• **Notifications**: Notifications can be dismissed by clicking on the "x" on the righthand side of the notice.
  • **New Style**: You can now change style options. Click on the paintbrush at the bottom of this page.
  • **Donations**: If the Lord leads you please consider helping with monthly costs and up keep on our Forum. Click on the Donate link In the top menu bar. Thanks
  • **New Blog section**: There is now a blog section. Check it out near the Private Debates forum or click on the Blog link in the top menu bar.
  • Welcome Visitors! Join us and be blessed while fellowshipping and celebrating our Glorious Salvation In Christ Jesus.

I received an invitation to join here

A LITTLE ABOUT ME
  • An atheist for most of my life, I was converted in 2011 at the age of 33 and have been a Christian ever since.
    ​
  • Baptist (2011-2015) --> Reformed Baptist (2015-2018) --> Reformed (2018-Present), URCNA.
    ​
  • A former premillennial dispensationalist, now I affirm an amillennial partial preterist covenant theology like R. C. Sproul.
    ​
  • A former left-leaning egalitarian, now I'm a right-leaning complementarian who strongly defends the crucial role of husbands and fathers.
    ​
  • A former pro-choice advocate, later I became anti-abortion with certain exceptions, and now I'm a full-blown abortion abolitionist.
    ​
  • A former left-wing Liberal voter (Canada), I was red-pilled during the so-called pandemic of 2020 and ended up moving center-right (classical liberal).
CONTROVERSIAL BELIEFS & POSITIONS
  • As an "optimistic amillennialist," I hold to partial preterism.
    ​
  • I am absolutely opposed to divorce. Just as Christ won't divorce the church for any reason, including unfaithfulness, so I won't divorce my wife for any reason, including unfaithfulness. See Hosea and Gomer.
    ​
  • Former young-earth creationist, later an old-earth creationist (ca. 2015), now an evolutionary creationist (ca. 2018).
    ​
  • Also, Adam and Eve were two historical people who lived roughly 6,000 years ago. However, they were not the first humans.
    ​
  • I don't believe immaterial souls exist. The human body constitutes a soul, it does not have one (e.g., Lynne R. Baker, constitution view).
    ​
  • I hold to a conditional immortality view, that immortality is a gift Christ bestows only on believers at his second coming (i.e., unbelievers remain mortal).
    ​
  • Since there is no such thing as immaterial souls and only believers receive immortality, obviously I also reject the eternal conscious torment view of hell.
    ​
  • Once a strong environmentalist and climate change alarmist, I became more skeptical when neo-Marxist authoritarians politicized the issues. Currently, my position sort of mirrors that of Steve Koonin, namely, that these issues do not represent the crisis they are purported to be and need transparent scientific debate between experts that welcomes dissent.
THINGS THAT I ENJOY DISCUSSING
  • Theology: Soteriology, creationism, systematic theology, biblical studies, comparative theology, theological ethics, eschatology, etc.
    ​
  • Science: evolutionary science, evolutionary history, artificial intelligence, space exploration (Mars colonization, search for extraterrestrial life), etc.
    ​
  • Philosophy: Metaphysics (nature of reality, existence, time, causation, mind-body problem), epistemology (logic and reason, nature of knowledge, belief, justification), ethics (morality, virtue ethics, right and wrong, ethical principles), philosophy of religion (nature of God, existence of the supernatural, the relationship between faith and reason), philosophy of science, existentialism (existence, meaning, purpose, freedom), etc.
    ​
  • Social issues: Abortion, feminism, racism, climate change (environmental stewardship and conservation, sustainable practices), immigration (border control, refugee crises), human rights (marriage equality, gender ideology, LGBT issues, anti-discrimination), cybersecurity and privacy (digital rights, online privacy concerns), mental health stigma (childhood trauma, autism, bullying, awareness and acceptance), etc.
    ​
  • Politics: Political process, parties, candidates, institutions, activism (protests, advocacy, grassroots movements), critique, public policy, international relations, environmental politics, etc.
    ​
  • The Arts: Music, movies, television shows (incl. streaming services), nit-picking at grammar.
 
