
The Reluctant Theologian Podcast
A podcast on God, time, and everything in between. The host R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) will guide listeners through topics on theology, philosophy, science, and heavy metal.
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=66431474
https://ko-fi.com/rtmullins
Latest episodes

Apr 5, 2023 • 20min
Ep. 118. Why Did God Become Incarnate?
With Easter around the corner, I thought it would be good to ask, "Why Did God Become Incarnate?" There is the typical answer of "For our salvation." I think that is a good reason for God to become incarnate, but it is not the only reason. In fact, some theologians think that God would become incarnate even without the need for atonement. In this episode, I want to explore some often overlooked reasons for God to become incarnate.
Credits
Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Lucerne.
Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions.
rtmullins.com
Support the Show:
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=66431474
https://ko-fi.com/rtmullins

Mar 29, 2023 • 25min
Ep. 117 Reason, Religion, and God's Creation of Friendly Universes
I recently recorded a talk for a conference in Pakistan on Islam, Reason, and Science. I thought it might be interesting to share this presentation with all of you. I talk about God’s reason for creating a universe like the one we find ourselves in. I say that one of God’s reason to create is to enter into friendship with humans. I then consider what kind of universe God needs to create in order to make friendship with humans possible.
Credits
Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Lucerne.
Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions.
rtmullins.com
Support the Show:
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=66431474
https://ko-fi.com/rtmullins

Mar 22, 2023 • 35min
Ep. 116 Classical Theism vs Relational Theism with Brian Orr
Thomas Jay Oord is a prolific writer who has some very provocative things to say about the nature of God, love, and creation. But not everyone loves what Tom Oord is up to. In today’s episode, I have on Brian Orr to offer a classical theistic critique of Tom’s doctrine of God. We discuss classical theism, divine power, love, creation ex nihilo, and so much more.
Credits
Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a visiting professor of philosophy at Palm Beach Atlantic University and the University of Lucerne.
Guest: Brian Orr (PhD, London School of Theology) is a pastor at Sovereign Way Christian Church.
Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions.
rtmullins.com
Support the Show:
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=66431474
https://ko-fi.com/rtmullins

Mar 11, 2023 • 38min
Ep. 115 Thomistic Propaganda and Being Tough as Nails During the William Lane Craig Dialogue
In today’s episode, I want to answer some listener questions, and follow up on my recent dialogue with William Lane Craig on God, time, and creation. I’ve been getting a lot of questions sent into the website, and Rodney and I are struggling to keep up. Soon I will be getting some summer interns from Palm Beach Atlantic University to help me out, so stay tuned for some exciting announcements about that.
Credits
Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Lucerne.
Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions.
rtmullins.com
Support the Show:
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=66431474
https://ko-fi.com/rtmullins

Feb 8, 2023 • 45min
Ep. 114 Augustinian Love vs Kenotic Love with Thomas Jay Oord
In today’s episode, I have Thomas Jay Oord back on. We are looking at St Augustine’s view of divine love. Tom argues that his own kenotic view of God’s love is better than Augustine’s.
Credits
Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a visiting professor of philosophy at Palm Beach Atlantic University and the University of Lucerne.
Guest: Thomas Jay Oord (PhD, Claremont University) is the director of the Center for Open and Relational Theology.
Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions.
rtmullins.com
Support the Show:
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=66431474
https://ko-fi.com/rtmullins

Jan 25, 2023 • 28min
Ep. 113 God, Mental Disorders, Evil, and Making a Meaningful Life with Kate Finley
In today’s episode I have professor Kate Finley from Hope College. We cover all sorts of things today. We are going to talk about the problem of evil. We are going to talk about mental disorders. And we are going to talk about finding meaning in life.
Credits
Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a visiting professor of philosophy at Palm Beach Atlantic University and the University of Lucerne.
Guest: Kate Finley (PhD, University of Notre Dame) is an assistant professor of philosophy at Hope College.
Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions.
rtmullins.com
Support the Show:
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=66431474
https://ko-fi.com/rtmullins

Jan 4, 2023 • 31min
Ep. 112, Providence and Struggles of Faith
I recorded this episode a year ago, but I have been sitting on it. I have been hesitant to release this episode because it expresses raw emotions and a little bit of explicit language. It is an episode responding to listener questions about struggles with faith and doubt. I have decided to release it because I think that your questions about how to deal with doubt are important. Does the providential God care about you? How should you think about God’s providence? Stick around for some terrible advice from yours truly.
Credits
Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a visiting professor of philosophy at the University of Lucerne and Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions.
rtmullins.com
Support the Show:
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=66431474
https://ko-fi.com/rtmullins

Dec 21, 2022 • 1h 1min
Ep. 111 Year of Desolation Holiday Extravaganza
Today I have a lighthearted episode for you. Ema Sani and I consider a bunch of fun and silly listener questions about God, the holidays, heavy metal, fast food, Christmas music, and more.
Credits
Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a visiting professor of philosophy at the University of Lucerne and Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Guest: Ema Sani (PhD, University of Glasgow).
Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions.
rtmullins.com
Support the Show:
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=66431474
https://ko-fi.com/rtmullins

Dec 7, 2022 • 34min
Ep. 110 Why Are the Reformed Thomists So Mean? How To Do Theology Better.
In this episode, I talk about the elephant in the room. Some people in the Reformed Thomist crowd are just plain mean towards everyone they disagree with. I want to help you identify red flags, but I also want to identify good people within the Reformed Thomist camp who are worth paying attention to. That way we can all do theology better together. I also chat about my episode with Owen Strachan, and offer my own assessment of his argument against Thomistic soteriology.
Credits
Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a visiting professor of philosophy at the University of Lucerne.
Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions.
rtmullins.com
Support the Show:
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=66431474
https://ko-fi.com/rtmullins

Nov 30, 2022 • 55min
Ep. 109 Reformed Thomism and Salvation: Southern Baptists and Aquinas with Owen Strachan
The Southern Baptists seem to be completely obsessed with Thomas Aquinas these days. Of all the dead theologians that one could flock towards, the Baptists are all about the Dumb Ox right now. But what exactly is this Reformed Thomism? Does Reformed Thomism offer a biblical view of salvation? In today’s episode, I’ve got Owen Strachan on to answer these questions and more!
Credits
Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a visiting professor of philosophy at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Guest: Owen Strachan (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is the provost and research professor of theology at Grace Bible Theological Seminary.
Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions.
rtmullins.com
Support the Show:
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=66431474
https://ko-fi.com/rtmullins
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