Summit Ministries
Check ’em out! I’ll be teaching 4 separate times this summer and would love to have you join us!
Free “Defending the Faith” Book!
For our SPRING FUND RAISER we are reserving 100 new copies of “Defending the Faith” for ministry partners who give a one-time donation of $50! Will you help us reach our goal by supporting Confident Christianity Apologetics Ministry? Click above to reserve your free copy!
MJ
Bombs Away! Effectively Communicating Apologetics
Bombs Away! Effectively Communicating Apologetics MP3
“So maybe you know all the apologetic material you could possibly care to
know, but can you communicate that material effectively? In this
lecture, Sharp suggests several practical ways that an average person
can use the material they know in a dynamic and engaging way. She argues
that there are three ways in which a person can communicate apologetic
material more effectively: 1) Clear content, 2) Body language, 3) Vocal
tone.”
Also, you will find other MP3’s of interest: Strobel, Mittleberg, Koukl, Ordway, Licona, Habermas, Menuge, WLC, and many more!
MJ
Transforming Women’s Ministries: Why Apologetics?
EXCELLENT RESOURCE FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRIES TO INTRODUCE APOLOGETICS!
Why is apologetics so important and needed in women’s ministries at
this time? Women need to be honest with themselves about why they
believe in God. Honesty about their beliefs (and doubts) helps women
live transformed lives that affect other people. It also helps them
answer questions people may have about belief in God without feeling
intimidated. Believers need to gain confidence in their faith. We can do
this by creating safe environments that allow for the exploration of
questions about faith in women’s ministries.
Join Chris Adams, Paige Greene, and Mary Jo Sharp, author of Why Do You Believe That? as we discuss how to help leaders answer these questions that will transform women’s lives.
America’s Got Apologetics
Joe Castillo, former student of Houston Baptist University Professor Jerry Walls, has recently advanced on “America’s Got Talent!” Be watching as Joe heads to the Big Apple!
Apologetics. Art. Houston Baptist University.
MJ
For more info about Joe Castillo, check out: sandstory.com
So, They Asked Me To Be A Professor…
“Welcome. This is an exciting time in the life of Houston Baptist University (HBU). Since its founding
in 1960, the University has grown into a thriving community of faith
and scholarship…HBU is taking steps to become a leading institution for Christian higher education in America.
From its home in the heart of Houston, Texas, one of the nation’s
largest and most diverse metropolitan areas, HBU provides a learning
experience that instills in students a passion for academic, spiritual,
and professional excellence. This mission serves as the driving force
behind our continued efforts to enrich the total student life
experience.
By enhancing our campus facilities, strengthening our rigorous liberal
arts core curriculum, expanding our graduate program offerings, and
competing in NCAA Division I athletics, HBU is uniquely positioned to
serve both undergraduate and graduate students seeking an excellent
education.
Thank you for your interest in HBU. I hope you will take the opportunity to drop by and visit
the HBU campus to experience firsthand all of the wonderful things the
University has to offer. Our faculty, staff and students are ready to
greet you.
Dr. Robert B. Sloan, Jr.
President
Houston Baptist University”
I have accepted the position of Assistant Professor beginning this fall at HBU! More on this in a later blog post, but let me say that I whole-heartedly support President Sloan and incoming Provost John Mark Reynolds. Along with new professor, Holly Ordway (pictured with me on campus), I find that HBU is the place to be!
MJ
Why Do You Believe That?
Mary Jo Sharp – “Why Do You Believe That?” Bible Study Taping
April 16-17, 2012
(Monday
– Tuesday)
Nashville,
TN:
TN:
LifeWay Christian Resources
Mary Jo Sharp
(Speaker)
(Speaker)
LifeWay and new author Mary Jo Sharp are coming together to tape
a new Bible Study resource called “Why Do You Believe That: A Faith
Conversation”. Come be a part of this free event. Choose from the two
sessions offered – you can choose to attend 1 or both of the sessions.
a new Bible Study resource called “Why Do You Believe That: A Faith
Conversation”. Come be a part of this free event. Choose from the two
sessions offered – you can choose to attend 1 or both of the sessions.
For more information on this event:
Description
LifeWay and new author Mary Jo Sharp are coming together
to tape a new Bible Study resource called “Why Do You Believe That: A
Faith Conversation”. This will be the first video Bible study that Mary
Jo is producing with LifeWay. The study focuses on knowing what you
believe and equipping believers to feel confident discussing matters of
faith with those they encounter.
Come be a part of this free event. Choose from the two sessions offered – you can choose to attend 1 or both of the sessions.
Featured Guests
Mary Jo Sharp
Speaker
Mary Jo Sharp is a former atheist from the
Pacific Northwest who thought religion was for the weak-minded. She now
holds a Masters in Christian Apologetics from Biola University and is
the first woman to become a Certified Apologetics Instructor through the
North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. A
clear communicator with a teacher’s heart, she finds great joy in
discussing the deep truths of her Lord and Savior. She administrates the
website, Confident Christianity, and has engaged in two formal, public
debates with Muslims.
