Current Events & Trends
Beyond Today Magazine
Good News Magazine: March - April 2015
Course Content
The philosophy of secular humanism is the leading belief system in entertainment, journalism and science.
The majority of Western politics is deeply influenced by a philosophy that pushes God and the Bible out of public consciousness and reinforces the belief that humanity alone holds the answers to the world’s problems.
That’s why it was so refreshing to read a very different sort of column in The Wall Street Journal recently. Author Eric Metaxas wrote of the well-reasoned, logical and even scientific evidences of God’s hand in creation in an article titled “Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God” (Dec. 25, 2014).
The article, which is well worth reading, begins with the juxtaposition of a God-centered worldview and a modern secular, humanist worldview. Metaxas writes: “In 1966 Time magazine ran a cover story asking: Is God Dead? Many have accepted the cultural narrative that he’s obsolete—that as science progresses, there is less need for a ‘God’ to explain the universe. Yet it turns out that the rumors of God’s death were premature. More amazing is that the relatively recent case for his existence comes from a surprising place—science itself.” (See additional quotes from this article in “Wise Men Will Seek Him,” beginning on page 24).
He goes on to explain several of the amazing scientific facts that make it clear that this universe is not the product of random chance—that it has an awesome Creator. Of course, there was a substantial backlash to his article. Several secular commentators wrote responses in an attempt to discredit the notion of a Creator God.
This battle of ideas will continue to rage on into the future. A Christian’s heart and mind are not won through clever arguments or philosophical treatises. A Christian’s heart is won through truth and the very real and very active presence of our God—the same God who created and sustains the universe around us. Stay strong and stay sure of His existence and His promises in your life. (Source: The Wall Street Journal.)
Rudy Rangel was born and raised in Granite City, Illinois. He attended Southern Illinois University to study mass communication, graduating in 2008 with a bachelor of science degree. He also trained as an electrician.
Rudy currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was hired by the United Church of God in 2009 and works as production supervisor at the home office.
Rudy loves music, reading, writing, film and volunteering at United Youth Camps. Out of all these things, his favorite thing to do is play with his daughter and son and spend time with his wife. He also loves pizza.
Tom is an elder in the United Church of God who works from his home near St. Louis, Missouri, as a senior writer and editor for the Beyond Today magazine and church booklets. He is also the editor of the UCG Bible Commentary. He also served as a copy editor for Vertical Thought and managing editor for World News and Prophecy.
Tom began attending God's Church at the age of 16 in 1985 and was baptized a year later. He attended Ambassador College in both Texas and California and served for a year as a history teacher at the college's overseas project in Sri Lanka. He graduated from the Texas campus in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in theology along with minors in English and mass communications. Since 1994, he has been employed as an editor and writer for church publications and has served in local congregations through the regular preaching of sermons.
Tom was ordained to the ministry in 2012 and attends with his wife Donna and their young children.
