tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post8762209475420615234..comments2024-03-27T17:15:37.606-04:00Comments on Triablogue: Attacking the Virgin BirthRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809283662428917799noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-26658375163744012492013-11-13T19:16:11.985-05:002013-11-13T19:16:11.985-05:00Some skeptics may claim that they are not a priori...Some skeptics may claim that they are not a priori assuming the falsity of pagan myths and then concluding that the Christian story is false because of similarities. Such skeptics may claim that on inductive reasons, since these other stories aren't verifiable and therefore shouldn't be believed, neither should the Bible's stories since it would be a case of special pleading. But such statements already assume worldview presuppositions about ontology, epistemology, induction, knowledge, the orderly structure of the external world, the knowability of the external world, the ability of our faculties to reason and access the external world etc. It also, doesn't take into account the self-attesting nature of Scripture or the inner witness of the Holy Spirit in confirming in the hearts of the elect the truth of Christianity. Nor do they take into account the demonic origins of some myths as well as their origins from the human heart (as I explained above). That's why in one sense Christians should be wary of pagan myths. Yet in another sense, those pagan myths can be, as C.S. Lewis said, a kind of prophecy of Christianity. Or as he put it in another way, Christianity is myth come true in space and time. That's because while their penultimate origins are from sinful human and demonic hearts, they're ultimately source is the imago dei and the sensus divinitatis. The "seed of religion" (semen religionis) that Calvin spoke about accounts for the origins and similarity of both pagan and Christian stories. Also, some of these stories might have some actual historical core to them and are pagan renditions of Biblical stories passed down through the generations. For example, the strange fact that many creation myths throughout the world have flood narratives similar to the Bible even though these cultures can be very distant from each other in time and space. Another example is how many cultures teach that their most ancient ancestors worshipped one true Spirit and some how that relationship broke down (i.e. a Fall) and how they are now in bondage to lesser evil spirits. Finally, God may providentially use such pagan stories in order to eventually prepare those peoples for the true story of the Gospel. Whether it be the pagan story of Hercules or Perseus or the comic book characters of Superman or Bruce Wayne (i.e. Batman), God can use those stories to awaken people's desires for a redeemer and a life of meaning and adventure. Christianity provides that ultimate and perfect Redeemer in Christ, as well as a sense of heroic dignity, destiny, nobility, meaning and mission in its teachings about spiritual warfare. Given Christianity, <a href="http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/3511.htm" rel="nofollow">life is a battle for every Christian to win</a> because the War has already been won by Christ at the cross.ANNOYED PINOYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00714774340084597206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-60992081204137981232013-11-13T19:08:49.582-05:002013-11-13T19:08:49.582-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.ANNOYED PINOYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00714774340084597206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-10987864069887992362013-11-13T19:07:12.767-05:002013-11-13T19:07:12.767-05:00Also, when such pagan mythologies create those kin...Also, when such pagan mythologies create those kinds of remarkable origins for famous characters it's only because there's a natural desire and expectation that it's fitting for great persons to have equally great beginnings. In His providence, God, the great story teller of history (or HIS-story), "conforms" to that expectation in the human heart by actually giving some Biblical figures remarkable origins. I suspect that that natural human expectation is either implanted by God himself in the human heart or is a natural expression of being made in God's image. We want remarkable persons to exist and for them to be remarkable in every way possible (including their origins). Think of the the modern celebrity mentality. Some celebrities have fans who almost worship them. Similar things can be said about superhero mythologies. People probably rightly claim that Superman's origins parallel that of Jesus' because the creators have consciously or unconsciously borrowed from the gospels. People claim Jesus origins parallels that of Moses and that both Jesus' and Moses' origins parallels that of other pagan myths. All these types of things are probably an expression of an innate desire for, or knowledge of God's existence. Because of the combination of the sensus divinitatus/deitatis with 1. the natural sinful desire to be God or god-like (Gen. 3:5) and/or 2. the supernatural desire to be godly, people naturally want to have superhero powers to do good or evil, and so be a superhero or super-villain. Because of common grace, even non-Christians would like superhero powers to do good and carry out justice. The next best thing to being a superhero or a god, or one of the sons of the gods (like Hercules etc.) is to know one (e.g. celebrity cults). <br /><br />If God really exists, then it only makes sense that some of the main characters in His story would have epic or unusual origins like Adam, John the Baptist, Samson, Moses and Jesus (et al.). So, for people to criticize the Bible as being fictitious because it has similarly fantastic stories as pagan myths do is to beg the question. It's to assume that no God exists and that therefore such things couldn't happen. <br /><br />Continued in Next Post:ANNOYED PINOYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00714774340084597206noreply@blogger.com