Apologetics 315 Podcast

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 @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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 channel https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingHell as 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 @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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, Dr. Hugh Ross joins Brian Auten and Chad Gross to discuss his book "Rescuing Inerrancy: A Scientific Defense." Dr. Ross, an astrophysicist and Christian apologist, explains how modern scientific discoveries actually strengthen the case for biblical inerrancy rather than undermining it. He argues against the notion that science forces a redefinition of inerrancy, showing how the latest findings in fields like genetics and cosmology align with a literal, historical interpretation of the Bible's creation texts. Dr. Ross' book is available at https://a315.co/3xfWniE A major focus of the discussion is the debate around human origins and the historical existence of Adam and Eve. Dr. Ross presents scientific evidence supporting the descent of all humanity from an original couple created by God, refuting claims that genetic diversity requires a larger founding population. He also discusses William Lane Craig's model positing Adam living hundreds of thousands of years ago and explains why he sees this as inconsistent with biblical and scientific data pointing to a more recent origin of humanity during the last ice age. The conversation covers other important topics like Dr. Ross' moderate concordist approach to harmonizing science and Scripture, the influence of Old Testament scholar John Walton's "Lost World" writings, and the nature of Noah's Flood which Dr. Ross sees as regional rather than global based on exegetical and scientific considerations. Listeners are encouraged to explore Dr. Ross' other resources at https://reasons.org including his forthcoming book on Noah's Flood. The podcast reminds Christians that modern science can be a powerful evangelistic tool when properly understood. ================================ We appreciate your feedback. If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics. You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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

Historian Dr. John Dickson joins the show to discuss his book, Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History. Dickson provides an insightful, nuanced perspective on some of the most controversial episodes in Christian history, from the Crusades to the Galileo affair. He argues that while Christians have certainly made grave mistakes throughout history, the influence of Christianity has also been profoundly positive, pioneering hospitals, abolitionism, and education. Dickson is candid about the church's failures but also highlights inspiring figures like Eligius, Gregory of Nyssa, and the courageous early Christian martyrs. He aims to provide an objective account that combats overly negative portrayals of Christian history while also avoiding Christian triumphalism. Key topics discussed include Constantine's role in the Christianization of Rome, myths about the "Dark Ages," the confident humility of early Christian martyrs, myths surrounding Galileo's persecution, and more. Dickson provides illuminating historical context and thoughtful analysis of these complex issues. His book provides a thoughtful corrective to biased accounts on both sides, appealing to secular and religious readers alike. Links: * Bullies and Saints book * John Dickson's website * Dickson's Undeceptions podcast ================================ We appreciate your feedback. If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics. You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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 Alisa Childers about the topic of deconstruction, and unpack ideas discussed in her newest book: The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How to Respond co-authored with Tim Barnett. https://a315.co/3SmCWvp The podcast focuses on the faith deconstruction movement that is becoming more popular, especially among young people. Alisa Childers explains that deconstruction involves re-examining and often dismantling one's childhood faith. It stems from postmodern philosophy which questions whether objective truth exists, especially when it comes to religion and morality. Deconstruction sees things like biblical authority and sexual ethics as oppressive tools used by the church. Social media plays a big role by providing an online community that affirms and celebrates people's decisions to deconstruct and leave their faith. Childers notes that a crisis of faith or negative church experience can trigger deconstruction, especially if someone lacks a deep personal relationship with Christ. Intellectual doubts can often be resolved through study and apologetics resources, but emotional doubts driven by trauma or wounds may need counseling. For those with deconstructing loved ones, she advises understanding the philosophical roots of the movement, resisting