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Review of "The Myth of Persecution" by Dr. Candida Moss
Dr. Candida Moss has provided a popular-level (as distinct from scholarly-level) account of what she calls the “myth of persecution.” Unfortunately, popular-level readers may be misled by the scholarly-style nuances that Dr. Moss uses to make her case. Nevertheless, there are a number of interesting features in her work. The overall purpose of the book…
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Review of "The Myth of Persecution" by Dr. Candida Moss
Dr. Candida Moss has provided a popular-level (as distinct from scholarly-level) account of what she calls the “myth of persecution.” Unfortunately, popular-level readers may be misled by the scholarly-style nuances that Dr. Moss uses to make her case. Nevertheless, there are a number of interesting features in her work. The overall purpose of the book…
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The Real Francis Turretin on Sin's Relation to God
The Real Francis Turretin on sin’s relation to God: Theology treats sin not as belonging to God, but as holding certain relationship to Him (either that of opposite or contrary or as coming under His providence and justice); just as medicine treats of diseases and their remedies although its principle subject is man as curable.…
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The Real Francis Turretin on Sin’s Relation to God
The Real Francis Turretin on sin’s relation to God: Theology treats sin not as belonging to God, but as holding certain relationship to Him (either that of opposite or contrary or as coming under His providence and justice); just as medicine treats of diseases and their remedies although its principle subject is man as curable.…
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Google Reader Replacement – Feedly?
I have enjoyed using Google Reader for keeping up to date with various blogs and other websites. However, Google is apparently going to discontinue this product. The heir apparent seems to be Feedly, which seems to be able to synch with Google Reader, and has nice apps for mobile devices. I’m not certain what will…
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St. Josaphat aka Buddha
At page 88 of The Myth of Persecution, Dr. Moss drew attention to a particularly glaring case of false saints in the case of St. Josaphat. The story of “Barlaam and Josaphat” became popular in Europe after being translated into Greek, probably around the 11th century. The name “Josaphat,” as it turns out, is derived…
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Rhetorical Excess – Religious Persecution and Idolatry
Rhetorical flourishes are like any other form of emphasis. They work well when used occasionally and accurately, and not when used constantly and diffusely. In her book, The Myth of Persecution, Dr. Moss complains that the religious right in the U.S. is too quick to decry leftist politics as religious persecution. Claiming that “Christianity is…
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Candida Moss and the Truth Value of Martyrdom
In The Myth of Persecution, Dr. Moss repeats the assertion that martyrdom is used as proof of the truth of the martyrs’ views. For example at page 43 she states, “The notion that her innocence is proved by her death is uncomfortable to us, but it is the same idea that we saw with Socrates:…
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Hell and Romans 12
One surprisingly compelling passage in favor of the idea of eternal conscious torment in the New Testament is Romans 12:20, where Paul explains one motive for doing good to our enemies. Romans 12:20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire…
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The Myth of Whose Persecution?
Ironically, in the acknowledgments section, Dr. Moss portrays herself as feeling persecuted! She writes (p. 261): I might not have had the courage to see this book through to completion, were it not for the friendship of Dan Myers, who directed me to various relevant news items, encouraged me to stand my ground, and assured…