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Entries from July 13th, 2010

Bradley v Flannagan Debate @ Auckland Uni “Is God the Source of Morality?”

July 13th, 2010 99 Comments

Raymond Bradley and Matthew Flannagan will debate the topic “Is God the Source of Morality? Is it rational to ground right and wrong in commands issued by God?” The debate will be held at the University of Auckland on Monday 2 August from 7-9pm in “The Centennial” 260 – 098 OGGB (the bottom level of [...]

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There’s Probably No God? Fisking Atheist Billboards

July 12th, 2010 405 Comments

On the way back from Bloggers drinks we drove past one of the controversial atheist advertising billboards, put up by NZ Atheist Campaign, The Humanist Society and NZARH, which have appeared around Auckland. This appears to have come on the back of the Richard Dawkins inspired bus advertising that made headlines earlier this year. It [...]

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Inter-Continental Developments: Matt to Speak in the US

July 9th, 2010 19 Comments

When Matt wrote his blog series Joshua and the Genocide of the Canaanites Part I and Part II he had no idea just how far clicking the ‘publish’ button would end up taking him. It turns out that it will be taking him quite far;  half-way around the world from Auckland, New Zealand to Atlanta, [...]

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SBL Annual Meeting: Navigating Old Testament Ethics

July 9th, 2010 2 Comments

Matt has been invited to participate in a panel discussion at the annual Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, which runs 20-23 November 2010. He will join leading Christian academics Paul Copan, Richard Hess and Randal Rauser in a segment entitled “Navigating Old Testament Ethics.” Matt’s contribution to the panel discussion [...]

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EPS Apologetics Conference: God and the Genocide of the Canaanites

July 9th, 2010 9 Comments

Matt has been invited to speak at the annual Evangelical Philosophical Society (EPS) Apologetics Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, USA which runs 18-20 November 2010. He will be speaking alongside some big names in contemporary Christian philosophy including Alvin Plantinga and William Lane Craig. Experience seasoned teaching by Alvin Plantinga, William Lane Craig, Gary Habermas, Greg [...]

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Contra Mundum: Fairies, Leprechauns, Golden Tea Cups & Spaghetti Monsters

July 8th, 2010 23 Comments

That belief in God is on par with belief in fairy tales is a fairly common charge levelled at Christianity. Highly regarded atheist Philosopher Michael Tooley argues, If there is no evidence in support of the existence of God, then it is reasonable to believe that God does not exist. The essential line of thought [...]

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Clearing the Air: A Church Leaders Forum on Climate Change

July 6th, 2010 16 Comments

Matt has been asked to deliver the opening talk at the upcoming Clearing the Air Forum on 16-17 July 2010 at Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland. The  forum has been organised by New Zealand Christian Network (visionnetwork) and its purpose is to look at the synthesis of science and faith on climate change try to [...]

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ACC Wars and Brian Otto

July 6th, 2010 61 Comments

On the 26th of March 2008 I was in a car accident that resulted in serious injuries to my neck, which required cervical disc replacement surgery. The surgery corrected the problem in terms of how the bones were sitting and spaced but severe residual pain remained, which is, at a snails pace, gradually improving although [...]

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Bread and Circuses: NZ’s Most Trusted People List

July 5th, 2010 6 Comments

Flicking through the New Zealand Herald the other day reminded me of one of my pet peeves, celebrities being touted as authorities. I found the results of the survey about who New Zealanders most trust. The Readers Digest “New Zealand’s Most Trusted People 2010″ were ranked as follows: 1. Corporal Willie Apiata, Victoria Cross recipient 2. [...]

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The Theology of the Declaration of Independence

July 4th, 2010 27 Comments

As I write this it is just beginning to be the 4th of July in the United States now, though its been 4th July for some time here in New Zealand. The 4th of July is, of course, Independence Day. Typically in New Zealand, those members of the secular blogosphere, who consider themselves to be [...]

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