heated arguments, and providing a loving presence while avoiding compromise on biblical truth. Parents of deconstructing teens can limit social media access to help them detox from harmful online influence. The church can reduce triggers for deconstruction by addressing spiritual abuse issues and improving biblical discipleship. Megachurches focused on growth sometimes fail to adequately shepherd members. Childers encourages honest doubting and questioning within a biblical framework, not rejecting scriptural authority. Christians should handle crises of faith by examining the roots of their doubt, pursuing truth with courage and humility, and leaning on the Holy Spirit for guidance during struggles. ================================ We appreciate your feedback. If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics. You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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

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 @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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/@InspiringPhilosophy Inspiring Philosophy Website: www.inspiringphilosophy.org Why does God Hide? - https://a315.co/47u2htn Michael 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 @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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/chapters Tyson James on X: @nosyt43 Sound 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 @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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 @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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 books 4:50 - Welcome to Steve Miller 5:00 - 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 NDEs 25:19 - The common experience of terminal lucidity 40:36 - 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 research 1:07:18 - Suggested books for further study… Further resources… J Steve Miller online: www.jstevemiller.info Steve’s books: Deathbed Experiences as Evidence for the Afterlife - https://a315.co/3Fr5Xjx Near-Death Experiences as Evidence for the Existence of God and Heaven: A Brief Introduction in Plain Language - https://a315.co/3FsJVgt Is 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/3FqsXiM Faith That's Not Blind: A Brief Introduction to Contemporary Arguments For the Existence of God - https://a315.co/3QuFUyx Why 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 @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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/468rzNF 0:24 - Intro banter on hobbit food 2:15 - Intro to Nancy Pearcey and her book The Toxic War Against Masculinity 6:16 - Welcome to Nancy 6:46 - Nancy’s background and why she wrote the book 9:14 - Francis Schaeffer’s influence on Nancy Pearcey 15:41 - Why a toxic war against masculinity? 18:35 - The statistics among Christians and non-Christians 22:18 - The difference between nominal Christian men and committed Christian men 25:36 - What’s changed to bring about a resistance against masculinity? 30:07 - Why men are looked down on these days 33:00 - Two competing scripts for masculinity 37:03 - How secularism has changed the approach towards men 40:14 - How has the church responded? 47:50 - Abuse and how the church can respond Further resources… Nancy Pearcey online: www.nancypearcey.com Nancy Pearcey's latest book is The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes Her earlier books include Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality, The Soul of Science Saving Leonardo Finding Truth How Now Shall We Live Total Truth Her 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 @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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/3PBmXZ7 0:24 - Brian and Chad discuss the book 5:27 - Intro to Justin, welcome back! 7:15 - How did the new atheism actually help Christianity? 9:12 - The change in the cultural landscape 13:30 - 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. experience 37:10 - The left and the right brain and spiritual experiences 39:34 - The meaning crisis that is left when you remove Christianity 42:30 - How can the church respond to the cultural climate? 47:21 - Further resources… Justin’s new podcasts: Re-Enchanting - https://a315.co/3thIFKj MaybeGod Podcast - https://a315.co/3LGOh7f Check 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 @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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/3PYWohY Check out the website www.mormonmissionarymessage.com for more! About our guests: https://a315.co/45c79Su 0:24 - Intro to the book and our guests 2:47 - Welcome to Corey and Ross 4:23 - 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 Mormons 31:40 - What sows doubt into Mormons’ experiences? 