuevos ateos pretenden hacer un comentario al mencionar esta criatura ficticia: que se pueden asignar los atributos de Dios a cualquier cosa al azar. Pero muchos ateos que mencionan a la criatura ahora parecen hacerlo para burlarse de las ideas religiosas en lugar de hacer un punto sustancial sobre ellas. En general, un ateo que menciona a la criatura hoy en día acaba pareciendo más ridículo que reflexivo.
Pregunta: ¿Qué relevancia tiene el Monstruo de Espagueti Volador para lo que tú dices sobre Dios?
Argumento #16: Los cristianos nunca se ponen de acuerdo
El argumento es el siguiente: Como los cristianos parecen estar siempre en desacuerdo sobre todo, está claro que Dios no está involucrado en todo el proceso. Este argumento es increíblemente amplio e incalculable: no se sabe qué grado de acuerdo tendría que haber para que el objetor dejara de ver un problema. También ignora que el “mero cristianismo” -la divinidad, la muerte y la resurrección de Jesucristo- está casi totalmente acordado entre los cristianos.
Pregunta: ¿Qué grado de acuerdo necesitarías ver entre los cristianos para dejar de considerar esta objeción como un problema?
Conclusion
Esperamos que esta lista le dé una mejor idea de cómo responder a estos malos argumentos cuando se presenten. Esperamos que el Final Four también venga a las ciudades gemelas el próximo año para que podamos hacer algo como esto de nuevo. Como mínimo, ha sido divertido.
Recursos recomendados en Español:
Robándole a Dios (tapa blanda), (Guía de estudio para el profesor) y (Guía de estudio del estudiante) por el Dr. Frank Turek
Por qué no tengo suficiente fe para ser un ateo (serie de DVD completa), (Manual de trabajo del profesor) y (Manual del estudiante) del Dr. Frank Turek
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Jeremy es el cofundador del ministerio Twin Cities Apologetics y es contable de un bufete de abogados en Minneapolis, Minnesota. También está estudiando en el Seminario Bethel para obtener un título de posgrado en un programa llamado Pensamiento Cristiano (¡básicamente Apologética!). Fuera de la Apologética, Jeremy disfruta de los deportes, tocar la guitarra y hacer videos.
Fuente Original del blog: http://bit.ly/2DaNPe5
Traducido por Jennifer Chavez
Editado por Monica Pirateque
How We Got Our Bible: The KJV Only Movement
Theology and Christian ApologeticsBy Ryan Leasure
This final post will consider the short-comings of the King James (KJV) Only Movement.
Nothing New Under The Sun
In many respects, the KJV Only Movement is hardly novel. People have been propping up certain Bible translations since the time of Jesus.
One early translation that received this exalted status was the Septuagint (LXX). After the Jewish people went into exile, many remained outside of Israel, even after they were granted permission to return and rebuild. Over the course of centuries, the Jewish people no longer had a grasp on the Hebrew language. Therefore, to make the Old Testament accessible to more people, Jewish scholars translated the Hebrew text into Greek. This translation happened sometime between the third and second centuries BC.
Legend has it that seventy-two scholars all translated the text independently. Yet when they convened to compare their translations, they discovered that they all created the exact same translation! It’s the stuff of legends. But the story stuck, and people revered it.
Therefore, when it came time for Jerome to create the Latin Vulgate, his friend St. Augustine scolded him for using the original Hebrew text and not the inspired LXX. Augustine complained that people had become so accustomed to the readings of the LXX, that Jerome’s text was causing too much controversy in places where the Hebrew did not agree with the Greek translation. In other words, tradition trumped accuracy.
Fast forward a thousand years, and Jerome’s Vulgate was now on the receiving end of being pushed out by a modern translation. The Greek scholar Erasmus created the first critical New Testament in 1516 and raised more than a few eye brows in the process. Fortunately for Erasmus, the Pope didn’t order his execution. Erasmus, after all, dedicated his new translation to Pope Leo X with the hopes of gaining his approval.
That said, many disliked Erasmus’ work because he “tampered” with God’s Word. Not only did he create a critical Greek New Testament, he used that Greek to update the Latin Bible! Erasmus’ desire to be as accurate to the original text as possible frustrated the churchmen because the original text differed from their beloved Latin Vulgate.
Now five hundred years later, those within the KJV Only Movement condemn others who prefer modern English translations for the same reasons that the church condemned Erasmus. Ironically, it was Erasmus’ text that was the base text for the King James Bible in 1611.