DialecticSkeptic said:
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
  • An atheist for most of my life, I was converted in 2011 at the age of 33 and have been a Christian ever since.
    ​
  • Baptist (2011-2015) --> Reformed Baptist (2015-2018) --> Reformed (2018-Present), URCNA.
    ​
  • A former premillennial dispensationalist, now I affirm an amillennial partial preterist covenant theology like R. C. Sproul.
    ​
  • A former left-leaning egalitarian, now I'm a right-leaning complementarian who strongly defends the crucial role of husbands and fathers.
    ​
  • A former pro-choice advocate, later I became anti-abortion with certain exceptions, and now I'm a full-blown abortion abolitionist.
    ​
  • A former left-wing Liberal voter (Canada), I was red-pilled during the so-called pandemic of 2020 and ended up moving center-right (classical liberal).
CONTROVERSIAL BELIEFS & POSITIONS
  • As an "optimistic amillennialist," I hold to partial preterism.
    ​
  • I am absolutely opposed to divorce. Just as Christ won't divorce the church for any reason, including unfaithfulness, so I won't divorce my wife for any reason, including unfaithfulness. See Hosea and Gomer.
    ​
  • Former young-earth creationist, later an old-earth creationist (ca. 2015), now an evolutionary creationist (ca. 2018).
    ​
  • Also, Adam and Eve were two historical people who lived roughly 6,000 years ago. However, they were not the first humans.
    ​
  • I don't believe immaterial souls exist. The human body constitutes a soul, it does not have one (e.g., Lynne R. Baker, constitution view).
    ​
  • I hold to a conditional immortality view, that immortality is a gift Christ bestows only on believers at his second coming (i.e., unbelievers remain mortal).
    ​
  • Since there is no such thing as immaterial souls and only believers receive immortality, obviously I also reject the eternal conscious torment view of hell.
    ​
  • Once a strong environmentalist and climate change alarmist, I became more skeptical when neo-Marxist authoritarians politicized the issues. Currently, my position sort of mirrors that of Steve Koonin, namely, that these issues do not represent the crisis they are purported to be and need transparent scientific debate between experts that welcomes dissent.
THINGS THAT I ENJOY DISCUSSING
  • Theology: Soteriology, creationism, systematic theology, biblical studies, comparative theology, theological ethics, eschatology, etc.
    ​
  • Science: evolutionary science, evolutionary history, artificial intelligence, space exploration (Mars colonization, search for extraterrestrial life), etc.
    ​
  • Philosophy: Metaphysics (nature of reality, existence, time, causation, mind-body problem), epistemology (logic and reason, nature of knowledge, belief, justification), ethics (morality, virtue ethics, right and wrong, ethical principles), philosophy of religion (nature of God, existence of the supernatural, the relationship between faith and reason), philosophy of science, existentialism (existence, meaning, purpose, freedom), etc.
    ​
  • Social issues: Abortion, feminism, racism, climate change (environmental stewardship and conservation, sustainable practices), immigration (border control, refugee crises), human rights (marriage equality, gender ideology, LGBT issues, anti-discrimination), cybersecurity and privacy (digital rights, online privacy concerns), mental health stigma (childhood trauma, autism, bullying, awareness and acceptance), etc.
    ​
  • Politics: Political process, parties, candidates, institutions, activism (protests, advocacy, grassroots movements), critique, public policy, international relations, environmental politics, etc.
    ​
  • The Arts: Music, movies, television shows (incl. streaming services), nit-picking at grammar.
Click to expand...
what is
  • URCNA ?
 
DialecticSkeptic said:
Some fellow over at ChristianForums.com privately sent me an invitation to join this site, and it seemed related to me being Reformed. I had a brief look around and, yeah, this definitely seems like a place I could enjoy. So, allow me to remove my jacket, take off my hat, and make my way around the room, shaking hands.
Click to expand...
I'm glad to hear this and hope you are still enjoying it.
DialecticSkeptic said:
I am a 44-year-old family man, happily married for 10 years with two baptized children. I was raised an atheist, being converted to Christianity late in life (i.e., early 30s). I began my faith journey as a dispensationalist Baptist (and young-earth creationist), but was later convinced of the doctrines of grace and started leaning toward a Reformed Baptist view of things.
Click to expand...

DialecticSkeptic said:
Before long, however, I discovered R. C. Sproul and my spiritual development really took off. I became convinced of covenant theology and eventually embraced a fully Reformed faith.
Click to expand...
Awesome!
DialecticSkeptic said:
I am a communicant member in good standing in a local Reformed church and subscribe to the Three Forms of Unity.

I am also an old-earth creationist who accepts the science of evolution
Click to expand...
I lean (heavily) towards old Earth myself, but as far as evolution I agree with microevolution.
DialecticSkeptic said:
—that is, an evolutionary creationist—while maintaining a firm conviction in a historical Adam and Eve who lived 6,000 years ago. My views on origins have been influenced by the likes of John H. Walton, Gregory K. Beale, Meredith G. Kline, J. Richard Middleton, Denis R. Alexander, John R. W. Stott, Carol Hill, S. Joshua Swamidass, Joshua M. Moritz—and so many others. My views on origins are singularly unique, which makes me incredibly difficult to pigeon-hole. So, don't make assumptions about what I believe; it's probably unlike most anything else you have encountered.
Click to expand...
(y)
 
Carbon said:
what is
  • URCNA ?
Click to expand...

URCNA stands for United Reformed Churches in North America. I specify URCNA because their influences include such giants as Herman Bavinck, Geerhardus Vos, Cornelius Van Til, and Abraham Kuyper—men who are my influences.
 
Ugh. Someone please like this post. Thank you.

1740845956724.png
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Hazelelponi
Nice to be here
Replies
13
Views
156
Carbon
Carbon
Soldier of Christ1516
Prevenient Grace Receiver
Replies
13
Views
365
Tambora
Tambora
B
"CHURCHIANITY" vs. GOD'S MODEL - Part IV
Replies
1
Views
81
Arch Stanton
Arch Stanton
eclipseEventSigns
One Year To Go Until the Start of the 7 Final Years
Replies
5
Views
112
CrowCross
CrowCross
Arial
My Testimony of Conversion
2 3
Replies
44
Views
517
Arial
Arial
Back
Top