14AR19-31

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Apologia Report 19:31 (1,214)

September 17, 2014

Subject: Answering contemporary challenges to the Bible

In this issue:

ABORTION - "a dramatic, persuasive argument for abortion"

BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION - Vern Poythress addresses the relationship between inerrancy and worldview

CULTURE - what online anonymity shows us about our true nature

ORIGINS - BioLogos foundation conflicts with intelligent design

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ABORTION

Pro: Reclaiming Abortion as Good for Society, by Katha Pollitt <www.ow.ly/BA2Za> [1] -- "A pro-choice [advocate] delivers a dramatic, persuasive argument for abortion. ... Bolstered by dramatic statistics ('excluding miscarriages, 21 percent of pregnancies end in abortion'), personal interviews and historical references reaching as far back as ancient Greece and Egypt, Pollitt impressively makes her case while admitting that abortion clinics have become increasingly inaccessible and certain 'pronatalist pundits' are holding women's intimately private pregnancy decisions up for public scrutiny. The opposition has definitely made itself known, she asserts, and their movement has gained momentum in recent years. Abortion opponents have reframed their positions, swiveling away from the sexual morality core points to issues of bodily protection concerning a woman's unborn 'zygote/embryo/fetus' and to accusations of 'murder.' Pollitt believes the anti-abortion movement has become both physically assaultive and gender-restrictive, stifling the authority women have gained across decades. Aside from discussing the American consensus on abortion rights and dispelling its associated myths, the author structures her arguments around absolutists who base their viewpoints on theocratic religious beliefs, political affiliations, flawed medical information or a general resistance to the progress of women's liberation movements. She considers abortion an 'urgent practical decision that is just as moral as the decision to have a child' and issues a passionate plea for the kind of deep social change necessary to destigmatize it." Kirkus, Aug '14, #2.

Library Journal (May '14, #1) mentions one more of the dramatic stats covered by Pollitt: "one in three American women terminate[s] a pregnancy before menopause."

BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION

Inerrancy and Worldview: Answering Modern Challenges to the Bible, by Vern S. Poythress, Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary [2] -- the reviewer, Adam Omelianchuk (University of South Carolina), begins: "The central thesis ... is that 'modern people' challenge the authority of scripture by bringing presuppositions from a materialistic worldview to its pages. That is, modern people, or those who think the Bible is errant, read it through the lens an 'impersonalistic' view of natural laws, moral properties, and structures in thought and speech. Poythress guides the reader through such diverse topics as the natural sciences, sociology, linguistics, historical criticism, and cognitive psychology so as to demonstrate how an impersonalistic worldview affects modern thinking, and hence the handling of scripture as an errant human text. ... Along the way, he addresses certain challenges to particular problem passages and admonishes readers to take account of their spiritual pride that might hinder one's reading of scripture."

Omelianchuk concludes by noting that "the shortest part of the book is also the best: the one which addresses our tendency to stand over the text, thinking that we now know better. If one labors to the end of Poythress's book, one will surely be blessed by what he has to say on this neglected topic even if his comments are all too brief." And it seems Omelianchuk wanted Poythress to include much more in other areas as well.

"If one is looking for a general overview of how materialistic thinking affects various disciplines ... and the conclusions drawn from them, one might find Poythress's book helpful. But if one is looking for justification for belief in inerrancy, one should look elsewhere" - though Omelianchuk fails to offer suggestions.

Over half the review is critical. "Poythress shows no awareness of the fact that one of the strongest arguments for the errancy of scripture faced by Christians today is entirely compatible with a 'personalistic' worldview." Omelianchuk churns out his justification for this complaint at length. "For it is obviously the case that if materialism is true, the Bible errs; and the Bible is inerrant only if God exists." Philosophia Christi, 16:1 - 2014, pp230-233.

CULTURE

Dataclysm: Who We Are (When We Think No One's Looking), by Christian Rudder [3] -- the July 30, 2014 Shelf Awareness promo explains that Rudder "shows how technology is offering an 'unprecedented sociological opportunity' and helping to transform our understanding of race, politics, sex, beauty, humor, anger and other subjects previously challenging to quantify. ...

"In Dataclysm, Rudder combines existing work with his own original research, analyzing information from OkCupid, Google, Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, Tumblr and other websites." The argument is that data collected from these sources is "more revealing than surveys or academic behavioral research." For example, Rudder says that "digital activity proves that in private, racism is pervasive and still an implicit factor in people's decision making." And as for the differences among online resources: "Tumblr is reaching out to help those with eating disorders, while virtual lynch mobs have formed on Twitter, inciting collaborative rage with far-reaching effects." <www.ow.ly/Btf2A>

ORIGINS

"The New Theistic Evolutionists" by Casey Luskin, research coordinator for the Discovery Institute <discovery.org > -- "BioLogos <biologos.org> is a nonprofit foundation formed by Francis Collins <www.ow.ly/BA2HI> in 2007 to promote the view that an evolutionary scientific position is fully correct and compatible with Christianity. ...

"A key difference between BioLogos and intelligent design is BioLogos's view that design cannot, in principle, be scientifically detected in nature, or that design could be scientifically detected, but isn't. BioLogos believes the evolutionary 'consensus' should not be questioned, and maintains nonexperts should defer to the consensus. ... BioLogs eschews arguments for faith that defy the consensus and argues the consensus is consistent with Christianity. ...

"Collins hoped to develop a new theory of creation, and BioLogos challenges the traditional theological consensus on core doctrines such as the historicity and importance of Adam and Eve."

Luskin briefly charts leadership transitions within BioLogos and discusses its views, especially regarding conflicts with intelligent design and theology. Christian Research Journal, 37:3 - 2014, pp32-41.

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SOURCES: Monographs

1 - Pro: Reclaiming Abortion as Good for Society, by Katha Pollitt (Picador, 2014, hardcover, 272 pages) <www.ow.ly/Bt5qs>

2 - Inerrancy and Worldview: Answering Modern Challenges to the Bible, by Vern S. Poythress (Crossway, 2012, paperback, 272 pages) <www.ow.ly/Btgjm>

3 - Dataclysm: Who We Are (When We Think No One's Looking), by Christian Rudder (Crown, 2014, hardcover, 304 pages) <www.ow.ly/Btgb3>

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