Reasonable Faith Adelaide is a Christian apologetics group that is a local chapter of Reasonable Faith in the US, which is led by Dr William Lane Craig. We aim to provide a specific voice on Christian apologetics in South Australia, are non-denominational and adhere to mainstream Christian beliefs as summarized in the Nicene Creed.
The purposes of Reasonable Faith Adelaide are to:
Provide an articulate, intelligent voice for biblical Christianity in the public arena,
Strengthen the faith and foundational beliefs of believers,
Equip believers to engage unbelievers,
Reach out to unbelievers, and
Create an environment in which the Christian faith is perceived as a viable intellectual option such that the gospel can be heard.
The aim will be to provide events that are of interest to people of all persuasions.
I encourage you to invite friends or acquaintances who are likely to be interested in this venture.
We usually meet at 7-9 pm on every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month via Zoom. Sign up to receive our twice monthly email using the sign up form on the right hand pane. This does not commit you to pay any money and you can unsubscribe at any time.
This meeting was held on Thursday 28th April at Tabor College
Orthodox Jews
Mark Twain, author of Huckleberry Finn and not a religious man, was in Austria in 1896 and made the following observation of what he saw in the Austro-Hungarian Empire:
‘If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one quarter of one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous puff of star dust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk.
His contributions to the world’s list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine and abstruse learning are also very out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvellous fight in this world in all ages; and has done it with his hands tied behind him. ….other people have sprung up and held their torch high for a time but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, and have vanished.
The Jew saw them all, survived them all, and is now what he always was. All things are mortal but the Jews; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality? “
About 3,400 years ago the Jewish Holy Book recorded the following covenant with their god and his future dealing with his rebellious and disobedient people:
‘when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the Lord their God. But I will, for their sakes, remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the Lord’
No other race of people has suffered the continuing calamities of the Jews and survived. When Frederick the Great, a Freemason, asked his advisor for any proof of the Bible his advisor is reported to have replied: ‘Sire, the Jew.’
Stephen White joined the Air Force at age 18 and gained a BSc from the RAAF Academy. He then served as a Navigator in the Air Force for 20 years and then as a Manager and Systems Engineer in defence industries for another 26 years before retiring. He is now a Councillor for the City of Salisbury.
“Prophetic Mapping: How OT Sites point to NT Sites”, by Trevor Harris.
Trevor Harris had a career in town planning and so he has a special interest in locating sacred sites, especially those associated with the gospel accounts of Jesus, e.g. the nativity location in Bethlehem, his hometown of Nazareth, Golgotha, the tomb location and the ascension as well as various miracle sites. Pilgrims to Israel are very interested in these sites even to the point of adoration and worship. I have asked Trevor to provide an argument for his approach.
Here is Trevor’s summary of his talk:
After his resurrection Jesus gave a profound discourse to two disciples walking to Emmaus
“Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)
There are many aspects of the Old Testament that can be related to Jesus as the Messiah. Multiple examples are theological as well as historical events. Some however, can be related to geographical pointers showing the integrated salvation plan of God.
The requirement of the crucifixion of Jesus was “foreknown before the foundation of the world.” (1 Peter 1:20)
Surely there must be prophetic pointers to the correct location. There are many other illustrations. God is a planner.
A video of the presentation is available on YouTube.
Trevor Harris has and Honours degree in Architecture and a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning. He has practiced in these areas for 46 years. For the past 25 years he has conducted research into the investigation of Bible sites in the Middle East. He has a long interest in biblical apologetics.
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio) (1601)
It is a common perception that Christian faith is belief without evidence or reason. Knowledge is justified, true belief. If it is not justified, then how do we know it’s true? Then it is just a subjective choice, often inherited from parents. In fact, Richard Dawkins claims that this notion of faith is
Wow! Perhaps this is true, but only if faith is belief without evidence. Is this the Biblical meaning of faith and are any of these objections valid? The memes that are circulated in society may represent peoples’ perceptions, but ultimately, they are irrelevant. What matters is what the Biblical authors meant when they mentioned faith. Nothing else matters. So, what is the true nature of faith and why do the Biblical authors deem it so fundamental and important?
A video of the presentation is available on YouTube.
Dr Kevin Rogers
Dr Kevin Rogers is the director of Reasonable Faith Adelaide. After a 40-year engineering career, he was a Research Fellow and lecturer with the University of South Australia but is now mainly retired.
This presentation describes eye-witness accounts of numerous healing and other miracles that took place in Bungoma in Kenya, as investigated by Gordon Stanger.
Patrick and Joseph at Bungoma: Eyewitnesses to the Kenya miracles.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
However, for those who act upon these words with child-like faith, this text is validated; these, and other miracles do occur. Some extraordinary miracles occurred in a Christian children’s ministry in a remote part of Kenya, as reported in a book by Jennifer Toledo. These included practical deliverance from the evils of witchcraft, which sound bizarre from our cultural perspective. Gordon happened to be working in that part of Africa, so he made a detour to check out the reality of these miracles, the results of which are reported here.
We also discuss the purpose of such miracles. God’s extraordinary miracles aren’t confined to places ‘far away’ in different cultures. Raf has been walking close to the Lord for many years, here in Australia as well as overseas. He relates some personal testimonies of remarkable healing, words of knowledge, and other modern-day miracles.
Dr Gordon Stanger is a geologist, hydrologist, water resources specialist, and a climate-change impact analyst. He also spent significant time in Africa, where he came in contact with many people who received miraculous healing or who had other experiences of the miraculous. He is an RFA committee member and is semi-retired.
In a number of passages in the 4 gospels, Jesus claims that he is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets and that the scriptures testify about him. For example, on the road to Emmaus, Jesus joined 2 of his disciples.
Luke states: 25 Jesus said to them,
“O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:25-27)
I wonder what scriptures Jesus referred to. It doesn’t explicitly tell us here, but can we find out? We do get some hints. There are a number of Old Testament passages that are cited in the NT as referring to events during Jesus’ ministry, especially his birth, baptism, trial, death, burial, resurrection, ascension and coming again. There are also references in the OT that seem to apply to Jesus even, though they are not cited in the NT. I survey a number of these prophecies. They show how the life of Jesus has always been central to God’s eternal plan. They also demonstrate that the scriptures are God-breathed and inspired by God.
Dr Kevin Rogers is the director of Reasonable Faith Adelaide. After a 40-year engineering career, he was a Research Fellow and lecturer with the University of South Australia but is now mainly retired.
