QUESTION: Does 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 imply that if a believer marries a non-believer, that the non-believer can be saved through that marriage? Answer: Yes it does, but we should be careful how we interpret this. Paul is saying to the Christian sister who is married to a non-Christian that she should not leave her marriage […]
QUESTION: If someone doesn’t know about Jesus, like they never heard about Jesus and they live in a far-off and remote part of the world, then, as far as their judgment is concerned, is Romans 2:14-15 the the applicable scripture? Does this translate into saying that their own conscience will be used for them or […]
Question: I saw this article by Fazale at Reasons to Believe and I found it unsettling. It seems that new research has found evidence to generate genetic information by natural processes. I think the information may be trivial but it still proves that nature can create a genetic code of sorts. What do you think […]
QUESTION: [editor’s note: questioner clearly does not have English as first language, so this is my best attempt to reconstruct the original questions. My apologies if I am misinterpreting the questions] The Bible tells to stone a female if found in adultery? Why does it not say anything about men caught in same act? […]
QUESTION: I was wondering if you could help me with an apparent conundrum. I hear over and over again that the Bible is remarkably accurate in its ancient history that it records. If this is so, why do so many archaeologists have a minimalist or disdainful view of the Scriptures? Answer: This is a good […]
QUESTION: Why isn’t there a God’s Daughter? Answer: A fair enough question! First of all, God is not a sexual being. God is neither male nor female. Although the male is commonly used in addressing God, this should never be taken to infer that God has physically male sexual characteristics. This can be said for […]
Editor’s note: This question had so many parts, I decided to dispense with the usual style of giving the whole question, followed by my whole answer. Responses are in italics. I have finished the book and I have to say that I have more doubts about God than I had before reading it. I […]
Question: I understand that the Day/Age Theory of Evolution reconciles with the scriptures and even allows for the possibility of Adam evolving from chimpanzees, australopithecenes, or something else. However, what about Eve? Do you believe that the account of her creation from Adam’s rib is clearly to be taken literally and plainly? If so, that […]
QUESTION: I have a question regarding the Messiah and his purpose. It seems to me that the Bible is clear that the Hebrews are never to worship any thing or anyone but God Himself and that He is ‘One’ and that there is no other besides Him. When did He change His mind and tell […]
QUESTION: Every so often I feel emotionally overcome with “what if” questions. It makes me upset at myself because I question the things I already have answers to. How can I overcome these feelings of doubt? I am writing to you because I had a question about doubt. Ever since I have moved to join […]
Question: What do you think about the claim that evolution is in fact not directed–that natural selection was undirected and that neo darwinism is right about this? I want to.understand science and scripture. Do.you agree with Biologos foundation? Answer: It is my personal belief that, first, evolution is real and that species have evolved at […]
Question: [editor’s note: this lengthy question and points being made come from a Jewish Christian who believes that Christians are required to obey kosher food laws, such as the prohibition of eating pork and shellfish. The article he and I both refer to is one about the interpretation of Acts 10. I am attaching […]
John Oakes does not claim to be an expert on parenting teens. Not even close. Besides, this topic has nothing at all to do with Christian evidence. Nevertheless, he was asked to teach on this topic in Dubai, UAE July 7, 2013 and thought he would share it with those who might be interested. […]
John Oakes has been teaching lessons in the Middle East which were translated into Arabic. Daniel Prophet to the Nations, Arabic (Cairo, 6/27/2013) From Shadow to Reality Arabic (Beirut, 6/30/2013) God and Science Arabic (Beirut, 6/29/2013)
IPI published two new products from ARS this week. The first is the recording of the entire 2013 ICEC in San Diego on Christianity and Culture. The second is a 12 hour class on World Religions taught by Dr. John Oakes. To order go to www.ipibooks.com or to this link: https://www.ipibooks.com/AllProducts/tabid/59/rvdsfcatid/john-oakes-10/Default.aspx#.UdLaDPlQFqV
All the lessons from the recent ICEC on Christianity and Culture at San Diego State University are now available through Illumination Publishers. They are available at http://www.ipibooks.com/IPIStore/Details/tabid/89/rvdsfpid/christianity-and-culture-923/rvdsfcatid/featured-items-35/Default.aspx#.Uc3_uJVv-Rc Much thanks to Toney Mulhollen for making these available. Note to those who visit the site: John Oakes is traveling and teaching in the Middle East for […]
QUESTION: I have a question regarding the time frame in Genesis 1. I know you believe that the earth is billions of years old, yes? And that the bible is speaking figuratively when it describes how long creation took, I hope I am not assuming this. As I was researching I realized that the word […]
