Apologetics 315 Podcast

SummaryIn this episode of the Apologetics 315 podcast, hosts Brian Auten and Chad Gross speak with Benjamin Shaw, a distinguished Christian apologist and author of Trustworthy: 13 Arguments for the Reliability of the New Testament.'The discussion covers Shaw's personal journey into apologetics, the importance of New Testament reliability, and the historical criteria that support it. Shaw emphasizes the cumulative approach to understanding the New Testament, the significance of the Gospels as Greco-Roman biographies, and the value of both Christian and non-Christian sources in establishing the reliability of the New Testament. The conversation also touches on the minimal facts approach to the resurrection and the mission of Core Apologetics to make apologetic resources more accessible to churches and believers.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates05:46 Introducing Benjamin Shaw and His Work06:14 Benjamin Shaw's Background and Journey11:29 Lessons from Gary Habermas14:52 Core Apologetics and Its Mission15:50 Exploring New Testament Reliability16:19 Historical Criteria for Reliability21:53 Understanding Trustworthiness and Reliability23:47 Cumulative Approach to Reliability26:11 Gospels as Greco-Roman Biographies30:02 Authorship and Its Importance37:02 Non-Christian Sources and Their Value41:49 Confidence in Early Sources48:32 Persuasive Arguments for Reliability54:39 Minimal Facts vs. Maximal Approach58:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

SummaryIn this conversation, Brian and Chad interview J. Warner Wallace, a former cold case detective turned Christian apologist and author. They discuss his new book, 'The Truth and True Crime: What Investigating Death Teaches Us About the Meaning of Life.' The book explores the intersection of true crime and spirituality, focusing on 15 principles that lead to human flourishing. They delve into topics such as the three motivations behind every crime (money, sex, and power), the dangers of fame and power within the church, the fascination with true crime, and the relevance of the book for both believers and non-believers. In this conversation, they discuss the themes of identity, suffering, and finding meaning in life. They explore how trauma can shatter our worldview and expectations, and how redefining our identity in Christ can help us flourish post-trauma. They also discuss the importance of having a narrative that includes the persisting self and the hope and reduced fear of dying that comes from a Christian worldview. Jim shares his personal struggle with redefining his identity after retiring as a police officer and offers insights on how to find true meaning and purpose in life.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Overview03:54 Interview with J. Warner Wallace09:06 The Dangers of Fame and Power Within the Church11:26 Marriage and Identity13:18 The Proximity Principle and Friendships15:28 The Fascination with True Crime18:05 Writing with Personal Interest and Creativity21:53 Relevance for Believers and Non-Believers23:23 Addressing Both Believers and Unbelievers24:17 Redefining Identity in Christ: Finding Meaning and Purpose26:13 Flourishing Post-Trauma: Rethinking Worldview and Expectations29:06 The Power of a Christian Worldview: Hope and Reduced Fear of Dying36:53 Finding True Meaning: Making Christ Known Through Our Lives41:34 Navigating the Risk of Suffering: The Resources of the Christian Worldview================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

SummaryIn this conversation, Chad Gross interviews Eric Hernandez about the existence of the soul. They discuss the definition of the soul, the relationship between the mind and the brain, and the arguments against physicalism. Eric presents the case for substance dualism and argues that consciousness cannot be reduced to physical properties. They also touch on the panpsychist view of consciousness and its implications. The conversation delves into the philosophy of mind and the implications for atheism and theism. In this conversation, Eric Hernandez discusses the concept of the soul and argues against physicalism and in favor of substance dualism. He presents three arguments for the existence of the soul: identity through change, indivisibility of personhood, and the argument from free will. Hernandez emphasizes that if physicalism is true, determinism is also true, which would undermine moral responsibility and intellectual integrity. He recommends J.P. Moreland's books 'The Soul: How We Know It's Real and Why It Matters' and 'Body and Soul: Human Nature and the Crisis in Ethics' as resources for further study on the philosophy of mind and the soul.TakeawaysThe soul can be defined as an immaterial substance that possesses consciousness and animates the body.Consciousness cannot be reduced to physical properties, and therefore physicalism is false.Panpsychism suggests that consciousness is fundamental to reality and can arise under the right conditions.The arguments surrounding consciousness and the soul have implications for atheism and theism.The philosophy of mind is an important area of study for understanding the nature of consciousness. The concept of the soul is central to understanding human nature and consciousness.Physicalism, the belief that everything is physical, cannot account for the existence of consciousness and free will.Arguments for the existence of the soul include identity through change, indivisibility of personhood, and the argument from free will.If physicalism is true, determinism is also true, which undermines moral responsibility and intellectual integrity.Further study on the philosophy of mind and the soul can be pursued through books by J.P. Moreland.Sound Bites"I don't have a soul, but rather I am a soul and I have a body.""If physicalism is true, consciousness can't exist.""Why not just become a Christian? That's exactly the heart of the Christian worldview.""Philosophy of mind is where it's at and where it's going to be.""I am either an immaterial soul or an immaterial substance.""I am not a purely physical object. I am a soul."Chapters00:00 Introduction and Movie Discussion02:40 Interview with Eric Hernandez: The Existence of the Soul09:30 Defining the Soul and Substance Dualism19:27 Consciousness and the Mind-Brain Relationship25:06 Objections to Dualism and the Panpsychist View31:43 Justin Schieber's View on Consciousness36:28 Moral Obligation and Implications for Atheism and Theism37:28 Understanding the Concept of the Soul39:26 Challenging Physicalism and Arguing for Substance Dualism44:32 Three Arguments for the Existence of the Soul50:02 The Implications of Determinism for Moral Responsibility and Intellectual Integrity58:01 Recommended Resources for Further Study on the Soul================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

