Ben Joiner's Blog

I have heard this said many times in many ways.  But this one example stuck with my memory.  On the way back from a ski trip, the guy sitting next to me said that he really liked the ski resort.  But then he decided that he needed to take that back because he couldn't be too positive about it.  He said that the areas cleared for skiing are not natural so it isn't a good thing.  If it was natural, then there would be trees all over the mountain. Well we have to ask how on earth he defines the word "natural."  But I think he perhaps defines it the way he uses it.  I've heard it this way so many times.  p1)The way things would be without the activity of humans is natural.  p2)The way things are when humans do something is unnatural.  (redundant) p3)What is natural is good. Now, I ask you, what is the conclusion? c) Therefore, all human activity is bad. I had to ask him, do humans have a right to exist on this planet?  Do ...

The question of sex is perhaps the biggest issue for Christians in our time. What I want to do is look at what appears to be the most popular options of our day. In the ancient world it was quite different. Huge drunken orgies were practiced as worship to a god like the golden calf at Mt. Sinai. Rape was commonplace if the person was a slave. Polygamy was a mark of success. And sex with animals wasn't abnormal. This stuff is all pretty weird today so I'm going to focus on the modern sexual culture. Single with multiple partners: Or Open Marriage: A husband and wife have agreed to allow each other to have sex with other partners and are okay with it. There are only two ways this can be rationalized. 1)Sex can be casual. 2)Sex is loving, but can be with many partners. Sex is loving, but can be with many partners “Hey I love you so much. By forever. Hey I love you so much. Bye forever. Etc.” Sex can be casual: Empirical research shows peop...

In the typical Left versus Right divide of American politics, one claim the left tends to proclaim is this.   Basic needs are a right.  Healthcare is a right.  Food is a right.  Education and Shelter are a basic right.  In fact transportation is a basic need that could easily be added to this list. This may seem irrational, since there are also those on the left who claim that freedom of speech should be removed from the Bill of Rights.  But perhaps this is just evidence that the left vs. right dichotomy is false. Nevertheless, let's examine freedom of speech.  This implies freedom of thought and belief by it's very nature.  Speech is merely the communication of ideas.  A good argument can be made in favor of freedom of speech.  If we assume that people will have different views, then some of those will be serious and have to be resolved.  The only way to resolve them is by communication or violence.  Violence ends oth...