A “Sample” of SamplesMark Tabladillo Ph.D.

RTB Chapter Officer: Atlanta, GA

January 29, 2014

Networking

Mark TabBeliever since 1985

Member @ North Point Community Church

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement

RTB

Ratio Christi

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American PhilosopherWhat does it look like to engage American ideas

OutlineBackground

Five RTB Books

Two Books from the CRI Season

Resources

Background

Online BioKenneth R. Samples

Senior research scholar, Reasons to Believe

I believe deeply that "all truth is God’s truth." That historic affirmation means that when we discover and grasp truth in the world and in life we move closer to its divine Author. This approach relies on the Christian idea of God’s two revelatory books - the metaphorical book of nature and the literal book of Scripture.

As an RTB scholar I have a great passion to help people understand and see the truth and relevance of Christianity's truth-claims. My writings and lectures at RTB focus on showing how the great doctrinal truths of the faith (the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Atonement, creation ex nihilo, salvation by grace, etc.) are uniquely compatible with reason. This approach reflects the historic Christian apologetics statement - "faith seeking understanding."

I work to help myself and others fulfill Peter's words in 2 Peter 3:18: "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."

Ken Samples Q&A1) Born in what state?

2) Father served in what war?

3) First religion?

4) Second religion?

5) Third religion?

6) Death job?

West Virginia

World War II

Seventh-Day Adventist

Roman Catholic

Reformed (http://christreformedinfo.org/)

Cemetery digger

Ken Samples Q&A7) Favorite “trinity” before conversion

8) Played what minor league sport?

9) First apologist he worked for?

10) CRI expert for what?

11) Favorite Hymn?

12) Married a woman who would have been…?

Beatles, Lakers, Dodgers

Baseball

Walter Martin (CRI)

7th Day Adventism; Catholicism

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

A nun (Joan) [FYI: three children are Sarah, Jacqueline, Michael]

Top 5 Thinking Movies for 2015 (for adults)To End All Wars (2001)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Restless Heart (2013)

Dead Poets’ Society (1989)

12 Angry Men (1957)

Five RTB BooksAuthor or Coauthor

Don’t Judge a Book

By Its Cover

Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men (2002)A Rational Christian Look at UFOs and Extraterrestrials

Lights in the Sky and Little Green MenMessage:

About UFOs, in context of

life in the universe

US Government

advanced physics

UFO groups

Bible

Fine-tuning parameters and probabilities

Audience:

People wanting a framework for understanding UFOs

People wanting a framework for how scientists have investigated UFOs

People wanting an explanation of UFOs from the Christian worldview

Level: Beginner

Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men: Chapters1. The UFO Craze

2. Types of UFOs – classification systems

3. Life on Other Planets – habitable planet classification

4. Evolution’s Probabilities – ending with directed panspermia

5. Interstellar Space Travel – what are the challenges

6. RUFO’s – the Unexplained UFOs – evidence against constant observers

7. Government Cover-ups: Roswell NM, Air Force’s Project Blue Book, Area 51

8. Government Conspiracies: ever leaked?

2014 Articlehttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2573193/Flying-saucer-focus-seagull-taking-poo-Slides-Snowdens-latest-leak-fake-UFO-images-used-deliberately-spread-misinformation-online-claims-expert.html

Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men: Chapters9. Nature and Supernature (beyond nature): Fine-Tuning and the Anthropic Principle

10. The Interdimensional Hypothesis

11. A Closer Look at RUFOs: (1M/year UFO, 100K/year RUFO). Invitations to demonic attacks: séances, Ouija games, astrology, spiritualism, witchcraft, palm reading, psychic reading, fortune telling

12. Abductees: why people can be irrational

13. Contactees: regular relationship

14. UFO Cults: Worldview Test (9 points)

15. The Bible and UFOs: 7 points to return to God

16. Summary: Proverbs 3:5-6

Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men:Conclusion (1/2)The biblical worldview is much more satisfying. It leaves open the possibility that God could have created life elsewhere in the universe, but it also suggests that there is no reason for Him to have done so. The Bible warns of the danger of occult practices, such as those associated with UFOs, and from the Bible one learns how to find protection from the evil spirits who are causing RUFO encounters. The Bible encourages a pursuit of the truth in this area as in all others.

Ross, H., Samples, K., & Clark, M. (2002). Lights in the sky & little green men: a rational Christian look at UFOs and extraterrestrials (p. 169). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.

Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men:Conclusion (2/2)The truth about UFOs can be known. Indeed, the UFO mystery is a mystery solved. Earth is not being visited by aliens from another planet, but some people are being visited by spirit beings who want everyone to think they are aliens from another planet. By trusting the revelation given by the greatest transdimensional Being of them all, people need never wonder about UFOs again. When people put their lives in the hands of this Cause of human existence, this God who loves every person, the fear of UFO demons and what they can do evaporates.

Ross, H., Samples, K., & Clark, M. (2002). Lights in the sky & little green men: a rational Christian look at UFOs and extraterrestrials (p. 169). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.

A World of Difference (2004)Putting Christian Truth Claims to the Worldview Test

A World of Difference (2007)Message:

Developing a Worldview Perspective (4 chapters)

Exploring the Christian Worldview (7 chapters)

Evaluating Worldview Competitors (5 chapters)

Worldview charts

Audience:

People wanting a foundation on worldview

People wanting a systematic examination of major competing worldviews

Level: Intermediate

A World of Difference: Chapters1. Shades of Reality: 12 big questions of life, 6 components of a worldview

2. Testable Truth: 9 tests for a worldview

3. Logic 101 and Christian Truth-Claims: Primer on logic; deductive, inductive, abductive

4. Straight Thinking: 10 ways to avoid fallacious reasoning

A World of Difference: Chapters5. A Christian’s View of Truth (7 pts), Knowledge (6 pts), and History (6 pts)

6. A Soldier’s Creed: Apostles’ Creed

7. God’s Written Word – Scripture: Chicago Statement, Sola Scriptura

8. The Historic Christian View of God: Trinity, Attributes of God

9. God’s World – Creation and Providence: Reformed View

10. The Historic Christian View of Man: Imago Dei, difference from animals

11. The Historic Christian View of Moral Values: 5 points on ethics, sovereignty

A World of Difference: Chapters12. Naturalism: A Secular Worldview Challenge – with Test Scores

13. Postmodernism: A Skeptical Worldview Perspective – with Test Scores

14. Pantheistic Monism: An Eastern Mystical Viewpoint – with Test Scores

15. Islam: A Radical Monotheistic Challenge – with Test Scores

16. Testing the Christian Theistic Worldview – leaning on Augustine

Natural Theology Revealed Theology

for whenever there is a conflict between an interpretation of the Bible and a current understanding of God’s general revelation, priority should generally be given to the interpretation that is more certain

Geisler, N. L. (2002). Systematic theology, volume one: introduction, Bible (p. 77). Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.

Therefore, in showing Christianity to be true, it is the role of argument and evidence to show that the central tenets of the Christian worldview are true. And it is the role of the Holy Spirit to use these arguments, as we lovingly present them, to bring people to Christ.

Craig, William Lane (2008-06-09). Reasonable Faith (3rd edition): Christian Truth and Apologetics (p. 58). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Without a Doubt (2004)Answering the 20 Toughest Faith Questions

Without a DoubtMessage:

Thinking through questions about faith in God (6 chapters)

Thinking through questions about faith in Jesus Christ (5 chapters)

Thinking through objections to the Christian faith (9 chapters)

Audience:

People asking 20 important life questions

Level: Intermediate

Without a Doubt: Chapters1. How can anyone know that God exists? 9 points

2. How can I believe in a God that I can’t see? 5 points

3. How has God revealed himself? General revelation and Special Revelation

4. Aren’t the Creeds a thing of the past? 4 points

5. How can God be three and one? 10 points; 5 propositions; 4 strands

6. Why should I gamble on faith? 12 points on Pascal’s Wager

Without a Doubt: Chapters7. Are the gospels trustworthy accounts of Jesus’ life? 6 points on historical reliability; 6 points on factual

8. Is Jesus a Man, Myth, Madman, Menace, Mystic, Martian or the Messiah? 4 ways Jesus Claimed to be God; 7 alternatives

9. How can Jesus Christ be both God and man? Lots of lists

10. Did Jesus Christ actually rise from the dead? Lots of lists

11. Why did Jesus Christ have to die? All about sin, and then Jesus Christ

Without a Doubt: Chapters12. Don’t all religions lead to God? Response to metaphysical pluralism

13. How should Christians respond to the world’s religions? 10 points on biblical perspective

14. Aren’t Christianity and Science enemies? 10 preconditions for science

15. Doesn’t hypocrisy invalidate Christianity? Debunk 2 misconceptions

16. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own body? Abortion, sexuality, euthanasia

