Apologetics 315 Podcast

This special end-of-year episode features hosts Brian Auten and Chad Gross reflecting on 14 years of podcasting. They announce some changes coming in 2023, including less frequent but more focused episodes centered on topics they are passionate about. They also share lessons learned over 300+ episodes, like the importance of understanding multiple perspectives, asking good questions, and clearly explaining complex subjects.The hosts reminisce about memorable past guests. They discuss what makes some lesser-known thinkers stand out for their clarity and approachability. A lighthearted segment features their top 10 list of real excuses guests have used over the years to reschedule interviews, ranging from missed flights to scheduled gardening appointments.Looking ahead, Brian and Chad are excited to continue equipping listeners to understand their faith, think critically about issues, and winsomely engage others. They welcome ideas for future guests and topics of interest to guide their 2023 episodes. Feedback and suggestions can be sent to podcast@apologetics315.com.================================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, hosts Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Michael Jones of the Inspiring Philosophy YouTube channel. They discuss the problem of divine hiddenness - the idea that if God existed, he would make his existence clearly evident to everyone, yet there are many non-resistant nonbelievers who earnestly seek God but do not find convincing evidence of his existence. This is seen as evidence against God's existence.Michael provides an overview of the divine hiddenness argument, explaining key concepts like "non-resistant nonbelievers." He argues that the idea of truly non-resistant nonbelievers is questionable, since human psychology tends to defend our beliefs. Michael also discusses assumptions made about God's nature in the argument, and that God's goal may not be to convince everyone of basic theism but to create "cognitively robust theism" - loving God for the right reasons. They also touch on related issues like the difference between divine hiddenness and the problem of evil.Michael gives advice for those struggling with doubts from divine hiddenness - to focus on studying the evidence for Jesus' resurrection, living out the gospel message of selflessness, and recognizing our own sin and need for a savior. He recommends resources for further study like books by Paul Moser and Tim Stratton.Further resources…Inspiring Philosophy YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@InspiringPhilosophyInspiring Philosophy Website:www.inspiringphilosophy.orgWhy does God Hide? - https://a315.co/47u2htnMichael Jones vs. Tyler Vela: “Why Does God Hide?” - https://a315.co/3Qxuadj================================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 Auten and Chad Gross interview Tyson James, the global director of Reasonable Faith Chapters.This episode of the Apologetics 315 podcast featured an interview with Tyson James, the global director of Reasonable Faith chapters. Tyson shared about his journey to Christianity and how studying apologetics strengthened his faith. He explained that Reasonable Faith chapters are small groups at churches focused on studying Christianity and answering objections, with the goal of fulfilling Reasonable Faith's mission at the local level.Tyson outlined the simple process for starting a Reasonable Faith chapter, noting that directors have flexibility in how they structure meetings. He offered encouragement for those nervous about leading a chapter without formal apologetics training. Tyson shared stories of God working through the chapters, including outreach to a previously unreached tribe in Nepal. He noted that Reasonable Faith has nearly 250 chapters in 39 countries, aiming for 1000 total. Tyson directed listeners to ReasonableFaith.org/chapters to learn more about getting involved.Further resources…https://ReasonableFaith.org/chaptersTyson James on X: @nosyt43Sound Faith Consulting, and Tyson’s Bio: https://soundfaithconsulting.com/about================================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 of the Apologetics 315 podcast, hosts Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview renowned apologist Greg Koukl. Koukl is the founder of Stand to Reason, an organization that equips Christians to defend their faith and engage in meaningful conversations.The discussion centers around using questions to have better conversations about Christianity, drawing from Koukl's books Tactics and his latest work Street Smarts. Koukl explains how questions can guide conversations in a more constructive direction and help "put a stone in someone's shoe" to get them thinking about faith topics.Koukl outlines his "gardener approach" to evangelism, focusing more on asking thoughtful questions to plant seeds rather than trying to lead someone to a moment of conversion. He demonstrates this questioning approach through a roleplay conversation about the problem of divine hiddenness. Koukl responds to the objection