37:45 - The life of a Mormon missionary 40:30 - 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 resources Check 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 @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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.com 0:24 - Intro to our guest 2:15 - About the book An Informed Cosmos 9:25 - Getting clarity on what intelligent design is 14:10 - Is I.D. science? And defining “science” 19:39 - Truth as the most important approach 21:56 - 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 design 1:05:00 - Is intelligent design “creationism”? 1:06:25 - How has intelligent design changed Peter’s thinking? 1:13:30 - Peter’s music - www.peterswilliams.com/composing Check out a past episode with Peter S. Williams: 006 - Outgrowing God? with Peter S. Williams - https://a315.co/4615IYj Books by Peter S. Williams: An Informed Cosmos: Essays on Intelligent Design Theory - https://a315.co/48ugxUc A Universe From Someone: Essays on Natural Theology - https://a315.co/46GLUtl Apologetics in 3D: Essays on Apologetics and Spirituality - https://a315.co/3PtMqUu Outgrowing God? A Beginner’s Guide to Richard Dawkins and the God Debate - https://a315.co/3Pww9xP Getting at Jesus: A Comprehensive Critique of Neo-Atheist Nonsense About the Jesus of History - https://a315.co/46pUFri A Faithful Guide to Philosophy: A Christian Introduction to the Love of Wisdom - https://a315.co/3Ptm0C3 C.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 @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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 McGrew 1:51 - Welcome Lydia, and intro to the book 3:43 - How does a philosopher approach the Gospels? 6:39 - Is an “outside perspective” welcomed? 9:28 - Old and new approaches to the Gospels 12:03 - Current approach of scholars to the New Testament 15:44 - How have Christians historically defended the Gospels? 16:50 - Why a cumulative case approach? 19:55 - Inference to the best explanation of multiple hypotheses 23:25 - Best explanation of hard little unnecessary details 26:23 - The reportage model and the burden of proof 31:14 - Unnecessary details, a sign of fiction? 37:25 - What are unexplained allusions? 42:34 - The aspects of Jesus’ life that point to its reality 46:45 - “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/lydiamcgrew Books: Testimonies to the Truth: Why You Can Trust the Gospels https://a315.co/3Pb2oUj The Eye of the Beholder: The Gospel of John as Historical Reportage https://a315.co/3E8Fuac The Mirror or the Mask: Liberating the Gospels from Literary Devices https://a315.co/3XzVKI8 Hidden In Plain View: Undesigned Coincidences in the Gospels and Acts https://a315.co/411fsj2 PREVIOUS EPISODES WITH LYDIA MCGREW: 106 - The Reliability of John with Lydia McGrew - https://a315.co/45JAxA9 084 - 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 @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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 philosophy Paul K. Moser. They discuss the themes in Moser’s book The Severity of God: Religion and Philosophy Reconceived - https://a315.co/3sOD6mx 0:24 - Intro to Paul Moser 3:33 - Welcome to Paul Moser 4:00 - What do you mean by “God’s severity”? 9:06 - We’ve lost the message of suffering and hardship 11:25 - The moral perfection of God and his intentions 18:20 - Why is this theme lacking? 22:42 - The experience of Gethsemane and submission 29:09 - Skeptical expectations and “not my will” 33:09 - Meeting God on his terms 34:00 - Reorienting our Christian epistemology with a willing heart 41:24 - The challenge of the obstinate will (turning to Christ) 45:30 - The flux and despair of life, pushing us to God 49:45 - Changing our approach to philosophy 55:30 - The God who vindicates Himself Further Resources: Paul Moser’s website: http://pmoser.sites.luc.edu/ Paul Moser’s faculty page at Loyola - https://a315.co/44McpvG Paul Moser’s books on Amazon - https://a315.co/PaulMoserBooks ================================ We appreciate your feedback. If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics. You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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 Chris Date on the topic of Eschatology, or the End Times. They explore the ins and outs of various views of the end times, before discussing more deeply the view that Chris holds on the subject. A very helpful and informative conversation! www.chrisdate.info 0:24 - Intro to Chris Date 2:43 - An update on Chris and his wife’s treatment 5:07 - What is eschatology? 6:47 - Chris’ work and engagement on the subject 9:44 - Why should anyone care about end times study? 15:00 - Encouragement for those overwhelmed by the topic 17:57 - Advice for people having discussions on end times 24:23 - An overview of end times views 29:45 - What is the most popular view historically? 37:01 - The history of dispensational millennialism 43:06 - Is “the rapture” biblical? 50:40 - The preterist view 52:06 - Partial or full preterism? 1:11:15 - How does one properly think about their view of end times? 1:16:08 - What’s up with 666? 