QUESTION: This question has been burning in me for a while and has currently been re-kindled by a recent current event. I do not know if you have ever heard of a Christian ministry known as “Exodus International,” but they were a group of Christians dedicated to “helping” homosexuals rid themselves of their desires through […]
Report 2013 ICEC Christianity and Culture
Question: I found the article below condemning the teaching of theistic evolution. Is it correct, or maybe do they have some errors?, Thanks! [editor’s note: the article referred to is immediately below and my response is below that] THEISTIC EVOLUTION- What Is Theistic Evolution? Proponents of theistic evolution claim that God created man by evolutionary […]
Kedron Jones (ARS Board Member) taught a class entitled, “The Moral Question of Abortion” at the 2013 ICEC at San Diego State University. The emphasis of the class was to clarify the abortion debate by focusing on the debates key question, “What is the unborn?” Kedron argued that from the earliest stages of development, the […]
Question: Why do some Christians believe homosexuality is acceptable whereas in the Bible it is clearly condemed? Answer: Why do some people who call themselves Christians believe homosexuality is acceptable? I am afraid you will have to ask these people why for yourself. It is not my job to judge the motives of other people. I […]
Question: This question hit me and I wondered if you knew anything about it. Is it possible for a Christian to completely stop sining? I mean completely sinless at a certain point in a Christian follower’s life? I understand that everyone in this world at one point sins, but can a Christian once and for […]
QUESTION: Is religion merely a psychological phenomenon, as is commonly pushed by so many atheists? I have heard reports of studies that show there is some kind of “God part” of the brain or some kind of brain part that is sensitive to religious experience. How do we respond? Answer: I am assuming you are […]
Dr. John Oakes taught a class titled Christianity and Bioethics at the 2013 ICEC at San Diego State University. The class includes a discussion of the various technologies which we can assume will be coming in the fairly near future. John proposes the kinds of technologies Christians should embrace and those which they should consider […]
Dr. John Oakes taught a class titled Christianity in a Postmodern World at the 2013 ICEC at San Diego State University. He proposes a rational Christian response to both the good and the bad which comes with postmodern thinking. The class covers the history of modernism and why it was replaced by postmodernism, as well as a […]
We are excited to announce our seventh annual International Christian Evidence Conference: Christianity and Culture. The conference will be in San Diego June 14-16. Teachers will include Guy Hammond, Dr. John Oakes, Dr. Dyron Daughrity, Joey Harris, Kedron Jones, Robert Carrillo, Todd Spath, Jennifer Konzen and Dan Conder. We will be examining the relationship between […]
Question: I am a constitutional lawyer representing a non-profit that is opposing the adoption of Next Generation Science Standards. We have a question regarding one of the assumptions used in the standards. I found your power point program on the net that identifies assumptions but did not see this one listed. “Science assumes natural events […]
John Oakes did a class on church history in Panama City, Panama June 8, 2013. The power point is mostly in Spanish, with some English and the outline is in English. Historia de la Iglesia PPT Church History Notes
ARS sponsored a class intended to help us to understand Islam. The teachers were Dan Conder and Dr. John Oakes. The class was 5/4/2013 in Gardena, CA. See below for class outline and more information. Apologetics and Islam notes Apologetics and Islam PPT POST-CLASS SURVEY: http://ow.ly/kF88L
Question: I’ll keep my question short. If you believe that the 7 day creation is simply figurative, why isn’t everything in the Bible chalked up to being figurative? Was Jesus crucified and rose 3 days layers? Why not 3 billion years? Answer: I would say that for probably 98+% of the Bible it is clear […]
Question: I am confused as to the reason why God would see fit to torment someone forever. On the flip side it would seem that would be something the devil would do. Again in my limited capacity which God has given me I am still not left assured that God would do such an act to […]
QUESTION: I just did a search on the internet for a Hebrew word and, oddly enough, it brought up a postat your web site titled “You are promoting a serious lie in your treatment of Daniel 12:2”. I couldn’t help but read it, of course. After reading your comment which stated: “There is no biblical evidence, […]
QUESTION: I know this might sound silly, but right now I’m really struggling with accepting God’s attributes in my walk right now. I make myself go crazy pounding all the stuff in my head that shows God is here, but my mind really struggles with God being spirit, seeing and hearing everyone. Is there any […]
