Christian Doubt» Mark Lefers

Blog Posts on Doubt

Mark Lefers — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:36:47 +0000

The Credo House has a nice series on doubt. C. Michael Patton asked several Evangelical scholars and authors to contribute one paragraph each on the issue of Christians and doubt. Below is the current list:

They also have a three part series on dealing with doubt (part 1, part 2, part 3). And other posts regarding doubt:

I know that some of the things mentioned above may not be applicable to everyone struggling with doubt; as each person’s struggle is unique. However, maybe there is something useful that you can pull out of the above blog posts.

Argument Map and Debate Update

Mark Lefers — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:59:31 +0000

Just wanted to let you know that I’ve been doing less blogging as I’m working more on the resource section specifically the argument maps and the debate database. I’ve started putting together argument maps to organize my thoughts and visually track the different arguments. I also updated the Christian vs Atheist Debates database and have 583 debates and counting. With regards to the other resources, when I make a significant update, I’ll update it here. I’ll also do some “lazy” blogging like highlighting other blog post, or making short comments.

Happy Holidays!

The Gospels and Acts as History by Dr. Timothy McGrew

Mark Lefers — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 05:15:01 +0000

One of the good things that have come out of this website is that I have gotten in touch with some very nice and knowledge people. I recently got an e-mail from Dr. Timothy McGrew who informed me of a talk he gave at the Reasonable Faith group in Belfast. I just got done watching it. The talk has a lot of information that will take me several days to digest. Very good lecture.

You can watch below, or download the audio or powerpoint slides.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Deconversion – Why Do Christians Leave the Faith?

Mark Lefers — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:01:34 +0000

Bradley Wright over at the blog Black, White and Gray is doing an interesting blog series on deconversion. Bradley is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut where he studies American Christianity. He and several of his other colleagues did a study of why Christians leave the faith. They found a website in which former Christians posted their deconversion stories and look for themes in those stories. They were surprised at what made a difference as well what didn’t seem to matter.

It’s not the most scientific study, but Bradley acknowledges that. There are however interesting trends that are worth noting. Check the blog series out here.

On My Own – BarlowGirl

Mark Lefers — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:30:59 +0000

The first part of this song really hits home. However, the second part seemed like the writer was just wanting to hold onto an invisible (in my view possibly non-existent) God in order to not feel alone. I sometimes feel this draw. The emptiness of a universe without a Creator or personal God seems lonely and depressing sometimes. The desire to have a protector and savior is strong. But I still can’t believe when my whole mind thinks that type of belief is just wishful thinking, and maybe I am just on my own.

Click here to view the embedded video.

American Scientific Affiliation Annual Meeting

Mark Lefers — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 02:48:11 +0000

I signed up recently for the 2011 ASA Annual Meeting. The American Scientific Affiliation (ASA) is a society of Christians in science that within the past year I have become a “member” of. I can’t really be a member because I no longer believe their statement of faith. However, I can be a “Friend of the ASA” and receive almost all the benefits (no voting). I signed up for the ASA because I wanted to get in contact with other Christian scientist and get help with my unbelief and see how they deal with the cognitive dissidence. The local ASA meetings have been very interesting. One interesting aspect is meeting attendees. The main group are retired older men that had a science background. The other main group are college students and professors (the meetings are held at Wheaton College). So I’m in the minority in both age and beliefs. I have also got the sense that members have varying views of how to deal with both science and religion. Some appear to be old earth creationist and some theistic evolutionist. But I have yet to talk to anyone about the deep issues of doubt and unbelief.