Not an Attack on the KJV Bible
Let me be clear. I am not attacking the King James Bible. I grew up using the KJV. The translation, as far as it goes, was a fine translation for a few hundred years. I believe that when people read the KJV, they are reading the Word of God.
Nor am I attacking those who prefer the KJV to other translations (though I think modern translations are superior).
Instead, this article critiques the position that the KJV translators were inspired, and that all other translations are corruptions of God’s Word.
The KJV Translators
It is my strong opinion, that if the KJV translators were alive today, they would reject the KJV Only Movement. None of the forty-seven Anglican scholars ever thought they were inspired by God as they created the translation. In the preface to the 1611 KJV, the translators defended their use of marginal notes when they wrote:
Of course, none of the modern KJV Bibles retain the over 8,000 marginal notes from the original KJV 1611. But the translators felt it necessary to include these marginal notes because they were less than certain of their translation in several places. In fact, they explicitly state that they weren’t perfect translators! Read carefully their own words in the preface:
And if anyone needs proof that the KJV translators weren’t inspired, the original 1611 version underwent about 100,000 updates and changes before the 1769 edition—the edition people use today.
The KJV translators also wanted to give the people a Bible that was both faithful to the text but also readable at the same time. They say elsewhere in the preface:
It was the goal of the KJV translators to give the people an understandable translation. Therefore, if they were alive today, they most certainly would encourage people to read a translation that doesn’t use words like “churl” (Isa 32:7), “cockatrice” (Isa 11:8), “sackbut” (Dan 3:5), or “crookbackt” (Lev 21:20). Those words made sense in 1611. In 2021, they’re gibberish.
The Greek Text
As previously mentioned, the KJV translators used Erasmus’ various editions of the Greek NT for their translation. Although, more technically, they relied heavily on William Tyndale’s English translation which they copied about 90% of the time.
That said, Erasmus’ Greek text was based on a handful (less than ten) of medieval texts. And none of these texts had the final section of Revelation. So Erasmus created his own Greek text for the ending of Revelation using the Latin text! Erasmus’ text has come to be known as the Textus Receptus (TR) and became the basis for the KJV.
Modern translations, however, make use of over 5,000 Greek NT manuscripts—many of which date to the second-fourth centuries. Modern scholars have access to P66 (2nd-3rd century text of John), P75 (2nd-3rd century text of Luke and John), P46 (2nd-3rd century text of Paul’s letters), Codex Sinaiticus (4th century complete NT), and Codex Vaticunus (4th century almost complete NT).
And Biblical scholars have discovered that while Erasmus’ text was quite good, his NT reflects later readings in several places that were not present in the earliest manuscripts.
Different Texts
Most modern Bibles are based off of the Nestle-Aland (NA) and the United Bible Societies (UBS). As mentioned previously, these critical texts are based off of thousands of Greek manuscripts—many of which date to the earliest centuries of the Christian Church. While there is strong uniformity between these texts and the TR, they diverge in several places. Allow me to share a few of them.
1 John 5:71
The KJV reads, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” The ESV reads, “For there are three that testify.” KJV Only proponents believe the absence of this clear Trinitarian reference in modern translations is a weakness. The problem is that the words “the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost” are most certainly not original to John.
When Erasmus made his Greek text in 1516, he left out this phrase which is now dubbed the “Johannine comma.” This omission upset many because the Latin Vulgate contained it. Again, people get upset when changes are made to their precious Bible translations. Erasmus left out the phrase because he couldn’t find it in a single Greek manuscript. Erasmus took heat for trying to be as accurate as possible. He even promised that if he found it in a single Greek manuscript, he would include it in a later edition.
It just so “happened” that a Greek manuscript was produced that contained the phrase. Hardly anyone disputes that this manuscript was created by one of Erasmus’ contemporaries. And being true to his word, Erasmus included the phrase in his third edition in 1522. That said, no manuscript before the sixteenth century contains this phrase. For this reason, modern translations leave it out.
Mark 16:9-202
Another significant change between the TR and the NA and UBS is the ending of Mark. Modern translations bracket this text and indicate that earliest manuscripts do not include this section.
Why do modern translations bracket the text? First, both Codex Sinaiticus and Vaticanus omit it. These are the earliest manuscripts we have on Mark. Furthermore, the long ending is missing from other early Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, and Georgian translations.
Additionally, several manuscripts which do include the long ending place an asterisk beside it, indicating its suspect nature. It’s also worth noting that some manuscripts contain a different ending altogether. And this condensed ending is sometimes added to the longer ending, creating an even longer ending than verses 9-20.
