Vox Apologia VI: Biotechnology

Every Though Captive has posted the results of the latest Vox Apologia. This week’s topic is on biotechnology. I must admit that I expected a wide variety of posts ranging from bioethics to how biotech confirms the creation account. Even though the official “deadline” has passed, Phil might still be willing to add links to relevant posts if you have one.

Screwtape Speaks Again

Joshua at RazorsKiss borrows the character of Screwtape from C. S. Lewis to write this excellent scathing response to a “good is evil/evil is good” comment posted on the evangelical outpost. In “The Screwtape Letters” by C. S. Lewis, the character of Screwtape is a demon who writes letters to his nephew Wormwood on the art and techniques of deceiving humans to separate them from God. Joshua has done an excellent job of using the style. But I think his best work related to the post appears in the comments where he responds to mumon:

If you think that subjectivism is “true” Christianity - you are gravely, gravely, mistaken. Christianity is dyed-in-the-wool objectivism - which believes in absolute, proposition truth as given by the Triune God through the Word of God, the Bible. Any deviation from that Word is error.
So, please tell me where I’m “straying” from historical, biblical, foundational, fundamental Christianity?

By denying and denigrating the subjective, they deny and denigrate the very authority - theirs- to accept the premise of Christianity.

No, by denying and denigrating any breath of subjectivism within the Church, we defend and support what the Bible says is the only Truth. There is no subjective moral truth. All moral Truth is given from God, and there is no other.

(The original comment by DarkSyd is located here.)

Is The TNIV Good News?

Mark D. Roberts takes a look at the controversy generated by the new TNIV translation in a six part series. Along the way, he discusses the difficulties of doing a good translation. His explanation about translating makes the series a worthwhile read even if the TNIV controversy doesn’t interest you.

The History Of The English Bible

Bible.org has an excellent 4 part series on the history of English translations of the Bible.

I found the following quote from the last paragraph to be particularly ironic given the Screwtape post mentioned above:

The enemy of the gospel now is not religious hierarchy but moral anarchy, not tradition but entertainment. The enemy of the gospel is Protestantism run amock; it is an anti-intellectual, anti-knowledge, feel-good faith that has no content and no convictions. Part of the communal repentance that is needed is a repentance about the text. And even more importantly, there must be a repentance with regard to Christ our Lord. Just as the Bible has been marginalized, Jesus Christ has been ‘buddy-ized.’ His transcendence and majesty are only winked at, as we turn him into the genie in the bottle, beseeching God for more conveniences, more luxury, less hassle, and a life without worries or lack of comfort. He no longer wears the face that the apostles recognized.

More Defense of Intelligent Design

Witt continues his excellent explanations of Intelligent Design in response to John Derbyshire over at Evolution News & Views with “Darwin, Derbyshire and the Dogma of the Gaps” and “Derbyshire VI: Behe’s Bacterial Flagellum—Still Stirring Up Trouble for Darwin’s Defenders”.

Joe Carter Has A New Job

Joe Carter of the evangelical outpost has taken on a new job for The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity. Very cool!

Examining The Qur’an

Weapons Of Warfare has started a series analyzing the Qur’an, as has James White at Alpha & Omega Ministries.

The Basis For Human Rights

Imago Dei takes at look at which worldview provides the best basis for human rights in “Human Rights: Are They Best Grounded by Theism or Humanism?”

A Response To Bill Maher

Doug Powers applies Bill Maher’s “logic” to atheism in ‘Bless me, Father, for I have a neurological disorder’

Most Underreported Stories Of 2004

WorldNetDaily has posted their roundup of “The year’s 10 most underreported stories”.

What Place For God In Europe?

The Christian Science Monitor is exploring the state of religion in Europe in this 3 part series.

Top Ten Moral Issues In America

Chuck Colson has a list of the top 10 moral issues facing America.