Apologetics.com Weekly Radio Show
By Christopher Neiswonger, Lindsay Brooks, Sam Welbaum, Steve Tsai & Harry Edwards
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Podcast Description
The mission of Apologetics.com is to provide cutting-edge resources and training in Christian apologetics to the public through our website and related activities. Challenging believers to think and thinkers to believe.
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The Church Fathers | Depending on their theological tradition, most churches act as though there's a gap in church history between the New Testament and either the birth of Luther or the birth of Billy Graham; however during that gap lived dynamic and important heroes of the faith which shouldn't be over looked. In this episode, host Sam Welbaum is joined by staff apologist Lindsay Brooks and Adjunct Professor Joe Slunaker to discuss the first 300 years of the Christian church. The group discusses persecution, major thinkers, theological themes, historical developments and church/culture relations. The show presumes that our history is important and after listening we're sure you will agree. Note: Originally this show was going to cover the Ecumenical Councils as well, but we'll have to address those another time in the near future. | 2/7/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Interview with Dr. Paul Chamberlain | There was a time when atheists merely viewed religion as an oddity like stamp collecting, believing religion possessed little to no ultimate value or truth and was harmless. Those days are now gone. Religion has moved from wrong to bad. In fact, the now deceased atheist Christopher Hitchens went so far as to claim, “the main source of hatred in the world is religion.” Dr. Paul Chamberlain argues in his book, Why People Don’t Believe: Confronting Seven Challenges to Christian Faith, that “9/11 brought with it a new fervency, even militancy, in approach taken by critics of religion who are actively dedicated to getting out the message that religious faith is not only false but actually dangerous…” The brunt of this anti-religion propaganda, interestingly enough, has been focused on Christianity. The effects of which have been devastating on our university campuses where 50-90 percent of Christians will abandon their faith. During this episode of Apologetics.com your host, Andy Steiger, interviews Dr. Chamberlain on his book regarding the current state of culture, the fallacious thinking being promoted and how the church can respond. Dr. Chamberlain is a professor at Trinity Western University (TWU) and director of the Institute for Christian Apologetics at TWU / ACTS Seminary in Langley, BC Canada (acts.twu.ca). His book can be purchased at local bookstores, on Amazon or through Baker Books Publishing. You can hear Dr. Chamberlain address the topic: Is Religion Dangerous live at the Apologetics Canada Conference on March 9th-10th, 2012 in Vancouver, BC Canada. For more info and to register please visit: www.apologeticscanadaconference.com. | 2/7/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations of Apologetics: Argumentation and Logical Fallacies | The apologetics.com crew continue their series on the foundations of apologetics, discussing this week how to build an argument, and also how to assess them as well. They address reasoning mistakes such as false dilemmas, self-refuting arguments, the straw man fallacy, and even the two informal fallacies that are the pillars of comedy. Listen in and sharpen your mind! | 1/29/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Basic Epistemology for Beginning Apologetics | With Christopher Neiswonger, Lindsay Brooks and Joe Young Knowing Opinion Perspective Certainty Persuasion Insufficiency Plato - Aristotle Augustine Aquinas Rorty Tradition as a source of knowing Experience Personal experience Religious experience Presuppositions of experience Implications of experience The Nature of Inquiry Historical inquiry Philosophical inquiry Scientific inquiry Evidence The Nature of Evidence Relevance Probative value Bias Interpretation Standards of Persuasion Standards of Reliability The problem of Subjectivity and Objectivity Kinds of evidence Experience Testimony Records Initial conditions implied by current conditions Proper Foundation Arguments Arguments from Axioms Arguments from Intuitions Arguments from commonly accepted knowledge (“common sense”) Arguments from physical Sensation and its inherent presumptions and implications Arguments from the consequence of changing states of being Arguments from rationality – from the existence of logic alone, from its use, and from its universality Arguments from Sentience – consciousness and personalizes The problem of that which is greater being implied by that which is lesser The problem of identity, division and wholeness; composition The problem of Event Horizons The problem of Limiting factors Wittgenstein Fideism Cartesian Rationalism Kantian Agnosticism Barthian Dogmatism | 1/26/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Street Apologetics: Case Studies in Practical Apologetics | There are two functions of apologetics. The first is internal to the people of God in keeping doctrine pure and clarifying it in the light of Scripture. The second is to refute the claims of unbelief. Both are necessary. The first defines the ground that is to be defended and the second a) gives reason for our faith for the purpose of evangelism, b) leaves the unbeliever without excuse and c) confirms the hearts of believers. In this episode we do both on a practical level, looking at arguments that are commonly encountered and using actual examples from recent internet media. First is A response to the video "Why I hate religion, but love Jesus" and the second is a refutation of the claims of Dr. Isaac Richmond regarding Christianity as "the slave-holder's religion". Host Lindsay Brooks is joined by Joe Young and Minister Arthur Daniels. | 1/21/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Annual Apologetics.com State of the Union Address 2012 | In with the new year and out with the old as the Apologetics.com Staff talk about the accomplishments of the last year, and what the new year has in store for the ADC team, with: Harry Edwards Bruce Paolozzi Candace Jackson Mikel Del Rosario Richard Park and Apologetics.com U.K. Andy Steiger of Apologetics.com Canada and Christopher Neiswonger Also with special guests Rich Bordner and Pastor Philip George of Calvary Presbyterian Church of Glendale. | 1/21/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Does Religion Poison Everything? A Christian and an Atheist discuss Christopher Hitchens | On December 15, 2011, Christopher Hitchens, one of the most prominent voices in the New Atheist camp, past away. However, it is certain that Hitchens' influence will continue to be felt for years to come. Through his books, debates, interviews, editorials and any other medium he could connect through, Hitchens clearly communicated his message in a manner that is equal parts witty and scathing. In this podcast, staff apologist Sam Welbaum has a conversation with his friend and fellow PhD student Kile Jones on the life and thought of Christopher Hitchens. As an atheist, Kile finds much in Hitchens that resonates with his understanding of the world, and as a Christian, Sam does not. The conversation is a friendly one, with strong points of disagreement, focused centrally around issues in Hitchens' work God is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. Topics discussed involve Hitchens' life, death bed conversions, the morality or immorality of God, the Christian understanding of heaven and belief and reason, among others. | 1/9/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations of Apologetics: Messianic Evidences | CNN recently re-aired a documentary on the person of Jesus Christ ("CNN Presents: Mystery of Jesus" on 12-24-2011 3:00pm EST, see the link below for more information and the transcript). The broadcast depicts mystery surrounding the historical life of Jesus. The comforting and familiar narrating voice of Liam Neeson asks: "Who was Jesus the man? Why is the greatest story ever told also the greatest mystery never solved?." It features biblical scholars (including Bart Erhman, author of