Author and rational optimist Matt Ridley spoke at The Centre for Independent Studies about the overwhelming evidence that shows life is getting better-despite an abundance of pessimistic counterclaims (Serious Saturday)

By PapaGiorgio / Feb 18 2012 / in Poli-Sci, SS / No Comments »

From the video description:

Author and rational optimist Matt Ridley spoke at The Centre for Independent Studies about the overwhelming evidence that shows life is getting better – despite an abundance of pessimistic counterclaims.

Today there are more than 6 billion people on the planet, 99 per cent of whom are better fed, better sheltered, better entertained and better protected against disease than their Stone Age ancestors. The availability of almost everything a person could want or need has been going erratically upwards for 10,000 years and has rapidly accelerated over the last 200 years…

Yet, bizarrely, however much things improve from the way they were before, people still cling to the belief that the future will be nothing but disastrous. In this original, optimistic book, Matt Ridley puts forward his surprisingly simple answer to how humans progress, arguing that we progress when we trade and we only really trade productively when we trust each other. The Rational Optimist will do for economics what Genome did for genomics and will show that the answer to our problems, imagined or real, is to keep on doing what we’ve been doing for 10,000 years — to keep on changing.

Matt’s books have sold over 850,000 copies, been translated into 30 languages, short-listed for six literary prizes and won two awards. His work has appeared in The Economist, Sunday Telegraph, The Daily Telegraph, The Times, Guardian, New Scientist, Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, amongst other publications. Matt is Co-founder and President of the International Centre for Life.

Matt’s book, The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves, provides compelling and positive evidence that life has improved dramatically and continues to do so.

Lecture by Elaine Howard Ecklund at Calvin College ~ `What Scientists Really Think` (Serious Saturday)

By PapaGiorgio / Feb 11 2012 / in Religion, Science, SS / No Comments »
  • Lecture by Elaine Howard Ecklund at Calvin College, speaking on science, atheism, and people of faith.

Worldviews 101 ~ What is a worldview? Are they avoidable? This video deals with the necessity of worldviews

By PapaGiorgio / Feb 04 2012 / in Apologetic, SS / No Comments »

If you want a “210 introduction” (i.e., a bit more advanced), see my introductory chapter to my book.

Mormon Views of God`s Attributes ~ Did God Sin and Why This Is Important (Serious Saturday)

By PapaGiorgio / Jan 28 2012 / in Momonism, Religion, SS / No Comments »

This is how I put it in footnote #7 in my chapter on Mormonism:

Usually I make this point – that Heavenly Father was a mortal man – early in the conversation, and, will revisit this idea of Heavenly Father being a man born into a world of his own by stating the argument another way. I will point out that it is possible that their god owned a gas station, worked at a grocery store as a clerk, went to college, or,even like myself, could have been convicted of crimes and done jail time before becoming “exalted.”

Paul Couglin speaks on the effeminate, nice and passive nature of some Christian men that is destructive to their lives and church

By PapaGiorgio / Jan 21 2012 / in Apologetic, Christian Life & News, SS / No Comments »

Is Evolution Compatible with the Gospel? A Debate (Serious Saturday A Day Early)

By PapaGiorgio / Jan 13 2012 / in Apologetic, Debate, Intelligent Design/Creation, Science, SS / No Comments »

From the video description:

Dr John Polkinghorne KBE, FRS (Cambridge Physicist & Canon Theological) Vs. John Mackay “International Director of Creation Research. Is Evolution Compatible with the Christian Faith? Hosted by BBC’s Roger Phillips, filmed live at Liverpool Cathedral. Don’t miss this great debate.

LIVERPOOL CATHEDRAL DEBATE A GREAT SUCCESS Over 1100 people filled the Liverpool Cathedral to hear Cambridge University physicist and Canon Theological for the Cathedral, Dr John Polkinghorne, debate Australian and International Director of Creation Research, John Mackay. The topic: Is evolution compatible with the Christian faith?”

As the UK’s leading theistic evolutionist, Dr John Polkinghorne started the debate with his claim that the universe had evolved over the past 14 billion years. Mackay quickly produced a copy of a 1990 lecture by Polkinghorne, where he had stated the universe had evolved over 15 billion years. It was fun to watch the audience react to Mackay’s claim that evolution must be so wonderful it has enabled John Polkinghorne to become 15 years older while the universe became one billion years younger, and then use it to emphasis the point that these vast billions of years are not facts that disprove a literal reading of the scriptures, but men’s feeble theories, which are constantly evolving while the scriptures in Genesis remain firm.

