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Randal Rauser

Home of progressively evangelical, generously orthodox, rigorously analytic, revolutionary Christian thinking (that's what I'm aiming for anyway)

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Paul Manata

If people are not offended then there’s no offense (and other terrible reasoning)

January 16, 2012 by Randal

Now for the next piece of Paul Manata’s reasoning. He begins: “American Indians in general are not offended. It’s only Activists. Liberal, leftist activists. It’s a voting block. The point is to make them feel attacked and under the gun. Then claim your political party will stick up for them.” This leaves me deeply puzzled. […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: Paul Manata, racism, Sports Illustrated

The get your own house in order (nationalist edition) objection

January 16, 2012 by Randal

Good ole’ Paul Manata offered several criticisms of my critique of the Cleveland Indians name and logo. I thought they are noteworthy for two reasons. First, they are bad arguments. I mean bad not in the way Michael Jackson thought he was bad dressed up in leather and buckles and dancing in a parkade. Rather, […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: nationalism, Paul Manata, racism, rhetoric

Do Arminians have the same problem as Calvinists?

July 29, 2011 by Randal

Paul Manata offers a response to my article “Calvinism preaches a God of love, and yet…” The response was a tu quoque, an argument form which functions like this: Randal and Paul were walking home from the Barry Manilow concert when Paul was surrounded by a group of growling headbangers who were focused on his […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: arminianism, Calvinism, election, Paul Manata, problem of evil, providence, theodicy

A Reformed voice brings clarity to free will, providence and election

July 25, 2011 by Randal

There is no shortage of confusion among the recent wave of “new Calvinists” on the Reformed understanding of free will, providence and election. This became very clear to me a couple years ago when my book Finding God in the Shack was critiqued by popular Reformed blogger Tim Challies for providing a correct outline of the […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: Calvinism, election, free will, Paul Manata, providence, Reformed

Defending the Apologetics Company Man?

June 27, 2011 by Randal

Apparently Paul Manata didn’t like my complaint about apologists suffering from the company man image. However, I’m still scratcing my head as to what he’s complaining about. To begin with he writes:  “Again, **given the def. Dr. Rauser provided,** it doesn’t appear to be **inherently** problematic to be a company man.” Really? I first referenced a […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: apologetics, company man, objectivity, Paul Manata

Affirming, implying, and inerrancy

April 6, 2011 by Randal

Last week Paul Manata provided the following argument for the inerrancy of scripture. (1) Whatever the Bible affirms, God affirms. (2) Whatever God affirms is true. (3) Therefore, whatever the Bible affirms is true. This is a logically valid argument (i.e. the conclusion follows from the premises). For all I know, it may even be sound (i.e. […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: implicature, inerrancy, inspiration, Paul Manata

Please Mr. Dylan, step away from the microphone: A response to Paul Manata

March 15, 2011 by Randal

First an apology. I know there are probably not too many people interested in reading yet another review of Paul Manata’s review of my review of his review of my book. But gosh darn it, the guy just doesn’t know when to quit! He’s like Bob Dylan trying to sing “Bohemian Rhapsody” at the karaoke […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: Paul Manata, You're not as crazy as I think

Paul Manata is from Mars. I am from Venus

March 11, 2011 by Randal

As I read through Paul Manata’s review of You’re not as Crazy as I Think two words continually sprung to mind: caricature and irony. To begin with, he accused me of caricaturing my opponents, ironic since I lampoon the very practice in others. But the irony is redoubled because Paul makes his case by ironically […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: Paul Manata, You're not as crazy as I think

Paul Manata’s Crazy review

March 11, 2011 by Randal

Paul Manata at Aporetic Christianity has completed his review of You’re not as Crazy as I Think. I will be offering a critical response tomorrow. Suffice it to say it is mostly negative (although he gives the book three stars at Amazon: not too bad!). As I read the review I felt like Obama reading […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: Paul Manata, You're not as crazy as I think

When is chocolate not chocolate, and when is love not love?

February 25, 2011 by Randal

Bridezilla was very clear. She asked for a wedding cake made with chocolate and strawberries. The strawberries she got. But the chocolate? Well it seems Bridezilla was not clear enough, for the chef made it with white chocolate. Not an ounce of cacao to be seen (let alone tasted). “That,” snarled Bridezilla, “is not chocolate. […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: Calvinism, divine love, election, omnibenevolence, Paul Manata, providence, Reformed theology, reprobation, William Shedd

Don’t you want your baby to feel alright? John Calvin meets the Rascals

February 21, 2011 by Randal

Surely y’all ain’t too old to remember the Rascals singing “Good Lovin’.” In the song the singer begins by visiting the doctor about a particular ailment. The song does not spend much time describing the symptoms but the antidote soon becomes clear:  Now honey please, squeeze me tight (squeeze me tight) Don’t you want your […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: Calvinism, election, God, love, omnibenevolence, Paul Manata, providence, Reformed theology

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