“What is source criticism?”……Answer: Source criticism is a specialized field of biblical studies that seeks to determine the sources used to develop the final form of the biblical text. The source critic reads the book of Genesis, for example, and asks, “Where did the author get this information? What written documents and/or oral traditions contributed […]
“Religious syncretism?”……Syncretism, as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary, is “the reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief.” This is most evident in the areas of philosophy and religion, and usually results in a new teaching or belief system. Obviously, this cannot be reconciled to biblical Christianity.……Religious syncretism often takes place when foreign beliefs […]
The Atrakhasis Epic Spelt many different ways, the Atra-Hasis Epic is a Mesopotamian ancient record of Creation and the Flood dating from the seventeenth century BC, named after Atrahasis the “exceedingly wise” figure of narrative. It is of interest, particularly to biblical archaeologists, as there are similarities with the record of Creation and the Flood […]
Reincarnation, Karma &…Life after Death Do you have a choice regarding what happens after…you die? Is reincarnation real? Is there life after death? by Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D. …Email article to a friend People have always wondered what–if anything–lies beyond the grave. Is death the end of existence, an entry into eternity, or an intermission between […]
“What is the Swoon Theory? Did Jesus survive the crucifixion?”……Answer: The Swoon Theory is the belief that Jesus didn’t really die at His crucifixion, but was merely unconscious when He was laid in the tomb and there He resuscitated. Accordingly, His appearances after three days in the tomb were merely perceived to be resurrection appearances. […]
“What is the theory of punctuated equilibrium?”……Answer: “Punctuated equilibrium” refers to a concept in evolutionary biology that is both controversial and widely misunderstood. Both punctuated equilibrium and its alternatives have significant drawbacks, either in plausibility or evidence. Punctuated equilibrium seeks to reconcile the idea of natural evolution with the missing links in the fossil record. […]
“What does the Bible say about uniformitarianism vs. catastrophism?”……Geologically speaking, uniformitarianism is the idea that geological processes (rates of erosion and uplift, etc.) are essentially the same today as they were in the unobservable past. We can, therefore, make accurate determinations about the past simply by observing the present. This principle is often summed up […]