Dr Paul Allen

It is critical for us who would preach the Gospel to ponder what sorts of presuppositions our listeners bring to the conversation. Today, sadly, there are many trends that have poisoned the culture and thus make our task much more difficult. But difficult does not mean impossible. It helps to describe modern mindsets, not to despair of them, but rather to look at them with some insight rather than being only vaguely aware of them. If we are more clear on the presuppositions that people bring to the table, we can better direct our message to them and ask them to consider whether or not these notions are helpful or even right. For indeed, most people carry their preconceptions subconsciously. Bringing them to light can act as a kind of medicine or solvent, which will assist us in clearing the thorns so that the seeds of truth can be sown. I list here six presuppositions; I’ve tried to avoid an overly philosophical analysis, instead using a more descriptive ...

By Peter Hitchens   In their attempt to argue that effective and binding codes can be developed without a deity , atheists often mistake inferior codes - "common decency" - for absolute moral systems. The Golden Rule , or doing as you would be done by, is such a code. But the fact that men can arrive at the Golden Rule without religion does not mean that man can arrive at the Christian moral code without religion. Christianity requires much more, and above all does not expect to see charity returned. To love thy neighbour as thyself is a far greater and more complicated obligation, requiring a positive effort to seek the good of others, often in secret, sometimes at great cost and always without reward. Its most powerful expression is summed up in the words, " Great love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." It is striking that in his dismissal of a need for absolute theistic morality my late brother Christopher states tha...