And if that’s not enough, some manuscripts only include verses 9-11 as an ending, leaving off verses 12-20. And one manuscript adds an entire paragraph to the long ending between verses 14 and 15.
Why do the manuscripts have so many different endings to Mark?
It seems as if early Christian scribes thought that Mark ended rather abruptly, especially compared to the other Gospels. Over time, different endings were added on to Mark’s original work. Only if Mark originally ended at verse 8 can one explain the existence of all the different endings. In other words, if Mark truly did include verses 9-20, one has a difficult time explaining how the other shorter endings made their way into the manuscript tradition.
John 7:53-8:113
The woman caught in adultery was most likely not written by John. Early manuscripts such as P66, P75, Codex Sinaiticus, and Codex Sinaiticus each omit this story. Moreover, several early translations in Latin and Syriac omit the story as well. Some manuscripts which include it do with an asterisk demonstrating its questionable nature.
Another indicator that this text was not original is that while most manuscripts include the story following John 7:52, some manuscripts includes it after 7:36, others have it after 7:44, some have it at the end of the book after 21:25, and some put it in Luke’s Gospel!
Moreover, if these verses were removed from John’s Gospel, one would see that John 7:52 and John 8:12 fit together neatly. In other words, the story of the woman caught in adultery actually interrupts a larger story of Jesus in Jerusalem.
So how did this pericope make its way into the text? Probably, a scribe somewhere down the line included this story in the margins of the text and a later scribe thought the original scribe believed the story was part of the original text. While the story is most likely a true story about Jesus that was part of the oral tradition, it most definitely was not part of John’s Gospel.
Concluding Thoughts
Space permits me from looking at several other textual and linguistic issues (like the KJV saying that Jesus, instead of Joshua, failed to give people rest in Hebrews 4:8). That said, I believe I’ve provided enough evidence to refute the notion that the KJV translation is an inspired translation. It’s a fine translation. It was a great translation for its time. Modern translation, however, like the NIV, NASB, ESV, CSB, and NLT are based on a better Greek text and present the text in a more readable way
Footnotes
1. James White, The King James Only Controversy, 99-104.
2. James White, The King James Only Controversy, 316-320.
3. James White, The King James Only Controversy, 328-329.
Recommended resources related to the topic:
Counter Culture Christian: Is There Truth in Religion? (DVD) by Frank Turek
Defending the Faith on Campus by Frank Turek (DVD Set, mp4 Download set, and Complete Package)
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Ryan Leasure holds a Master of Arts from Furman University and a Masters of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Currently, he’s a Doctor of Ministry candidate at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also serves as a pastor at Grace Bible Church in Moore, SC.
Five Signs of Spiritual Maturity
Theology and Christian ApologeticsBy Melissa Dougherty
We all want to be wise in our spiritual walk. We want to grow and make good choices that are right in the long run. We want to exhibit wisdom in all areas of life and be able to be an example for others. But I find it isn’t always the easy road that gets us there. In my experience, I have witnessed what I would consider very mature Christians who exhibit these qualities. I have also seen others who lack them. I want to share what I believe to be five signs of spiritual maturity. These are areas that I see that are scriptural and can be shown by how some Christians respond to certain situations.
1.) They base their reactions on Scripture and God’s character instead of their feelings and emotions.
The most spiritually mature people I know are usually the most emotionally mature. They base their choices on the wisdom of Scripture, and logic and exhibit fruits of the Spirit in their life, especially the “self-control” part. They take time to assess and evaluate situations and treat others how they want to be treated. They don’t deflect onto others their own issues and are aware of this in their interactions and judgments. They stop and think first before they act. They also tend to have a smart sense of humor and wit without degrading or putting down others. They’re an example of James 1:19, which says to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. They draw from and submit to Scriptural values. This takes over instead of emotions and helps prevent poor decision-making and emotional outbursts. Do you know how there’s an intelligence IQ? Well, there’s also something called “emotional IQ,” and I find that spiritually mature people have a high emotional IQ. Costi Hinn once said, “It is a mark of your maturity and self-control when you can manage your emotions enough to understand someone you differ with.”
2.) They listen more and talk less.
I mentioned James 1:19 before. People living out this scripture tend to be more interested in the person they’re speaking to and don’t get into unnecessary arguments. They’re not easily offended, either. I read a post on social media once that said, “An immature Christian is hard to please and easy to offend.” Luke 6:45 says that a good person brings up good or bad things depending on what’s in their heart. Out of the heart, his mouth speaks. Controlling your mouth has a lot to do with what’s in your heart, especially on social media. Everyone is a hammer looking for a nail. But these people are different. They are the people that are trying to understand before they’re understood. They try to respond to people out of love for others rooted in a love for God. They consider the other person’s perspective, even if they disagree. But they’re not doormats to lousy theology, either. They can navigate and discern what topics to avoid and which to engage in and can have thoughtful discussions without arguing all the time. Proverbs 15:1 says a harsh answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. These people also look to others for spiritual advice and accountability, allowing others to point out their flaws.
