The Reluctant Theologian Podcast

On a very special episode of The Reluctant Theologian Podcast, I share some different stories that compelled me to write my new book, "God and Emotion." In future episodes, I will go through some of the arguments of the book, but in this episode I explain how deeply personal this topic is to everyone. Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities. Scientific Adviser and Show Manager: Ema Sani (PhD, University of Glasgow) is a postdoctoral fellow in biology at the University of Edinburgh. Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions rtmullins.com

Aseity is one of those words that theologians love to throw around, but what does it mean? Is aseity the same thing as necessary existence? And what are the reasons for thinking that an a se being exists? In today’s episode, I sit down with Chad McIntosh to discuss the doctrine of aseity in all its glorious detail. We get into the principle of sufficient reason and cosmological arguments. We also chat about the implications of aseity for debates over the Trinity and divine simplicity. Chad gives us some spicy takes on simplicity that I am sure you won’t want to miss. Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities. Guest: Chad McIntosh (PhD, Cornell University). Check out his blog.  Scientific Adviser and Show Manager: Ema Sani (PhD, University of Glasgow) is a postdoctoral fellow in biology at the University of Edinburgh. Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions rtmullins.com

If you were listening to the last episode, you heard my conversation with Aku Visala on the imago dei, cognitive science, and free will. In today’s episode, we pick up the conversation on free will. We ask if free will is compatible with divine determinism, and consider some different debates in theology between Martin Luther and Erasmus. We also look at some of the evidence from cognitive science about the role of belief in free will in our moral and social behavior. This episode also contains the ever popular popcorn round. Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities. Guest: Aku Visala (PhD, University of Helsinki) is a research fellow at the Finnish Academy, the University of Helsinki. Scientific Adviser and Show Manager: Ema Sani (PhD, University of Glasgow) is a postdoctoral fellow in biology at the University of Edinburgh. Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions rtmullins.com

Christian theology says that humans are made in the image of God. But what does that mean? Does it mean that we are rational beings with free will? And what is free will anyway? In today’s episode, I sit down with Aku Visala to chat about human nature and free will. Aku tells us about different understandings of the image of God and human freedom. He also tells us what recent proposals in cognitive science have to say about human freedom and rationality. Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities. Guest: Aku Visala (PhD, University of Helsinki) is a research fellow at the Finnish Academy, the University of Helsinki. Scientific Adviser and Show Manager: Ema Sani (PhD, University of Glasgow) is a postdoctoral fellow in biology at the University of Edinburgh. Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions rtmullins.com

We live in a world with multiple religions, competing theological systems, and various models of God. With all of this confusion and variety of opinions, how do we know that we are referring to the same being when we use the word “God”? In today’s episode, I sit down with Hugh Burling to talk about a recent paper of his in Faith and Philosophy on the theory of reference as it relates to topics within in philosophical theology, religious experience, and worship. If you are a philosophy of language nerd, then this is the episode for you. Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities. Guest: Hugh Burling (PhD, University of Cambridge) is a teacher in philosophy and religious studies in England.  Scientific Adviser and Show Manager: Ema Sani (PhD, University of Glasgow) is a postdoctoral fellow in biology at the University of Edinburgh. Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions rtmullins.com

In the last episode, I sat down with Olli-Pekka Vainio to discuss various challenges to theology on the basis of philosophy of language. In this episode, Olli and I chat about issues surrounding our talk about God in terms of analogy, univocity, and equivocation. Does all of our talk about God need to be analogy? Would it be a problem if we spoke about God univocally? Olli and I also ask if all the religions in the world are referring to the same God. This episode also contains the ever popular popcorn round. Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities. Guest: Olli-Pekka Vainio (PhD, University of Helsinki) is university lecturer in systematic theology, University of Helsinki. Scientific Adviser and Show Manager: Ema Sani (PhD, University of Glasgow) is a postdoctoral fellow in biology at the University of Edinburgh. Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions rtmullins.com

There is an interesting interaction between philosophy of language and theology. There are all sorts of difficulties surrounding the very idea of religious language. Some philosophers have objected to the idea of speaking about God. Perhaps it is impossible to engage in any talk about God at all. If that’s right, then theology is doomed from the start. In today’s episode, I sit down with Olli-Pekka Vainio to discuss his new book on religious language. In this episode, we discuss the challenges that arise from verificationism, expressivism, and apophaticism. Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities. Guest: Olli-Pekka Vainio (PhD, University of Helsinki) is university lecturer in systematic theology, University of Helsinki. Scientific Adviser and Show Manager: Ema Sani (PhD, University of Glasgow) is a postdoctoral fellow in biology at the University of Edinburgh. Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions rtmullins.com

In today’s episode, I sit down with TJ Mawson to discuss a listener question on God and morality. We consider different issues related to moral philosophy, the divine nature, and providence. In what sense is God responsible for the moral landscape? What does it mean to say that God is perfectly good? And can an all-powerful God sin? After discussing these issues, we ask if God is obligated to provide atonement for humanity. And then we ask if the God of open theism can providentially guide the world without screwing things up. Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities. Guest: TJ Mawson (PhD, University of Oxford) is the Edgar Jones fellow in philosophy at St Peter's College, University of Oxford. Scientific Adviser and Show Manager: Ema Sani (PhD, University of Glasgow) is a postdoctoral fellow in biology at the University of Edinburgh. Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions rtmullins.com

As science and technology are advancing, we are entering into uncharted waters with what we can do with DNA. From biohacking, to beer tasting, ancestry, and criminal cases, the possibilities are wide open. Some of the possibilities seem like merely science fiction, while others raise legal and ethical concerns. In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr Ross Cordiner to discuss what is science fiction, and what is reality concerning our DNA. Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities. Guest: Ross Cordiner (PhD, University of Edinburgh) is a research fellow in molecular biology and genetics at Aarhus University.  Scientific Adviser and Show Manager: Ema Sani (PhD, University of Glasgow) is a postdoctoral fellow in biology at the University of Edinburgh. Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions rtmullins.com

Some of you listening might be artists. Perhaps you paint or take pictures. Maybe you are a filmmaker or musician. Whatever you are, you make important contributions to our society. Your art helps create a sense of place in your community. It can even cultivate a sense of place within the church. In today’s episode, I sit down with my friend Dr Jennifer Allen Craft to discuss her new book Placemaking and the Arts: Cultivating the Christian Life. Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities. Guest: Jenn Craft (PhD, University of St Andrews) is associate professor of theology at Point University. Scientific Adviser and Show Manager: Ema Sani (PhD, University of Glasgow) is a postdoctoral fellow in biology at the University of Edinburgh. Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions rtmullins.com