THE UK CHURCHMAN NEWSPAPER reporting the Liverpool Debate stated: “The controversial issue of origins was given a theological airing in the cloistered confines of Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral, on March 8th 2005. The distinguished Australian Creation Scientist John Mackay was, in my humble opinion, far away ahead in his creation views against the resident Anglican theologian, Canon John Polkinghorne, KBE. It was a great educational debate but in my view Mackay’s Biblical answers left the canon (and he reminded me very much of Captain Mainwaring of Dad’s Army) spluttering in his hastily assembled answers. (from Liverpool Canon Debates Creation Scientist in Cathedral by G. Patrick Battell Paper No 7568, 18 March 05) Hosted by popular BBC Commentator Roger Phillips, this exciting debate was filmed professionally.

This is one DVD you don’t want to miss. Since faith in Theistic Evolution over billions of years is one of the biggest problems in evangelical churches throughout the world, your church needs to see it as well!

To purchase this DVD go to http://www.creationresearch.net/secure/store/home.php?shopkey=3399 click on GREAT DVDS and scroll down titles:

Dr. Craig speaks on the importance of the intellect in the mind of the Christian ~ Serious Saturday

By PapaGiorgio / Jan 07 2012 / in Apologetic, Christian Life & News, Philosophy/Ethics, SS / No Comments »

What is the Meaning of Failure for the Christian? (Serious Saturday)

By PapaGiorgio / Dec 31 2011 / in Psychology, SS / No Comments »

Dr. William Lane Craig gives a message on the topic of failure. The type of failure Dr. Craig speaks on is NOT on moral or spiritual failure but professional defeat. Dr. Craig gives his own personal stories of a past failure he experienced in life. This message was delivered from Johnson Ferry Baptist.

Dr. William Lane Craig debates Professor Carl Chinn of Birmingham University during his UK Reasonable Faith Tour (Serious Saturday)

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http://reasonablefaith.org – This debate on “Does God Exist?” took place in front of a capacity audience at the Great Hall, University of Birmingham. It was recorded on Friday 21st October 2011 as part of the UK Reasonable Faith Tour with William Lane Craig.

William Lane Craig is Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, La Mirada, California and a leading philosopher of religion. Peter Millican is Gilbert Ryle Professor of Philosophy at Hertford College, University of Oxford and a noted scholar in studies of Hume.

The debate was hosted by the University of Birmingham Student Philosophy Society, and the debate was moderated by Professor Carl Chinn.

For more information on the Reasonable Faith Tour see http://www.bethinking.org/craig

 

 

JP Moreland Argues ~ using evidence ~ that Jesus of Nazareth Proves the Veracity of Christianity (Serious Saturday)

By PapaGiorgio / Dec 17 2011 / in Apologetic, History, SS / No Comments »

J.P. Moreland`s The Case for God (Part 2) ~ Serious Saturday

Lecture by Louie Giglio, author of Indescribable, Lifts Our Eyes To Loftier Ideas (Serious Saturday)

By PapaGiorgio / Dec 03 2011 / in Apologetic, SS / No Comments »

J.P. Moreland`s The Case for God (Part 1) ~ Serious Saturday

In His Own Words (Serious Saturday)

By PapaGiorgio / Nov 12 2011 / in Apologetic, Religion, SS / No Comments »

A Dr. Gary Habermas Presentation on the Resurrection of Christ (Serious Saturday)

By PapaGiorgio / Nov 05 2011 / in Apologetic, SS / No Comments »

Dr. Montgomery Gives a Lecture at Patrick Henry College entitled: `Speculation vs. Factuality: An Analysis of Modern Unbelief and a Suggested Corrective` (Serious Saturday)

By PapaGiorgio / Oct 29 2011 / in Apologetic, Philosophy/Ethics, SS / No Comments »

About us

About UsAbout Papa Giorgio @ RPT:

Biased: I have my own interests and personal beliefs in mind when talking to others, spiritually or politically (Prov 21:2; Matt 15:19), because... I am Fallen: I am a sinner and tend towards ~ naturally ~ what is not best for me or others. In other words, I will probably let you down (Rom 3:10; Rom 3:23; Lam 5:16); Sentenced: since I tend towards rebellion and selfishness, I am judged accordingly and righteously (Rom 5:12; Rom 6:23a; Job 36:6); Forgiven: I am justified before God NOT through works but by faith (Eph 2:8-10; Gal 2:16; Rom 6:23b; PS 86:5); Relational: mercy is not getting what you deserve. And grace is getting what you absolutely do not deserve (Heb 4:16; Eph 1:5; Jer 15:19a). (FYI ~ all graphics below are click-able)