2023
November Meeting
A presentation by John Wilson, Ph.D
Thursday November 2nd - 7:00 PM In Person & via ZOOM Room 108 Directions to Johnson Ferry Baptist (See below for joining ZOOM) For thousands of years astronomers have believed that the universe was static and unchanging. The stars we see now have always existed and will continue to exist into the future without change. In other words, the universe has always existed and will aways exist as it currently is indefinitely into the future. However, in the early part of the 20th century modern day astronomers discovered that the universe seems to have had an actual moment of creation that became known as The Big Bang Theory. This discovery set off a fire storm of debate between the Steady State view and the Big Bang view.
Join us as Dr. Wilson investigates the data and observations that have caused modern astronomy to admit that there was a creation event, and that the universe had a beginning and may or may not have an ending. He will start with a French comet hunter in the 1700’s and describe what seems to be unrelated observations that led to the great debate of the 20th century between the two major views on cosmology.
Some of the big questions seem to be: Was the universe created? If so, who created the universe? What was here before the creation? John W. Wilson Dr Wilson, Senior Academic Professional, retired, worked in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Georgia State University (GSU). His education includes a PhD in Education from GSU, a M.S. in Astronomy from Vanderbilt University and a B.S. in Physics from Southeast Missouri State University. He currently resides in Lilburn Georgia with his wife and family and attends Smoke Rise Baptist Church in Stone Mountain. |
October Meeting
A presentation by Andrea Smith
Thursday October 5th - 7:00 PM In Person & via ZOOM Room 108 Directions to Johnson Ferry Baptist (See below for joining ZOOM) Is constructive integration of the beginning of Genesis with the current scientific knowledge possible? It's a commonly held misconception that the Bible teaches scientific nonsense. When pushed for examples, skeptics point to the early part of Genesis, with stories of creation, the flood, and 900-year life spans as proof. In his book Navigating Genesis, astronomer and pastor Dr. Hugh Ross explores the opening chapters in Genesis and shows how they hold some of the strongest scientific evidence for the Bible's supernatural accuracy. Dr Ross integrates the message of both the Bible and science without compromise, giving skeptics and believers common ground for dialogue.
Join us as Andrea takes us on an apologetic journey thru the early chapters in Genesis using Dr. Ross’ book. She will also discuss the pros and cons of a few alternative interpretations based on Ben Smith's book "Genesis, Science, and the Beginning”. Andrea Smith Andrea studied German with a minor in general sciences at Webster University and biology and science education at University of Georgia, Athens. She currently works with both The Areopagus and Lakeside Baptist Church helping with technology and administrative work. Andrea has been involved with Reasons to Believe for more than ten years. As a past speaker and panel member, she now serves as an Atlanta chapter officer |
September Meeting
A video presentation by Fazale Rana, PhD
Thursday September 7th - 7:00 PM ZOOM Only (See below for joining ZOOM) Throughout life’s history, every corner of Earth has been filled with a vast assemblage of creatures—from the beautiful to the bizarre. What purpose do these diverse creatures serve? Could it be that God is a divine Artist, with these creatures reflecting his creative panache?
This month’s meeting will be showing the video “God Is… An Artist”, which was a presentation given by Fuz Rana, PhD at RTB’s “God Is…” conference last November. A guided discussion led by Andrea Smith will follow the video. In this talk, Fuz makes the biblical case that God is rightly understood as a divine Artist. He then explores the impact that this view of God has for how we understand life’s history. He concludes by exploring what this view of God teaches us about ourselves as human beings made in God’s image. Time permitting, we may show a second video from the conference series entitled "God Is... Wisdom". So please join us for the video(s) and what should be an interesting discussion in the hope to grow in our faith and knowledge of our amazing God!
Additional information and links:
RTB's “God Is...” conference was held last November at Grace Church in St. Louis, Missouri. It was a life-changing experience for all who joined. From discussions on the nature of God to in-depth teachings on his attributes and character, the video series was designed to deepen an understanding of who God is and what it means to live a life in relationship with him. Each talk from the scholars offered a wealth of biblical knowledge and practical wisdom.
