FAQ

FAQ – (Not so) Frequently Asked Questions

OK, so this is the real FAQ for (the very few) people who actually care what this blog is about. If you’re here to laugh at my view of the world then please visit the FAA for your sound bites.

Otherwise, if you’re not an internetz moron and are interested in actual discussion then please read the following article to discover what this blog is actually about as opposed to what groups such as the British Centre for “Science” Education think it’s about.

Q. Who are you?

A. Nobody, just a guy with a blog who is a Christian interested in Science, Philosophy, Epistemology and righteousness.

Q. What are your qualifications?

A. None. Just like pretty much everyone else on the internet I am in no way qualified to speak on anything other than Drama (which is my degree). I’m just a musing Christian whose interested in what people think.

Q. What are your theological views?

A. I believe in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world and man’s need to repent of his sin.

Q. Do you believe in evolution?

A. Yes and no.

Q. What do you mean?

A. I believe that evolution happens. I am unconvinced that random mutations and natural selection have created all life on Earth today and that we are descended from a common ancestor. And yes, I do understand evolution.

Q. Are you a 6 day creationist?

A. Sort of. No, not really. More accurately, I don’t really care who is right, I’m just interested in the debate. If I had to pin it I am in favour of intelligent design with a theological bent towards a plain reading of the Biblical text. I’m not a scientist so I’m not qualified to pronounce judgements on ERVs, the age of the Earth, the Phylogenetic tree or any other biological, geological, anthropological or theological view point that every monkey with a keyboard seems to think they are the world’s expert on.

Q. Why do you do this?

A. Because I can. Nothing is ever achieved on the internet except dogmatic blindness on all sides. If someone is converted through my arguments, hurrah. If they’re not, humph. The internet is not real life, it’s a bizarre mirror of our inner most desires where we can be what we want to be without fear of reprisal.

Q. Do you debate?

A. No, I discuss. I don’t debate because I’m not good at it and I have no area of expertise. I’ve also only ever seen a total of one actual useful debate on the internet. Most debates are not debates at all but street fights in which insult is hurled after insult and no progress is made. I also don’t debate because much of the time the people discussing the issue are talking over one another. See this video for an example of the misunderstanding of theistic realism.

Q. Why are you a Christian?

A. For a few reasons

1) I was brought up a Christian which gave me an advantage when explaining my faith in so much as I didn’t need to be convinced, I needed to defend.
2) I am convinced that it is a suitable representation of reality
3) I believe I’ve experienced the Holy Spirit.
4) Various aspects of the Bible with which credulity must be stretched to it’s uttermost and where the rejection of reductionist naturalism fails to happen on the basis of philosophical assumptions rather than following the evidence where it leads. Eg. The Book of Daniel and Isaiah 53.
5) My experience of the Christian life has been wonderful

Q. What do you think of internet atheists?

A. Hacks. Especially much of YouTube and The Rational Response Squad.

Q. Will you speak to these people?

A. No. If you come to this blog to discuss issues in a reasoned and balanced manner showing proper respect for whatever each person believes then I’d be happy to engage in discussion. If you come here to insult and be aggressive then the only reply you’ll get is an admonition to read the Bible or burn in Hell.

Some of my favourite internet quotes:

“…How you can think it is an accurate representation of reality is beyond me?”

“Freethinker” and “Rationalist” Hackenbollox of YouTube showing everyone how he’s so open minded that he can fully understand why someone would be a Christian on the basis of sound arguments.

“Religion in a delusion”

Just about every atheist who’s ever graced YouTube and my blog. Freethinkers demonstrating their unique ability to think for themselves whilst repeating the same thing every other atheist says. Much like the emo who cried “I’m expressing my individuality”…just like the other 3 million people in this country who dress and think like you.

“It is absolutely safe to say that if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid or insane (or wicked, but I’d rather not consider that).”

Richard Dawkins, with one of his face palm lulz.

http://bcseweb.org.uk/index.php/Main/BCSERevealedRevealed
Fail.

“The site [The ever reliable Fundies Say the Darndest Things] has a vast number of quotes from fundamentalists, nearly all of them in North America. It presents a picture of a movement of pig-ignorant inarticulate bigots, racists, xenophobes, anti-Semites, misogynists, homophobes, rape apologists, AIDS deniers, government haters, scientific illiterates, gun-lovers, murderous paramilitaries and others predisposed towards extreme violence, half-baked misfits and haters, all obsessed with their own religious and moral superiority.”

Roger “83 members” Stanyard’s little fantasy world.