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An online discussion forum for students and the general public. Check it out and leave a post or reply to an existing thread. |
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Web Portal to SES apologetics websites:
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A Third Branch Begins...
and Find's Open Arms in the Process
Last fall four students from Texas A&M university were interested in learning about apologetics and found the Ratio Christi website. When they contacted us asking for help in starting a chapter, it was a blessing for everyone. Texas A&M is a large school of about 50,000 students, located midway between three of the top ten most populated metropolitan areas in the country. The Texas Aggies, as they are known, have a lot of school pride and tradition. They also have a fairly large Christian presence, with several campus ministries and even a Christian Faculty Network, with about one hundred believing faculty members.
The Aggieland Ratio Christi chapter is still new, having only begun this spring. But after only two meetings, we have had attendance of 12 committed students, all eager to learn about reasons for faith and a defense of the Christian message and worldview. Ratio Christi's influence is already well organized. We have completed an application to be recognized as an official student organization, set a meeting time and agenda, and have identified what topics to discuss this spring. Almost all the work was done by the student leadership, which is not only encouraging but also shows the high quality of the future of Christian apologetics.
One SES grad, John Ferrer, has set up a panel discussion between Christian apologists and some active atheists. The idea is to take the panel to the universities and discuss the question "Does God Exist?" Imagine the type of people who would come to a meeting like that...the very people that are on every campus today, challenging the faith of Christian college students, and sadly to say, often winning. But with Ratio Christi, we can meet them on their own ground, and defend the historic Christian faith in the public arena. We can influence the best and the brightest of tomorrow's leaders. We can reduce or stop the loss of Christian young people who lose their faith at the university. We can create a whole new generation of Christian academic leaders and apologists.
But more importantly, we can use apologetics to help support on-campus evangelism, and win souls for the kingdom that would never attend a spaghetti dinner or youth service. God has given us a great work, and handed it to us on a golden platter. I can't think of a better or more fruitful opportunity. The fruit is plentiful at the university. Won't you consider helping in the Ratio Christi apologetics ministry? Students at universities all over the nation are in need of people to simply talk to them and provide answers. Won't you help?
--Glenn Smith, Director of Ratio Christi: Texas A&M Branch
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What's Happening
Check out the interview co-director Randy Hardman did this past month with Summit Ministries!!!!! (Click Here)
UNCC- On January 22nd, a group of Mormon missionaries spoke to the UNC Charlotte group about their faith. The following week a UNCC student offered a critique of their presentation. UNCC is also currently in the process of planning a campus wide evangelism seminar on April 25th.
ASU - John Herdklotz (Ph.D., Physical Chemistry, Rice University) came and spoke to the Appalachian State club on February 16th about the conversion of Antony Flew from atheism to deism. The event went well and attracted several new individuals to the club. Herdklotz has been following the life of Antony Flew since 1995 and is interested in areas of bioethics.
Texas A&M - The Texas A&M branch is our newest branch of Ratio Christi. They have submitted paperwork for official recognition at the university. Though meeting informally, this branch has already attracted several committed students and looks to be firmly established.
If you are interested in having Ratio Christi staff or students speak at your church, organization or school please email us for details.
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Featured Books
"Understanding The Times" by David Noebel
Revised 2nd Edition - Paperback
http://theapologeticsbookstore.com/UnderstandingtheTimes.aspx
This book is about competing worldviews. Its goal is to help Christian students recognize the significance of some of the most influential yet damaging ideas and values prevalent in our non-Christian culture and to understand the unbiblical, unrealistic, and, yes, even irrational assumptions about reality from which they arise. If we understand the real differences between the biblical Christian worldview and the Secular, Marxist, Cosmic (New Age), Postmodern, and Islamic worldviews we will be better prepared to love, live, and defend God's truth as revealed in the Bible and in His Creation. A clear understanding of these six worldviews will not only help protect us from deception by grounding us more firmly in the Christian faith, but it will also give us tools to more effectively witness for Christ in these conflicting times.
"A New Design Hypothesis" by JT Bridges
The year 2009 has been billed as a year of "Darwinmania." Because February is the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and November the 150th anniversary of his most celebrated work, On the Origin of Species, this year will see a crescendo of propaganda surrounding Darwin's theory of  biological evolution. As a counter point to this secular hoopla SES introduces a book by current Ph.D. candidate JT Bridges, A New Design Hypothesis: A Concise Refutation of Dogmatic Darwinism. In this work two lingering claims in the debate between Evolution and Intelligent Design are addressed directly.
The first is that Darwinism is a scientific fact and that there is no significant debate within the scientific community regarding its factuality. A New Design Hypothesis plainly demonstrates that the historical elements that allowed for Darwin's revolution originally are once again in place. See how the new science of genomics threatens to push evolutionary theory into obsolescence. The second claim is that Intelligent Design is not science. A New Design Hypothesis clearly shows that Intelligent Design falls within the purview of the sciences and the possible relationship the Design community might enjoy with the emerging field of genomics.
A New Design Hypothesis is a rallying point for evangelicals who can expect to come under heavy attack over the coming year. It is a must read for those interested in the origins debate and a great addition to one's apologetics library.
Purchase here at Amazon.
If you are a student or advisor to Ratio Christi register at The Apologetics Bookstore then email us and you will be signed up for a 20% Discount on most items the next time you shop.
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Website
We have a number of new articles and audio files up this month linked to other websites. Check them out!
We are looking for articles that can specifically be uploaded into the Ratio Christi database. If you have written an article or paper that you feel Ratio Christi might be interested in using and you would like to see it used by others, please submit them to: rhardman@ratiochristi.org
*Note: Author retains copyright.
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Thank you Catawba Heights Baptist Church for giving generously to help the UNCC branch fund its operational costs and reach students with solid Christian answers.
Ratio Christi is in need of both organizational and local chapter financial support. If you would like to donate you can do so either electronically online at www.ratiochristi.org or send a check to:
Southern Evangelical Seminary
3000 Tilley Morris Road
Matthews, NC 28105
earmark checks to: Ratio Christi
(If you're donating to a local branch, make sure to specify which branch in the earmark)
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(click for a tax deductible contribution to Ratio Christi: General Fund)
If you wish to make a donation to a specific chapter click here
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