SummaryRobbie Lashua discusses the Stand to Reason (STR) Outposts initiative, its purpose, and the process of starting one at a local church. He shares his journey of getting involved with STR and his role as the outpost coordinator. The conversation also covers the flexibility of outposts, the target audience, and the use of STRU courses for small group discussions. Robbie is interviewed about STR's Outpost program, which equips local churches with apologetics resources. The program allows flexibility for churches to use other materials but requires adherence to STR's mission statement. Outposts are not meant to teach doctrinal distinctives, and the local church is responsible for indoctrinating its members. Outpost directors have access to resources and support from STR for managing difficult personalities and theological issues. The program has seen significant growth and is open to churches of all sizes.https://www.str.org/outpostsTakeawaysSTR Outposts provide small group curriculum for training lay people in apologetics within local churches.The target audience for STR Outposts is lay people in the church who are not equipped to compete in the marketplace of ideas and culture.The use of STRU courses and small group discussions makes apologetics training more accessible and digestible for lay people in the church. STR's Outpost program equips local churches with apologetics resources and allows flexibility in using other materials.Outposts are not meant to teach doctrinal distinctives, and the responsibility for indoctrinating members lies with the local church.Outpost directors have access to resources and support from STR for managing difficult personalities and theological issues.The program has seen significant growth and is open to churches of all sizes.Chapters00:00 The Purpose of STR Outposts03:16 Starting an STR Outpost at Your Church06:00 Flexibility and Target Audience of STR Outposts22:33 Equipping Local Churches with Apologetics Resources26:24 Navigating Doctrinal Distinctives and Flexibility in Apologetics38:37 Support and Resources for Outpost Directors42:26 Growth and Inclusivity of the Outpost Program================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

Former debate teacher Nate Sala shares his journey to becoming a Christian, insights on debate and persuasion, and the importance of objectivity in analysis. Topics include debate preparation, styles, emotions in debates, personal biases, and the art of cross-examination.

Travis Dickinson discusses the argument from reason, highlighting how naturalism and Platonism fall short in accounting for logical principles. He argues that the existence of God provides the most plausible explanation. The conversation explores practical apologetics and using reasoning to engage skeptics, pointing towards Christ as the ultimate source of logic.

In this episode, Brian Auten & Chad Gross engage with philosopher Paul Gould to discuss the profound connection between beauty, love, theism. They delve into why beauty is more likely on theism than naturalism and explore various philosophical perspectives on love and the recognition of beauty.Topics Covered:1. Introduction to the Topic of Beauty:   - Beauty in Theism vs. Naturalism:     - Gould explains why beauty is more likely on theism than naturalism.     - Discussion on the analogy between human artistic creativity and the universe's beauty.     - The improbability of a universe saturated with beauty under naturalism's unguided, blind forces.2. Philosophical Arguments and Analogies:   - Human Artistic Creativity:     - Creating beautiful art requires skill and intention, paralleling the idea of a divine artist behind the universe.   - Entropy and Beauty:     - Examination of why beauty persists despite the laws of entropy and randomness under naturalism.3. Exploring the Nature of Love:   - Defining Love:     - Gould outlines five features of love:       1. Multi-directed       2. Complex       3. Deep and Enduring       4. Active and Passive       5. Valuable     - Discussion on how contemporary philosophical views often fail to capture these features fully.     - Aquinas's wisdom on love as a comprehensive framework.4. Beauty as a Properly Basic Belief:   - Plantinga's Concept of Properly Basic Beliefs:     - Inquiry into whether the recognition of beauty can be considered a properly basic belief, not needing argumentation to be justified.   - Experiences of Beauty:     - Distinctions between judgments of beauty, experiences of beauty, beautiful things, and beauty itself.     - The Christian story's integration of beauty, truth, and goodness, particularly through the narrative of the cross.5. Listener Questions and Practical Insights:   - Interacting with Listener Inquiries:     - Addressing questions about the recognition and judgment of beauty.     - Discussion on the practical implications of philosophical views on love and beauty.Key Quotes:- Paul Gould on Beauty and Naturalism:  "If naturalism is true, and the universe is just the result of unguided, blind forces, you would not expect beauty to saturate the world. By analogy, just as beauty is very hard for human artists, it's surprising for it to saturate the world without a divine artist."- **Brian Auten on the Christian Story:**  "The cross being the God of the universe, sacrificing himself for sinners to save them, even when they hate him, is the most beautiful story there is. It brings tears to your eyes because it's beautiful."- Paul Gould on Love:  "Love is multi-directed, complex, deep and enduring, active and passive, and valuable. We need an account of love that captures all these features."================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