Question: I just wanted to thanks all your help. It is really needed! Thanks for be very patient,caring and loving. I have a question regarding if you can review the “facts” that my Buddhist friend emailed me: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/08/mindfulness-meditation-benefits-health_n_3016045.html and http://www.tm.org/benefits-of-meditation He claims that meditation is good for health, and that a Christin can be a Buddhist too. How would you respond to […]
Question: Some atheists posted this on Reasonable faith facebook page: http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2010/nov/19/penrose-claims-to-have-glimpsed-universe-before-big-bang http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Science/article1261602.ece Is it true that these is evidence of a multiverse? would the Kalam cosmological argument be refuted by this kind of data? What do you think about these articles? Are there any famous physicists that endorse kalam? What about British actor Hugh Laurie, known for his lead role […]
QUESTION: Why would God punish/torment some one for eternity who has only sinned for one lifetime. In my human capacity that God has given to me this seems very unfair/ unjustified. Is he an unfair and an unjust God? Answer: I will have to admit that from a human perspective the punishment of hell does […]
QUESTION: It seems foolish to deny all of the outstanding evidence of evolution and instead believe in a book written 2000 years ago. What grounds is that to make any assumption, yet alone deny a theory with tremendous caches of evidence just because the Bible says so? Please give me insight into how the Bible […]
Illuminations Publishers International have begun to make John Oakes’ books available on e-books. Many of you have shared that you would like to Dr. Oakes work on e-books. Now is your chance. Six of Dr. Oakes’ eight books are now available as e-books. To purchase one go to www.ipibooks.com.
Question: I want to ask if you’ve come across a group who started in Korea called the Church of God and preaches the doctrine of Mother God? If so what’s your take on this doctrine? Your reply will be very much appreciated Answer: I had not heard of this group before. It seems that it […]
Question: I see you’ve got some words about deism, but what answer have you for pandeism? Answer: Pandeism is an interesting philosophy. It is not a religion, but a philosophcial/worldview perspective. This is certainly not now, nor has it ever been a large movement. I am not an expert on this philosophy, but my guess […]
How can we have the “exact words” of Jesus, e.g. during His interrogation by Pilate or when He prayed alone in Gethsemane, when none of his disciples/followers were present to hear His very words? Answer: First of all, we do not have the “exact words” of Jesus in our Bibles. The reason for this is […]
Editor’s Note: The essay below if by Randy Hroziencik, a student in our Apologetics Certificate program (see the link on the front page of the site). It is a follow-up to another essay (referred to as essay #2) in which he answered a request to write a defense of atheism. Thanks to Randy for permission to publish […]
Question: I co-teach an astronomy class at Bethesda Chevy-Chase high school and am working on my masters in special education with a certification in Biology. In astronomy, we know that the most abundance element in the universe is hydrogen. Many astronomers believe that hydrogen was the most abundant in the singularity. I know that hydrogen […]
Question: In Genesis, after God created the Earth he said it was good. We know dinosaurs were created but why and when? After living for millions of years why would God have them destroyed if what He created was good? Presumably they were created before Adam and Eve. Did God create the way in which […]
Questions: (second question is below) 1. Out of 500 billion galaxies we can’t be the only life in the universe and how does that affect mankind and a savior? Answer: First of all, this question based on an improvable assumption. Why, logically, is it seemingly impossible that the earth could contain the only life in […]
Question: I have a question regarding the Kalam argument: Can the universe or universes can come from quantum random fluctuations? Is the quantum vacuum part of the universe (material, energy)? What exactly is a vacuum in quatum physics? Finally, can you give me some tips about how to study apologetics books? How can I remember […]
Question: Why would God decide to kill someone for picking up sticks on the Sabbath (Number 15:32-36) but then Jesus, who “being the very nature, God ” allow his disciples to pick grain during the Sabbath? In the first example, the Israelites themselves had no idea what to do when someone picked up sticks during […]
QUESTION: This is a question about Hebrew 6:6. If an apostate realizes the errors in his way and comes back to the religion, truly repents, and confesses; does this verse say that God will not forgive that person and that the person is permanently condemned? Answer: Your question is based on a premise which, according […]
Question: What do I do? I am 19. I have been a Christian for 3 years now and just recently I have started asking myself some very tough questions which in turn has left me very doubtful of my faith and left me oftentimes in despair. The questions include: Couldn’t God have saved us another way? Why did […]
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