Women of Intelligent Faith

A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Women, Religion & the Law: Does the Christian Worldview Offer the Best Hope for Women's Rights? Abstract:  Protecting women from violence and discrimination is a hot topic. The feminist movement claims to address these issues in its fight for women’s rights.     However, without knowing the true source for women’s rights—or human rights—communities will fail to accurately diagnose the problem and to effectively provide a solution. I propose to compare four major worldviews and their impact on laws regarding the treatment of women in order to convince the reader that Christianity offers the best treatment of women. First, I will define women’s rights in the context of defining human rights. Next, I will compare laws pertaining to women’s rights through the lens of the following major competing worldviews: Islam (i.e. Saudi Arabia), Hinduism (India), Atheism (i.e. China), and Christianity (United States).     Finally, I wi...

John and I had the privilege of hosting the 4th Annual Intelligent Faith conference held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa by Serve the City.  Keynote speakers were Dr. Sean McDowell and Mark Mittelberg.  John and I both served as break-out session speakers.  Check out the Ratio Christi crew! 

What a blessing to be invited to be on Ratio Christ's Truth Matters TV show to discuss Imago Dei, being made in the image of God. Thank you Tony Gurule! If you missed it, you can catch the video recordings here: Ryan Pauly on "Human Value and the Image of God." Laurie Stewart on "In the Image of God." Ken Samples on "Imago Dei: A Divine Reflection."

My dear friend Lisa Quintana (we call her "Lisa Q") captured this spectacular event beautifully in her blog post. All I can say is that it was a mountain top experience. I am so grateful for Biola for hosting this conference and for their generous support, especially Craig Hazen! And I am forever thankful for the amazing women to helped make this dream a reality--truly an answered prayer. Read Lisa Q's article here.  Mark your calendar for the next Women in Apologetics Conference at Biola University, January 11-12, 2019. See you there!

Dr. Sean McDowell, my professor in the M.A. Christian Apologetics program at Biola University, recently interviewed good friend and fellow female apologist Marilyn Tyner about the growing number of women interested in apologetics. He says: " In 2018, I am planning to use my blog to highlight some important trends in the wider culture and specifically in the world of apologetics. One important trend, that I thought would be important to start the year with, is the explosion of interest in apologetics among women. Marilyn Tyner   is on the front lines of this movement. She recently answered some of my questions about this new trend, the upcoming 'Women in Apologetics'  conference at Biola, and her personal ministry. Enjoy!" Read the entire article here!  Join the movement of Women in Apologetics !! It is a species of evangelism and discipleship!

Ratio Christi TV's Tony Gurule graciously interviewed us for the upcoming Women in Apologetics conference at Biola. Thanks Tony!! If you missed it, you can catch the video recordings here: Jade Turner on "Defending the Faith."  Laurie Stewart on "Love God with All Your Mind." Mary Jo Sharp on "Apologetics as Lifelong Discipleship and Evangelism."

Christians like to point to the martyrdom of the first apostles as evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. [1]  They base their hypothesis on the premise that people don’t die for a lie they know to be false. People might die for a lie that they believe to be true, but not one they know to be false. This is persuasive evidence for the reliability of the testimony of the early eye witness accounts of Jesus’ resurrection. In his book,  The Resurrection of Jesus , historian Michael R. Licona states this about Jesus’ disciples: After Jesus’ death, the disciples endured persecution, and a number of them experienced martyrdom. The strength of their conviction indicates that they were not just claiming Jesus had appeared to them after rising from the dead. They really believed it. They willingly endangered themselves by publically proclaiming the risen Christ. [2] What do we know about the deaths of the first disciples of Jesus? Tradition holds that the apostles di...

Until just a few years ago when my husband mentioned it, I didn’t even know there was a question about the ending of Mark 16. Sure enough when I opened my Bible, in between verse 8 and 9 it says in brackets, “The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16:9-20.” [1]  When comparing the shorter ending with the longer ending, it is clear that the longer version is a happier ending. Did Bible editors include the longer version just to give us a happy ending? The shorter ending is not a happy ending. It ends rather abruptly with women coming to Jesus’ tomb to anoint his body with spices only to find the tomb empty. A young man dressed in white tells them not be alarmed and to go tell the disciples that Jesus will meet them in Galilee. Trembling and bewildered they flee the scene, and say nothing to anyone because they were afraid. [2]  Whereas the longer ending has Jesus speaking to the apostles, His ascension to heaven, ...