Randal Rauser

Existential reflections on the Clint Eastwood speech

In case you missed it, the Clint Eastwood speech at the Republican National Convention is all the rage today. Indeed, it appears to have overshadowed both Marco Rubio’s eloquent self-promotion and Mitt Romney’s capable acceptance speech. Here it is:   Clint started off alright. The first minute and a half was not bad. But then it [...]

Do liberal theologians intend to change the gospel?

It is a truth commonly known that people are generally more aware of the weaknesses and dangers attendant to the views of others, less so with respect to the views they themselves hold. This is a point that every self-described Christian conservative, evangelical and fundamentalist would do well to consider. (Of course it is also [...]

Bill Nye the Science Guy gives very strange commentary and bad advice to creationists

Over the last few days Bill Nye the Science Guy’s two minute video of advice to creationists has gone viral. I must say I have a soft spot for Bill Nye since I watched his science guy schtick on Seattle’s “Almost Live” (which was broadcast in Southern British Columbia) back in the eighties when I [...]

Is Hurricane Isaac God’s judgment on the GOP?

Today (Monday, August 27th) the GOP (aka Grand Old Party, aka Republican Party) begins its nomination convention in Tampa. But things haven’t gone quite as planned. With Hurricane Isaac roaring past, travel plans have been upset, schedules have been reworked, and the convention has effectively been delayed for a day. To make matters worse, once the [...]

The cult of Lance Armstrong

I suppose I’m not the first to notice the near cultic support for Lance Armstrong that one finds in some corners. He’s been called a “secular messiah” for his triumphant defeat of cancer coupled with the astounding success of the Livestrong brand and Lance Armstrong Foundation which have donated more than half a billion dollars [...]

Does Mitt Romney have the moral character to be president?

As you have probably heard, Mitt Romney made a joke yesterday during an election stop in Michigan. In the joke he noted that he and his wife Ann were both born in Michigan and that nobody had ever asked to see their birth certificates. Here’s the (24 second) clip: Of course Mitt is making a joking [...]

The Swedish Atheist, The Scuba Diver and Other Apologetic Rabbit Trails in the IVP Winter Catalogue

Is apologetics a special advertising section?

The other day I was sitting at the library flipping through Car & Driver when I came across an article on the new Hyundai Veloster Turbo. I began reading the article … at least until I spotted those three fatal words at the top of the page: Special Advertising Section. Immediately I recoiled in horror and [...]

Could Nascar really be a religion?

Apparently I hit a nerve with Ray Ingles with my declaration that Nascar could function as somebody’s religion. I said: If Billy Bob spends all his money and time watching Nascar, if that’s what gives meaning to his life, then Billy Bob’s commitment to Nascar may indeed function in his life the way a conventional [...]

Why don’t religious documents make successful predictions about the natural world?

I hear this comment a lot. Consider the following passage from Neil DeGrasse Tyson: “I have yet to see a successful prediction about the physical world that was inferred or extrapolated from the content of any religious document. Indeed, I can make an even stronger statement. Whenever people have used religious documents to make detailed [...]