3.) They have a sense of humility to them.
They don’t put themselves above others. I’ve learned from watching these people that they’re here to serve, and that’s what ministry is about for them. Not being known or noticed. (Even if they are well known!) They have a healthy sense of confidence, but typically these people look to others. They’re not always doing this to teach them things but instinctively know to ask questions, get to know others, and respect people as being made in the image of God, especially if they disagree with them. They don’t demonize and rebuke everyone and everything they disagree with. They display love as outlined in 1 Corinthians 13. They’re kind, patient, not boastful, lovers of truth, and seek after God’s glory, not their own. In my experience, these Christians don’t just boast that they “have discernment” or “are humble.” They show it. They don’t need praise from people. They do what they do to please God and God alone. They’re just not jerks about it. This is typically displayed in how they treat, talk to, and love others. When they make a bad decision, they have enough wit and humility to know they need to make things right and admit they were wrong. They don’t get super defensive and take steps to change if needed.
4.) They have self-awareness.
A spiritually mature person can read the room and has the insight to know how they sound to other people. They display a careful social balance in their interactions with people. They can hold themselves accountable in conversations and know when they need to step back from any situation and reassess their feelings. They realize they’re representing Jesus and that their actions and words have consequences. More than that, they have enough insight to know how their actions and words affect others. James 3 has a lot to say about controlling our tongue. He compares the tongue to a rudder that controls an entire ship. Verse 5 says the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.” James 1:26 says, “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.”
5.) They have healthy boundaries and actual discernment.
Not every whim or feeling is seen as a sign from God or a move of the Holy Spirit, and don’t just take everything they think, feel or hear as the Holy Spirit speaking to them. They also don’t boast about how discerning they are. They just are. They model discernment instead of paranoia. They also don’t brag about how many spiritual experiences they’ve had, how intense they were, or how smart they are. They’re typically the people who enter a conversation thinking they can learn something from another person, even if they know a lot more than they do! That’s not the attitude they take. They also know when to say no and when to say yes. A spiritually mature person knows that “no” can be a very healthy word. They know how to honor God in their time and know their personal limits. They have enough sense to know when to engage in conversation, events, or activities and when they need to back off. In the same way, they also discern when they need to be where God wants them to be. They wait on God in prayer and Scripture reading instead of relying on feelings that change every day.
In short, they exemplify Galatians 5:22-23- “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.” And as well as Hebrews 3 in regards to holy living.
So by their fruit, you will recognize them.
Recommended resources related to the topic:
Counter Culture Christian: Is There Truth in Religion? (DVD) by Frank Turek
Defending the Faith on Campus by Frank Turek (DVD Set, mp4 Download set, and Complete Package)
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Melissa Dougherty is a Christian Apologist best known for her YouTube channel as an ex-new ager. She has two associate’s degrees, one in Early Childhood Multicultural Education, and the other in Liberal Arts. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies at Southern Evangelical Seminary.
Is Christianity good? Isn’t it anti-women and pro-slavery? | with Abdu Murray
PodcastIs Christianity GOOD? Many people in our culture today seem to care less about whether or not Christianity is true, and more about the morality of what it teaches. They say the Bible promotes racism, slavery, sexism, and other forms of social injustice. But are any of those statements true?
In his new book, More Than a White Man’s Religion, speaker and global apologist Abdu Murray challenges the pervasive myth that Christianity is an oppressive Western religion and shows believers (and skeptics!) that the gospel message is actually THE SOURCE for the cherished Western ideals of racial and gender equality.
Frank and Abdu discuss women in the church, slavery, racism, and how the Bible passages cited by skeptics can only be understood properly when examined in their context (not in memes). When they are, we see that the Bible champions that ALL people are made in God’s Image, and the skeptic’s charges are false. Abdu also shares how his experience working with RZIM (Ravi Zacharias International Ministries) impacted the content of his book and the importance of looking to Jesus as the (one and only) perfect example of how to treat others–especially when Christians fail to live up to our own ideals.
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST and an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Abdu about his journey out of Islam and into Christianity, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians without fear of being canceled by your friends, family, co-workers, or boss!
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Abdu’s website: https://embracethetruth.org/
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