Counter Apologetics

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An informal discussion of common religious arguments, apologetics, and topics that atheists encounter in conversation.

Emerson Green

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    • May 11, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 43m AVG DURATION
    • 167 EPISODES

    4.6 from 146 ratings Listeners of Counter Apologetics that love the show mention: reasonable doubts, emerson, concise and well, apologists, atheist, arguments, religious, christian, thoughtful, useful, god, relevant, music, appreciate, great show, informative, learn, thanks, found, always.


    Ivy Insights

    The Counter Apologetics podcast is an absolute gem for anyone interested in debunking religious apologetics and exploring counterarguments to common religious claims. Hosted by Emerson Green, the show provides concise and well-researched episodes that tackle a wide range of topics with clarity and depth. One of the best aspects of this podcast is Emerson's soothing voice, which adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the listening experience. His ability to explain complex ideas in an accessible way is commendable and makes the show engaging for both beginners and those well-versed in the subject matter. Moreover, the episodes are not only informative but also funny, making it a delightful blend of education and entertainment.

    The Counter Apologetics podcast stands out for addressing issues that many people face when navigating their own journeys of deconstruction and questioning their faith. Listeners appreciate how Emerson tackles cognitive dissonance head-on and helps them understand why they have held certain beliefs for so long. The show has been instrumental in providing clarity for individuals who are going through painful but necessary processes of unraveling their childhood or young adult faiths. Furthermore, many listeners credit the podcast for giving them confidence in ensuring their children do not inherit the complicated baggage they experienced with religion.

    While there are overwhelmingly positive aspects to The Counter Apologetics podcast, one potential downside could be its brevity. Some listeners express a desire for longer episodes as they find each topic covered fascinating and want more content to dive into. However, it is worth noting that despite the relatively short duration of episodes, Emerson manages to pack a lot of information into each segment without sacrificing quality or coherence.

    In conclusion, The Counter Apologetics podcast deserves all the praise it receives for its informative yet entertaining approach to debunking religious apologetics. Emerson Green's soothing voice, combined with his ability to address complex topics with clarity and humor, makes this show highly enjoyable. The podcast offers incredible value to individuals on their deconstruction journeys and provides a great resource for freethinkers looking to learn more about counterarguments to common religious claims. Overall, it is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of religion, philosophy, and critical thinking.



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    Latest episodes from Counter Apologetics

    CA138 The Demand of Theism – Is it immoral to believe in God?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2025 10:58


    We shouldn't be surprised by a world containing pointless suffering if it's not set up with the welfare of conscious creatures in mind. But there's a deeper problem with theism and its demands. Affirming theism requires moral judgments, as it entails endorsing the permissibility of suffering allowed by a benevolent God, which feels like a … Continue reading CA138 The Demand of Theism – Is it immoral to believe in God? →

    CA137 Why are autistics less religious? w/ Christianity on the Spectrum

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 87:53


    I'm joined today by Jonathan Machnee, an autistic researcher who has conducted the largest English language ethnographic study of Christians and ex-Christian autistics (autism 1, or what was formerly known as Asperger's Syndrome or high-functioning autism). His research has included data mining over 26,000 autistics and conducting over 500 interviews with autistic Christians and ex-Christians … Continue reading CA137 Why are autistics less religious? w/ Christianity on the Spectrum →

    CA136 Nobody Dies For A Lie

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 26:30


    I critique Mel Gibson's claim on the Joe Rogan Experience that “nobody dies for a lie,” which many apologists have used in the past to argue that the martyrdom of Jesus' disciples supports the truth of the resurrection, as they wouldn't die for something they knew to be false. First, I challenge this by questioning … Continue reading CA136 Nobody Dies For A Lie →

    CA135 Why are theodicies so unconvincing?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2025 67:18


    Do apologists actually believe what they're saying? I'm joined by Counter Apologist to discuss his “Paradise Hell” thought experiment and to try to explain why theistic attempts to account for evil are so unpersuasive. What decision would you make if eternity were on the line? Linktree

    Philip Goff’s Conversion to Christianity

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 54:32


    We discuss Philip Goff's conversion, the online reaction to it, and what his “heretical Christianity” involves. Is he a real Christian? What does he think about the resurrection, the ascension, the miracles of Christ, the virgin birth, the trinity, inerrantism, the atonement, and God's nature? Amos Wollen – Conversion Review: Christianity gains a new smart person Randal … Continue reading Philip Goff's Conversion to Christianity →

