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Apologetics 315 Podcast

Latest episodes

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Feb 22, 2021 • 56min

010 - Conspiracy Theories and Personal Prophecies

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross record with a "live studio audience" and answer questions about conspiracy theories (how to speak with those who are into them), and how to think about personal words of prophecy.2:00 - Discussing a blog post about Christians who believe conspiracy theories. What could be the root problems? Excerpts from J.P. Moreland's "Love God with All Your Mind." How did Christianity go from being intellectually robust to being intellectually shallow?11:40 - Question about how we can speak to people who are believing conspiracy theories, and how can the church guard itself against misinformation? Excerpts from Adler & Van Doren's "How to Read a Book."• Uninformed• Misinformed• Illogical • Incomplete22:00 - The importance of asking the right questions. Keep calm, don't dismiss, encourage critical thinking.28:00 - How can the church guard itself against misinformation? Critical thinking; addressing issues and doing equipping in the local church.33:40 - Listener question about personal prophecy in the local church. Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology" chapter 53. Defining prophecy and prophets. Old Testament vs. New Testament prophecy. Testing prophetic words, holding fast to what is good.
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Feb 14, 2021 • 32min

009 - Apologetic Parenting & Cultural Engagement

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross record with a "live studio audience" and discuss apologetics in parenting as well as engaging with ideas in culture.2:00 - Question #1 from listener, timeline and suggestions for introducing and teaching kids apologetics. Children's books, Study Bibles, catechisms, Harry Potter and more.William Lane Craig children's books:https://www.reasonablefaith.org/store/childrens-books/Big Truths for Little Kidshttps://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/10867/big-truths-for-little-kidsJ. Warner Wallace books:https://coldcasechristianity.com/books-by-j-warner-wallace/Long Story Shorthttps://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/long-story-shortThe Pleasure of Finding Things Out by Richard Feynmanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pleasure_of_Finding_Things_Out“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.” ― G.K. ChestertonThe Way of Wisdom by Tim Kellerhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Way-Wisdom-Devotions-Proverbs-Navigating/dp/147364755XFurther books: The Fallacy Detective, Mama Bear Apologetics, Case for Christ for Kids, Case for Faith for Kids, Cold Case Christianity for Kids, Keeping Your Kids on God's Side, Talking to Kids about Jesus, Talking to Your Kids about God.19:40 - Using questions when talking about God with kids. "Quarantine" parenting, or "inoculation" parenting.21:45 - Question #2 from listener. How can Christians engage with ideas in culture? The analogy of apologetics as farming & preparing the soil for planting. Using your sphere of influence. The importance that the church address hard questions. Critical thinking and asking good questions.
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Feb 8, 2021 • 1h 7min

008 - Thinking About Evolution with Fuz Rana

Today's interview is with biochemist Fazale Rana, the vice president of research and apologetics at Reasons to Believe. He is the author of several groundbreaking books, including Who Was Adam, Creating Life in the Lab, The Cell’s Design, and Humans 2.0. He holds a PhD in chemistry with an emphasis in biochemistry from Ohio University.We'll be talking to Fuz about RTB's book, "Thinking About Evolution: 25 Questions Christians Want Answered" in which he's a contributing author.1:25 - Introduction to Fuz Rana, Reasons to Believe (www.reasons.org) and the book Thinking About Evolution.2:30 - Defining the terms surrounding evolution, as well as the possibility of equivocation on evolution. Micro-evolution, macro-evolution, speciation, chemical evolution, origin of life, etc. 6:45 - Thinking through evolution for yourself. Philosophical pre-commitments. The problem of underdetermination of scientific theories. 10:00 - The structure of the book, overarching goals, and RTB's approach to evolution as it relates to creation.12:05 - The biases that everyone brings to scientific topics. Acknowledging our biases. The progressive creation model. 15:50 - Fuz's personal journey, uncertainty about God's existence, evolution, design in biological systems, the origin of life. 19:30 - What is theistic evolution / evolutionary creationism? Philosophical challenges and theological implications. "Tacking God onto evolution".26:50 - Chemical evolution and the origin of life. Philosophical pre-commitments that life evolved. Challenges in origin of life research. 30:00 - Interactions with origin of life researchers. Intelligent agency in origin of life experiments. "The hand of God dilemma."39:10 - Irreducible complexity in biological systems, and how they may or may not be good arguments for design in biology. Co-option as a possible rejoinder to irreducible complexity. 44:00 - How the concept of biological convergence could be interpreted as common design rather than evolutionary similarities on two different beaches of the evolutionary tree.48:00 - Does co-option apply to biological convergence? Eye structures in chameleons and sandlances. 51:30 - Does Paley's "watchmaker argument" fail? Biomemetics and bio inspiration. The inverse watchmaker argument.54:50 - Junk DNA? What is the state of the science? Functions that have been discovered in "junk DNA". 59:30 - Advice to Christians going into science, biology, and technology. The importance of the philosophy of science.Find more info on Reasons to Believe at www.reasons.org.
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Feb 1, 2021 • 53min

007 - Supporting Local Church Apologetics

1:00 - Boba Fett costumes and Masters of the Universe! www.bobamaker.co.uk5:30 - Books currently reading, Dallas Willard, spiritual disciplines, and finding quiet. "The relentless elimination of hurry." The celebration of content creation. 11:00 - Having the mindset of a tortoise. Slow diligence. J. P. Moreland's book "Finding Quiet". How to find quiet when you have tinnitus. 17:00 - Topic 1: How can the church enable and support members in their pursuit of degrees in science, philosophy, theology, and apologetics? Are there organisations who provide this support? (Let us know!)24:00 - Tips for Budding Philosophers: https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/popular-writings/apologetics/advice-to-european-christian-apologists/27:00 - Topic 2: Discussion of a question regarding "How can God be happy with 31% of the population being Christians?" Would more miracles persuade belief? What role does free will play?48:15 - How can Christ be the only way to God? https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/popular-writings/christianity-other-faiths/how-can-christ-be-the-only-way-to-god/
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Jan 25, 2021 • 1h 7min

