The Reluctant Theologian Podcast

In today’s episode, I sit down with Steven Nemes. We discuss a recent debate that I had over at the Theopolis website on the doctrine of divine simplicity. Why are we discussing this? Well, because some of you theology nerds love to discuss obscure medieval doctrines that the vast majority of Christians have never heard of. Steven and I give you the break down on everything that happened with this debate at Theopolis. We give you the gossip. We give you the drama, and we give you all of the theology related to the doctrine of divine simplicity. Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research and teaching fellow in analytic theology at the University of St Andrews. Guest: Steven Nemes is a PhD candidate at Fuller Theological Seminary. 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

Have you ever wondered why God would create anything at all? Or perhaps you have asked why God would create a universe like this one. You might think that out of all the possible universes that God could create, surely He could have created one with less evil than what we find in our universe. In today’s episode, I sit down with Max Baker-Hytch to discuss problems related to God, evil, and the multiverse. Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research and teaching fellow in analytic theology at the University of St Andrews. Guest: Max Baker-Hytch (PhD, University of Oxford) is tutor in philosophy at Wycliffe Hall, 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

Most religions affirm that God is an eternal being. But what does it mean for God to be eternal? Is God timeless or is God temporal? Why should I even care about God’s relationship to time? In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr Natalja Deng to discuss her new book God and Time. We will discuss some basic issues within the philosophy of time, and talk about the role they play in debates over God’s eternality. Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research and teaching fellow in analytic theology at the University of St Andrews. Guest: Natalja Deng (PhD, Oxford University) is associate professor of philosophy at Yonsei 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

In today’s episode, Dr. Ema Sani and I discuss the question ‘what is time?’ This is an important question that most philosophers, scientists, and theologians refuse to answer. Ema asks me to discuss my definition of time. Then we chat about some of the different puzzles that arise from the nature of time. We also explore some the implications of time for the nature of God, creation, divine providence, and human free will. Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research and teaching fellow in analytic theology at the University of St Andrews. 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 Chris Woznicki. He recently won the IVP Early Career Philosopher of Religion prize for an essay that he wrote on human free will, determinism, and prayer. In today’s episode, Chris and I chat about theological anthropology before turning to discuss the nature of prayer, and the relationship between free will and theological determinism. Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research and teaching fellow in analytic theology at the University of St Andrews. Guest: Chris Woznicki is a PhD candidate at Fuller Theological Seminary. 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

Have you ever thought about heaven? Perhaps you have wondered what resurrected existence might be like. In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. JT Turner to discuss some of the current hot topics that people are asking about heaven and the resurrection. Will people with disabilities have their disabilities forever? Will there be sex in heaven? Check out JT’s answers to these burning questions and more.  Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research and teaching fellow in analytic theology at the University of St Andrews. Guest: James T. Turner (PhD, University of Edinburgh) is assistant professor of Philosophy at Anderson 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

Christianity claims that God has made human persons in His image, and that God plans on saving humanity from death through resurrection. But what does any of that mean? In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. JT Turner to discuss human nature and resurrection. JT explains his functional understanding of the image of God, and his hylomorphic account of human nature. We also examine some of JT’s reasons for rejecting the intermediate state between death and resurrection.  Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research and teaching fellow in analytic theology at the University of St Andrews. Guest: James T. Turner (PhD, University of Edinburgh) is assistant professor of Philosophy at Anderson 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

In the last episode, I sat down with Dr. Thom Atkinson to discuss the debate between physicalists and dualists over human nature. Thom and I began to talk about the implications of this debate for understanding immortality and the resurrection of the dead. In today’s episode, Thom and I continue this conversation on physicalism, dualism, and the resurrection. We also discuss philosophical and theological objections to dualism. Today’s episode also has the ever popular popcorn round.  Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research and teaching fellow in analytic theology at the University of St Andrews. Guest: Thom Atkinson (PhD, University of Liverpool) is a research fellow in philosophy.   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

What is a human person? Is a human person completely physical? Or does a human person have a soul? In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Thom Atkinson to discuss the debate between physicalists and dualists over human nature. Thom explains different arguments for and against the existence of the soul. We also talk about the implications of this debate for understanding immortality and the resurrection of the dead. In the next episode, Thom and I will continue the conversation on human nature and immortality.  Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research and teaching fellow in analytic theology at the University of St Andrews. Guest: Thom Atkinson (PhD, University of Liverpool) is a research fellow in philosophy.   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

What makes a particular individual a human? One answer might be that a human is a biological organism with a particular kind of DNA. It is the sort of thing that lives, grows old, and dies. This raises further questions. What is DNA? What is the relationship between DNA, aging, and death? In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Jamie Carrington to discuss DNA replication, and different ways to achieve immortality.    Credits: Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a research and teaching fellow in analytic theology at the University of St Andrews. Guest: Jamie Carrington (PhD, University of Dundee) is a research fellow at the University of Oxford, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology.  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