Sjbedard

LATEST ARTICLES ( 405 )

• When the Problem of Suffering is Not Theoretical

  One of the important areas of apologetics is that of the problem of suffering. I separate that from the problem of evil. I consider the problem of evil to be... Read more

  Posted on 16 August 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Rachel Held Evans is Right But I Still Disagree With Her

  In a recent CNN Belief Blog, popular author and speaker Rachel Held Evans wrote on Why Millennials Are Leaving the Church. This is an area that I am very much... Read more

  Posted on 27 July 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• “Only” an Adjunct

  Many apologists and other Christians of an academic bent that I have spoken to have a dream of being a professor. They start their education and even as an... Read more

  Posted on 04 July 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Things John Shelby Spong Thinks He Knows About the Gospel of John

  In a recent article, John Shelby Spong outlines “What Everyone Should Know About the Fourth Gospel,” as a preview of a book he has written on John. Read more

  Posted on 13 June 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• A New Way of Taking Notes

  I have just completed a class on the Gospel of Mark at Acadia Divinity College, studying under Larry Hurtado. It was a great time and I learned a lot. Read more

  Posted on 10 June 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Wholistic Apologetics

  I have not been blogging much lately because I am at Acadia Divinity College, taking my last two courses for my Doctor of Ministry degree. Read more

  Posted on 31 May 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• The Riddle: UN Anti-Homophobic Video

  This is a video put out by the United Nations bringing to our attention the danger that many homosexuals experience throughout the world. I must say that I agre... Read more

  Posted on 22 May 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Why I Am Pro-Life

  

  Many people consider the pro-life position to be based on a faith or religious system. Some suppose that people would be pro-choice if their religious teachers... Read more

  Posted on 22 May 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Confessions of an Ex-Pastor

  It always broke my heart when I would read stories of how a pastor had a bad experience at a church and quit ministry out of anger, pain and frustration. Read more

  Posted on 15 May 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Exposing the Jesus Myth

  Here is my presentation that I gave on the Jesus myth theory for the Network of Christian Apologists in Calgary. It is a basic introduction to the background,... Read more

  Posted on 12 May 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• The Historical Jesus and the Raglan Scale

  I have been talking to a number of Jesus mythicists lately and they have been putting forth something called the Raglan scale. This is a scale that puts togethe... Read more

  Posted on 06 May 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Limits to Freedom of Expression

  In Canada, as in many western countries, we take for granted our freedom of expression/speech.  This freedom is one of the things that I am thankful for as a... Read more

  Posted on 05 May 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• May the Force Be With You!

  

  You know that I was raised Anglican because when I hear someone say “May the force be with you,” I want to respond with “And also with you. Read more

  Posted on 04 May 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• It’s All About Jesus

  I love this quote by John Stackhouse, taken from his fantastic book Humble Apologetics. This rings true to me and it is the desire of my heart for my apologetic... Read more

  Posted on 02 May 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Similarity and Causation

  Those who believe in the Jesus myth theory (JM) point out that there are many similarities between things in the Gospels and in pagan myths.  I would say that... Read more

  Posted on 01 May 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Young Earth Creationists and Jesus Mythicists

  I risk offending both young earth creationists (YEC) and Jesus mythicists (JM) with this post, but I have been thinking about the similarity between the two. Read more

  Posted on 30 April 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• James, Jude and Peter

  Many scholars doubt that the epistles in the New Testament named after James, Jude and Peter were actually written by those individuals.  There is some logic... Read more

  Posted on 29 April 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Three Reasons Why Rick Warren is a Heretic

  One of the figures in current evangelicalism that is very controversial is Rick Warren.  Many evangelicals love Rick Warren and many evangelicals have major... Read more

  Posted on 27 April 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• My View of Islam

  On Facebook recently, I frustrated a number of my evangelical friends with posts I shared and comments I made related to Islam.  I was accused of not knowing... Read more

  Posted on 26 April 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• The Right and Wrong of the Prosperity Gospel

  I need to be up front.  I strongly disagree with the prosperity gospel.  Their preachers annoy me, their message sickens me and their style embarrasses me.... Read more

  Posted on 24 April 2013 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY