Coffeehouse Questions with Ryan Pauly

"Conceptual analysis of what it is to be a cause of the universe enables us to recover a number of striking properties which this ultramundane cause must possess and which are of theological significance." - William Lane Craig In part 1 on the Kalam, I discussed the scientific evidence in support of premise 2 with James Sinclair. Today's show will begin with a quick look at the philosophical arguments for premise 2, and then will focus on how Christians arrive at God based on the Kalam Cosmological argument. Here's the argument: 1. Everything that begins to exist has a cause. 2. The universe began to exist. 3. Therefore, the universe has a cause. 4. If the universe has a cause, then an uncaused, personal Creator of the universe exists, who sans the universe is beginningless, changeless, immaterial, timeless, spaceless, and enormously powerful. From (3) and (4), it follows that: 5. Therefore, an uncaused, personal Creator of the universe exists, who sans the universe is beginningless, changeless, immaterial, timeless, spaceless, and enormously powerful. Come join the conversation and bring your questions! Content Discussed: 0:00 Intro 4:09 Upcoming shows 7:15 The argument from the impossibility of an actual infinite 15:26 The impossibility of the formation of an actual infinite by successive addition 21:21 Whatever begins to exist has a cause 30:25 Live Question: What did God do before he did the first thing? 31:19 Live Question: Infinite regress is something you have been through. 33:00 Live Question: Must all things have a cause? 34:15 The theological implications of the Kalam Cosmological argument 47:18 Live Question: There's no logical reason why you can't have an infinite regress 49:51 Caller: Abstract objects, a personal God, God and time, defining supernatural, and if we can choose our thoughts 1:18:05 Caller: Is an infinite regress possible?

1 Corinthians 15:17 says, "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins." This means that either the tomb was empty, or Christians have an empty faith. Dr. Timothy Paul Jones (vice president for doctoral studies, professor of Christian family ministry, and chair of the department of apologetics, ethics, and philosophy at Southern Baptist Theological Studies) wrote the short book, "Did the Resurrection Really Happen?" as part of the TGC Hard Questions series. The goal of his brief book is modest. He writes, "I simply want you to recognize that the first followers of Jesus didn't claim their leader rose from the dead because of gullible ignorance or blind faith. They knew dead people stay dead." Today's show will look at his main argument as I make an evidential case for the resurrection of Jesus. Content Discussed: 0:00 Intro & Update 5:22 What's the point of the book? 8:05 Why does it matter whether Jesus resurrected or not? 10:44 Christian faith should not be blind 14:02 A resurrection is only implausible in a world where miracles are impossible. 18:42 Did the disciples copy the story from other dying and rising Gods, or did they have a Jewish expectation of a resurrection? 24:35 The resurrection is traceable to a time and place where it occurred. 39:50 What impact does a resurrection have? 43:52 CALLER: Should we live according to "What ifs"? How does God speak? Do we have souls that continue living? 1:07:12 CALLER: Is the resurrection just a story? When was the New Testament written? 2:05:07 The unrivaled power of the resurrection to explain the historical data.

"The Cosmological argument is a family of arguments that seek to demonstrate the existence of a Sufficient Reason or First Cause of the existence of the cosmos... The kalam cosmological argument traces its roots to the efforts of early Christian theologians who, out of their commitment to the biblical teaching of creation ex nihilo, sought to rebut the Aristotelian doctrine of the eternity of the universe." The argument is extremely simple: 1. Everything that begins to exist has a cause. 2. The universe began to exist. 3. Therefore, the universe has a cause. This is part 2 of our apologetics study as we work through "The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology." James Sinclair, co-author of the chapter on the kalam cosmological argument with William Lane Craig, joins the show to discuss the scientific evidence in support of premise 2. We look at the FRW mode, astronomical evidence for the Big Bang, the Hawking-Penrose singularity theorems, the BVG theorem, quantum gravity approaches, and the exceptions to each of these approaches. Come join the conversation and bring your questions! James D. Sinclair (MS Physics Texas A&M, BS Physics Carnegie-Mellon) is a senior anti-air warfare analyst for the United States Navy with a specialty in the constructive (digital only) modeling of air-to-air combat. Some career accomplishments include analytical support for the fielding of the AIM-9X Sidewinder missile, combat utility evaluation of the F-35 Lighting II, and presentations at public symposia such as the Military Operations Research Society (MORS) and the Combat Identification Systems Conference (CISC). He began to interview cosmologists in the early 2000s on the topic of the beginnings of the universe, bringing Navy knowledge integration methods to the formulation known as the Kalam Cosmological Argument. This ultimately led to a collaboration with philosopher William Lane Craig and two co-authored articles: “The Kalam Cosmological Argument,” in The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology and “On Non-Singular Spacetimes and the Beginning of the Universe,” in Scientific Approaches to the Philosophy of Religion. He also co-authored the article "Fine-Tuning and Indications of Transcendent Intelligence" with Robert Spitzer.

Andrew and Christian Walker write, "The logic of bodily sex differences helps explain the moral logic of biblical sexual ethics overall. The mandate for sexual relations in Scripture is tied to the design of the body... The end for which the body is organized--namely, reproduction--tells us what sexual actions are proper to the body and which actions are immoral." If you were to take a poll on the most controversial and delicate biblical views, homosexuality would probably be near the top if not at the very top. Because of this, if we are going to stand in our Christian convictions, then we must know what the Bible teaches and why it teaches it. For those who object to the Christian view, it is equally important for them to understand the what and the why in order to offer an accurate and fair critique. Today's show will take a look at homosexuality as we walk through chapter 5 of Andrew and Christian Walker's new book, "What Do I Say When...?: A Parents' Guide to Navigating Cultural Chaos for Children & Teens." I've done a few shows on this topic (see below), so I aim to keep the teaching short and get to your calls and questions as soon as possible. Join me for an important conversation! Content Discussed 0:00 Intro 6:14 Think Well Merch Store! 8:58 A look at future shows 10:33 The cultural narrative based on the Sexual Revolution 18:19 A more compelling Christian narrative 27:55 1st Biblical Principle - Everywhere homosexuality is mentioned in the Bible, it is mentioned critically 29:45 2nd Biblical Principle - The Bible prohibits all forms of homosexuality 34:19 3rd Biblical Principle - The Bible's prohibition against homosexuality is grounded in a creation mandate 38:58 4th Biblical Principle - Jesus affirms the immorality of homosexuality 42:15 5th Biblical Principle - Any identity at odds with Scripture is never fulfilling 49:13 A more authentic community 51:52 LIVE QUESTION: Am I presenting a false choice between biblical marriage and gay marriage? 53:41 LIVE QUESTION: Does the Bible ever look at slavery as an immoral institution? 56:40 LIVE QUESTION: Do you think all sinful acts should be illegal? 58:39 LIVE QUESTION: Has the Bible ever settled any argument? Christians are always disagreeing 1:02:00 CALLER: How do we make sense of Jesus's confusing parables and answers to questions? 1:06:37 CALLER: How do we explain gay penguins? Doesn't nature show that homosexuality is normal? Should gay marriage be legal? 1:39:56 CALLER: Questions on Christopher Yuan and biblical sexuality being oriented toward procreation.

Wouldn't we all benefit from a better understanding of what it means to think well? If so, why don't we do it? Alan Jacobs is the author of "How to Think." He serves as a Distinguished Professor of Humanities in the Honors Program at Baylor University and a Senior Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia. He writes, "Relatively few people want to think. Thinking troubles us; thinking tires us. Thinking can force us out of familiar, comforting habits; thinking can complicate our lives; thinking can set us at odds, or at least complicate our relationships, with those we admire or live or follow. Who needs thinking?" Would you agree? Alan Jacobs finishes his book by giving The Thinking Person's Checklist. This 12-point checklist is designed to help us think well, and have better conversations. This conversation will offer "hope that each of us can reclaim our mental lives from the impediments that plague us all. Because if we can learn to think together, maybe we can learn to live together, too." Join the conversation, learn to Think Well, and bring your questions so we can put this checklist into practice. Callers are welcome! Content Discussed 0:00-7:52 Announcements, Merch Launch, and upcoming shows 7:53-54:09 The Thinking Person's Checklist 54:10-1:28:30 CALLER 1:28:31-1:45:07 LIVE QUESTIONS

Christians believe that God has personally, truthfully, and sufficiently revealed himself in the Bible. This should not be a blind following but is the result of the deep intellection tradition of biblical and theological studies. However, "pragmatism, consumerism, and an entertainment mentality have shifted the priorities of some churches away from our primary calling to devote ourselves to knowing God deeply through his Word." Why does theology matter? "Knowledge without devotion is cold, dead orthodoxy. Devotion without knowledge is irrational instability... The study of theology is learning to think God's thoughts after him so that our minds and hearts and actions are conformed to his image." Content Discussed 0:00 Intro 5:05 Announcements and future shows 10:32 Why cover biblical and theological studies? 19:00 Attitudes for doing biblical and theological studies 27:15 Christian Assumptions or presuppositions when studying the Bible 35:29 CALLER: Cynical vs Critical, Bias, and the Authority of Scripture 49:01 Functional absolutes regarding Scripture 51:50 Jesus's view of the Bible: Internal evidence for the reliability of the Bible 54:46 Sub-Disciplines of biblical studies 1:01:25 The Interpretive method 1:06:02 The process of theological studies 1:07:45 Areas of study in theology 1:10:32 Essential vs peripheral doctrines 1:13:05 Using reason, experience, and tradition in doing theology 1:20:29 CALLER: Knowledge vs lived experience 1:34:36 CALLER: What happens to those who die with wrong information or don't know about God? 1:44:58 LIVE QUESTION: How does one make sure they aren't deceiving themselves with their bias and presuppositions? 1:47:26 CALLER: Will Christianity become an extinct religion in the next 100-200 years if it doesn't adapt to culture?

Does the Trinity have a counting problem? How can Jesus be both all-knowing in his divinity and not all-knowing in his humanity at the same time? Doesn't John 20:17 show that Jesus isn't God because he has a God? These are just some of the objections to the Trinity that I have received from TikTok livestreams. Today's show will walk through some of the objections to the Trinity and show that the Trinity is logical and biblical. Live questions start at 48:15, and callers begin at 1:14:47

"God created human beings to be sexual, therefore, sexuality is good under God's design," and "rightly-ordered sexuality brings God glory." So, how do we know when sexuality is rightly-ordered or disordered? How can sin distort our sexual desires? What was God's original design for human sexuality? Why is the Christian sexual ethic the only way for personal and cultural flourishing? Today's show will take a look at sexuality as we walk through chapter 3 of Andrew and Christian Walker's new book, "What Do I Say When...?: A Parents' Guide to Navigating Cultural Chaos for Children & Teens." I've done a few shows on this topic (see below), so I aim to keep the teaching short and get to your calls and questions as soon as possible. Join me for an important conversation! Content Discussed 0:00 Intro 2:45 A look at future shows 7:57 Why does this topic matter? 12:44 The problem is when you impose your morality on others. 14:10 Sexuality is a good gift from God 20:01 Caller: Is the Christian ethic only to keep people in line with homosexuality and abortion? How do Christians care about the vulnerable? 41:26 Caller: Should there be any boundaries with sexuality? Is there a morality that guides our actions? Would Christian sexuality make the world better or worse? 1:16:06 God created human beings to be sexual, therefore, sexuality is good under God's design. 1:18:58 God's pattern for sexuality upholds the marriage of husband and wife as the exclusive grounds for sexual activity. What is the purpose of sexuality? 1:23:15 God's pattern for sexuality is freeing and tied to human flourishing 1:26:55 Rightly-ordered sexuality brings God glory 1:29:23 The Gospel affirms the creational order for sexuality and marriage and offers a pathway for us to live lives of sexual holiness

How will thinking carefully about the relationship of faith and knowledge influence the way you think about and live out your Christian commitments? "The Great Tradition of Christian Thinking" by David Dockery and Timothy George give an understanding of how Christian faith has related to knowledge throughout the centuries. It then shows how we can apply and advance the tradition today. Come join the conversation and bring your questions! I will be taking calls after the teaching. The show is LIVE every Tuesday at 1:30 pm PT. Content Discussed: 0:00 Intro 2:33 A look at future shows 5:30 An into to the series on Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition 6:52 Have Christians given up on the cognitive focus? Knowledge & Faith 14:57 The role of Scripture in the Christian intellectual tradition 16:28 How challenges throughout church history led to intellectual growth 24:05 How everything fits into the Christian story 27:34 Necessary distinction between "the faith" and "my faith" 34:25 How do we practically apply the Christian intellectual tradition today? 41:08 Why don't Christians assert religious claims as facts? 42:37 Wasn't it Christians, not atheists, who separated faith from evidence? 44:35 Why didn't Jesus clearly write down Christian theology? 47:43 Caller: Panpsychism and why God allows suffering and pain, and how we know God is good 1:09:31 Caller: Does science look at evidence to find a conclusion, and religion starts with conclusions and looks for evidence? 1:14:49 Caller: Do atheists have faith? Do we have to have answers for everything? 1:22:31 Two reasons why you shouldn't say "Think for yourself!"

What should we think about the most recent advances with artificial intelligence? Does it think and behave like humans do? Join the show as we look at a recent video about AI scheming and lying to developers.

When do the unborn become real people? Who has the authority to give and take life? When does life begin? There are many conversations between pro-life and pro-choice advocates. The arguments have been made, but it often feels like we are talking past each other. How can we have better conversations on issues that matter? What are the best ways to communicate the biblical teachings that relate to abortion? Today's show will take a look at abortion as we walk through chapter 2 of Andrew and Christian Walker's new book, "What Do I Say When...?: A Parents' Guide to Navigating Cultural Chaos for Children & Teens." I've done a few shows on this topic (see below), so I aim to keep the teaching short and get to your calls and questions as soon as possible. Join me for an important conversation!

The Bible is not the only source of knowledge about God. Christians believe that God has revealed himself through creation (Ps 19:1, Rom 1:19-20), which means we should be able to find evidence for God in nature. This approach, referred to as natural theology, develops a philosophy of God based on observations about our world. Today's show will attempt to "provide reasons for thinking that classical theism is more reasonable because it has a greater explanatory power than naturalism." We will be taking your pressing questions and strongest objections! This is part 1 of our apologetics study as we work through "The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology." Dr. Charles Taliaferro (professor emeritus of philosophy at St. Olaf College). He also contributed to "Natural Theology: Five Views" from Baker Academic and authored "Evidence and Faith: Philosophy and Religion since the Seventeenth Century" from Cambridge University Press.

Who was Adam? Was he the result of a natural process (evolution) or a unique creation? Did he actually exist, or was he merely a literary figure? Hasn't science proven that an original two humans is impossible? Dr. Fazale Rana, President and senior research scholar at Reasons to Believe, joins me in making a biblical and scientific case for a historical Adam and Eve. When were Adam and Eve created? How does the biblical account line up with the scientific record? Are humans related to Neanderthals? These are just a few questions that we will address in today's show. We also will be taking your questions! So join the show, bring your questions, and consider the biblical account of human origins. Content Discussed 0:00 4:12 How should we approach science and faith questions? 7:18 Does science or Scripture have the ultimate authority? 12:00 A biblical argument for a historical Adam and Eve 14:48 Why does this conversation matter? 20:19 What makes the Reason to Believe model scientifically testable? 23:02 What scientific data could disprove core Christian doctrines? 26:30 Don't the biblical genealogies show that Adam and Eve existed 6,000 years ago? 31:04 When does the scientific evidence date for Adam and Eve? 37:32 Why do humans have Neanderthal DNA if humans didn't evolve from Neanderthals? 42:23 Where were Adam and Eve located? 44:40 Doesn't science show that there's too much genetic diversity in humans to come from a single pair? 49:40 Are secular scientists questioning the minimum population view? 51:35 Why don't we see Neanderthal DNA in humans of African descent? 52:56 Is there a scientific reason for why God created humans at that time? 55:25 Where did Cain get his wife if God didn't create other people? 58:38 Don't genetic similarities and endogenous retroviruses show that humans evolved? 1:04:28 Why do human embryos and some people have tails in a creation view? 1:06:07 Why is your biggest objection to evolution? 1:15:23 Why do so many scientists hold to evolution if it isn't true? 1:20:15 How did God create life? 1:25:00 Did Neanderthals bury their dead, use tools, make jewelry, and have religion? 1:28:38 If humans came from monkeys, then why don't we see 1/2-breed monkey people? 1:30:18 A look at future shows and events