Link to the “God…Is” series: God Is... Series
Link to Fuz’s presentation: God is... An Artist Fuzale Rana, PhD Fuz is microbiologist, an RTB scholar and the President and CEO of RTB. Link for more details on Fuz's background: Fuz Rana Bio To receive the Zoom session information, you may subscribe to our announcements which are typically sent out 1-2 weeks prior to the event. A follow-up is normally sent out a couple of days prior. Otherwise, you may contact us at rtb@atlantaapologist.org for the meeting ID and passcode. |
August Meeting
A presentation by Ken Wolgemuth, PhD
Thursday August 3rd - 7:00 PM ZOOM Only (See below for joining ZOOM) The history of the earth includes both astronomy and geology. Several books have been written describing the myriad ways that the earth’s composition and properties are so fine-tuned to make advanced life possible — How to Build a Habitable Planet, The Privileged Planet, Improbable Planet, and Designed to the Core. This last one covers a comprehensive summary of how the universe of galaxies has a unique history to make it possible for advanced life, with five chapters on our Solar System and the Earth.
Ken will share some highlights from astronomy, and then focus on Geology of the Earth. This is God’s creation story of the exquisite fine-tuning of the Earth’s core, mantle, crust, and atmosphere that are unique for life to exist, and for us to be here. Soli Deo gloria! Ken Wolgemuth, PhD Ken Wolgemuth founded Solid Rock Lectures to communicate the wonder of God’s handiwork in geology. He has a BS in chemistry from Wheaton College, a PhD in geochemistry from Columbia University, and a 40-year career in the petroleum industry. He is an RTB visiting scholar. He was drawn into Christian worldview apologetics two decades ago, becoming a Colson Fellow in 2017. He has given numerous lectures about creation, and co-authored a 2018 paper on radiocarbon dating, published in ASA’s Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith. He is a contributing author to the ground-breaking book written expressly for the church, The Grand Canyon, Monument to an Ancient Earth: Can Noah’s Flood Explain the Grand Canyon? To receive the Zoom session information, you may subscribe to our announcements which are typically sent out 1-2 weeks prior to the event. A follow-up is normally sent out a couple of days prior. Otherwise, you may contact us at rtb@atlantaapologist.org for the meeting ID and passcode. |
No July Meeting(summer break) June Meeting
A presentation by George Haraksin II
Thursday June 1st - 7:00 PM ZOOM Only (See below for joining ZOOM) The late Christian philosopher Dallas Willard makes the case that the 20th century saw a massive shift in Western beliefs and attitudes concerning the possibility of moral knowledge, such that knowledge of the moral life and of its conduct is no longer routinely available from the social institutions long thought to be responsible for it. Moral knowledge, as a resource publicly accessible for the good or blessed life, has disappeared.
This presentation intends to show that various institutions have contributed to this disappearance. This may seem paradoxical because moral talk and the legislating of morality is ubiquitous in our cultures. Interestingly, the result of this disappearance is not due to rational argument or discovery, but largely due to arational or non-rational social forces. George Haraksin II George is the Scholar Community Program Director and a Staff Scholar at Reasons to Believe. He is also a Senior Adjunct Professor in Philosophy and Ethics at Azusa Pacific University. For a detailed biography, refer to this link: To receive the Zoom session information, you may subscribe to our announcements which are typically sent out 1-2 weeks prior to the event. A follow-up is normally sent out a couple of days prior. Otherwise, you may contact us at rtb@atlantaapologist.org for the meeting ID and passcode. |
May Meeting
A presentation by Mark Tabladillo, Ph.D.
Thursday May 4th - 7:00 PM In Person & via ZOOM Room 108 Directions to Johnson Ferry Baptist (See below for joining ZOOM) Dr. William Lane Craig continues to be an influential speaker, philosopher and apologist for the Christian faith. As an independent thinker, Craig at times proposes ideas which meet resistance from the evangelical community.
