Thinking Christianly

Understanding what we are answers many other questions, including the nature and means of flourishing as a human being. In this episode, J.P. and Stan describe human flourishing and endeavour to reclaim the idea of flourishing as an aim beyond pleasure or mere happiness. In this podcast we discuss: What it means to be made in the “Image of God” What types of capacities and powers we share, to a limited degree, with God Why only the Judeo-Christian worldview sees individuals as intrinsically valuable Implications of our intrinsic value for biomedical ethics and for judging other culture’s values Why being a human being is more than just being a certain type of biological species The essential capacities that make us all human The relationship between our essential capacities, maturity, flourishing, spiritual disciplines, excellent living, and becoming more like Christ Why we will always be growing in the expression of our capacities, even in the afterlife How understand our nature helps us understand the true meaning and purpose of life Our culture’s wrong definition of flourishing, leading to many of our social ills and addictions The role of a faith community in our journey toward full flourishing How finding ways to express our unique gifts relates to finding true happiness Identifying people who are ”good at life” and can be examples for us to follow The three people who have most shaped JP and Stan in understanding how to flourish The redemptive role pain and suffering can play in our flourishing The important distinction between Christian heroes and Christian “celebrities” JP and Stan’s personal obstacles and joys in being formed into the Image of God. Resources mentioned during our conversation: Example of Western outrage over the Tiananmen Square massacre Stan’s article on what it is to be human and therefore to flourishing (and his recent interview on this topic) One of JP’s writings on what it is to be human and therefore to flourish: with Garrett J. DeWeese, Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult: A Beginner’s Guide to Life’s Big Questions, Chapter Two – “Substances, Essences and Natures” The three people most influential in Stan’s life P. Moreland, Finding Quiet: My Story of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices that Brought Peace Stan’s College Faith Podcast interview with Roger Hershey

In this episode we discuss what it means that the Christian Scriptures are “without error.” With appropriate nuance and caveats given, the concept of biblical inerrancy is supported with the use of reason and logical argumentation. JP and Stan also discuss some of the false and/or poorly reasoned arguments made both for and against inerrancy. In this podcast we discuss: What the position on Scripture referred to as “inerrancy” entails. Why the inerrancy of Scripture is essential for human flourishing and the common good. Evaluating the claim, “Christianity is really just about a relationship with God, not these types of issues.” How to engage skeptics in conversation about inerrancy. Bad arguments both for and against inerrancy. Understanding the distinction between reasoned certainty, spiritual certainty, and psychological certainty. The strongest argument in defense of inerrancy. Resources mentioned during our conversation: Dr. J. P. Moreland’s journal article on inerrancy Dr. Stan Wallace’s blog series on inerrancy Norman Giesler (editor), Inerrancy 21st century updated edition Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy with Exposition Additional resource not mentioned but helpful: Inerrancy and Evangelicals: The Challenge for a New Generation J. Merrick & Stephen M. Garrett, eds., Five Views of Biblical Inerrancy Norman Geisler, A Review of Five Views on Biblical Inerrancy

As COVID restrictions are being lifted in the U.S., we are once again able to attend church in person. However, after twelve to eighteen months participating in church services online, many believers are wondering if they should return, or just continue attending online services. JP and Stan discuss some of the reasons many are asking this question, which leads them to discuss what the church is and why it exists. Principles are identified and conclusions drawn concerning if and how believers should understand church involvement. More specifically, in this podcast we discuss:  Challenges local churches face as COVID restrictions ease What is the essence of the church—what is “church” at its core? Differences between the universal Church and its local incarnations (local churches) Implications of the Church being the “Body of Christ” Understanding the true mission of the Church and avoiding false narratives such as “progressive Christianity” Evaluating the claim “The local church…is the hope of the world.” New models of local churches gaining momentum in North America Millennials and the allure of “high church” Hope and challenges for the Evangelical church in our post-COVID reality Whether believers should commit to returning to “in-person” church Resources mentioned during our conversation: Gallup Report on Church Membership in the United States Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology. Chapter 49: “The Nature of the Church” “Another Gospel? with Alisa Childers,” on the April 30, 2021 Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture podcast with Sean McDowell and Scott Rae Alisa Childers, Another Gospel? A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity Kevin Deyoung and Greg Gilbert, What Is the Mission of the Church? Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission Peter Wehner, “The Scandal Rocking the Evangelical World” in The Atlantic Ralph D. Winter, “The Two Structures of God’s Redemptive Mission.” Chapter 39 in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, ed. Ralph D. Winter Micro-church/underground church movement Bishop Barron, “Christianity and the Modern World,” S4 E15 of the Jordan B Peterson podcast.