17. Doesn’t Christianity promote intolerance? 5 responses

18. Isn’t morality simply in the eye of the beholder? Points in support of ethical and moral absolutes

19. How can a good and all-powerful God allow evil? Logical response points

20. How should a Christian prepare to give reasons for faith? Three points

Preparing for Apologetic EngagementCultivate the life of the mind to the glory of God

Offer thoughtful and winsome answers to people’s questions

Focus study on the best sources for consistent, truthful and solidly biblical answers

7 Truths that Changed the World (2012)Discovering Christianity’s Most Dangerous Ideas

7 Truths that Changed the WorldMessage:

Seven truths: two chapters each

Five rules; dying; group questions

Audience:

People wanting a robust framework in Christian apologetics

Christians who want to learn how the Christian worldview is different from others

Level: Intermediate

7 Truths that Changed the World: ChaptersDangerous Idea 1: Not All Dead Men Stay Dead

1. Easter Hope – 7 evidences in support of the resurrection

2. Objections Examined – 8 naturalistic theories examined

Dangerous Idea 2: God Walked the Earth

3. Religious Pluralism (3 points) and God in the Flesh (4 points)

4. Explanations for Christ’s Life (7 rational options)

Dangerous Idea 3: A Fine-Tuned Cosmos with a Beginning

5. Cosmology and Creation out of Nothing (3 philosophical positions)

6. Divine Providence and the Emergence of Science (12 points)

7 Truths that Changed the World: ChaptersDangerous Idea 4: Clear Pointers to God

7. The Explanatory Power of Atheism versus Christian Theism (6 points)

8. More Signposts to the Almighty (6 points)

Dangerous Idea 5: Not by Works

9. Moral Goodness and the Human Condition (6 questions on sin)

10. God to the Rescue (7 points on atonement)

Dangerous Idea 6: Humanity’s Value and Dignity

11. Secular Humanism and the Imago Dei (4 points)

12. How Human Beings Differ (from animals: 7 points)

7 Truths that Changed the World: ChaptersDangerous Idea 7: The Good in Suffering

13. Squaring Evil with God’s Goodness – precise logic

14. God’s Good Purposes for Evil and Suffering

7 Evidences in Support of the Resurrection1. Jesus's empty tomb

2. Jesus's postmortem appearance

3. Short time frame between actual events and eyewitness claims

4. Extraordinary transformation of the Apostles

5. The greatest conversion in history (Paul)

6. Emergence of the historic Christian Church

7. Emergence of Sunday as a day of worship

8 Common Objections1. Legend Theory: Resurrection of Jesus legend or myth?

2. Fraud Theory: Someone stole the body.

3. Wrong Tomb Theory: The women were mistaken.

4. Relocated - Second Burial Theory: Jesus's body was moved.

5. Apparent Death Theory: Jesus wasn't really dead.

6. Hallucination Theory: Jesus's followers suffered from hallucinations.

7. Twin Brother Theory: Jesus had an identical twin.

8. Disembodied Visions Theory: Jesus appeared to the Apostles in a non physical way.

Christians’ Assurance in Confronting Evil and Suffering1. Believers need to know that they never suffer alone

2. God calls all his children to live with faith

3. Evil and suffering are not merely a logical or philosophical problem

Resources

MarkTab RecommendsSpeed Reading: Use your own books

http://reasons.org

RTB Biographies OnlineIf you'd like to learn more about Ken Samples or the other RTB scholars, MP4 files of the biographies of Ross, Samples, Rana, and Zweerink are available from the following link:

http://1drv.ms/1IwCiic

Listen to them on your favorite MP4 player. The four folders do not have the team names on them -- the titles are from the original CDs, and will be a fun quiz to guess who's who. These interviews may be elsewhere on the RTB site or iTunes, but they are provided here for convenience.

AbstractThis presentation will provide a summary and recommended overview for work by Ken Samples, an RTB scholar. The purpose of the presentation is to provide the major points from four books by Ken Samples, and encourage everyone to read the books on your own. These four books with links to the RTB website are:

7 truths that changed the world: discovering Christianity's most dangerous ideas

A world of difference: putting the Christian truth-claims to the worldview test

Lights in the sky & little green men: a rational Christian look at UFOs and Extraterrestrials

Without a doubt: answering the 20 toughest faith questions

Please ook up these books using the provided links or on Bing or Amazon to familiarize yourself about what they are about, and feel free to bring some written questions. The presentation slides will be available after the event.