Forged) who guide the show along advising on the tough questions that many today may be facing. Unfortunately, the program seems to provoke more skepticism than answers. While surfacing engaging historical issues, in the end, the viewer is left with some knowledge, a lot of blind faith (for those religious types), and more questions than they had before they began. But upon historical reflection, what puzzle is actually pieced together? Did Jesus even exist? Did Jesus claim to be God? How probable is it that he was lying? Could he have been crazy? Was he really God? Was he really the Messiah? Join Jeremy Livermore, Steve Tsai, Harry Edwards, and Sam Welbaum as they discuss the many conclusive evidences for Jesus' existence, his revealing claims, his God-man nature, and his Messianic identity. http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1112/24/cp.01.html CNN PRESENTS: The Mystery of Jesus. Exploring the stories and questions surrounding Jesus, CNN Presents uses research techniques, medical modeling, and analysis from biblical scholars to try to answer: When was Jesus born – and was it in Bethlehem? What did he look like? And how did he really die? From Nazareth to Galilee to Jerusalem, this documentary, narrated by Liam Neeson, recreates Jesus’ largely unknown early life as a young Jewish boy, and then probes the mysteries of his betrayal, trial, execution, and the miracle of his resurrection. (originally aired on April 8, 2004) | 12/28/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Leave Taking: When Is It Right To Break Fellowship? | On December 8th, 2007 at its annual convention, the Diocese of San Joaquin took an historic step and voted to disassociate from The Episcopal Church. The presenting issue, the ordination of openly homosexual clergy, is also a presenting issue in the current exodus from the Presbyterian Church in the USA by congregations and entire presbyteries which see this issue as indicative of the more foundational issue of the abandonment of the authority of the Bible. Similarly, the American Baptist Churches Pacific Southwest Region withdrew from fellowship with the ABC(USA) in 2006, and the Southern Baptist Convention withdrew from the Baptist World Alliance a year earlier over the ABC(USA)’s refusal “to deal with the acceptance of churches with lax policies on homosexuality in the denomination,” according to the Baptist Press. Stories like these force us to ask the question, “When is a Christian required to break fellowship with an ostensibly Christian body?” As a case study in how one group of churches viewed their responsibility to the truth of Scripture, Host Lindsay Brooks discusses the Diocese of San Joaquin’s disassociation with the Episcopal Church with John-David Schofield, the IVth Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin who retired on October 22, 2011, and the Pastor of St. John Anglican Church in Petaluma, CA, Rev. David Miller. | 12/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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How Do You Take Your Eggnog?: Alcohol and Christian Witness | Few things in Christian circles can get more heated than disagreements over when the rapture will happen. Alcohol is one of those few things. Is drinking a sin? Can Christians consume alcohol and maintain their witness? How can one practice moderation, and what does it mean to make a brother/sister in Christ stumble? In this podcast, host Sam Welbaum, and panelists Derek Brover and Kurt Blake discuss the matter of drinking as a believer. | 12/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Happy Holidays, Pagan Origins and Other Things That Distract Christians During the Christmas Season | Christmas is a magical time of year. People are nicer, houses are prettier, pastries are plentiful and there's always an occasion to spend time with those you care about. Inside Christianity, we also get to celebrate the fact that the God of the universe became human as a means of redeeming us from our sin. Christmas is about hope, love and redemption. Sadly, Christians often make Christmas a time to go to war over trivial matters that distract us from the birth of Christ, and make Christianity look less appealing to the outside world. In this episode, host Sam Welbaum and panelists Justin Davis, Candace Jackson and Paul Hughes talk about issues like Happy Holidays, Xmas, Black Friday, Santa Claus and the supposed pagan origins of Christmas and provide Christian's with responses to these topics and show believers how we ought to reframe the issues. | 11/28/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Beginning and Survival of Christianity | We live in a world where all things have a beginning and must struggle for survival. This seems to be the natural order of all realities and relationships. But can we speak this way of Christianity? Can we determine where it properly "begins?" Do we live in such a time that it might not "survive?" Join guest host, Kent Moorlach (Pastor of Communion Presbyterian Church, Irvine) with Daniel Adrean and Aaron Davies (and live phone calls) as we discuss, "The Beginning and Survival of Christianity." | 11/23/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The 21st Century Challenges of the Missional Church | When last we checked, the Great Commission was unchanged. We are to go and "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that [Jesus] commanded." But unique to our time are the particular challenges brought by a global society, technology, and the fact the visible church is in decline numerically and theologically. Meanwhile, the New Atheism has added a strident voice against Christ and skepticism, formerly a sign of a failed worldview, has risen as the only truly "humble" way to view knowledge. Yet faithful men still plant churches and work for the renewal of established churches in order to fulfill the high calling of the proclamation of the Gospel. To help us get a glimpse into how that is being done and what it means to be Christian in the 21st century, Pastor Daryl McKillian and Minister Arthur Daniels of Victory Christian Fellowship, a new church plant, and Rev. Philip George of Calvary Presbyterian Church of Glendale join Lindsay Brooks to explore how these challenges are being met. | 11/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Christians and Must See TV: Apologetics, Culture and Television | We live in a society dominated by TV or TV related media. There are 100's of channels broadcasting 1000's of programs everyday. Each of these shows, while aimed at entertaining, still convey a content. That content contains a worldview, a morality, an expectation of existence, etc all which is imbedded in the story. In this program host Sam Welbaum and panelists Derek Brover, Kurt Blake and Justin Davis consider the manner in which TV communicates it worldview, the pro's and con's to the content that various shows might convey and how we as Christians ought interact with this (and other) types of media. | 11/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Christians and Climate Change | This show is about climate change, its effects on the planet, our lives (if any) and see if it engenders a proper response from responsible citizens of the world. It's a topic seldom discussed in Christian circles, much less a developed theological grounding for it. So what does climate change and apologetics have to do with one another? That's a fair question; and there are good answers to it. One way to look at this is to connect the study of apologetics with the study of world views. That's not a stretch at all. In fact you've heard us talk about the idea of world views a lot on this show; it's a way to view the world. We all have one whether we know it or not. To give it a simple definition, a worldview is a conceptual scheme through which we interpret reality. Apologetics is always connected to this idea of worldview thinking. This is the reason why apologists seem to have an opinion about everything. Now whether they're right about it or not is another matter. Now something as big a topic as Climate Change or Global Warming certainly cannot go unnoticed. It's almost always on the news, media, politics, movies, etc. There's a good chance your neighbor or co-worker has an opinion on this topic, perhaps even a