Book to understand the basics of different religions

So What's the Difference by Fritz Ridenour does a good job of succinctly explaining 20 different world views/religions and explaining how they differ from biblical Christianity. An excellent book to help you understand the basic differences or to prepare you for discussions with friends that believe something different than you.

Kevin Pike

Can Science and Faith Co-exist?

Question: What about cavemen? Did they exist...before Adam and Eve....or after...or at all?

Answer: The Bible does not use the term “caveman” or “Neanderthals,” and according to the Bible there is no such thing as “prehistoric” man. The term “prehistoric” means “belonging to the era before recorded history.” The Bible is clear that Adam and Eve were perfect humans from the time of their creation and did not evolve from lower life forms.With that said, the Bible does describe a period of traumatic upheaval upon the earth—the flood (Genesis 6-9), during which time civilization was utterly destroyed except for eight people. Humanity was forced to start over. It is in this historical context that some scholars believe men lived in caves and made use of stone tools. These men were not primitive; they were simply destitute. And they certainly were not half ape.

The fossil evidence is quite clear: cavemen were human—men who lived in caves.There are some fossilized ape remains which Darwinian paleo-anthropologists interpret as being some sort of transition between ape and men. Most people seem to think of these interpretations when they imagine cavemen. They picture furry half-men, half-ape creatures crouched in a cave next to a fire, drawing on the walls with their newly developed stone tools. This is a common misconception. And as far as Darwinian paleo-anthropology goes, we should keep in mind that these interpretations reflect a peculiar worldview and are not the result of the evidence. In fact, not only is there major opposition to these interpretations within the academic community, the Darwinists themselves do not entirely agree with each other on the details.

Unfortunately, the popular mainstream view promotes this idea that man and ape both evolved from the same ancestor, but this is certainly not the only plausible interpretation of the available evidence. In fact, the evidence in favor of this particular interpretation is lacking.

-Dr. Henry Morris, Biblical Creationism

If God is in complete control, do my choices really matter?

To what extent is God sovereign? To what extent has He arranged the events of my life? To what extent has Satan arranged the events of my life? (Can he?) To what extent do I arrange the events of my life? I believe in all three. Satan seeks to shred me, to tempt me, bring things into my life to cause me to doubt God and to have me suffer at the hands of sinful people, even my own sinfulness. I do make choices. Thanks to God for protecting me from making bad choices such all of the things I have wanted to do but did not do. He protects me often from the natural consequences of my own sinful choices. But He will allow me to suffer at my own hands or at Satan's to an extent. What gives me hope is that God is sovereign enough to make all things work together for good. He can take the worse blow that this world can deal out, the dumbest mistake or the most sinful decision I have ever made and work it to His will and His purpose if I bring it to Him. Even when I do not bring my sin and pain to God, He still has a plan and He is still longing for a deeper relationship with me. Only a loving God would give me that much freedom but still be heavily invested in the outcomes of my free choices.

That gives me hope. I am never out of His sight or His reach. Psalm 139 I am always under His loving gaze while He watches how I use this freedom of choice. He will not force me to do anything, but He will attempt to have me recognize Him and all that He has to offer as He brings everything in my life into His purpose for me to Know Him better, love Him more and for me to be strengthened by all of life's experiences. An that is why I worship Him. Loving Father, freedom giver, protector, limiter, forgiver, restorer, redeemer, an enduring, patient God who is always working the outcomes if not the processes of what I do and what happens to me in this life. It is not random, it is within His gaze for His purposes, my benefit and His ultimate glory.
--Al McKechnie