    The Moral Argument for God – Have I Been Debunked?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2024 215:47


    Two Christian apologists reviewed my series on the moral argument for God on their channel, Democracy of the Dead. I recorded my own counter-response shortly thereafter, but thought it was too profanity-laden and impolite to release. Generally speaking, it's good to remain dispassionate in these online spaces, but I let my frustration get the better … Continue reading The Moral Argument for God – Have I Been Debunked? →

    CA132 From Atheism to Agnosticism (w/ Adherent Apologetics)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2024 45:36


    Zac (Adherent Apologetics) and I explore a few of the things that drew me to agnosticism. Religious ambiguity, disagreement among epistemic peers, the diversity of the theistic tradition (as well as the varieties of non-theism), the seeming inscrutability of the prior probability of theism, and my acceptance of the value-selection hypothesis have all played a … Continue reading CA132 From Atheism to Agnosticism (w/ Adherent Apologetics) →

    Losing My Religion – with Fuad Abdullah Harahap (@fubilosophy)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 56:42


    I'm interviewed by Fuad Abdullah Harahap (@fubilosophy) about my deconversion, the sad state of Christian apologetics, my issues with the skeptic community, free will, the afterlife, agnosticism, and a few other topics. Fubilosophy Linktree

    CA131 What would convince you?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2024 16:37


    What would convince you of God's existence? Specifically, the Christian God. What would change your mind and cause you to convert? I name three things: Christian aliens, miracles, and religious experience. That's not an exhaustive list, but those things would dramatically raise my credence in Christian theism. I spend the most time talking about religious … Continue reading CA131 What would convince you? →

    CA130 Am I Agnostic?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2024 25:10


    The world is religiously ambiguous: It can be interpreted in various incompatible ways, and the interpreters are not necessarily violating any standards of rationality in doing so. As for me, I don't feel any position being forced on me by the evidence. My best efforts to judge the total balance of evidence weighing for and … Continue reading CA130 Am I Agnostic? →

    CA129 Universalism Debate: John Buck vs. Emerson Green

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2024 107:46


    Returning guest John Buck joins me to debate universalism, eternal conscious torment, and other topics related to hell and the afterlife. My Playlist on Hell Linktree

    CA128 No, math does not prove God

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2024 35:06


    I respond to the wildly popular Redeemed Zoomer video about proving God's existence with math. To see the open hangout that took place afterwards, you can watch the original livestream (unedited with no postscript) on YouTube Linktree

    god math prove redeemed zoomer
    CA127 What’s wrong with the moral argument?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2023 22:16


    We wrap up our series on the moral argument for theism, summarize several problems with the argument famously associated with William Lane Craig, and discuss two other moral arguments for God that are not abysmal failures like the standard moral argument. Linktree

    CA126 Euthyphro’s Revenge

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2023 57:38


    Today, we continue our series on the moral argument for theism. We discuss the Euthyphro dilemma, Hume's Law, and explore a back-and-forth between William Lane Craig and Michael Huemer on the question, “Why obey God?” Common Mistakes about the Moral Argument | Majesty of Reason Majesty of Reason – Moral Arguments for God: An Analysis … Continue reading CA126 Euthyphro's Revenge →

    CA125 The Moral Argument for God (pt.1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2023 40:23


    In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And morality. The standard moral argument popularized by William Lane Craig and others goes as follows: (1) If God does not exist, objective moral values do not exist.  (2) Objective moral values do exist.  (3) Therefore, God exists.  Today, we cast some doubt on the … Continue reading CA125 The Moral Argument for God (pt.1) →

    CA124 Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Conversion to Christianity

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2023 21:34


    Ayaan Hirsi Ali recently announced her conversion to Christianity. But has she only adopted a form of cultural Christianity? I examine her reasons for becoming a Christian and draw some parallels between Ayaan and another political convert: Andrew Tate. I think her reasons for adopting Christianity are quite clearly explicated, even though some Christians have … Continue reading CA124 Ayaan Hirsi Ali's Conversion to Christianity →

    AMA

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2023 202:30


    I recently asked for your questions, and I posted my responses on YouTube here. We touch on compatibilism, NDEs, aliens, euthanasia, abortion, death anxiety as an atheist, idealism, incest, Islam, Mormonism, subjectivism, psychophysical harmony, and more. (For those listening via podcast, I left the introduction in to preserve the timestamps for those who want to skip … Continue reading AMA →