strong one. It would be irresponsible if thoughtful Christians didn't know anything about this topic. And that's why we've have chosen to begin this conversation. We hope to cover at least four areas related to climate change: (1) Define Climate Change, History and Context; (2) Science behind it; (3) Theocentric view as opposed to the others; (4) Practical ways to care for our planet. To help move the conversation along I'm joined with my good friends Steve Tsai, Jeremy Livermore, Sam Welbaum and our special guest Leslie Wickman. | 10/28/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Reformation Day 2011: Does the Reformation Still Matter? | With Special Guests: Lane Chaplin of "Rightly Divided", Doug Eaton of "Bethel Grace Baptist Church of Bellflower California", Pastor Arthur Andrews of "Hephatha Lutheran Church" of Anaheim, Pastor Kent Moorlach of "Communion Presbyterian Church" of Irvine, Joe Long and Susan Yesner, with apologetics.com host Christopher Neiswonger. | 10/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Sodom and Gomorrah Discovered: An interview with Dr. Steven Collins | Sodom and Gomorrah, there are few cities in antiquity as infamous. Their names have become synonymous with sin and God’s judgment, a place so vile that God destroyed not only them, but also all “the cities of the plain”(Gen 18-19). But did these cities really exist? Is Sodom and Gomorrah fact or fiction? Join staff apologist Andy Steiger and Dr. Steven Collins, the Dean of the College of Archaeology and Biblical History at Trinity South Western University, as they discuss the sensational findings at Tall El-Hammam. Dr. Collins is the Chief Archaeologist & Co-Director of the Tall El- Hammam excavation project in Jordan, a site that has gained considerable attention recently as the location of Sodom and Gomorrah, demonstrating the authenticity of the biblical text. Learn about the finds, the National Geographic show coming out on it and how you can get your hands dirty take part in unearthing this Biblical history. Dr. Collins was one of the keynote speakers at the Apologetics Canada Conference 2011, presented by Apologetics.com. For information on next year’s Apologetics Canada Conference taking place on March 9th-10th, 2012 in Vancouver, BC visit www.apologeticscanadaconference.com. Tickets go on sale in November! | 10/10/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Apologetic Method Series: Focus on Presuppositionalism, An Interview With Dr. John Frame | Lindsay Brooks begins a new series focusing on the thinking behind the apologetics we use. This first installment explores Presuppositionalism, the method that is derived from the Reformed Theological principle of Sola Scriptura. To help us get a grip on it, we asked Dr. John Frame to help us think out the system and its consequences. Dr. Frame is Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary and author of 13 books, including "Cornelius Van Til: An Analysis of his Thought," and he contributed the chapter on Presuppositionalism in Steven Cowan's "Five Views on Apologetics. | 10/10/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Dealing With Doubt | Doubt is one of the most experienced yet least talked about facets of the Christian life. People are often fearful that doubting is a sign that they might not actually believe, and that fear causes them to bury those doubts within themselves. In this episode host Sam Welbaum, and panelists Paul Hughes, Kurt Blake and Derek Brover discuss the issue in a manner which is both encouraging and challenging. The panel begins by defining what doubt actually is (as opposed to how it is often perceived), examines various causes and types of doubt and then offers suggestions as to how those doubts ought to be handled. If you've ever wondered how to handle doubts or what the correlation between apologetics and sanctification might be, both issues are addressed here. | 10/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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God and the Scientific Method | It seems that our world is becoming completely science based. That is, science appears to have fully outperformed the humanities in the battle for realizing the ultimate foundation of the universe. Most often than nought, we find ourselves relying on science and talking about science as if it is the sole source of knowledge. Science has proven trustworthy thus far, hasn’t it? What is it about science that draws us in and pacifies us so easily? The methodology of science is the key. For many, it helps in knowing and living in ways that religion doesn’t. The “scientific method” has yielded fruitful results its compilers never imagined. Its reach and limitations are unknown and exciting. But how far can the method take us? Is it limitless? Will it be our sole access to knowledge in the future? Can we rely on it to inform us about God? We pose these questions and others to Leslie Wickman, Ph.D. Director and Professor in the Center for Research in Science at Azusa University. Join host Jeremy Livermore and panelists Steve Tsai, Harry Edwards, and Sam Welbaum for this very important and intriguing show! (Wickman's experience includes promoting and supporting faculty and student research, science education, and integrations of scientific research into the educational process. Investigation of satellite launch and orbital operations. Comparing robotic, biological, and biotechnology capabilities for military operations. She is a trained EVA/IVA test astronaut, pilot, and athlete. Her expertise also includes life and space sciences, and the dialog between science and theology. Additional memberships, activities, and awards include: Lockheed Corporate Astronaut; NASA/Lockheed commendations: Hubble Space Telescope Program; Aerospace Medical Association; American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics.)” | 9/29/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Status of Apologetics in Europe | Many of the modern ideas that have shaped Western Civilization come to America from Europe before they're eventually disseminated to the rest of the world. On this show we examine the current intellectual and cultural milieu affecting Europe today and see how Christian apologetics can help reverse the bad effects of the Enlightenment. We have invited two experts in the field, Dr. Greg Pritchard and one of Europe's renowned apologists Stefan Gustavsson of European Leadership Forum to make the case for the urgent call to apply the art and science of apologetics in the re-evangelization of Europe. | 9/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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How Do I Know If I'm In A Cult? | The word "cult" has many meanings. In the academic disciplines it simply refers to any religious movement. In apologetics it can mean a "sect" or any heretical branch that claims legitimacy, such as Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons. But in general common usage it refers to a predatory kind of religion and images of Waco TX and David Koresh come to mind as well as Jonestown Guyana and the mass suicide there. This is the meaning Lindsay Brooks and Kent Moorlach take on along with answering your calls and internet questions on the subject. | 9/16/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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God and Philosophy: Addressing Ontotheology | The world of philosophy is a scary and intimidating place. What do terms like "Ontology" or "Metaphysics" mean? And can we use either of those disciplines to talk about God? Well, that's an area of debate in today's world. Join host Sam Welbaum and panelists Bruce Palozzi and Sanjay Merchant as they introduce the issue of "onto theology," define it and consider how to address the problem. Can we know things about God? Can we talk about Him? If you've ever wondered about either of those questions, give this pod a listen. | 9/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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An Apologetic Approach to Hell | Tonight the crew tackles the tough issue of hell, continuing their series from the book "God is Good, God is Great" by Meister and Craig, chapter 10. Listen in as they discuss and define the true nature of hell, and