2018 Meetings...
ATL RTB 15th AnnualChristmas Social
Please join us for a Christmas dinner at STOCKYARD Burgers and Bones - East Cobb to honor our speakers for RTB Atlanta for the past year. We will review the programs of the year and dream a bit about programs for the new year. Thursday November 29th Arrival and Fellowship 6:30 pm Dinner 7 pm Location: The Avenue East Cobb 4475 Roswell Rd, Suite 1700 Marietta, GA 30062 (678) 310-1093 It is just under 2 miles north of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in "The Avenue East Cobb" retail center just off Roswell Road.
If you did not receive an announcement and would like to come, please send us an email to let us know you are coming.
>> REMINDER: There will not be a normal RTB Atlanta meeting for November. <<
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October Meeting
Presented by
Ben Smith Thursday October 25th- 7:00 PM JOHNSON FERRY BAPTIST CHURCH
The word "day" in Genesis seems to be one of the most controversial words in the Bible. Theologians have listed as many as 20 different interpretations of the Genesis days related to science and no other passage of Scripture has anywhere near that many interpretations.
Can it really be so hard to determine what the author of Genesis was trying to say related to such a small word? Ben Smith will help us sort through the details of the text to narrow the legitimate options. Come be a part of the discussion!
Ben is the author of Genesis, Science, and the Beginning which is newly published as a dual imprint with Wipf & Stock and Ratio Christi. He has been teaching and studying apologetics for over 30 years and has a BA in Christian Worldview and Apologetics from Luther Rice College and Seminary. He is also the Ratio Christi Publishing Project Manager and the RC Chapter Director at the University of West GA. |
September Meeting
Presented by
Dr Don Taylor Thursday September 27th- 7:00 PM JOHNSON FERRY BAPTIST CHURCH
Dr. Don Taylor specializes in pain medicine, and the treatment of pain has a lot to do with the brain. He will give an overview of brain structure from the macroscopic to the microscopic, including a discussion of neuron structure and function. He will discuss the role of the neurotransmitter dopamine (the pleasure molecule) in addiction and give an overview of the anatomy of addiction and the alteration in neuron-to-neuron communication that results from the use of various addicting substances.
The phenomenon of addiction will be used as an example of a brain disease that alters behavior by changing brain function.
Dr Taylor is a physician who specializes in comprehensive pain care. This includes not only pain management but also addiction medicine. |
August Meeting
Presented by
Jim Edwards Thursday August 30th- 7:00 PM JOHNSON FERRY BAPTIST CHURCH
Come and learn a little about the geology of limestone formation and the plausibility of the depicted Garden of Eden Subsurface Geology as shown in the figure below from the book "The Grand Canyon, Monument to an Ancient Earth".
Since the vast limestone deposits on the ocean bottoms and elsewhere are the remnants of previous life, the study of limestone is critical for examining the history of life. Also see a downhole video log of a 1200' deep limestone well in central Florida.
Jimmy R Edwards received his Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University and registration by the State of Florida as Professional Geologist #601. He practiced as a consulting geologist in Florida specializing in hydrogeology until his retirement in 2001. He is an Elder at Oak Mt. Presbyterian Church PCA in Birmingham, AL and lives with Patty, his wife of 48 years, in Chelsea, AL. He and his wife enjoy an active life caring for and spending time with their 4 grandsons in Birmingham. He is Chairman of the Board and apologist for science/faith issues for the Apologetic Resource Center in Birmingham. |
July Meeting
Presented by
Andrea Smith Thursday July 26th- 7:00 PM JOHNSON FERRY BAPTIST CHURCH
When dinosaur blood was first recovered it changed a scientific paradigm. Traces of dinosaur blood - claimed by some as evidence for a young earth - instead strengthen the case for an old earth. There is a great story behind the discovery. But why does the age of the earth matter to Christians?
Andrea will review the drama following the treatment of Dr. Fazale Rana in his 2016 account, "Dinosaur Blood and the Age of the Earth". Along the way there are interesting researchers such as Dr. Mary Schweitzer who made the early discoveries and noted paleontologist Dr. Jack Horner. Can the remains of red blood cells really be preserved for millions of years? Come and join in the discussion with Andrea.
Andrea Smith studied general sciences at Webster University and biology and science education at University of Georgia, Athens. She currently teaches 7th grade science at Johnson Ferry Christian Academy and has been involved in Reasons to Believe and the Areopagus Christian Study Center for more than seven years. |
June Meeting
Presented by
Duran Smith Thursday June 28th- 7:00 PM JOHNSON FERRY BAPTIST CHURCH
What is beauty? Is beauty objective? What is art? What is good art? With the rise of pragmatism and post-modernism in the last century, the field of aesthetic philosophy has all but died. Once beauty was declared to be a subjective matter of socially-conditioned taste, the traditional understanding of beauty as an objective virtue retreated into hiding. But now we find ourselves in the golden age of apologetics, and it is time for Christians to reclaim the meaning of art and beauty.