We all believe it is important to be ethical people and make good moral decisions. Right? The problem is if we can ever come to a conclusion about what qualifies as a "moral decision." C. Ben Mitchell writes, "If relativism is true, it also means that the search for enduring, universal moral norms is futile. But the fact that we live in a relativistic world also means that if relativism is not true, we need to know how to respond to a view that is so pervasive in our culture." Join me as we engage in a moral discussion and try to find clarity in a morally confused culture. "Ethics and Moral Reasoning" by C. Ben Mitchell will be our primary text today. Bring your questions and join the show! I'll be taking your calls! Content Discussed 0:00 Intro 2:50 A look at upcoming shows and events 6:15 Intro to our series on reclaiming the Christian intellectual tradition 9:20 Living in a relativistic world 13:31 5 problems with moral relativism 22:45 Can you prove objective morality? 26:43 Do you believe in evolution? 27:05 Relative morality isn't the same as arbitrary morality 29:50 Is this the fallacy of extremes? 31:00 What side of the Euthyphro dilemma do you take? 33:35 A history of moral reasoning 45:52 Issues with Enlightenment Ethics 48:27 Views of Christian Ethics 51:20 An argument for objective morality 1:02:13 Something doesn't have to be objective to be important 1:03:42 How do I control hate in my heart for people who abuse children? 1:08:57 If homosexuality is morally wrong, why are some people born gay? 1:11:51 Caller - Do I read secular authors? 1:14:04 Caller - Why does objective morality matter for our everyday lives? 1:23:14 Caller - Why is indentured servitude immoral? 1:25:37 Caller - How do atheists ground objective morality? 1:32:38 Closing

"Christianity alone provides the best solution for a coherent reason to value a human person and the necessary authority to confidently guarantee it... Can non-Christian systems arrive at a position of human dignity on their own that does not end up being arbitrary?" Human dignity is at the heart of all political views, religious traditions, and cultural systems. For this reason, it matters whose concept of human dignity we adopt as part of our worldview. Today's conversation will look at the importance of human dignity, build a case for a biblical view of human dignity, and give you tools to have better conversations on the topic. Our conversation will be based on chapter 1 of Andrew and Christian Walker's book, "What Do I Say When...?" Bring your questions and join the show! I'll be taking your calls!

"If you don't teach your children, the world will." Isn't this true? If we are not intentional about our own learning and our children for those who are parents, then our culture will disciple us unintentionally, often with greater effectiveness. TikTok is one of the major influences in the lives of students. So, today's show will examine a few TikTok videos about the Bible. While they appear compelling on the surface, each has a deep flaw. Join me as we learn to Think Well about different cultural challenges. Bring your questions! I'll be taking callers at the end. Content Discussed 0:00 Intro 2:42 Cultural Book Study Intro: What Do I Say When...? 8:21 Worldview Book Study Intro: Ethics and Moral Reasoning 10:24 Apologetics Book Study Intro: The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology 13:05 Is there a contradiction in Jesus's birth story? 22:43 Do people have biblical reasons for questioning the length of the creation days? 26:08 Does the Hebrew word "day" paired with a number or "evening and morning" always mean 24 hours? 32:51 Was Jesus a young earth creationist? 42:45 Is the "Word of God" the Bible or Jesus? 49:37 Does the Bible condemn sex outside of marriage? 1:00:19 Is the Bible a pro-life book? 1:07:15 In what way do a husband and wife become one flesh? 1:08:57 Why did God make laws that led to lots of immoral stoning? 1:10:57 Caller 1: Continued conversation on "one flesh" in marriage 1:16:58 Caller 1: Was Jesus's prayer for unity in John 17:21 answered? 1:22:07 Caller 1: Who decides what are the essential Christian doctrines? 1:26:44 Caller 1: What are subjective and objective truth claims?

Have you heard either of these claims? "There are no atheists in foxholes," and "Only an atheist until the plane starts to fall." These claims are often given to show that atheists frequently find themselves pulled toward God during times of stress. Is this true? Can it be used as an argument for God? Atheist Armin Navabi addresses this argument in chapter 18 of his book, "Why There Is No God." He writes, "The existence of 'deathbed conversions' and similar experiences does not prove the existence of God... The idea that fear could drive you toward the belief in God only goes to suggest that religious claims are commonly fear-based and not rooted in actual logic or evidence. Unintentionally, theists are essentially acknowledging that their claims are irrational." Join the show as we walk through Armin's chapter and look at how to think about belief in times of desperation. I'll be taking your calls and responding to your questions as well!

Christians will sometimes point to the violent behavior of atheists like Joseph Stalin or Mao Zedong when showing why atheism is false. Is this a fair argument? Can we suggest that the depravity caused by atheists reflects back on atheism? What about Christianity? Do the evil actions of Christians mean that Christianity is evil? Atheist Armin Navabi, author of "Why There Is No God," addresses this topic in chapter 17. He writes, "The violence within Christianity or Islam can often be traced back to the teachings of those religions because it is embedded in the ideology of the religions themselves." But when it comes to atheists, Armin writes, "While it's true that Stalin and Mao were corrupt leaders who denounced religion among their people, suggesting that their depravity was caused by atheism or that their behavior was at all indicative of atheism as a whole simply does not follow." Join the show as we walk through Armin's chapter and look at how the actions of individuals reflect back on their belief systems. Also, is it true that Christianity has dogma that creates excuses for violence or leads to it? I don't think so, but let's chat! As always, your calls and questions are welcome!

Let's have some fun talking about what's on your mind! Send in your questions in the live chat, or call in once we go live! Help us expand our reach and continue fostering conversations that matter! Generous donors have come together and pledged $14,000 to help meet our budget and fund this important work in 2025! Any gift of $35 or more will receive a free copy of "Stewarding AI: Faithfully Using Creation Resources" once it is published in January. Click here for more info! https://think-well.org/donate/ Content Discussed 0:00 Why this show exists 2:47 Giving you more conversations and apologetics in 2024 4:15 A look forward to 2025. Join me for a book study on apologetics, culture, or worldview! 11:50 Will you give to our year-end challenge? 13:45 Do Mormons and Christians follow the same Jesus? 20:45 How can Acts 7:43 and Amos 5:27 be reconciled? 25:15 What percentage of confidence does the evidence for God get you to? Where does faith come in? 33:38 How should we view secondary doctrines like speaking in tongues and baptism? 48:25 Do you believe that Noah's Ark was a historical event? 53:14 Caller: How long have I been a Christian? 1:02:00 Caller: What led you to deconvert and become an atheist? 1:14:02 Caller: My challenge to naturalism: identity and consciousness 1:33:34 How do you talk to people who won't accept the answer that evil is the absence of good? 1:37:48 Closing thoughts on 2025 and our year-end challenge!

Atheist Armin Navabi concludes his book by addressing the extreme skeptic who says, "We cannot prove that anything exists." He writes, "The reason that some claim that true knowledge is impossible is because we are limited by our senses and experiences, which are ultimately subjective. We perceive reality through our senses and think about it with our brains, and it's impossible to know for sure whether these senses are actually trustworthy." I've heard this objection many times from atheists, especially when it comes to morality. Does the fact that knowledge is limited by our senses mean that everything is subjective? Maybe the hard sciences can give us knowledge, but what else? Join the show as we discuss how the Christian belief about God can be justified. As always, I will be taking your questions! So come join the show, post your questions in the live chat, and call in to discuss what's on your mind! Help us expand our reach and continue fostering conversations that matter! Generous donors have come together and pledged $14,000 to help meet our budget and fund this important work in 2025! Any gift of $35 or more will receive a free copy of "Stewarding AI: Faithfully Using Creation Resources" once it is published in January. Click here for more info! https://think-well.org/donate/ Content Discussed 0:00 Intro 2:17 Join me for a book study next year! 3:21 Year-End Challenge 4:55 The objection of the extreme skeptic 12:47 How can we know anything? Answering hypothetical realities 20:10 What is the best explanation based on the available evidence? 20:30 What is knowledge? 29:23 Scientism: What it is, why it matters, and why it's wrong 44:45 Beliefs can be justified 46:00 Do extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence? 49:53 If God has a mind, then wasn't he created by another mind? 53:52 Are you treating natural and supernatural explanations as equally valid? 56:25 1st Caller: Further discussion on intelligent and natural explanations 59:55 1st Caller: Witness testimony and extraordinary claims 1:04:00 1st Caller: Should we demand proof and evidence for God? 1:07:14 2nd Caller: Do the arguments for God apply to only the Christian God or any God? 1:22:22 Do you have actual evidence for God? 1:35:00 Closing: Look to next week, other content, and year-end challenge

Some Christians claim that since some intelligent people believe in God, it must be true! Who are we to say that they are wrong? Well, as Armin writes, "Experts are not always right. Even very smart people can be wrong." So, is there a connection between genius minds and belief in God? Atheist Armin Navabi addresses this argument in chapter 19 of his book, "Why There Is No God." He contends that this line of argumentation commits the logical fallacy of an appeal to authority. "A fact isn't true because someone said it was...Therefore, accepting a claim only because an expert made it and ignoring evidence to support or refute the claim flies in the face of the scientific method." At the same time, "belief in a deity does not automatically make someone stupid." Join the show as we walk through Armin's chapter and look at how to think about intelligent people who believe in God. As always, I will be taking your questions! So come join the show, post your questions in the live chat, and call in to discuss what's on your mind! Help us expand our reach and continue fostering conversations that matter! Generous donors have come together and pledged $14,000 to help meet our budget and fund this important work in 2025! Any gift of $35 or more will receive a free copy of "Stewarding AI: Faithfully Using Creation Resources" once it is published in January. Click here for more info! https://think-well.org/donate/ Content Discussed 0:00 Intro 2:00 Here's What to Expect in 2025 6:15 Our $14,000 Year-End Challenge Grant! 8:15 Do smart Christians mean Christianity is true? Response to chapter 19 34:17 Can we ever say, "I know I am right" if it's possible we might be wrong? 37:17 Do you reject all claims of certainty? 38:19 1st Caller: The explanatory power of the God hypothesis vs naturalism 41:50 1st Caller: The origin of life is better explained by God than naturalism 44:11 1st Caller: Is this just "God of the Gaps" reasoning? 48:10 1st Caller: How our Bias Affects Our Evaluation of the Evidence 57:38 2nd Caller: Is science limited to only natural explanations? 1:08:05 2nd Caller: How do you move from deism to Christianity? 1:12:45 2nd Caller: Are we constantly changing our identity, or do we have an enduring self? Can we judge people for previous crimes? 1:31:00 Closing comments about future shows and our year-end challenge

Let's have some fun talking about what's on your mind! Send in your questions in the live chat, or call in once we go live! Content Discussed 0:00 Intro 2:46 Are the virgins in Matthew 25 brides of the groom or guests at the wedding? 6:05 What would convince you that your faith is wrong? 13:00 1st Caller: Is Christianity falsifiable? 55:42 What led me to reject a literal 6 24-hour day creation? 1:01:42 2nd Caller: Falsifiability and Proof of Evolution 1:29:27 3rd Caller: How can we make sense of the killing of the Canaanites?