This presentation will focus some controversial claims from the book "In Quest of the Historical Adam". In particular, some claims are at odds with what Dr. Fazale Rana has published in his own extensive study "Who Was Adam". Drawing on analysis from Dr. Rana and Dr. Thomas Howe, Mark Tabladillo will outline and explain major areas of critique. The presenter continues to have great respect for the majority of Dr. Craig's scholarship, and simply encourages readers and future scholars to continue to research and examine the evidence of humanity's origins. Mark Tabladillo, Ph.D. Mark Tabladillo Ph.D. is a chapter officer of the Atlanta RTB Chapter. In 2016, he presented a summary of Dr. Rana's work "Who was Adam" and returns to reinforce and examine those ideas again. Mark works full-time for Microsoft as a Cloud Solution Architect. He is also a volunteer Regional Director for Ratio Christi, and has a home congregation at Passion City Church. To receive the Zoom session information, you may subscribe to our announcements which are typically sent out 1-2 weeks prior to the event. A follow-up is normally sent out a couple of days prior. Otherwise, you may contact us at rtb@atlantaapologist.org for the meeting ID and passcode. |
April Meeting
A presentation by Eric Smith
Thursday April 6th - 7:00 PM In Person & via ZOOM Room 108 Directions to Johnson Ferry Baptist (See below for joining ZOOM) Skeptics often claim that the Bible is nothing more than mythology, and Hebrew religion was just a variant of the beliefs of the other peoples around them. But is the Bible really myth, or is it fundamentally different? In the book The Bible among the Myths, John Oswalt examines the nature and worldview of myth and shows definitively how the worldview of the Bible is fundamentally different.
Join us as Eric Smith examines the arguments put forward in this book… refuting the claims of skeptics and showing how the God of the Bible is different… not only in degree, but in nature from the gods of the Canaanites, the Egyptians, and the Babylonians. Eric Smith 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-discovers of dark energy. He has spoken on both scientific and apologetics topics at the Atlanta chapter of Reasons to Believe, the Areopagus Forum, and Ratio Christi. He currently resides in Milledgeville, GA, where he is an Associate Professor of Physics at Georgia Military College. |
March Meeting
A book review by Glen Leckman
Thursday March 2nd - 7:00 PM In Person & via ZOOM Room 108 Directions to Johnson Ferry Baptist (See below for joining ZOOM)
We are excited to announce that Glen Leckman will be reviewing Steven E. Koonin's book, “UNSETTLED? What climate science tells us, What it doesn’t, and Why it matters”.
In his presentation, Glen will highlight the key themes and arguments from “UNSETTLED?”, as well as offer his own insights and observations on how this perspective might impact Christians. His ministry to university professors through Faculty Commons will also bring a unique perspective. We invite you to join us for this informative and engaging presentation. Glen Leckman
Glen grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming and graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics before joining the full-time staff of Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) and earning his Master’s degree in Biblical Studies. He worked with the sports branch of Cru called Athletes in Action where he met his wife Barbara. Together they moved to South Africa where they helped start the Athletes in Action ministry there. They ministered and lived in South Africa for 15 years before turning the sports ministry over to the South Africans. |
February Meeting
A presentation by John Millam, Ph.D
Thursday February 2nd - 7:00 PM Via ZOOM (See below for joining) Quantum mechanics was developed in the early twentieth century to fix problems in Newton’s mechanics for atomic phenomena. This long journey of discovery has radically reshaped our understanding of reality at the most basic level. Quantum mechanics unquestionably works wherever we can directly test it, yet even after 100 years of study no one fully understands how it operates at the most fundamental level.
Come and join us as Dr. Millam takes us on a tour of the Alice-in-Wonderland-like world of quantum mechanics. John Millam, Ph.D Dr John Millam has a PhD in theoretical chemistry from Rice University. Theoretical chemistry involves the development and use of computer programs to apply quantum mechanics to problems in chemistry. He currently works as a programmer for Semichem (www.semichem.com). Dr Millam is a Reasons To Believe trained apologist, a member of the scholar community, and a member of the Kansas City Chapter of RTB. |
