The Reluctant Theologian Podcast

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

Today we decided to explore philosophical content in an alternative way through video games. Video games are a major part of our culture. I’ve even been told by several people that they listen to this show while they are playing video games. So in today’s episode, I sit down with Michał Trajdos to discuss various aspects of video games. We discuss the impact that video games have on culture, and whether or not video games can be considered a form of art. We ask what games tells us about our moral intuitions and our decision-making skills as humans beings. 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: Michał Trajdos. http://twitch.tv/di0xan 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 Mike Hranica from The Devil Wears Prada. We talk about heavy metal, French existentialism, and free will. We also talk about the new album The Act, what it is like to stop being straight edge, and so much more.  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: Mike Hranica from The Devil Wears Prada. https://www.tdwpband.com/ 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 Music by The Devil Wears Prada, "Big Wiggly Style," "Chemical," and "The Thread." https://www.tdwpband.com/music rtmullins.com

In the last episode, Andrei Buckarreff and I discussed the metaphysics of pantheism and panentheism. We chatted about how to distinguish these models of God from classical theism and open theism. In today’s episode, Andrei and I will consider arguments for and against pantheism. Andrei offers two arguments in favour of pantheism. One from omnipresence, and another from omniscience. I then ask Andrei to consider two objections to pantheism. One from God’s rationality, and the other from God’s moral perfection. 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: Andrei Buckareff (PhD, University of Rochester) is associate professor of philosophy at Marist College. 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 we are continuing our series on models of God, we have arrived at two models called pantheism and panentheism. Pantheism is said to be an ancient model of God that is found in different religions across the world. In today’s episode, I sit down with Andrei Buckareff to discuss the metaphysics of pantheism and panentheism. We chat about how to distinguish these models of God from classical theism and open theism. In the next episode, Andrei and I will consider arguments for and against pantheism. 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: Andrei Buckareff (PhD, University of Rochester) is associate professor of philosophy at Marist College.  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