Does the fact that so many people have died for God or their religion mean it is true? Atheist Armin Navabi writes, "Holy wars have been fought between different factions of believers, martyrs have willingly given up their lives for their religious beliefs, people have been sacrificed to appease angry gods and victims have been tortured and killed in the name of religion." However, he concludes, "This history says more about the violent and harmful aspects of human nature than it does about the existence of God." If this is true, then why do people look at martyrs as evidence for their religious beliefs? We will continue to evaluate Armin's objections and look at how Christians and atheists can have better conversations about the evidence for Christianity. I will be taking your questions and calls, so bring your questions!

Atheist Armin Navabi writes, "Life is, objectively, meaningless; given the size and scope of the universe and our tiny role within it, it's absurd to think that we might have any sort of cosmically vital role." At the same time, he also believes that "We have the ability to create meaning for our lives" by doing worthwhile goals, none of which require the existence of God. With that in mind, why do Christians say that life would be meaningless without God? Armin addresses this question and attempts to show how meaning can be found without God in chapter 15 of his book, "Why There Is No God." Join the show as we discuss the Christian and Atheist approaches to the meaning of life. As always, there's a call-in portion at the end, so bring your questions! Content Discussed 0:00 Intro 4:23 Why Christians say that life without God would be absurd 17:55 Is the Christian purpose to worship and glorify God? 20:17 Is Christian purpose to enact laws that reflect a strict biblical interpretation? 21:47 Why is eternal purpose better than no purpose at all? 22:56 Armin's response to the absurdity of life without God 33:17 The Christian challenge to Armin's response 39:02 Can I say that owning a person or capital punishment is wrong? 41:49 Why does God use humans to spread his message? 43:55 1st Caller: How do things like meaning and purpose change our life? 1:08:20 1st Caller: Is morality objective?

Atheist Armin Navabi tackles Matt Slick's version of the transcendental argument for God (TAG) in chapter 14 of his book, "Why There Is No God." TAG is an attempt to demonstrate the existence of God using the Laws of Logic. These laws would include the Law of Identity, the Law of Non-Contradiction, and the Law of Excluded Middle. Armin believes that while the argument is structurally sound, it commits the fallacy of equivocation. He states, "The phenomena these laws refer to would continue to exist regardless of whether a deity or anyone else thought about them... Minds are necessary only to describe that phenomenon, not to make it true." Is TAG a good argument, or should it be discarded as a failed attempt to demonstrate that God exists? This will be the topic of today's show! As always, come join the show and bring your questions! Callers welcome at the end.

What is the soul? How do we know it is real? Why does it really matter? Eric Hernandez joins the show to answer your questions and make a case for a Christian view of the soul. Eric Hernandez is an evangelist, apologist, and author of "The Lazy Approach to Evangelism: A Simple Guide for Conversing with Nonbelievers." He is the Apologetics Lead and Millennial Specialist for The Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Atheist Armin Navabi writes, "A vague concept of God becomes impossible to disprove, but it is also impossible to support with any type of evidence. If you claim that God exists but cannot say what God is, your claim is ultimately meaningless." Today's discussion will evaluate chapter 13 of Armin Nababi's book, "Why There Is No God." I will also respond to some YouTube comments that requested an explanation of God's attributes. The goal is to have a clear view of who God is and why he exists. As always, come join the show and bring your questions! Callers welcome at the end.

Every Christian at one time or another has probably asked, "What is God's will for me in this situation?" Theologian Wayne Grudem has written an accessible booklet that offers practical guidance on how to make biblically informed decisions through the guidance of the Holy Spirit in accordance with God's word. In today's show, Ryan will review this new resource from Wayne Grudem titled, "How to Know God's Will." You will see different factors that should be considered when making decisions, as well as understanding what it means to be "led by the Holy Spirit." Come join the show for this discussion and bring your questions! There will be a Q&A following the book review.

"My Religion/God has helped me so much. How could it not be real?" This is chapter 12 of atheist Armin Nabavi's book, "Why There Is No God." Armin claims, "The benefits of religious communities do not prove the existence of a deity." He even goes so far as to say, "There is no evidence to suggest that God helps people." And if positive outcomes are evidence of God's goodness, does that mean that negative outcomes are evidence of his cruelty? Let's take a look at this chapter and see how religious experience relates to evidence for God. Callers welcome!

I received the following comment on YouTube. "Hello. I am an atheist... My position is that I currently have no good reason to acknowledge the reality of any god. And here is why I currently hold to such a position. Below are 11 facts I must consider when evaluating the claim made by certain theists that a particular god exists in reality." I responded and asked if he would be willing to join the show to discuss his 11 facts, and he agreed. I hope today's show challenges you to consider why you do or don't believe in God and encourages better conversations between people who disagree on God's existence. How would you respond to his 11 facts or my responses?

The cosmological argument is one of the most famous arguments for God's existence. It is usually stated as: P1. Everything that begins to exist has a cause. P2. The universe began to exist. C. Therefore, the universe has a cause. Atheist Armin Navabi responds to this argument in chapter 11 of his book, "Why There is No God." Chapter 11 is titled, "If there is no God, where did everything come from? Without God, there is no explanation." He claims in the chapter that "not knowing the answer does not give us free range to make something up." In fact, he believes this Christian argument commits the "god of the gaps" fallacy, is special pleading, misunderstands physics, and actually says nothing about God. He claims that, "Even if we were to accept that the universe required some sort of 'prime mover,' or originating force, there is no evidence to suggest that this force must conform to any of the traits generally attributed to a god." So as we've been doing in this series, let's take a look at Armin's chapter and see how we can respond well. Where does he misunderstand the cosmological argument? How can Christians use this argument as a powerful argument for God's existence? Join me to see!