by asking clarifying questions, correcting underlying assumptions, and presenting evidence for God's existence. This models how to have a relaxed yet thoughtful dialogue.Koukl emphasizes that the key is to gather information through questions, avoid preaching, and lead the person to put pieces on the table themselves. The goal is to get people thinking carefully about their beliefs and objections. Koukl's Tactics provide tools to engage skeptics without being confrontational. Further resources…• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges - https://a315.co/StreetSmarts• The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between - https://a315.co/3FpqFAl• Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air - https://a315.co/3M4AMyr• Tactics, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions - https://a315.co/46YCclW• Street Smarts Study Guide: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges - https://a315.co/3tMmETZ================================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 Auten and Chad Gross interview J. Steve Miller on the topic of deathbed experiences and near death experiences.0:24 - Intro to Steve Miller and his books4:50 - Welcome to Steve Miller5:00 - How did he get into this area of research?7:42 - What’s the difference between deathbed experiences and near-death experiences?12:40 - Examples of these experiences 16:16 - The cumulative effect of many similar experiences 17:27 - What are the lines of evidence that are good when looking at these experiences?22:20 - “Naturalism of the gaps” objections to NDEs25:19 - The common experience of terminal lucidity40:36 - What are deathbed experiences?48:11 - Could these experiences be demonic in nature?54:43 - Experiences contrary to theological expectations?1:01:18 - The practical benefits of NDE and DBE research1:07:18 - Suggested books for further study…Further resources…J Steve Miller online: www.jstevemiller.infoSteve’s books:Deathbed Experiences as Evidence for the Afterlife - https://a315.co/3Fr5XjxNear-Death Experiences as Evidence for the Existence of God and Heaven: A Brief Introduction in Plain Language - https://a315.co/3FsJVgtIs Christianity Compatible With Deathbed and Near-Death Experiences? : The Surprising Presence of Jesus, Scarcity of Anti-Christian Elements, And Compatibility with Historic Christian Teachings - https://a315.co/3FqsXiMFaith That's Not Blind: A Brief Introduction to Contemporary Arguments For the Existence of God - https://a315.co/3QuFUyxWhy Brilliant People Believe Nonsense: A Practical Text For Critical and Creative Thinking - https://a315.co/3FqhQqf================================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 Auten and Chad Gross speak with Professor Nancy Pearcey about her book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes - https://a315.co/468rzNF0:24 - Intro banter on hobbit food2:15 - Intro to Nancy Pearcey and her book The Toxic War Against Masculinity6:16 - Welcome to Nancy6:46 - Nancy’s background and why she wrote the book9:14 - Francis Schaeffer’s influence on Nancy Pearcey15:41 - Why a toxic war against masculinity?18:35 - The statistics among Christians and non-Christians22:18 - The difference between nominal Christian men and committed Christian men25:36 - What’s changed to bring about a resistance against masculinity?30:07 - Why men are looked down on these days33:00 - Two competing scripts for masculinity 37:03 - How secularism has changed the approach towards men40:14 - How has the church responded?47:50 - Abuse and how the church can respondFurther resources…Nancy Pearcey online: www.nancypearcey.comNancy Pearcey's latest book is The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes Her earlier books includeLove Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality,The Soul of Science Saving LeonardoFinding TruthHow Now Shall We LiveTotal TruthHer books have been translated into 19 languages. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. A former agnostic, Pearcey has spoken at universities such as Princeton, Stanford, USC, and Dartmouth. She has been quoted in *he New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual."================================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 Auten and Chad Gross speak with Justin Brierley (www.justinbrierley.com) about his book The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again - https://a315.co/3PBmXZ70:24 - Brian and Chad discuss the book5:27 - Intro to Justin, welcome back!7:15 - How did the new atheism actually help Christianity?9:12 - The change in the cultural landscape13:30 - Atheists who are now no longer fighting Christianity 17:30 - Why the structure of the book?24:56 - How has social media changed?27:58 - Reasons why the Bible is being taken seriously by academics 33:21 - Arguments & evidence vs. experience37:10 - The left and the right brain and spiritual experiences39:34 - The meaning crisis that is left when you remove Christianity42:30 - How can the church respond to the cultural climate?47:21 - Further resources…Justin’s new podcasts:Re-Enchanting - https://a315.co/3thIFKjMaybeGod Podcast - https://a315.co/3LGOh7fCheck out this previous episode with Justin Brierley here:https://a315.co/3tlXXxt================================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 Auten and Chad Gross interview Corey Miller and Ross Anderson, two former Mormons, on their book Responding to the Mormon Missionary Message: Confident Conversations with Mormon Missionaries (and Other Latter-day Saints) - https://a315.co/3PYWohYCheck out the website www.mormonmissionarymessage.com for more!About our guests: https://a315.co/45c79Su0:24 - Intro to the book and our guests2:47 - Welcome to Corey and Ross4:23 - How did the book come together?7:20 - What was it like growing up in the Mormon culture?11:18 - What led Corey and Ross to start doubting Mormonism?17:40 - What does doubting Mormonism usually lead to?22:45 - What are the primary authorities for Mormons?26:10 - Questioning the testimony of Mormons31:40 - What sows doubt into Mormons’ experiences?37:45 - The life of a Mormon missionary40:30 - What do you say to the Mormon at your door?45:00 - What to avoid saying?48:25 - The usefulness of the book and where to find more resourcesCheck out the website www.mormonmissionarymessage.com for more!Corey Miller & Ratio Christi:https://ratiochristi.org/people/corey-miller/Ross Anderson: www.faithaftermormonism.org================================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 Auten and Chad Gross interview Christian Philosopher Peter S. Williams about his book An Informed Cosmos: Essays on Intelligent Design Theory. Find his resources at www.peterswilliams.com0:24 - Intro to our guest2:15 - About the book An Informed Cosmos9:25 - Getting clarity on what intelligent design is14:10 - Is I.D. science? And defining “science”19:39 - Truth as the most important approach21:56 - Imposing worldviews on the data?25:01 - Is evolution the means by which God created?29:21 - What role does a Darwinian process play?35:00 - How did Peter go from being a theistic evolutionist to an ID proponent?40:45 - What tipped the balance for Peter?46:52 - What role does information play in design detection?53:21 - Can we recognize non-intelligent design?54:57 - Theistic interpretations?56:22 - Paley’s “watchmaker” shows that we can detect design?1:00:13 - Prevailing errors when thinking about design1:05:00 - Is intelligent design “creationism”?1:06:25 - How has intelligent design changed Peter’s thinking?1:13:30 - Peter’s music - www.peterswilliams.com/composingCheck out a past episode with Peter S. Williams:006 - Outgrowing God? with Peter S. Williams - https://a315.co/4615IYjBooks by Peter S. Williams:An Informed Cosmos: Essays on Intelligent Design Theory - https://a315.co/48ugxUcA Universe From Someone: Essays on Natural Theology - https://a315.co/46GLUtlApologetics in 3D: Essays on Apologetics and Spirituality - https://a315.co/3PtMqUuOutgrowing God? A Beginner’s Guide to Richard Dawkins and the God Debate - https://a315.co/3Pww9xPGetting at Jesus: A Comprehensive Critique of Neo-Atheist Nonsense About the Jesus of History - https://a315.co/46pUFriA Faithful Guide to Philosophy: A Christian Introduction to the Love of Wisdom - https://a315.co/3Ptm0C3C.S. Lewis vs the New Atheists - https://a315.co/48ugxUc================================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 Auten and Chad Gross interview Lydia McGrew about her book Testimonies to the Truth: Why You Can Trust the Gospels. 0:24 - Intro to Lydia McGrew1:51 - Welcome Lydia, and intro to the book3:43 - How does a philosopher approach the Gospels?6:39 - Is an “outside perspective” welcomed?9:28 - Old and new approaches to the Gospels12:03 - Current approach of scholars to the New Testament15:44 - How have Christians historically defended the Gospels?16:50 - Why a cumulative case approach?19:55 - Inference to the best explanation of multiple hypotheses23:25 - Best explanation of hard little unnecessary details26:23 - The reportage model and the burden of proof31:14 - Unnecessary details, a sign of fiction?37:25 - What are unexplained allusions?42:34 - The aspects of Jesus’ life that point to its reality46:45 - “I love Jesus’ style…”49:48 - Pointing people to the book and resources…Further Resources:• Lydia McGrew website: www.lydiamcgrew.com• Lydia McGrew’s Youtube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/LydiaMcGrewChannel• Podcast version of Youtube content:https://anchor.fm/lydiamcgrewBooks: Testimonies to the Truth: Why You Can Trust the Gospelshttps://a315.co/3Pb2oUjThe Eye of the Beholder: The Gospel of John as Historical Reportagehttps://a315.co/3E8FuacThe Mirror or the Mask: Liberating the Gospels from Literary Deviceshttps://a315.co/3XzVKI8Hidden In Plain View: Undesigned Coincidences in the Gospels and Actshttps://a315.co/411fsj2PREVIOUS EPISODES WITH LYDIA MCGREW:106 - The Reliability of John with Lydia McGrew - https://a315.co/45JAxA9084 - Maximal Data Case for the Resurrection with Lydia McGrew - https://a315.co/3qC6lbu================================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