Creation vs Evolution

A 2013 Pew Research Center survey found that roughly a quarter of adults (24%) say that "a supreme being guided the evolution of living things for the purpose of creating humans and other life in the form it exists today". The survey also showed that 36% of white evangelical Protestants say humans have evolved over time, while 60% say humans have existed in their present form since the beginning of time.

Some Christian thinkers, like Charles Kingsley and Frederick Temple, began to reconcile evolution with their faith in the 19th century, suggesting that evolution could be a mechanism used by God.

In his encyclical "Humani Generis," Pope Pius XII stated that Catholic teachings on creation could coexist with evolutionary theory, provided that the human soul is a direct creation of God. Pope John Paul II further clarified the Church's view, stating that evolution is "more than a hypothesis" and that the Church recognizes the scientific validity of evolution.

Many Catholics, and other Christians, embrace the concept of theistic evolution, which suggests that God used the process of evolution to create life, rather than a literal, six-day creation.

But what does the Bible say?

Women And Head Coverings

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. 1 Corinthians 11:4-16

Is Paul saying that a woman should have her head covered when she prays or prophesizes? Let's examine a few key verses from the passage above using the Bible's own principles for studying scripture to discern what God's word really says on the matter.

The Bible & Alcohol

The writers of the New Testament wrote in Greek and used the word "oinos" (οἶνος) broadly to encompass any beverage made from grapes, whether it was freshly pressed juice or fermented wine. Unlike modern languages, the ancient Greek language didn't have a specific word to distinguish between wine and unfermented grape juice, (neither did ancient Hebrew), relying instead on the context to clarify whether fermented, alcoholic wine or unfermented, grape juice is being referred to.

Let's use the Bible's own principles to study the subject and whether or not Christians should consume alcohol.

The War On God's Word

Nearly 60 years ago, on March 4, 1966, London's Evening Standard published the interview where John Lennon made the infamous claim that the Beatles were bigger than Jesus:

"Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue about that; I'm right and I'll be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me."

Less than 15 years later, Lennon was fatally shot by one of his own "disciples," American fan Mark David Chapman.