Registration Information
Register Online: click HERE
Register by Phone: Call LifeWay Events Registration toll free at 800.254.2022
Register by Fax: Fax your information to: 615.251.3730
Cancellation
Policy: Since this event is free, if you are unable to use your ticket
please give to someone else who may benefit from attending this taping.
Videotaping
Policy: During this event, LifeWay will be videotaping, audio taping,
and photographing. Most likely, you will be filmed, recorded or
photographed as part of the audience or individually. By your
attendance, you are granting your permission to be videotaped,
audiotaped, or photographed for commercial purposes and agree to the
following: being recorded, filmed, videotaped, or photographed by any
means; commercial or any other use of your likeness, voice and words
without compensation; specifically waving all rights of privacy during
the videotaping, filming, recording or photographing and release LifeWay
Christian Resources from liability for loss, damage, or compensation
from the commercial or other use of your likeness, image, voice or word;
compliance with all rules and regulations of LifeWay for this event.
OTHER DETAILS:
Taping will be held at LifeWay Christian Resources in the Crowe Room.
Park
for free in the 10th Avenue North Visitors Lot or the 9th Avenue North
Visitors Lot. Upon entering the building you will be greeted and
directed to the Crowe Room.
Please eat before you arrive. Light snacks will be provided at the first break between segments.
Bring your Bible and pen to get the most out of this event.
After you register you will receive a ticket, bring your ticket to the event for entrance into the taping.
Location
LifeWay Christian Resources
1 LifeWay Plaza
Nashville,
TN 37234
Schedule
Session 1 // Monday April 16:
5:30pm Doors Open
6:00pm Welcome
6:15pm Session 1
6:50pm Break
7:15pm Session 2
7:50pm Break
8:15pm Session 3
9:00pm Dismiss
Session 2 // Tuesday April 17:
5:30pm Doors Open
6:00pm Welcome
6:15pm Session 4
6:50pm Break
7:15pm Session 5
7:50pm Break
8:15pm Session 6
9:00pm Dismiss
Logic in an Age of Persuasive Imagery: Hasty Generalization
“This is the best post on apologetics ever!”
While at first glance–or from intuition–you might brush my
statement aside as ludicrous, there is actually a fallacy represented here by my
hyperbolic enthusiasm for my own writing: a hasty generalization.
statement aside as ludicrous, there is actually a fallacy represented here by my
hyperbolic enthusiasm for my own writing: a hasty generalization.
Hasty generalization: generalizing about a class based upona small or poor sample.
In committing the hasty generalization fallacy, there are
normally two problems involved:
#1.Too small of a sample
#2. Not a representative sample
normally two problems involved:
#1.Too small of a sample
#2. Not a representative sample
Going back to my original statement, I am committing a hasty
generalization because I do not have access to all the posts written on
apologetics in order to know if the post I just wrote is the best post
ever. The sample size for my inference
would be too small.
generalization because I do not have access to all the posts written on
apologetics in order to know if the post I just wrote is the best post
ever. The sample size for my inference
would be too small.
Let’s look at the first problem: too small of a sample size.
If the sample size is too small, we risk it not being
representative of the broader class which we are referencing. In our political campaign examples, a
Democrat candidate might claim that because Republican Randy Presidential
Hopeful demeans other candidates then all Republicans are demeaning to other
people; therefore a democrat cannot vote for any Republican. But Republican Randy doesn’t represent how
all Republicans would treat Democrats (or other republicans, independents, etc).
The sample size here is too small to
make an accurate judgment. However, I’ve
heard this kind of inference from members of both parties!
representative of the broader class which we are referencing. In our political campaign examples, a
Democrat candidate might claim that because Republican Randy Presidential
Hopeful demeans other candidates then all Republicans are demeaning to other
people; therefore a democrat cannot vote for any Republican. But Republican Randy doesn’t represent how
all Republicans would treat Democrats (or other republicans, independents, etc).
The sample size here is too small to
make an accurate judgment. However, I’ve
heard this kind of inference from members of both parties!
Let’s look at the second problem: not a representative
sample.
sample.
Perhaps the person making the generalization has a large
sample size but it may not be a sample that aptly represents the class.
sample size but it may not be a sample that aptly represents the class.
Example: All plumbers are rich. I just went to the international plumbers
convention and studied 3,000 plumbers there.
They all made over $100,000 a year.[1]
convention and studied 3,000 plumbers there.
They all made over $100,000 a year.[1]
Though 3,000 plumbers sounds like a big enough sample size,
the sample does not aptly represent all plumbers. What about the plumbers who do not make
enough to go to an international plumbers convention? This sample size is probably only taken from
wealthy plumbers (or plumbers able to afford attending the convention) and therefore is a hasty generalization.
Be on the lookout in the presidential campaigns for hasty
generalizations; including throwing around poll percentages, tossing out
figures supporting a view, and attributing ideology to entire classes of
people. When you hear these figures you
should ask: Where are you getting that from?
What is the source of your information?