how God's option of hell, or quarantine, is actually more loving than other options such as annihilationism. The team also takes on some common objections to the doctrine of hell. | 9/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Is Christianity Evil? | The increasingly popular sociological perspective of Christianity is now very noticeably and alarming: many frustrated/angered non-believers and atheists hold that “Christianity is evil.” In the last several decades, we have actually seen growing hostility towards Christianity, true for millions around the world, but especially in the West and the Middle East. Christianity is frequently judged as an overbearing imperialist moral system that seeks to strip cultures of their right to define themselves: · Crusades · Inquisitions · Western Catholic/Protestant nation’s imperialism in the colonial era · Any connection between the church and the state that produced bad policies for people (although the connection is not particularly immoral) · Catholic/Protestant fights in Ireland · Catholic priests sex abuse scandals · Intolerant Evangelical/Fundamental critics of others lifestyles Thus, we see that this sociological/historical take on the nature of Christianity is, if accurate, eye-opening. They say our generation is concerned with historical fact – history, societies, cultures – and not philosophy. They say arguments about the existence of God and stories from the Bible only further exacerbate the problems latent within the imposing inflexible Christian worldview. Although painting a broad brush, this sociological perspective is embraced by many. So now, merging with popular expression, the New Atheists also argue that Christianity is evil – just look at what Christianity has done and still does to us! If evil occurred/occurs, then it must be evil! What is the Christian response to this? Are we immoral irrational people? Do they know and obey “good” and we don’t? Join Jeremy Livermore, Harry Edwards, and Steve Tsai as we respond to this sociological historical account of the nature of Christianity. (Also see chapter 8 of God is Good & God is Great by Chad & Meister)” | 9/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Sociology of Being the Church | A simple treatment of what it means to engage in Christian community with other Christians, whith those that are not, and those that will be. | 8/23/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Adoption, Doctrine of Love and Act of Love | ..take as one's child, be adoptive parents to, take in, take care of, espouse, take on/up, embrace, assume; appropriate, arrogate, choose, select, pick, vote for, elect, settle on, decide on, opt for; name, nominate, appoint. Antonyms: abandon, reject. “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” In a work in which he said he was trying to show that “Christianity is not a ‘life,’ as distinguished from a doctrine, and not a life that has doctrine as its changing symbolic expression, but that--exactly the other way around--it is a life founded on a doctrine.” J. Gresham Machen said this: “The modern liberal will say—may we not now return to that simple trust of the disciples? May we not cease to ask how Jesus saves; may we not simply leave the way to Him? What need is there, then, of defining ‘effectual calling,’ what need of enumerating ‘justification, adoption and sanctification and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them’?” (Christianity & Liberalism, p. 26-27) Adoption is included here as a central doctrine that needs clear definition and defense against a liberalizing influence. Even within the Church there is a need for deeper understanding of Adoption, so that we might test new ideas in light of solid Scriptural doctrine. What’s more, in our evaluation of world views it is important to ask, “Who are we in relationship to the reason for our existence?” The answer to that question draws a sharp line around Christianity as compared with many other world views. As Islamic scholar, Imran Nazar Hosein, points out: “No one has the freedom, no matter how well-intentioned, to ascribe to Allah Most High such false names and attributes as ‘father’ that they themselves create. That is a very grave sin indeed. Rather Allah Most High has Himself provided all His beautiful names (al Asthma al-Husnah) in the Qur’an, and ‘father’ is most certainly not one of them…” ~Islam Rejects the False Doctrine of The Fatherhood of God In his statement about the purpose of his writing, Machen makes clear that doctrines bear fruit in a life marked by certain qualities. The guests in the first hour of this show, “Karen” the director of an international adoption and aid organization, and Michael and Pearl Aquino, newly adoptive parents--demonstrate that their understanding of God as a Father who adopts, bears fruit in them as compassion for the fatherless that culminates in taking a child into their hearts and homes. The Scriptures use this special act of love as a picture of what God does for us in Christ. So understanding the picture helps us to understand what God has done. The reverse seems also to be true; understanding what God has done brings us a clearer understanding of what we are to do. So in the second hour, Dr. Timothy JR Trumper, Senior Minister of Seventh Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, MI, comes to help us understand the doctrine of Adoption. For more information about international adoption, you may contact “Karen” at adoption@hotmail.com for inquiries. | 8/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Who Wrote the Books in the New Testament?: A Response to Bart Ehrman’s Book “Forged” | The Bible is God’s written word to humankind. In it He reveals His nature, character and His promise of restoration; however, what if the books in Scripture, the New Testament in particular, were not reliable? What if the books were not reliable? Or perhaps they were not written by who they claim? Wouldn’t this undermine our faith? Bart Ehrman hopes so. Dr. Ehrman was once a Fundamentalist/Evangelical Christian, studying at Moody Bible and eventually being mentored by the late Bruce Metzger at Princeton. Eventually Ehrman turned from his faith, and now publishes books arguing against the historicity of the New Testament. His newest book, “Forged” claims that the authors of the New Testament are not who we think they are. In this pod, join host Sam Welbaum and panelists: Cathy Paolozzi, Lindsay Brooks, Derek Brover and Dr. Jack Gibson as they argue that Ehrman’s work, his approach, his presuppositions and his conclusions are unfounded. | 8/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Apologetics.com Summer Movie Reviews Show | With Candace Jackson, Lindsay Brooks and Christopher Neiswonger The stories that a person loves says a lot about them. Christians of course have their own peculiar view of the world, and that manifests itself in the arts as much as in the things we might think of as “religious”. We are striving for a higher love that manifests itself in the common place toward a view of God, ourselves and the world. In this, popular culture is both active and reactive – both reflecting what we think we are and telling us what we should be. This kind of thing changes, sometimes sharply. Few things can be as cruel as a community that has found some unstable element of culture through which to interpret itself. We tend to speak in terms of “decades” and look back upon “the 70s”, “the 80s”, and “the 90s” as if they were a thousand years ago, when our own little moment in the light is no different. It will pass, and soon, but not without us saying a little something about ourselves in the meantime, generally, through the stories we tell, and the things we do, and say, and what we choose to love. Cowboys & Aliens Captain America Mr. Popper’s Penguins Harry Potter IV Green Lantern Super 8 And much, much more… | 8/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Why the Evolutionary Theory of Religious Beliefs Fail | The predisposition to acquire religious beliefs appear to be ingrained in all of us -- regardless of class, race or any period in human history. New studies in psychology and anthropology appear to affirm this fact. Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett and several other atheists want to assert that religious beliefs are false and have no basis in reality. They also teach that the origins of these so called fallacious beliefs come naturalistically through the process of Darwinian evolution. But how does this indeterminate theory make sense when religious beliefs seem to be inherent in our make up? This is the sort of question we want to answer on this show. We try to lay out the evolutionary theory of religious beliefs and their accompanying concepts such as memes, spandrels, etc. Afterwards we try to show how this theory fails to explain anything. Harry Edwards is radio host with panelists Steve Tsai, Jeremy Livermore and Sam Welbaum. | 7/29/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Problem Atheists Have With Evil | Possibly the biggest reason for unbelief in God comes from the problem of evil. It definitely creates the strongest emotional case for unbelief. But intellectually speaking, the famous “problem” has been deliberated in classrooms and streets since the golden age of ancient Greece. In the last 50 years, much progress has been made on the problem of evil. Its seems now, what was once a serious argument against Christianity, founders. Our 1st goal is to show that the best formulations of the problem (logical problem, probabilistic problem, and the external problem of evil) fall short of showing that God’s existence is logically impossible and improbable. Instead the existence of evil, even unnecessary and extreme evil, provide a robust case for God’s existence and the truth of Christian theism. Our 2nd goal is to show that an atheist’s first problem, before they present the problem of evil to the Christian or theist, is to explain how and why they speak of anything as objectively evil (even though they can live good lives and do real objective good). That without a moral standard or some sort of ethical theory (something more than subjective opinion about what is and is not moral), the atheist has no grounding for expressions of what is and is not evil. The new atheism offers no objective basis for the existence of moral notions such as good and evil. Appeals to evil as illusory or evil as understood in light of evolutionary caused adaptations, fail. As we shall see, if real objective evil exists, evil actually provides compelling case for the existence of God. Join host Jeremy Livermore and guests Steve Tsai, Harry Edwards, and Sam Welbaum for 1 hour as we discuss this extremely intriguing topic. | 7/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Sexual Abuse and the Church: Healing and Restoration | Darlene Harris, author/editor of the compilation, "And He Restoreth My Soul", is the guest on the apologetics.com radio show as we talk about the Church, its strengths and weaknesses, in dealing with matters of sexual abuse and violence. | 7/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Christian Education: All The Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge | With special guests Principal Joe Rispoli of Spirit Christian Academy (http://spiritacademy.org/) and Dr. Jack Gibson, Apologetics.com staff apologist, Lindsay Brooks hosts an exposition of the Biblical theology of education. God has chosen to reveal himself as a teacher in each of the 3 persons of the Trinity. He also continues to work out the education of His people in time, using the family and Church and those deputized by family and church to bring individuals, and His people as a whole, into maturity as human beings. With the crisis in education weighing heavily upon secular leaders, Christian parents are called to reclaim their children and their children's minds from the State, and rededicate them to the Lord, teaching them to obey all the Lord has taught us. | 7/11/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Worldviews in Dialogue: A Christian and an Atheist Discuss the Existence of God | Is it possible for an Atheist and a Christian to have a civil discussion? It totally is. In this podcast Staff Apologist Sam Welbaum engages in dialogue with former Youth Pastor now Atheist (well, Agnostic with Atheistic leanings and Secular Humanist values to be exact), Kile Jones. They discuss Kile's conversion to Christianity, his apostasy (leaving the faith) and the factors that played into it. Then, Sam and Kile engage in a constructive discussion on the arguments for God's existence that they find most convincing. How do a Christian and an Atheist discuss Meaning (capital "M") and morality in a friendly way? Give a listen and find out. Also, the callers provide some wonderful and instructive rabbit trails as well. If you'd like to learn more about Kile and his work you can visit his website below: http://www.kilejones.com/ For a brief overview (from a Christian perspective) related to the current atheist movement, look at Al Mohler's Atheism Remix. At 107 it will give you a high level of content for a minimal effort. | 7/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Apologetics and Porn | WARNING! This podcast contains mature subject matter and language. Currently xxxchurch, a ministry lead by Craig Gross, is gaining a lot of attention on University Campuses and church services as they discuss “The Great Porn Debate.” Now if your like me, you wonder what is there to even debate? Craig Gross has been debating Ron Jeremy a popular retired porn star on whether or not porn is good or bad. The debate besides being interesting has done a lot of good to bring a taboo subject into the light for examination. This is significant for the church considering the number of Christians entangled in this sin and the growing trend to justify their behaviour. Is porn just entertainment? Can it be used as a martial aid? How do you become free from a porn addiction? Join host Andy Steiger with special guests Chris Price and Jon Morison as they discuss the topic: Apologetics and Porn. | 6/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Apologetics and Youth | Recently I read an article by Apologist Mike Licona saying, “I was shocked about two years ago when I asked both my children how often they had received teaching related to Christian apologetics during their Sunday School Classes and youth group meetings. Answer: Never. Not once? Zero. Zilch. Nada.” I wasn’t surprised to read this because I once was that youth pastor! Having graduated from Bible College after four years of intensive studies I had never once received apologetic training nor even heard the word. In fact, my education was full of biblical criticism not biblical defense. It wasn’t until I was on the brink of losing my faith that I read the Case for Christ and began listening to Ravi’s sermons that my faith came back to life. Apologetics literally changed my life and resuscitated my dying faith. Looking back, I feel that my education was darn near worthless! What good is truth if you can’t defend it even to yourself? Sadly the state of many Bible Colleges, Christian Universities and Seminaries has not changed much if at all. Sure there are a few institutions teaching apologetics classes but they are the rare exception. The reality is, parents you cannot assume that your children are being prepared to defend their faith. Join host Andy Steiger with special guests Chris Price, Jon Morison and Sam Dallas as they discuss the topic: Apologetics and Youth Ministry. | 6/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Eschatology: The End of the World | A treatment of the basic ideas, systems, hermeneutics and history of the end of the world in Christian thought. Special guests the Reverend Kent Moorlach of Communion Presbyterian Church of Irvine, CA and Doug Eaton of Bethel Grace Baptist Church of Bellflower CA, join host Christopher Neiswonger on a trip to the end and back again. | 6/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Music: A Fair and Lovely Gift From God | The great philosopher, Plato, said in book III of the Republic, "musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul, on which they mightily fasten, imparting grace, and making the soul of him who is rightly educated ...graceful, or of him who is ill-educated ungraceful; and also because he who has received this true education of the inner being will most shrewdly perceive omissions or faults in art and nature, and with a true taste, while he praises and rejoices over and