Have you heard a Christian argue for God by saying, "There's no evidence that God doesn't exist"? Have you heard an atheist say "Christians are atheists when it comes to the thousands of other gods throughout history"? In Chapter 10 of "Why There Is No God: Simple Responses to 20 Common Arguments for the Existence of God," Atheist Armin Navabi argues that Christians attempt to shift the burden of proof when confronted with criticism. The problem, he says, is that this leads to ad hoc arguments and misunderstands what atheists believe. So, what is it that atheists believe and how should Christians respond? Let's take a look at Armin's chapter and see how we can respond well.

Many argue that Christianity is outdated, oppressive, harmful, and in need of being discarded. They claim that Christians themselves are on the wrong side of history. Is there any truth to this? In today's show, Ryan will review a new book by Sharon James titled, "Is Christianity Good for the World?" You will see that Christianity has had a beneficial and widespread impact on the world. In fact, "The biblical worldview is the only firm foundation for the defense of human dignity and freedom, as well as societal flourishing." Join the show to hear why and ask your questions!

Blaise Pascal was a mid-1600s mathematician and philosopher. He presented an argument for religious belief from a mathematical standpoint that has come to be called Pascal's Wager. The problem is that this argument is often misunderstood and applied in ways that Pascal never intended. In Chapter 8 of "Why There Is No God: Simple Responses to 20 Common Arguments for the Existence of God," Armin Navabi argues that Pascal's Wager "does nothing to prove the nature of God," and "falls apart completely." Is this true? Should Christians stop using Pascal's Wager in our conversations? Let's take a look and think well about Armin's objections and the intended use of Pascal's Wager. Content Discussed: 0:00 Intro 5:36 Response to Armin Navabi 7:15 Background on Pascal's Wager 13:30 Armin's 2 ways that Pascal's Wager breaks down 19:45 How world religions affect Pascal's Wager 25:48 Atheist caller 26:26 If you could prove the Christian God exists, would you become a Christian? 27:40 The Christian God isn't good because he creates people who go to hell for eternity 35:05 Is the most perfect God one who gives us voluntary existence? 43:34 Can we be free if God knows the future? 1:00:18 Is there a cost to following God?

Does God's Word allow for the modern divorce of biological sex and gender identity? What are the core beliefs of the transgender movement? What does Scripture offer on this topic? Join the conversation as Ryan reviews Samuel Ferguson's new book, "Does God Care about Gender Identity?" and offers practical advice to parents and church leaders. Come bring your questions and gain a deeper understanding for a more compassionate engagement.

Have you been left in shock after reading the comment section on a political post? Online discourse seems to have hit a new low. Today's show will address this polarizing issue. Instead of testing the teachings that we see, we often resort to torching the teacher. To avoid torching teachers, we need to start with habits of the heart that "help avoid torching teachers and thereby failing to love our neighbors." We will then look at habits of the mind that "help us test teachings and thereby reject what is false and hold fast to what is true." In short, "Cultivating these habits will equip us not just to be civil but to be faithful to the truth and loving to our neighbors--goals to which I would hope every Christian would aspire." Dr. Rick Langer is my doctoral professor at Biola University where he is a Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology and the Director of the Office of Faith and Learning at Biola University. He specializes in the integration of faith and learning, and has also published in the areas of bioethics, theology and philosophy. He has a passion for helping Christians of all ages understand the connection between the Gospel and all the diverse facets of the created order in which we live. Prior to going to Biola, he served for over twenty years as a pastor at Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Redlands, California.

The best way to respond to deconstruction is to have a healthy faith. How do we cultivate that? Join the show to find out and bring your questions!

Many believe the mistaken view that technology is neutral. It can be used for good or for evil, so technology itself must be neutral, right? The issue is that looking at the moral use of technology only considers one key factor. The moral question is important, but we also have to consider how technology is shaping reality and changing us. Today's episode will help you think well about technology from a biblical worldview.

Cold-Case homicide detective J. Warner Wallace has been investigating murder cases for decades. What have these investigations taught him about life and the nature of people? What guiding principles help us to thrive and flourish as human beings? This conversation will look at valuable insights into our human condition that will help you better understand your own identity and the identity of your Creator. J. Warner Wallace is a Dateline-featured cold-case detective, popular national speaker, and bestselling author. Relying on over two decades of investigative experience, Wallace provides the tools needed to investigate the claims of Christianity and make a convincing case for the truth of the Christian worldview.

How do we make sense of Christianity? Why are there so many scandals in the church? Why is it filled with hypocrisy? Why do Christians struggle with mental illness instead of displaying the fruit of the Spirit? How can I believe in God or miracles today? Come join the conversation as we try to make sense of some of the most challenging questions related to Christianity. Content Discussed: 0:00 Introduction 1:35 Why are so many struggling to make sense of Christianity? 5:02 Is deconversion more of a problem or is there hope with what you see? 9:15 How did your story influence this book? 13:05 What would you say to someone whose Bible reading is the cause of their doubt? 18:15 Are apologists setting up an unrealistic expectation with evidence? 22:33 Evidence and Experience are both necessary 24:00 Why are there so many scandals in the church? 26:41 What can we say to those who have been hurt by those in spiritual authority? 31:15 How do you make sense of the Holy Spirit changing hearts yet not seeing the change in Christians? 37:29 How do you speak to hypocrisy in the church? 41:14 Is there reliable evidence for God's existence? 47:18 How can Jesus be the only way to heaven when so many people haven't heard? 53:47 How can we believe in miracles today? 57:11 How would you encourage those who are struggling to make sense of Christianity?

Does your personal relationship with God count as evidence of His existence, or is there a natural explanation for what Christians experience? Do Christians only see what they want to believe and therefore support the beliefs they already hold? Atheist Armin Navabi addresses the argument "I feel a personal relationship with God, so I know that he is real" in chapter 7 of his book, "Why There Is No God." Today's show will consider his objections as we look at how our relationship with God can be evidence of his existence. Send in your questions for the Q&A at the end and enjoy the discussion!

