Friday, July 20, 2012
Atheism, Feminism, and the Bible
Ravi Zacharias responds to a student's question about atheism, feminism, and the Bible at Penn State University. Ravi asks, "When someone denies the existence of God, what are they affirming in its place?" Watch as Ravi exposes how some atheists borrow from a Judeo-Christian worldview to debunk it.
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Ravi didn't address the issue of the penalty for sin until the last minute, and even with that didn't really stress it to any degree. Yes, the subject of the entire context of the way Jesus felt about women is vital, but it almost seems as if he's saying "Well, there is a lot of good so one must accept the bad with it, just as long as the good weighs more." Of course, as Christians we can relate to that point of view, but by not stressing the penalty for sin, he may have left this poor girl with a less than substantial and "direct" answer to provide her friend. I think it was very sensitive of him to point out the full context of Scripture, but I'm a little disappointed that he failed to - as I said - address the awful penalty of humankind's first sin and how it not ony affects the woman in childbirth, but how it affects man in the sweating of his brow, all the days of his life to earn a living. So, a good answer, but it could have been more direct. Sorry, that's the way I see it.
ReplyDeletePastor J, I think the main reason I stopped submitting comments is that I feel like an island, adrift in an ocean of no response. I imagine you feel much the same, noticing, like me, a lack of input from your members. Having gotten this weighty and somewhat self-serving issue out of the way, let me contribute another comment concerning Ravi and the young woman who has so much trouble with pain in childbirth, delivered by what she thinks is a mean and awful God. The following quote comes from the novel "The Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan, written in the 1600s.
ReplyDelete"... I will now speak on the behalf of women, to take away their reproach. ... When the Savior was come, women rejoiced in him before either man or angel. I read not that ever any man did give unto Christ so much as one groat, (sic) but the women followed him and ministered to him of their substance. It was a woman that washed his feet with tears, and a woman that anointed his body to the burial. They (sic) were women that (sic) wept when he was going to the cross, and women that (sic: we would write "who.") followed him from the cross, and that sat by his sepulchre when he was buried. They (sic) were women that (sic) was (sic) first with him at his resurrection morn, (sic) and women that (sic) brought tidings first to his disciples that he was risen from the dead. Women therefore are highly favoured and show by these things that they are sharers with us in the grace of life." PP. 254, "Great Illustrated Classics" edition, 1979. Note: The accolades are actually longer, but I have offered only a partial quote.
Of note: The syntax used in this issue of the novel is true to the syntax used in its century, so you see a slight variation from what we use now, as I have indicated a number of times. More importantly, this is a "delightful" and very meaningful answer that Ravi - had he known of it - could have used, in part. That offered, perhaps you can submit it to him by e-mail or letter (should you think it important enough), and should the question cross him again, he can make use of it. I would, but I'm just some dude Christian out here, and he will give me no audience. Why should he? But he just might read something contributed by you. Of course, I address this issue with no pretense or presumptuousness, just an attempt to help. Of futher note, I can tell that you are growing in confidence with your delivery in your videos, and I can only guess that you will become a mighty man in the defense of the faith in years to come. Job well done, Pastor J.