receives into his soul the good, and becomes noble and good, he will justly blame and hate the bad, now in the days of his youth, even before he is able to know the reason why; and when reason comes he will recognize and salute the friend with whom his education has made him long familiar." What did Plato think he knew about music that we might see as absurd from today's way of thinking? Is it crazy to think that music has the power of educating the soul? Aristotle, his pupil engaged the question as to whether music was a mere refreshment on the order of sleep or wine, or whether we should "suppose that music tends to be productive of virtue, having a power, as the gymnastic exercises have to form the body in a certain way, to influence the manners so as to accustom its professors to rejoice rightly? Chris Kurth and Josh Grieve of the rock group Iron Sharpens Iron are special guests of host Lindsay Brooks and staff apologist Sam Welbaum as they approach music from the perspective of Biblical theology and philosophy, to understand music's place and function, both in the Church and in the daily lives of men and women. Playing and analyzing examples of the music of Iron Sharpens Iron and Singer/Songwriter Carla Hassett, as well as Lindsay playing examples from the keyboard, the power of music in imparting knowledge as well as forming the soul is explored in this episode. | 6/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Superheroes and Society | Superheroes and Society: What Batman and the X-Men tell us about culture and about ourselves Everyone loves a story. And if that story involves super strength, flight, colorful costumes and laser eyes...everyone loves it even more! The 1930's were the Golden Age of comics books, and ever since then superheroes have been a part of our culture. Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Captain America, Spiderman, etc. For years people have read about these heroes, they've come to identify with them and love them. But what can they tell us about ourselves? And what can their present day depictions tell us about our modern culture? Join host Sam Welbaum and panelists Paul Hughes, Derek Brover and Chris Leigh as they delve into the oft ignored world of Cultural Apologetics and deal with questions pertaining to meaning, myth, morality, narratives and cultural shifts. If you've ever wanted to know how superheroes relate to and help us understand the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, the Cold War or the world we live in...then this is the podcast for you! | 6/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Jesus vs. Video Games | Tonight the apologetics.com team tackles the topic of the highest grossing form of recreational entertainment: video games! Listen in as the crew dismantles the three most common reasons why video games are allegedly evil, 1) video games are violent, 2) they are a waste of time, and 3) they are too immersive, much more than other media types. The controversial thesis that "it is not immoral to pretend to be someone that is doing something immoral" will also be defended. The team also will discuss the potential virtues of video gaming, wisdom in gaming, and advice for parents with children who enjoy gaming. | 5/30/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Psychology of Being the Church | The Psychology of Being the Church “Be of this mind…” Water always flows down hill; the path of least resistance… Faith isn’t like water; it resists… 1. We need to frame a Christian psychology before we can practice a Christian sociology a. What kind of a mind? b. As for the Christian we might have different gifts, but we are to be of one mind. c. Almost everything in the Christian life has been traditionally expressed in terms of “faith and practice”. 2. Studies in the Development of Christian Character through the Mysterious Methodology of Divine Providence. Job and the Devil Abraham and the sacrifice that God will provide David and Goliath David and Nathan Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms 3. The law and the gospel: As an antidote to the confusion created by N. T. Wright and other Euronomic revisionist movements in the Church, we are not speaking here about the gospel; “The gospel is entirely outside you Melanchthon” 4. Galatians 5 and being led by the Spirit 5. Faith Hope Love Prudence Justice Courage and Patience Suffering and being a follower of Jesus Long Suffering, Self Denial; Looking for a worthy opportunity to suffer 6. A sign that you might have forgotten something important… If you have no Joy you might have forgotten your… 7. Something to think about in getting past the past and getting on with the present… 8. Christian self examination vs. Freudian analysis Philippians 2; Galatians 5 | 5/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Creationism: An In-House Discussion | The apologetics we are most familiar with is an engagement with the things that would stand against the Biblical faith, like Atheism, other religions or philosophies. But there is a sense in which apologetics is part of our sanctification and the edification of the Church, these are the "in-house" discussions. Matters within the family of faith that we hope to iron out between us. Some of these in-house kinds of discussions include Calvinism or Arminianism, Eschatology, Presuppositional or Evidential apologetic approaches, Baptism of Children, Wine or Grape Juice… Of these, none requires as much care as the question of origins. Partly because it affects other doctrines and partly because it affects some of our interactions with the world. Young Earth and Old Earth creationists share a single minded dedication to the truth of the Bible, and a deep desire to understand God's revelation about where everything comes from. Staff apologists, Lindsay Brooks and Sam Welbaum are accompanied by Elder Seth Stark of Communion Presbyterian Church of Irvine and by Author of "The First Six Days" Douglas Hamp to try to come to terms with what the Bible teaches on origins. Is the world 6-10 thousand years old, or much older? | 5/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Thunder God and Other Gods: A Review of Thor and Examination of Mythology | Kenneth Branaugh's new screen version of the Marvel Comic character Thor, gave us a chance to talk about how the God of the Bible is profoundly different from the mythological pantheon of gods whether from Norse, Greek, Egyptian or other cultures. There are good things about myth, they inspire us to things like courage and honor and form our consciences around such concepts. As a foundation for ethics, or an explanation of origins, myths come up short. Additionally, a frequent accusation of Christianity is that it borrows mythic elements from other religions needs an answer. So beginning with a simple presentation of the God of the Bible and of Jesus, Lindsay Brooks and Sam Welbaum compare and contrast they mythical gods from the God who exists... and we talk about the movie a bunch. | 5/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Quran Burning and Fundamentalism | Join Jeremy Livermore, Steve Tsai, and Sam Welbaum as they discuss the powerful issues underlying to the recent "International Judge the Quran Day" event (as deemed by a Florida church) such as: the violent reactive murders from muslims in certain middle eastern countries, postmodern tolerance vs. religious dominion, weather or not jihad is justified in Islam, and the like. Our goal is to uproot the deeper motives hiding under the acts of burning the Quran and the reactionary horrific mob killing that took place thereafter. Specifically, we answer the following questions: What does the Quran burning mean for Muslims? What is tolerance and what is not tolerance? Are religious killings appropriate? Can we call them murder (wrong) if they are justified within a religious community? Who are we to say that murdering adulterers in the name of Allah is wrong? Can we in the west even say anything about it? Is Islam silencing the voice of the West? Does Islam teach worldwide submission to Allah? | 5/3/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Jesus vs. Ayn Rand | Listen in as Harry Edwards, Jeremy Livermore and Steve Tsai discuss Ayn Rand’s philosophy, in particular, her ethical philosophy of egoism (i.e., rational