Can answered prayers be used as evidence for God's existence, or is prayer nothing more than an illusion or placebo effect? Does it help or does it have harmful effects? We continue our series with chapter 6 from Armin Navabi's book, "Why There Is No God." Content: 0:00 Intro 2:25 What have we covered before? 3:50 The big objection against prayer 5:50 Can prayer be used as evidence for God's existence? 9:38 What do scientific experiments show us about the effectiveness of prayer? 22:15 Why is it problematic to study prayer scientifically? 28:35 Do Christians suffer from confirmation bias? 31:20 Looking for scientific evidence presents a narrow view of knowledge 33:30 Is prayer self-contradictory? 34:45 Does God care about the small problems in your life? 42:04 Why doesn't God always answer prayer? 49:10 When prayer can be used as evidence for God 52:15 Are there harmful effects of prayer?

How should Christians think about cultural issues, and how can we have better conversations with those who think differently? The goal of today's show is to give you different perspectives on cultural issues while modeling a healthy disagreement. Come join the conversation and bring your questions! Tim Whitaker is the creator and facilitator at The New Evangelicals. Growing up, Tim always felt at home in evangelical spaces – until years later, when his studying and questions caused him to no longer be welcomed at in his church community. Brokenhearted, but undeterred, Tim continued to pursue a deeper understanding of faith, history, theology and the evangelical church. The more he uncovers, the more he realizes the importance of advocating for the marginalized in the church, exploring the full depth and breadth of Christian faith traditions, and holding toxic churches and leaders accountable.

The majority of people around the world believe in some sort of god. Can this be used to show that God exists? Does the fact that religious beliefs are so widespread prove that something about religion is true? Atheist Armin Navabi addresses these questions in chapter 4 of his book, "Why There Is No God." Let's take a deep look and see if the spread of religion means that God exists.

Atheist Armin Navabi writes that "moral standards, as we understand them, are social constructs. They are tied intimately to cultural circumstances and can change over time." Christians claim that morality comes from God. Which is true? Let's take a deeper look at chapter 4 of "Why There Is No God" by Armin Navabi and see how Christians and atheists approach the topic of morality.

Atheist Armin Navabi writes that "a person surviving a disease believed to be terminal only shows that the disease may not be fully understood or that the prognosis was not accurate." Using miracles as evidence for God would be an argument from ignorance. Because, "no matter how unlikely an event is, it doesn't mean that a supernatural explanation would be more likely." to claim that the Bible is evidence for God is the fallacy of begging the question and is no different than saying, 'This is true because I believe it." He goes on to say, "Just because something is written in a book does not mean that it's true." Is this what Christians are doing when they claim that God's existence is proven by Scripture? Can the Bible be used in our case for God's existence? Let's take a deeper look at chapter 3 of "Why There Is No God" by Armin Navabi and see how we can better understand his points and respond to his arguments. I hope to show you how Christians can use miracles as evidence for God. An open Q&A will follow my discussion of the chapter.

Atheist Armin Navabi writes that to claim that the Bible is evidence for God is the fallacy of begging the question and is no different than saying, 'This is true because I believe it." He goes on to say, "Just because something is written in a book does not mean that it's true." Is this what Christians are doing when they claim that God's existence is proven by Scripture? Can the Bible be used in our case for God's existence? Join the show as we discuss chapter 2 of "Why There Is No God" by Armin Navabi. In this book, Armin gives simple responses to 20 common arguments for the existence of God. This series will cover all 20 arguments, one chapter at a time. Do his objections stand up to cross-examination? Join me and find out. An open Q&A will follow my discussion of chapter 2.

How convincing are the common arguments for Christianity? Do they hit as hard as apologists think they do? What can Christians do better? The Faithiest Atheist joins the show to discuss why different arguments for Christianity are not as convincing as we often think.

"Why There Is No God" by Armin Navabi gives simple responses to 20 common arguments for the existence of God. This series will cover all 20 arguments, one chapter at a time. We begin with chapter 1, "Science can't explain the complexity and order of life; God must have designed it to be this way." What is Armin's response to the design argument? Do his objections stand up to cross-examination? Join me and find out. An open Q&A will follow my discussion of the chapter.

We long for relationships, pursue goodness, desire truth, are startled by beauty, and want to be free. The things that you most want, your deepest desires, will affect how you pursue the best life. It is only within the Christian story that we can understand these desires. Join me and Dr. Ganssle as we show how our desires point back to God and should cause you to want Christianity to be true. Dr. Greg Ganssle is professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He is the author of several books, including "A Reasonable God: Engaging the New Face of Atheism" and "Thinking About God," and he is the editor of "God and Time." He joined the show before to discuss whether atheism or theism had a better explanation of morality.

What do you do when LDS missionaries knock on your door? Do you ignore the knock as if you're not home or confidently engage with biblical truth? Today's conversation includes insider knowledge, personal stories, cultural insights, evangelistic wisdom, and best practices from former LDS missionaries themselves, to help Christians share their faith wisely and effectively with Latter-day Saints. Ross Anderson was born in Utah and was raised LDS. After leaving Mormonism as a young adult, he pursued a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Ministry. Anderson has served as a church planter and pastor in Utah for four decades and is currently a teaching pastor at Alpine Church. He is the executive director of Utah Advance Ministries and the founder of the Faith after Mormonism project and the Culture-Wise podcast. Ross has authored various books, including Understanding the Book of Mormon, Understanding Your Mormon Neighbor, and Jesus without Joseph - a study guide for former Mormons. Ross is an avid cyclist and reader. He and his wife, Sally, are parents to five adult children.