Thinking Out Loud with Alan Shlemon
Religion & Spirituality Podcas
STR speaker Alan Shlemon provides a monthly update while answering questions across a wide range of topics including criticisms of Christianity.
Location:
United States
Description:
STR speaker Alan Shlemon provides a monthly update while answering questions across a wide range of topics including criticisms of Christianity.
Language:
English
Website:
https://str.org
Episodes
Eight Tips to Become a Professional Apologist
4/25/2024
Alan offers eight tips to help someone who is interested in pursuing part-time or full-time apologetics ministry.
Duration:00:18:12
The Problem with a Christian Attending a Same-Sex Wedding
3/14/2024
Should a Christian attend a same-sex wedding? Alan has attended a same-sex wedding in the past, but believes he made the wrong decision. In this episode, he unpacks his past reasoning, explains why he was mistaken, and offers a practical alternative.
Duration:00:15:58
If Pro-Gay Theology Advocates Could Change the Past, Would that Change the Future Like They Want?
2/13/2024
Alan explains what would happen if someone was to go back in time to 1946 and stop the RSV Bible translation team from using the word “homosexuals.” He unpacks whether this would change the Bible’s teaching on marriage, homosexuality, and sexual ethics today.
Duration:00:18:44
Problems with Creating Your Identity When You Reject God
1/12/2024
When a person rejects God, they’re left to determine for themselves their own identity. Alan unpacks some problems with this approach.
Duration:00:09:12
Why It’s Reasonable to Refuse to Use Preferred Pronouns
12/15/2023
Alan addresses whether it’s reasonable to refuse to use a transgender person’s preferred pronouns.
Duration:00:20:14
Should You Violate Your Conscience to Maintain Your Relationship with an LGBT Person?
11/10/2023
People who identify as LGBT routinely ask their Christian friends and family to accommodate various requests. Are you justified in declining to go along even if it might damage your relationship with them? Alan unpacks his thoughts on this thorny dilemma.
Duration:00:08:12
What Are My Concerns with Andy Stanley’s Unconditional Conference?
10/27/2023
Alan attended Andy Stanley’s Unconditional Conference, an event intended to equip parents and ministry leaders how to reach out to LGBTQ youth. In this episode, Alan provides his assessment of the conference, including three major concerns.
Duration:00:36:48
Is it Difficult to Define a Woman?
9/10/2023
Why has it become so hard to define a woman? Alan looks at a few definitions that are offered, explains what’s wrong with them, and then offers his own definition.
Duration:00:08:17
Do Christians Have an Ulterior Motive for Being Kind?
8/10/2023
Alan addresses the objection that some people claim Christians are only kind to people so they can convert them.
Duration:00:08:17
Should Abortion Remain Legal So Women Don’t Pursue Back-Alley Abortions?
7/11/2023
Alan offers three steps to respond to the rhetorically powerful, yet flawed argument that women might get injured or killed through dangerous, back-alley abortions if abortion is made illegal.
Duration:00:07:17
The Puzzling Inconsistency of Abortion and Homicide Laws
6/13/2023
Alan describes the inconsistency in current laws surrounding abortion and homicide and offers a simple solution.
Duration:00:06:22
Deconstructing Is Not Reforming Your Faith
5/10/2023
Some Christians and many former Christians are promoting a trendy approach to doubting and questioning your faith called deconstruction. Is it the same as reforming your faith? Alan explains the one key element that distinguishes between the two.
Duration:00:07:52
Dishonest Images of the Unborn
4/12/2023
A recent article in The Guardian displayed some misleading images of what is removed in an abortion from a 9-week pregnancy. Alan explains the problems with the article and the images.
Duration:00:06:01
Man or Maker: Who Has the Answers to Humanity’s Most Critical Questions?
3/12/2023
When it comes to answering critical questions about how we humans should live, identify, and behave sexually, who should we listen to? Man or our Maker?
Duration:00:07:16
Gay Idioms Don’t Time Travel
2/8/2023
Alan addresses a progressive Christian who claims that Jesus wants LGBT people to “come out,” by explaining how he misuses a common literary device.
Duration:00:09:12
Christ’s Crucifixion Isn’t Child Sacrifice
1/9/2023
Some object to the idea that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins through his death on the cross, calling it "child sacrifice." Alan, however, offers three reasons why characterizing it that way is inappropriate.
Duration:00:08:11
Why Pro-Choicers Insist Pro-Life Arguments Are Religious
12/8/2022
Alan explains two reasons why abortion-choice advocates insist that pro-life arguments are religious.
Duration:00:09:12
Humans Come in Only Two Sexes
9/17/2022
Many biologists, doctors, and scientists tell us today that sex is on a spectrum or that there are more than two sexes. Alan addresses this claim by looking at the evidence from both Scripture and general principles of science.
Duration:00:14:49
If God Became a Man, Can a Man Become a Woman?
6/4/2022
A popular tweet claims that if someone can believe God became a man, then they can also believe that a man can become a woman. Alan unpacks this tweet, defines some key terms, and shows why the claim is misleading.
Duration:00:13:19
God’s Preferred Pronouns
5/11/2022
Alan responds to the claim by some gender theorists that God’s pronouns should be they/them.
Duration:00:10:00