self-interest), in which acting in one’s self-interest is always morally praiseworthy, and acting altruistically or self-sacrificially is always morally blameworthy. The differences between the varying types of egoism (psychological vs. ethical) are discussed, as well as Rand’s particular version, and criticisms of her view. Finally, the ethics of egoism are compared to the self-sacrificial ethical system proposed in the Bible, and the import of greatest act of self-sacrifice on behalf of humanity is addressed on this special Easter weekend. | 4/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Atlas Shrugged: An Interview with Clay Jones | In a Modern Library survey of their readers for the top 100 novels of all time 217,520 people voted Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged first, The Fountainhead second, Anthem seventh, and We the Living eighth. On April 15th Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged arrived in theaters across the country. Ayn Rand (1905-1982) is a Russian philosopher/writer. The novel Atlas Shrugged demonstrates her highly influential philosophy known as Objectivism. Those in her “inner-circle” have included the likes of Nathanial Branden (the Father of the Self-esteem Movement) and Alan Greenspan (Chair of the Federal Reserve of the United States from 1987-2006). Needless to say, her ideas have greatly influenced our culture! Join staff apologist Andy Steiger and Biola University professor Dr. Clay Jones as they discuss Ayn Rand: the good, the bad and the ugly in this addition of Apologetics.com where we “challenge believers to think and thinkers to believe.” | 4/25/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Weighing the Value of the Institutional Church | This show will be a conversation on the nature and identity of the true Church, and the characteristics we might expect. Pastor Kent Moorlach of Communion Presbyterian Church of Irvine and Eric Thomure, Assemblies of God missionary to UCLA will be joining in the discussion. Jesus came to save His Church but of late the Church has found marvelously little value in the institution. The Church seems to be God's preferred means for everything from preaching to evangelism and those things should make it very important to the Christian. The flaws and foibles of those calling themselves the Church can make it a very easy organization to avoid, and we can make it hard for the uninitiated to find a pleasantness therein to attract them to the fold. Others move Heaven and Earth to bring people in but in so doing abandon due process and theological substance as the price of admission. But if the Church is God's Church, we might have a vested interest in being a member of that body of which Christ alone is the head. CN | 4/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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God at UCLA | This is a report on "God at UCLA" from Eric Thomure, an Assemblies of God Missionary at UCLA. | 4/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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It's The Law | What is law? How do we determine a good one or a bad one in civil life? Is there a perfect law that we are trying to approximate? Where is it located? Lindsay Brooks is joined by Donald Robert McConnell and Bruce Paolozzi to talk about the Law of God. How does it relate to the particular bodies of law people live under? What of the strange laws that anti-religionists point to when indicting the Bible as immoral? What of harsh punishments? | 4/11/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Christianity and the Constitution | This edition of the Apologetics.com Radio Show will focus on the actual form, content and intent of the Constitution itself while stopping along the way to touch on specific issues related to the place of religion in Constitutional law and the various ways that different parties attempt to bend the document to achieve self interests and political goals. | 4/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Love, Hell and Eternity | The doctrine of Hell may be the hardest doctrine for the Christian to articulate. Can a loving God eternally punish people for sin? Is that just? Rob Bell, author of Love Wins says no, its not. Here at Apologetics.com, we say yes, it is. In this podcast Sam Welbaum, Harry Edwards and Derek Brover analyze Rob Bell’s work, as well as various approaches to Salvation and Hell. The panel is joined in the second hour by Rich Park, Max Baker-Hytch and Ryan Pemberton calling in from Oxford to weigh in on Bell’s dangerous idea. Is Rob Bell a Universalist? Take a listen and find out. | 3/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Social Justice and the Problem of Evil | Christopher Neiswonger presents a lecture for the Evangelical Missiological Society SW Conference at the Cook School of Intercultural studies, Biola University, dealing with the issues and opportunities created by the Christian emphasis on Social Justice in relation to the Problem of Evil. | 3/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Why Doesn't My NIV or ESV Bible have John 5:4? | Lindsay Brooks is joined by Joe Young and Daniel Adrean to explore sometimes perplexing subject of textual criticism. In a recent Southern California visit Dr. James White spoke on the subject of the reliability of the New Testament text. Lindsay, Joe and Daniel were on hand and share with you why we can know that we have the very words that God wanted us to have in our Bibles. | 3/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Apologetics Canada Conference 2011 Debrief | It's a blessing to count your blessings and in this half hour of Apologetics.com Radio we are truly blessed. Harry Edwards and Steve Tsai are in the studio with Lindsay Brooks and Andy Steiger rings in from Canada to share the excellent news of the release of Think and Live, the new book by the Apologetics.com team, and also to share the good things God brought about at the first ever apologetics conference in British Columbia. | 3/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Jesus vs. Ghosts | Often times many Christians do not know how to respond to claims of ghosts sightings or haunted house accounts. Are Christians to be skeptical to such testimonies while convincing the skeptic to believe in the testimonies of the apostles concerning Jesus? What is it about skepticism that yields unwise reasons not to believe? Perhaps in the cases of Jesus and ghosts, there are interesting similarities to the acquiring of knowledge as justified true belief. So is it appropriate for intellectual persons to believe in ghosts? Is it ok for Christians to believe in ghosts? What does the Bible say about ghosts? And most importantly, what kind of a thing is a ghost? Join Jeremy Livermore, Steve Tsai, and Sam Welbaum as they discuss the 3 main intellectually satisfying options for belief in ghosts: 1. Ghost phenomena as misunderstood naturalistic phenomena.; 2. Ghost phenomena as purely demonic.; 3. Ghost phenomena as disembodied souls of humans. ….