In going through the tentative program of the annual meeting, I’m getting more excited to go. Here are some of the interesting topics that are going to be talked about:

Science and Scripture: Interpreting the Information –Terry Morrison
Dinosaurs under the Microscope: A New Look at Old Dinosaurs – Mary Schweitzer
Stem Cells, Embryos and Ethics: A Continuing Controversy – William Hurlbut
The Study of Paleontology and the Creation Mandate – Keith B Miller
Physical Geography of the Eastern Nile Delta during the Bronze Age: Implications for the Location of the Red/Reed Sea – Stephen O Moshier
Reorientation’ Therapies and Same-Sex Desire: Are they Effective and Ethical? – Heather Looy
Does the Success of Science by Itself Provide Strong Support for Naturalism? – Peter Payne
Myth and Mystery: Fostering New Avenues of Dialogue for Faith and Science – Matthew M Huddleston
Climate Change: Why Are Science and Faith in Conflict? – Katharine Hayhoe
Prayers for Healing: Does God Change His Mind? – Paul H Lange

I’ll also be curious if there will be discussion of the Christianity Today cover story about evolution that came out last month. The Christianity Today article discusses the search for the historical Adam and the implications if there was no historical Adam and Eve. They quote people from both sides of the camp, the BioLogos group and “all the other real Christians”. One of the statistics that I found interesting was from a mail survey of ASA scientist. 66% of them accept that humans share ancestors with everything else, and 90% accept an old earth. This was kind of disheartening. First, this means that 34% of the ASA (an association of scientists!) rejects or doubts a basic tenet of evolution. Second is that there is still 10% who are young-earthers.

Another disheartening part of the Christianity Today article are some of the quotes by evangelical church leaders.

“If Adam doesn’t exist, Paul’s whole argument – that both sin and grace work ‘covenantally’-falls apart . . . If you don’t believe what he believes about Adam, you are denying the core of Paul’s teaching.” Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church.

“Can the Bible’s theology be true if the historical events on which the theology is based are false?. . . The hermeneutics behind theistic evolution are a Trojan horse that, once inside our gates, must cause the entire fortress of Christian belief to fall” Richard Phillips, South Carolina pastor.

Tough words to chew on. . .
Check out the American Scientific Affiliation podcasts

Pain of promises

Mark Lefers — Fri, 27 May 2011 03:44:02 +0000

The promises of His presence only accentuates the pain of His absence.

To Know You by Nichole Nordeman

Mark Lefers — Sun, 15 May 2011 21:11:26 +0000

Another song to add to my song list dealing with doubt and uncertainty.

Click here to view the embedded video.

It’s well past midnight
And I’m awake with questions that won’t
Wait for daylight
Separating fact from my imaginary fiction
On this shelf of my conviction
I need to find a place
Where You and I come face to face

Thomas needed
Proof that You had really risen
Undefeated
When he placed his fingers
Where the nails once broke Your skin
Did his faith finally begin?
I’ve lied if I’ve denied
The common ground I’ve shared with him

And I, I really want to know You
I want to make each day
A different way that I can show You how
I really want to love You
Be patient with my doubt
I’m just tryin’ to figure out Your will
And I really want to know You still

Nicodemus
Could not understand how You could
Truly free us
He struggled with the image
Of a grown man born again
We might have been good friends
Cuz sometimes I still question, too
How easily we come to You

No more campin’ on the porch of indecision
No more sleepin’ under stars of apathy
And it might be easier to dream
But dreamin’s not for me

My blogroll . . .

Mark Lefers — Tue, 03 May 2011 02:30:08 +0000

With my new format I removed the blogroll in order to better categorize and describe the various blogs I read in my search for faith.

[post_in_post]

I Will Not Be Moved by Natalie Grant

Mark Lefers — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 18:10:58 +0000

I have been moved.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I have been the wayward child
I have acted out
I have questioned Sovereignty
And had my share of doubt
And though sometimes my prayers feel like
They’re bouncing off the sky
The hand I hold won’t let me go
And is the reason why…

[Chorus:]
I will stumble
I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes
I will face heartache
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
I will not be moved

Bitterness has plagued my heart
Many times before
My life has been like broken glass
And I have kept the score
Of all my shattered dreams and though it seemed
That I was far too gone
My brokenness helped me to see
It’s grace I’m standing on

[Chorus]

And the chaos in my life
Has been a badge I’ve worn
Though I have been torn
I will not be moved

[Chorus]