Volume 41:Issue 5 

To purchase this individual issue click here.

CONTENTS:

04 From the Editor 

06 Response

08 Effective Evangelism
But Who Made God?

10 Practical Hermeneutics
Are Matthew and Luke Reliable Concerning Christ’s Birth in Bethlehem?

12 Flannery O’Connor and the Problem of Freedom
by  Stephen Mitchell
Cultural/Philosophical  Apologetics: For O’Connor, human freedom is limited by reality. In attacking those realities that we do not like, we open ourselves to attack from those who do not like the reality that we are, to those who would reduce us to servitude. Thus, freedom is found in assenting to the nature of one’s being, a nature given by God and intended, as Pope John Paul II reminds us, “for the praise of God’s glory.”

18 Ghost Hunters and God: Reasoning through the Pursuit of the Paranormal
by Sarah C. Geis
Practical Apologetics/Cultural Discernment : In a culture where our attention is difficult to capture, Christians especially need to become students of what interests society. Only then can we become masters of using a fascination with the paranormal to encourage interest in ultimate truth, teach us more about navigating spiritual warfare in the world, and inform and strengthen our mission as the people of God.

24 Solo Sex and the Christian
by David White
 Ethical/Cultural Discernment Apologetics: Although masturbation (solo sex) is a nearly universal behavior, it is rarely discussed in the church. However, the increasing support in the media for solo sex as a healthy activity means the church must begin to understand the design of biblical sexuality, coupled with the nature of Christian discipleship.

32 Thomas Reid: Minister, Philosopher, and Champion of Common Sense
by Adam Pelser
Philosophical  Apologetics (Philosophers Series): Reid observed, “The invisible Creator, the Fountain of all perfection, hath stamped upon all his works signatures of his divine wisdom, power, and benignity, which are visible to all men.” In these ways and others, Reid is responsible for inspiring and informing much contemporary thinking about the epistemological warrant for Christian belief.

38 Virtue, Human Nature, and the Quest for Happiness
by Melissa Cain Travis
Philosophical  Apologetics :Without a transcendent good, virtuous living is mere subjective opinion on right and wrong, good and evil. Repelled by the notion that objective goodness does not exist, moral Platonism suffers from major shortcomings. Christianity provides the best grounds for believing that our happiness is closely linked to how we live.

40 Virtual Violence, Video Game Addiction, and the Kingdom of God
by Drew Dixon
Cultural Discernment and Apologetics (Postmodern Realities): 221 million Americans play video games, and despite hundreds of studies, the impact of virtual violence on aggressive behavior remains unclear. What is clear is that it is quite possible to develop a deeply unhealthy level of engagement with games without clinically qualifying as “addicted.” Yet, responsible, Christ-honoring gaming can offer surprising benefits

54 Reviews
Summary Critique: Chris Kaposy’s Choosing Down Syndrome: Ethics and New Prenatal Testing Technologies..Summary Critique:Rebecca Todd Peter’s Trust Women: A Progressive Christian Argument for Reproductive Justice

58 Viewpoint
If Race Is a Myth, Why Do We Keep Addressing Racism?

62 Ask Hank

What are the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?