Introduction- Chad and Brian discuss their favorite and most memorable debates between Christian apologists/philosophers and atheists/skepticsChad's Debate Picks1. James Crossley vs. William Lane Craig - Was Jesus Raised from the Dead? (2012)   - Highlights Craig's case for the resurrection based on postmortem appearances    - Contrasting styles of young Crossley vs distinguished Craig2. Jeffrey Lowder vs. Frank Turek - What Better Explains Reality: Naturalism or Theism? (2016)     - Appreciates Lowder's formal case for naturalism reminiscent of Craig   - Admires the cordiality and clash of Lowder's logic vs Turek's rhetoric  3. Christopher Hitchens vs. William Lane Craig   - The "prizefight" lead-up and spectacle surrounding this legendary debate   - Contrasts Craig's arguments vs Hitchens' emotional appeals4. Braxton Hunter vs. Matt Dillahunty (2019)   - Hunter exposes issues in Dillahunty's epistemology    - Effectively argues for Kalam cosmological argument and argument from free will5. Craig vs Francisco Ayala - Is Intelligent Design Viable? (2013)   - Craig debates an award-winning evolutionary scientist   - Craig has to think on his feet against unfamiliar arguments from Ayala6. Chris Date vs. Dale Tuggy - Is Jesus Human and Not Divine?     - High-level, rich, respectful debate between able defenders of their positions   - Highlights Date's ancient bird imagery argument for Christ's deity7. Paul Draper vs. William Lane Craig   - Craig debates a formidable philosophical adversary   - Interesting to see Craig on his heels against some unfamiliar argumentsBrian's Debate Picks  1. William Lane Craig vs. Peter Atkins   - The famous "put that in your pipe" moment where Craig lists what science can't explain2. Norm Geisler vs. Paul Kurtz on John Ankerberg Show     - Admires Geisler's rapid-fire responses to a breadth of objectionsBonus: Worst Debate - Jeff Durbin & James White vs Dr. Clark & Dan Ellis (2020)  - Dr. Clark engaged in bizarre antics like throwing books, demanding miracles  - One of the most cringeworthy debates they've seenFind links here: https://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2024/02/some-of-my-favorite-debates.html================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

In this episode, Brian and Chad discuss the importance of listening to debates. This is a kind of PART 1, and part 2 will discuss specific debates.Brian's seven reasons for listening to debates were: 1) Hearing the best defenders of each view, 2) Hearing actual arguments without interruptions, 3) Finding the cutting edge of the current debate, 4) Getting used to hearing opposing views without anxiety, 5) Seeing that Christianity can hold its own intellectually, 6) Observing how a cumulative case is made and critics' counters, and 7) Realizing the debate is just an entry point to a much deeper topic. Throughout explaining his seven reasons, Brian and Chad discussed the value of debates utilizing good logic (logos), credibility (ethos), and emotional appeals (pathos). They noted how the best debates are well-moderated with clear time limits. Listening to debates can boost confidence in the Christian faith by seeing it withstand scrutiny. However, the debate is just the start in grasping the full depth of a topic which opens up avenues for further study.================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

In this episode, Brian and Chad interview Chris Date about his view on conditional immortality, which is the idea that the final punishment of the wicked is death and total destruction rather than eternal conscious torment. Chris provides an overview of the two contrasting views and shares his journey of how he became convinced of annihilationism after originally believing in eternal conscious torment.He then dives into key biblical texts that are often used to argue for eternal torment, such as Mark 9:48, Matthew 25:46, Revelation 14:9-11, and Jude 7, demonstrating how these passages can actually better support conditionalism. Chris also makes a concise case for his view by looking at biblical evidence on immortality, the vision of eternity, substitutionary atonement, and the fate of the wicked described as death and destruction.For more resources from Chris on this topic, check out the Rethinking Hell website www.rethinkinghell.com and YouTube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingHellas well as Chris' personal website at https://chrisdate.info While Chris hopes listeners will consider his perspective, his ultimate desire is for unity in the body of Christ despite differences on this non-essential doctrine.================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com