What were the control factors used in the study (ie. how many people
were surveyed and who were the people surveyed and did the survey have an apt
sample of the representative class)? These
are important questions to answer in order to avoid manipulation through the
logical fallacy of hasty generalization.
generalizations; including throwing around poll percentages, tossing out
figures supporting a view, and attributing ideology to entire classes of
people. When you hear these figures you
should ask: Where are you getting that from?
What is the source of your information?
What were the control factors used in the study (ie. how many people
were surveyed and who were the people surveyed and did the survey have an apt
sample of the representative class)? These
are important questions to answer in order to avoid manipulation through the
logical fallacy of hasty generalization.
[1] Hans and Nathaniel Bluedorn.
The Fallacy Detective: Thirty Six
Lesson on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning.
(Muscatine, IA: Christian Logic, 2002, 2003), 122.
The Fallacy Detective: Thirty Six
Lesson on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning.
(Muscatine, IA: Christian Logic, 2002, 2003), 122.
Logic in an Age of Persuasive Imagery: the Loaded Question
“Have you stopped beating your wife?”
A loaded question occurs when someone asks you two questions, but one is hidden behind the other. The purpose of a loaded question is to make you assume the answer to a hidden question, without actually asking that hidden question.[1]
In the example above, the hidden assumption is that the person has been beating his wife. While that’s not so hidden in this question, it still presents a problem because the question is asking for a “yes” or “no” answer. Both of these replies will incriminate the responder. If a “yes” answer is given, the person is admitting he used to beat his wife. If a “no” answer is given, the person is admitting he still beats his wife.How is this a problem for candidates in the elections? Candidates are asked all sorts of loaded questions by journalists and others who interview them and moderate their debates. For example, in the 2007 Republican debates, Senators John McCain and Mike Huckabee were asked this basic question, “Do you believe in evolution? Yes or no.”[2] At first, this may not appear to be a loaded question. However, if you know the history behind the question and the perceptions involved in the heated debate, this is an obviously loaded question. Let’s look at why.The issue has been superficially divided, for the most part, between those who believe the universe was created and those who believe the universe does not need a creator. Though the issue is wrongly divided in this way, it tends to get labeled and promoted as such, especially through the media. A person who has studied the question of evolution and the origins of the universe in some depth knows that there are non-religious scientists as well as religious scientists who argue, based in scientific evidence, for a creator of the universe.[3] There are also various views on evolution within the faith community. Yet the question assumes the perceptions of the issue: that ‘belief in science’ is what is actually at stake. So the assumed question is: what do you believe about the endeavor of science?Due to the simplistic labeling of the various positions on this argument, if Mike Huckabee or Senator McCain had simply answered “yes” or “no,” here’s how it would have come across because of the loaded question:“Yes” – I believe in science. (ala the movie Nacho Libre)“No” – I do not believe in science.
In the example above, the hidden assumption is that the person has been beating his wife. While that’s not so hidden in this question, it still presents a problem because the question is asking for a “yes” or “no” answer. Both of these replies will incriminate the responder. If a “yes” answer is given, the person is admitting he used to beat his wife. If a “no” answer is given, the person is admitting he still beats his wife.How is this a problem for candidates in the elections? Candidates are asked all sorts of loaded questions by journalists and others who interview them and moderate their debates. For example, in the 2007 Republican debates, Senators John McCain and Mike Huckabee were asked this basic question, “Do you believe in evolution? Yes or no.”[2] At first, this may not appear to be a loaded question. However, if you know the history behind the question and the perceptions involved in the heated debate, this is an obviously loaded question. Let’s look at why.The issue has been superficially divided, for the most part, between those who believe the universe was created and those who believe the universe does not need a creator. Though the issue is wrongly divided in this way, it tends to get labeled and promoted as such, especially through the media. A person who has studied the question of evolution and the origins of the universe in some depth knows that there are non-religious scientists as well as religious scientists who argue, based in scientific evidence, for a creator of the universe.[3] There are also various views on evolution within the faith community. Yet the question assumes the perceptions of the issue: that ‘belief in science’ is what is actually at stake. So the assumed question is: what do you believe about the endeavor of science?Due to the simplistic labeling of the various positions on this argument, if Mike Huckabee or Senator McCain had simply answered “yes” or “no,” here’s how it would have come across because of the loaded question:“Yes” – I believe in science. (ala the movie Nacho Libre)
“No” – I do not believe in science.
Loaded questions have much to do with perceptions. That is why Mike Huckabee stated that his moderator was asking the wrong question.[4] This is an example of what to do when you are faced with a loaded question. You should question the question!MJ [1] Adapted from Hans and Nathaniel Bluedorn. The Fallacy Detective: Thirty Six Lesson on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning. (Muscatine, IA: Christian Logic, 2002, 2003), 120.[2] McCain was asked the question one-on-one. The moderator then asked for a show of hands of who “doesn’t believe in evolution.” Mike Huckabee, in a later debate, was asked to explain why he raised his hand to signify he “didn’t believe in evolution” in a more complex version of the same basic question.[3] Paul Davies, John O’Keefe, Fred Hoyle, Alan Sandage, Arno Penzias, Arthur Eddington and others.[4] He actually stated it was an “unfair question,” which I would not have said. I would have said it was the “wrong question.”