Real Seekers

Helen Paynter presents her scholarly research on how to make sense of Biblical violence.

This is the final solo episode that I posted about the Shroud on the old S&S website.  In Parts 9 & 10 of our Shroud series, we shall be assessing the second major “Ordinary Artistic” mechanism- the Powder-Rubbing and/or Dusting technique (Assessing MRF's 5-7).

In Parts 9 & 10 of our Shroud series, we shall be assessing the second major “Ordinary Artistic” mechanism- the Powder-Rubbing and/or Dusting technique (the type of method that Shroud skeptic Hugh Farey favours).  Round 1 assesses the mechanism in light of the first 4 "Minimal Relevant Features".

For about 12 years now, I have been tuning in every Saturday morning to listen to the Unbelievable? Podcast to hear a Christian and non-Christian engage on a key issue of theological, philosophical and/or scientific/historical debate. The host of that show is none other than Justin Brierly and as a fan of his, I invited Justin on to get his take on various issues that our relevant in sharing the Gospel with people in today’s modern world

Happy Easter everyone, world-renowned scholar, Resurrection expert and my own good friend and mentor Dr. Gary Habermas joins me to discuss his “Minimal Facts Approach” to studying the evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection

After having a great conversation on substance dualism with Robert L. White and Travis R., I realized that I kind of let Travis down by not giving the Meta-Problem of Consciousness my full attention during the show and thus, I took some time after the show to read up on it and present my findings and conclusions for people in this short 30 min presentation.

I’m joined by my friends Robert L. White (Christian host of the Robert L. White show) and Travis R. (Skeptical blogger from the Measure of Faith Blog site) to discuss various issues relating to the Mind/Body Problem.  The topics we discuss include the following; i) Introductions as to who we are and laying out of our respective positions on the Mind/Body Problem, ii) The “Meta-Problem of Consciousness”, iii) The “Hard Problem of Consciousness”- What is the nature of mental properties & states (the Differences Argument & Knowledge Argument), iv) The “Hard Problem of Consciousness”- What is the nature of the conscious subject or substance itself (the unity of conscious field, enduring self & Modal arguments for the soul) & v) Addressing the Issue of Idealism (the 3rd Alternative to Dualism & Physicalism).

Luis Dizon, PhD student in ANE studies, joins me to share his extensive knowledge on the various evidences that Muslim apologists and believers use to prove the truth of Islam and how these evidences compare to their Christian equivalents.  The pro-Islamic evidences include; i) The “Perfect” Preservation of the Quran, ii) The Argument from Inimitability (or Incomparability) of the Quran, iii) Scientific Foreknowledge Argument, iv) Argument from Prophecy, v) Historicity of Muhammed’s Miracles (vs. Jesus), vi) Ruqyah- Modern Miracle Healings & Exorcisms and finally, vii) Numerical/Mathematical Patterns.

In this episode, the Skeptic tries to argue that Heaven and/or Christian salvation (as disclosed in the Bible) is not worthy of his pursuits.  I counter him by explaining that God is our Creator and Designer and would therefore knows what is best for us given our essential nature as human beings; as per classical essentialism and the Bible outlines exactly what we need.  Only a defiant and willfully sinful person would deny themselves "the things God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

In Part 8, we finish our analysis of the traditional “Painting Hypothesis”, we assess all of the Pro-Paint and Contra-Paint evidences discovered scientifically during STURP in 1978.