In this episode, we’re defining what we mean when we say “thinking Christianly.” We discuss: What does the faculty of “thinking” entail? The difference between the mind and the brain and how they both relate to the soul How to integrate faith and learning Different kinds of knowledge and how to seek wisdom beyond the Christian worldview Making right distinctions and how to make sense of false dichotomies The state of Christian higher education and a word of hope Resources mentioned during our conversation: Dallas Willard in “The Allure of Gentleness”: “…reality can be described as what we humans run into when we are wrong…” You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K.A. Smith A response to Smith’s You Are What You Love Alvin Plantinga’s critique of methodological naturalism Stan’s articles on the nature of the soul, mind, brain, and body:  What are We? and Succumbing to a Very Unchristian Idea (how Christians commonly reduce the mind to the brain).

In this episode, we’re making a Biblical case for the role of reason in Christianity. We discuss: How Scripture makes a clear case for the role of reason in our spiritual lives The way evidential reasoning is present in Scripture How to avoid confusing total knowledge with genuine knowledge The difference between the use and abuse of reason Why we can trust that God doesn’t use a different kind of logic than ours Overcoming objections to the reasonable study of scripture The harmony in Paul’s writings on reason and argumentation How we participate in the renewal of our mind Resources mentioned during our conversation: Love Your God With All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul by J.P. Moreland Discussion guide to Love Your God With All Your Mind Passages discussed (easily found at BibleGateway.com) Isaiah 55:9 Romans 16:27 Luke 2:52 Isaiah 1:18 Proverbs Job  I Corinthians 8:1 Proverbs 25:2 1 Peter 3:15 1 Corinthians 1, 2:4 Acts 14, 17, 19, 20 Romans 12:2 Colossians 2:8 II Corinthians 10:5 J.P. Moreland’s work can be found at: http://www.jpmoreland.com Stan Wallace’s work can be found at: https://www.stanwallace.org

Loving God with our whole person, including our minds, used to be true of most Christians. But this is no longer the case. This stunts our spiritual growth. It also severely limits our ability to influence our culture. How did this shift occur? In this inaugural episode, Stan, J.P., and Jordan discuss some of the factors that led to this shift, the ways we see this manifest in our lives and churches today, and why we should seek once again to integrate faith and reason. In this podcast we discuss:  How JP and Stan met and developed a friendship How both got interested in the topic of the Christian mind The importance of Christians asking questions and seeking answers How pastors can cultivate loving God with our minds Ideas that have led to our dividing faith from reason Why we shouldn’t approach ministry solely on the basis of “what works” Effective ways to engage ideas in our culture The challenges we face due to the presuppositions of modern higher education Some features of a well-formed Christian mind Resources mentioned during our conversation: J.P. Moreland’s work can be found at: http://www.jpmoreland.com Stan Wallace’s work can be found at: https://www.stanwallace.org You Lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving the Church…and Rethinking Faith by David Kinnaman (Reprint) Quote by Jen Wilkin in Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds Love Your God With All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul by J.P. Moreland The Gravedigger File: Papers on the Subversion of the Modern Church by Os Guinness How We Lost the Christian Mind and How to Find it Again by Stan Wallace Dr. Jordan Peterson’s work can be found at https://www.jordanbpeterson.com www.Global-Scholars.org