Aesthetic philosophy is the final frontier of Christian apologetics. It is the only way to bring reason, and thus faith, to the secular entertainment industry. Join us as we rediscover what it means that "Art is the signature of man", as G.K. Chesterton wrote, and why beauty is a virtue.
Duran Smith is an actor and filmmaker with a degree in cinema and media arts. He studied film production at Biola University in Los Angeles, and completed his degree at Georgia State University in Atlanta after studying film theory and criticism. He is a former Ratio Christi chapter president with many years of apologetics study and training. His love of movies and apologetics led him to aesthetic philosophy. |
May Meeting
Presented by
Dr. Richard G. Howe Thursday May 31st- 7:00 PM JOHNSON FERRY BAPTIST CHURCH
** Please note room change
Atheism is gaining in popularity partly because of simplistic arguments incessantly repeated on social media and the internet. Christians need to be equipped to answer these arguments and who better to help equip us than Dr. Richard G. Howe?
At this month's RTB meeting Dr. Howe will separate the wheat from the chaff on issues like whether science and religion are truly in conflict, science has replaced the need for religion, and since most scientists are atheists the belief in God cannot be scientific. Come interact with us on these pertinent issues and others. You won't be disappointed!
Dr. Richard G. Howe is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics at Southern Evangelical Seminary and past President of the International Society of Christian Apologetics. He is a writer as well as a public speaker and debater in churches, conferences, and university campuses on issues concerning Christian apologetics and philosophy. Dr. Howe has a BA in Bible from Mississippi College, an MA in Philosophy from the University of Mississippi, and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Arkansas. |
April Meeting
Presented by
Eric Smith Thursday April 26th- 7:00 PM JOHNSON FERRY BAPTIST CHURCH
According to popular movies and television shows, outer space is teeming with alien life just waiting to make contact (and maybe blow up our monuments). A recent book released by Reasons To Believe "Is There Life Out There?" authored by apologist Jeff Zwerink addresses this issue.
This month at Reasons to Believe, Eric Smith will be examining the actual likelihood of alien life, looking at what conditions are necessary for life, some forms that alien life might take, and what (if anything) the Bible has to say about aliens.
Eric A. Smith received his Master's degree in Physics from Vanderbilt University where he was a member of the Supernova Cosmology Project, the co-discoverers of dark energy. He has been an Instructor in Physics and Astronomy at Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, GA and is now teaching physics and astronomy at The Weber School, a Jewish high school in north Atlanta. He is a regular attender at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. |
March Meeting
Presented by
Glen Leckman & Rod Nave Thursday March 29th- 7:00 PM JOHNSON FERRY BAPTIST CHURCH
"What kind of evidence in nature points to God's design? Water's uniqueness as evidence of teleology."
When we reflect on Psalm 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." we are considering God's purposeful work.
The program this month will be led by Glen Leckman and Rod Nave and will look at the multiple coordinated properties of water as evidence that it was designed for life. One key resource is Michael Denton's new book "The Wonder of Water".
Glen and Barbara Leckman work with Faculty Commons, a ministry to university professors, focusing on Kennesaw State University, Georgia Tech and Georgia State University. |
February Meeting
Presented by
Ben Smith Thursday February 22nd- 7:00 PM JOHNSON FERRY BAPTIST CHURCH
Do you know what Reasons To Believe believes? RTB is an apologetics organization built to give reasons why Christianity is true. However, our beliefs differ considerably from the traditional Young Earth Creationist views so popular in many churches. Considering some of the questions we have been getting in our most recent meetings, it seems we have a good number of new people attending, which is excellent, and we welcome you!
So, for the February meeting Ben Smith will be giving a presentation on a general overview of what RTB believes about creation, the age of the Earth, evolution, cavemen, Adam and Eve, Noah's Flood, and more. This would be a great meeting for bringing new guests. If you are a regular attendee, fairly new, or brand new, invite someone to join you for an informative presentation and lively discussion.
Ben Smith has been studying and teaching theology and apologetics for 30 years since becoming a Christian while attending Ga. Tech. He is the author of the book Genesis, Science, and the Beginning available now on Amazon and Kindle. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Worldview and Apologetics from Luther Rice University and is the Ratio Christi Chapter Director at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton GA. |
January Meeting
Presided by Dr. Rod Nave Thursday January 25th- 7:00 PM JOHNSON FERRY BAPTIST CHURCH
For the January meeting we will visit by video with the entire scholar staff of Reasons to Believe to hear the kinds of questions they field during their ministry. Since RTB takes both the Bible and the "Book of Nature" seriously, many questions arise from how these two interact. "Doesn't emphasis on the "Book of Nature" with its long time periods lend credibility to an evolutionary model?" Or "How does any reliance on the "Book of Nature" square with the claims of Biblical Inerrancy?"
The video panel discussion addresses these questions and others and we’ll take the opportunity to discuss them as well. This is a good opportunity to get to know the scholars of Reasons to Believe on a more personal basis as well as to refine your answers to these important questions. If you want to get a head start, you could look at the 2017 book "Old-Earth or Evolutionary Creation?" presenting both Reasons to Believe and Biologos positions on these questions.
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