1:23:10 - Resources recommended for further study Resources: Premillennial vs Amillennial on Christ's Return: Daniel Goepfrich & Chris Date on Unbelievable with Justin Brierley - https://a315.co/3Pn5vZy Overview of End Times Views - by Gregg Steve - https://a315.co/45SdzXv Four Views Of Revelation - https://a315.co/3R54YNe The Last Days according to Jesus: When Did Jesus Say He Would Return? By RC Sproul - https://a315.co/3R1dA7x It's Not the End of the World! By DeeDee Warren - https://a315.co/47VihFV Before Jerusalem Fell: Dating the Book of Revelation by Kenneth Gentry - https://a315.co/45zPN30 Four Views on the Book of Revelation by C. Marvin Pate, General Editor - https://a315.co/3qVPSii Books by Chris Date: Is Jesus Human and Not Divine? A Debate by Chris Date and Dale Tuggy - https://a315.co/45zNoFs Rethinking Hell: Readings in Evangelical Conditionalism edited by Chris Date, Gregory Stump and Joshua Anderson - https://a315.co/3P4kKoK A Consuming Passion edited by Chris Date and Ron Highfield - https://a315.co/3o3lL7d Does God Predetermine the Eternal Destiny of Every Individual Human Being? A Debate by Chris Date and Gil VanOrder, Jr. - https://a315.co/3W9Xc5e ================================ We appreciate your feedback. If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics. You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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 Holly Ordway about her new book, Tolkien’s Faith: A Spiritual Biography. A wonderful book and a fascinating interview that will be a real treat for Tolkien fans. www.hollyordway.com 0:24 - Intro to Holly Ordway 4:45 - Welcoming Holly 5:35 - The 50th Anniversary of J.R.R. Tolkien’s death, Sept 2023 6:45 - The goal in writing a spiritual biography of Tolkien 11:23 - How central was Tolkien’s faith to his life and work? 14:26 - Why is this the first biography to focus on Tolkien’s faith? 18:50 - Hidden allusions to faith in Tolkien’s writings 21:14 - The significance of Tolkien’s name(s) 25:51 - The elucidation of truth by presenting it in different embodiments 29:04 - What did Tolkien really think about allegory? 31:56 - Receiving stories in answer to prayer 33:30 - Rough patches in Tolkien’s faith 36:53 - The mutual influence of his friendship with C.S. Lewis 40:00 - What role did arguments and evidence play in Tolkien’s life? 44:25 - Bible translation 46:44 - What influence did this project have on Holly’s faith? Resources: Tolkien’s Faith: A Spiritual Biography Holly Ordway’s Website: www.hollyordway.com Holly’s other books include: Tolkien's Modern Reading: Middle-earth Beyond the Middle Ages Tales of Faith Not God's Type ================================ We appreciate your feedback. If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics. You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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 Richard P. Moore. They talk about the New Apostolic Reformation and its theological problems. 0:23 - Intro to Richard Moore 3:50 - Why is Richard in Germany, and why write this book? 8:02 - What has been the influence of the NAR in Germany? 19:42 - What differentiates NAR from traditional pentecostal/charismatic? 25:42 - Why do those within NAR want to distance themselves from the label “New Apostolic Reformation”? 33:10 - Where does NAR theology go off the rails? 43:53 - Richard’s visit to Bethel Church and what he found 55:39 - Extrapolating scripture out of context, building doctrines out of thin air 1:01:29 - The self-centeredness of the NAR 1:04:15 - Can we “take the good and leave the bad” in the NAR? 1:11:53 - Further resources… Richard P. Moore is the author of Divergent Theology: An Inquiry into the Theological Characteristics of the Word of Faith, Third Wave Movement and the New Apostolic Reformation. Resources: Richard Moore’s website: www.richardpmoore.net Churchepreneurs Podcast www.richardpmoore.net/churchepreneurs-podcast Richard’s podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@richardm23 On Twitter: @richardpmoore23 Richard’s recent article on the New Apostolic Reformation in the Evangelical Review of Theology can be read here: https://a315.co/3OcwQM6 Divergent Theology: An Inquiry into the Theological Characteristics of the Word of Faith, Third Wave Movement and the New Apostolic Reformation. https://a315.co/Divergent-Theology German version: www.richardpmoore.net/entwurzelt-kaufen-2 ================================ We appreciate your feedback. If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics. You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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 Chris Reese on the topic of gender ideology, transgenderism, and approaching challenges cultural issues. Based on Chris Reese’s helpful article at Summit.org, found here: https://a315.co/gender-ideology Christopher L. Reese is the editor-in-chief of The Worldview Bulletin and cofounder of the Christian Apologetics Alliance. He is a general editor of the Dictionary of Christianity and Science and Three Views on Christianity and Science and his work has appeared in Christianity Today, Bible Gateway, Beliefnet, and other sites. Websites: Check out the Worldview Bulletin here: https://a315.co/WorldViewBulletin ================================ We appreciate your feedback. If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics. You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If 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