006 - Outgrowing God? with Peter S. Williams

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Christian Philosopher Peter S. Williams about his book Outgrowing God?: A Beginner’s Guide to Richard Dawkins and the God Debate.Find his resources at www.peterswilliams.com2:50 - Introduction to Peter and his various books.5:00 - The goal for writing a book dealing with Richard Dawkins’ book, Outgrowing God. 12:20 - The characters in the book, and coming at the God debate from various angles.16:00 - Why address Dawkins and not “the best that atheism has to offer?”19:00 - Key things that Peter would want to challenge Dawkins on in his thinking.22:30 - Addressing inconsistency and lack of philosophical training.24:00 - Problems with requiring “extraordinary evidence” for “extraordinary claims.” The subjectivity of the word “extraordinary.”30:05 - Engaging in the God debate with the best of scholarship.34:00 - Different ways of looking at the Old Testament, and reasons to take it seriously. Accurate incidental details we see in the OT.40:00 - Addressing the topic of slavery, how we define it, and what we see in the Bible. 44:00 - Human rights and dignity, the Biblical worldview, and the culture of the day. Moral development in culture.48:30 - How moral values are grounded. Dawkins judging the character of Yahweh. What worldview makes the best sense of our moral experience?52:00 - Is there any hope of grounding moral values in something other than God? Discussion of moral platonism.58:00 - Characters in the book struggling with depression; presenting the Christian life with more realism. 63:00 - Where to find more resources for the book.64:20 - Reflections on the interview.
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Jan 18, 2021 • 49min

005 - Experts, Generalists & Atheistic Tweets

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross talk about current reading, experts vs. generalists, atheistic tweets and putting Jesus at the center.2:00 - "Where are you from... originally?"3:10 - Current book reading, Jesus the Great Philosopher: Rediscovering the Wisdom Needed for the Good Life by Jonathan T. Pennington, Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein. 8:25 - Being an expert or a generalist in apologetics? The problems with not having a diversity of experiences or influences. "Skill stacking."14:20 - Thinking about an atheistic tweet by Real Atheology. Christian Apologetics vs Christian Philosophy?35:00 - Feedback on the Trinity from the kids.37:30 - Putting Jesus at the center: dealing with fear, anxiety, worry and stress. 42:30 - Prayer for the listeners.
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Jan 11, 2021 • 1h 3min

004 - Responding to Memes and Talking About the Trinity

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross talk about podcasts, memes, and talking about the Trinity.0:50 - A few podcasts we listen to: ID The Future, Frank Turek, The Briefing with Albert Mohler, Unbelievable? with Justin Brierley, Reasonable Faith, Defenders, Like Trees Walking with Mike J. Nelson (Mystery Science Theater 3000), Think Biblically, Stand to Reason (Greg Koukl), Real Atheology.8:10 - Responding to memes, "Jesus never talked about abortion," and the case against abortion.21:30 - How might we turn conversation stoppers into conversation starters? Dealing with nervousness, pressure, and anxiety responding to arguments.34:15 - One approach for talking about the Trinity with kids. The strengths and shortcomings of Trinity analogies. The Trinity is a solution, not a problem.
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Jan 4, 2021 • 1h 5min

003 - Dawkins Reflections & Listener Questions

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross reflect on Richard Dawkins' latest book, and answer a some listener questions.1:50 - The Flow Bee home hair-cutting system!5:00 - Dawkins' new book, "Outgrowing God", and reflections on the content.20:30 - Responding to the line, "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."29:00 - Apologetics as a tool for evangelism36:00 - J.P. Moreland's "The Kingdom Triangle"37:30 - Tips for getting more out of reading, and how to listen to ebooks (text-to-speech hacks).43:00 - Questions from listener: How do I influence others to engage their faith intellectually? Should I resign myself to the current state of the evangelical church? And where are all the spiritual mothers and fathers?
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Dec 28, 2020 • 53min

002 - Listener Question & Apologetic Interactions

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross answer a listener question and talk about apologetic interactions.1:00 - Ghostbusters quotes incorporated into your questions are guaranteed to be answered!2:00 - Answering a question about apologetics degrees and certificates. How important are they?19:45 - Are people being skeptical or simply cynical, or a contrarian? 34:05 - Is mockery ever an appropriate strategy when doing apologetics? 50:00 - Prayer for the listeners
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Dec 21, 2020 • 47min

001 - Reboot: Catching Up with Brian Auten

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross talk about the reboot of the Apologetics 315 Podcast.1:00 - introducing Chad Gross from Truthbomb Apologetics, and their friendship.6:30 - Reflections, history, origins of Apologetics315, and the journey. Where did the interviews podcast go?18:50 - Bringing logic and argumentation into your marriage? Self-awareness.22:50 - Why did the podcast stop?23:30 - Movies quotes, Ghostbusters, and the goal of the podcast.25:40 - Chad’s biggest influences in apologetics.29:39 - How Brian got into apologetics, the Rational response squad, and Ray Comfort.36:40 - What’s daily life look like?42:30 - Apologetics and parenting. Teaching our kids to think well.

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