2013 Top Ten Apologetics Tweets

One of the ways I leverage social media is to expose people to the wider views and issues that are being written about online.  So, I use my Twitter and Facebook accounts to post interesting links or to start conversations about things that matter. (Not exclusively, mind you. If you follow me you may also get some personal updates or a proud photo of a family member.)

Below are the top ten read articles I linked to with an apologetic or cultural focus. It's interesting to see just what resonates with folks out there as well as what was hot in the news this year. Some of both are reflected below.

1. Why do they always ask about rape and incest? http://bit.ly/Pr1jWM
2. Roger Ebert Reviews a Tragedy: His Search for God http://bit.ly/Zlw5QB
3. Supreme Court Decisions Cannot Define Morality http://bit.ly/12lwAtD
4. The knockout game: reporting more hype than truth. http://bit.ly/18fF27Y
5. Triumph of the vulgarians http://lat.ms/1aRYlyx
6. A Tale of Two Hitchens http://bit.ly/1aXsmg0
7. The Culture of Memes and Why It’s Ruining the World http://bit.ly/18VYVyY
8. Family Says They Did Tip Gay Server, Didn't Leave Note http://bit.ly/1aRd0y4
9. A Whole New Meaning to Sex-Crazed http://bit.ly/1hEJbFd
10. Devastating Arguments Against Christianity (Courtesy of the Internet)  http://bit.ly/16fDcRa

2013 Top Five Apologetics Podcasts

The Come Reason podcasts have been a weekly staple of our ministry for years. They cover a wide range of topics and issues that help Christians to better defend their faith. This year our top five topics really focused in on God's existence and His revelation to us. My debate against noted Internet atheist Richard Carrier was one of the top downloaded talks, along with the question of the origin of life, and how to answer atheists when they offer objections to God's existence. Tackling the Issue of Homosexuality landed right in the middle of the top five, showing that this topic is becoming more troublesome for those in the church.

Here, in reverse order of popularity, are the top five podcast topics of 2013.

1. Esposito vs. Carrier: Does God Exist? (Debate)
   Does God Exist? Philosophers and theologians have written volumes on this topic, but it has become especially significant in our modern world. Can we prove that God exists? And what are the implications if God doesn't exist? Listen to this lively exchange between Lenny Esposito and atheist Richard Carrier recorded before a packed house at the University of California Riverside.
2. The Origin of Life Requires a Creator
   How did life arise on earth? What are the key elements we need to focus on when talking with an evolutionist? What questions remain unanswered? In this class, we will look specifically at the beginning of life and show why given the evidence belief in a creator makes the most sense.
3. Tackling the Issue of Homosexuality
   Homosexual activists continue to press a pro-gay agenda in politics and in our schools. Even many church-goers believe that same-sex marriage should be allowed. Are Christians bigoted? How can we discuss these issues in a loving and convincing way? Join us to find out.
4. Answering Atheist Arguments Against God
   Atheism has been taking center stage lately. Both the New Atheists and a cohort of Internet skeptics continue to raise objections that have caught the public's fancy. Are they right? How should we answer? In this podcast, Lenny will point out the poverty of atheist arguments.
5. How to Know the Bible is Really from God
   When asked why they hold to certain beliefs or why they feel acting in a certain manner is a wrong, Christians will usually point to the Bible. The Bible is the standard of our faith. Why should we put so much faith in a collection of ancient texts? What about the holy texts of other faiths? Join us to see why the Bible is completely trustworthy.

2013 Top Ten Apologetics Blog Posts

We're once again highlighting the top ten blog posts for the year. The blog continues to grow in popularity with over 10,000 readers per month visiting the blog alone.  Add that to our www.ComeReason.org web site and we see over 370,000 hits from nearly every country on earth.

Below are the top ten unique articles or content for 2013. There are a couple of podcasts that were also featured on the blog and would have made it to this list, but I will cover those in a separate post. Questions on the reliability of the Bible, the problem of moral grounding, and even a word of encouragement from J.P. Moreland all resonated with readers. The top post tackles an objection we hear all too often: religion is the cause of so many wars throughout history.

All ten posts are linked below. Which was your favorite?

1. Does Religion Cause War?
2. How Can God be Without Beginning or End?
3. Bible Contradictions - Why Responding "Show Me Some" Doesn't Work
4. Debunking 'Bible Secrets' Television Shows
5. Worldview Definitions: The Problem with Postmodernism
6. J.P. Moreland to Young Christians: "Don't let anybody bully you"
7. Do You Need Religion to Have Morals?
8. The Big Bang is Not the Enemy of Theology
9. How Teaching Answers Fails Christian Students
10. Why are Christians so obsessed with homosexuality?