(Thanks to Steve Tsai for the diligent research and hard work for the content of this show. His efforts are very appreciated! - JL) | 3/10/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Place of the Law of God in the Christian Life | Are Christians under the law? Or led by the Spirit? Should we be careful about using the Bible as a manual of timeless ethics rather than a history of redemption? Is the law for the Christian but not the world or the World but not the Christian? Whatever we think about these things, the nature of Christian behavior seems to be one of the most important themes in the ministry of Jesus, ethics never being far from his mind. And so what are we to do? And how are we to know? Christopher Neiswonger and Dennis Alvy on this edition of the Apologetics.com Radio Show. | 3/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Purgatory and Protestant Thought | There's been a resurgence of purgatorial ambition of late in evangelical thought, many reconsidering the prospect of post-demise sufferings even among the faithful. Protestantism in general was formed with purgatory in mind as the first generation Protestants tried to leave behind superstition and theological guesswork in favor of a more solid foundation for faith and practice. The touch was, the sufficiency of Christ and the fullness of the atonement and that our righteousness is wholly in Christ alone. Christopher Neiswonger and Dennis Alvy purge the subject on this edition of the Apologetics.com Radio Show. | 3/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Integration of Theology and Psychology to the Glory of God | Is it possible for theology and psychology to be integrated when Christianity and the discipline of psychology have been at odds with one another currently and in the past? With the naturalistic presuppositions that Carl Rogers and Sigmund Freud set in place, is it indeed wise to even claim that psychology and theology can complement one another? What is the apologetical rationale for addressing such a topic? What roles do sin and grace assume in the discipline of Christian counseling, and what should the church's response be to the reality of those suffering from mental illness? Host Candace Jackson, staff apologists Jeremy Livermore and Sam Welbaum, and guest Sara Roberts discuss these issues and many more, contending that God can indeed utilize the integration of psychology and theology when carefully practiced, for the glory of His name and for the overall purpose of removing emotional impediments to one trusting in Christ as his or her Savior. | 2/22/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Top Early Writings NOT in the Bible and Why You Need To Know About Them | In addition to the New Testament there are dozens of early writings, some possibly going back as far as the mid first century, that rely upon the characters we know from the Bible to promote a worldview and way of salvation that is very different from Christianity as we know it. Even in the pages of the New Testament we find apologetic responses to Docetism, an early form of Gnosticism based partly on Jewish Christianity and partly on Greek philosophy. Scholars like Bart Ehrman, Elaine Pagels, John Dominic Crossan and the Jesus Seminar, pointing to the written works of Gnostic Christianity, have painted a picture of a chaotic beginning to Christianity where "multiple christianities" are all vying for dominance over a burgeoning new religion and only later, after much revision of the orthodox story, to we find orthodox Christianity emerging victorious. Lindsay Brooks and special guests Philip George and Kent Moorlach explore the formation of the canon of Scripture and writings that didn't "make the cut" like the Gospel of Thomas, The Gospel of Judas Iscariot, Q, the Infancy Gospels as well as more orthodox works like I Clement, the Didache and the writings of Polycarp, Ignatius, Irenaeus and Tertullian. | 2/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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10 Problems of Consciousness | What philosophers call “phenomenal consciousness” is the “what-it-is-like” to being conscious, the raw, felt texture of conscious experience. For example, there’s a what-it-is-like to the experience of eating a pomegranate (the weird squishiness), there’s a what-it-is-like to accidentally hitting your thumb with a hammer (the pressure, pain, and throbbing feeling), there’s something distinctive about seeing the color red rather than say, the color yellow, or any other color. Not just sensations have a felt experience, there’s also a felt, what-it-is-like to being remorseful, to having thoughts, desires, etc. Many people would have you believe that human beings are nothing more than their physical bodies, or perhaps their brains, or a part of their brains, that is, we are only physical machines. There’s one problem: none of the experiences of phenomenal consciousness seem to be physical. Ten Problems of Consciousness is a book by philosopher Michael Tye who teaches at the University of Texas, Austin – he’s a physicalist. Physicalists believe that all of reality is fundamentally made up of the stuff that physicists study and no more: so there’s no room for gods, souls, spirits, etc. on this kind of worldview. Tye recognizes the ten most challenging problems of consciousness that make trouble for any physicalist theory and lays them out nicely for his readers. Those who think science need only advance just a little bit more and then we’ll solve the problems of consciousness might be in for a surprise. Ultimately during the show we argue that these problems for physicalism are intractable; human beings are not just their bodies, they’re more than their bodies. If you find the show interesting, and you’d like to study more about consciousness (and philosophy of mind in general), I’ve put together a list of books that might pique your interest. While I think Tye’s is one of the best books out there for introducing readers to the subject of phenomenal consciousness, the rest of the material in the book is rather difficult. I’d put it in the advanced section of the books listed below. Introductory: Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult - Geivett and Moreland Naturalism - Goetz and Taliaferro Intermediate: Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview - Moreland and Craig (there are good chapters on dualism and personal identity. The book as a whole is an excellent resource as well) Body & Soul - Moreland and Rae Philosophy of Mind – Kim The Soul Hypothesis - Baker and Goetz Advanced: The Waning of Materialism - Koons and Bealer (a great collection of papers by top notch philosophers who are against materialism) The Evolution of the Soul - Swinburne Physicalism or Something Near Enough – Kim (This is a great display of intellectual honesty. Kim, a prominent philosopher of mind and physicalist himself, comes to the conclusion that strict physicalism is false) Body, Soul, and Life Everlasting - Cooper Soul, Body, and Survival - Corcoran Persons: Human and Divine - Van Inwagen and Zimmerman | 2/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Interview With Greg Koukl | Have you ever been challenged on your beliefs and didn't know what to say? Have you ever heard someone make accusations against your beliefs and wanted to challenge them? Listen in on a phone conversation between staff apologist Andy Steiger and Stand to Reason President Greg Koukl discussing his book, Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions. You will find that defending your faith is not nearly as difficult as you thought. In this interview you will learn how to ask the right questions and control a conversation in order to defend your beliefs. | 2/3/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 61 Episodes |
Customer Reviews
Absolutely horrible...
This podcast is absolutely horrible. After listening to several of the podcasts, mainly the ones dealing with Islam, Jehovah's Witnesses and other faiths, I have to say that I am severely dissapointed. Instead of challenging their listeners to think, they simply spout off what comes to the top of their heads, not giving any thought to whether it's factual or not. When listening to "What Went Wrong With Islam?" I just couldn't believe some of the things they said. The claim that all Muslims are at war with the west screams of ignorance. A good portion of Muslims LIVE in the west! Overall this program is absolutely horrid, they don't independently research the religions they talk about and they do not tackle hard questions about Christian theology. This podcast is not about apologetics, it is about the biased viewpoint that the producers want everyone else to hold. Not even deserving of one star.
Listen to me now and hear me later!
If you're into exercising your brain and challenging what you believe to be true... you've got to listen to this podcast. These guys are smart and funny. Don't take it from me, just listen! Whatever your stance, Christian, Agnostic, Whatever! You're gonna dig this show. -kurtz
John and Chris vs. Joel Osteen
It is hard to find quality Christian talk radio/podcasts to listen to. Often times they are very shallow filled with ‘cotton candy theology’ and have no intellectual side to them. John and Chris are the exact opposite of this parasite that had been plaguing the church of today. I would encourage anyone, Christians and non-Christians, to listen to these two guys. In the grip of grace… Jon
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