    CA123 Christian Universalism w/ Andrew Hronich

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2023


    I'm joined by Andrew Hronich, author of Once Loved, Always Loved: The Logic of Apokatastasis. We discuss universal reconciliation, eternal conscious torment, annihilationism, and much else!  Watch the interview here Linktree

    Where New Atheist Epistemology Goes (Very) Wrong – Interview on Adherent Apologetics

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2023 69:45


    Here's my appearance on Adherent Apologetics to talk about the recent series of Counter Apologetics episodes on epistemology. Where New Atheist Epistemology Goes (Very) Wrong | @EmersonGreen | Ep. #259  5 Mistakes Atheists Make About Epistemology  4 Things I Learned About Epistemology Epistemology playlist on YouTube Linktree 

    Debate: Is God Finite?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2023 139:33


    Alex Strasser (Protestant) and John Buck (Catholic) debate the merits of finite theism, the view that God is limited in power. Theistic finitism is less vulnerable to the problem of evil than perfect being theism, but are there other trade-offs that make the notion of a finite God less defensible overall? John is defending the … Continue reading Debate: Is God Finite? →

    CA122 Substance Dualism w/ Michael Huemer

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2023 97:27


    Dr. Michael Huemer joins me to defend interactionist substance dualism, the view that the mind and body are composed of different substances and can exert causal influence over each other. Knowledge, Reality, and Value: A Mostly Common Sense Guide to Philosophy  Linktree

    CA121 Encountering Mystery w/ Dale Allison

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2023 68:53


    Today I'm speaking with Dr. Dale Allison, historian and author of many books, including The Resurrection of Jesus, The Historical Christ and the Theological Jesus, and our subject today, Encountering Mystery: Religious Experience in a Secular Age. The subtitle of the book notwithstanding, the unusual experiences we discuss are not explicitly religious. They're usually interpreted … Continue reading CA121 Encountering Mystery w/ Dale Allison →

    Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 6:06


    Today, I defend the controversial idea that ordinary and extraordinary claims don't require the same evidence. Linktree

    CA120 Debate: Limited vs. Unlimited God

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 99:16


    LDS Philosophy and Dry Apologist join me for a debate on the nature of God. We compare the virtues of a limited model of God versus a model on which God is unlimited in power, as well as simple, impassible, etc. Are the classical models of God too impersonal and abstract, incapable of sustaining a … Continue reading CA120 Debate: Limited vs. Unlimited God →

    CA119 Intuition, Lacktheism, & Charity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2023 16:24


    We close out our series on atheism and epistemology with the epistemic value of intuition, the issue of lacktheism, and whether or not I've been charitable to my fellow atheists throughout these episodes. Linktree

    CA118 Testimonial Evidence

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2023 16:08


    Can we really trust the testimony of others? Does testimony provide any evidence or justification for a claim? I defend the idea that we should trust testimony, and that the epistemic value of testimonial evidence is supported by induction, the principle of charity in interpretation, and coherence. Linktree

    CA117 Is Theism Unfalsifiable?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2023 13:51


    This is part two of a five-part series. For even more on epistemology, check out Walden Pod for a completely different epistemology series. Understanding Knowledge – Michael Huemer Linktree

    CA116 Mistakes Atheists Make About Epistemology: “There is no evidence for God.”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2023 16:52


    There are a number of slogans one hears in the online atheist community, some of them purporting to be epistemic principles or rules of thumb. Unfortunately, many of them are only correct if we interpret them very narrowly and often not in the way they were intended, while others are just plain wrong. Today, we'll … Continue reading CA116 Mistakes Atheists Make About Epistemology: “There is no evidence for God.” →

    CA115 Post-Debate Interview w/ Justin Schieber of Real Atheology

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2023 76:47


    Justin Schieber joins me for a lighthearted breakdown of his debate with Eric Hernandez on the existence of God. We critique the arguments put forward by Eric, discuss the evidence presented by Justin, and talk about a few of our favorite moments from the debate. Huge shoutout to Capturing Christianity for organizing the debate, and … Continue reading CA115 Post-Debate Interview w/ Justin Schieber of Real Atheology →

    CA114 Animal Suffering is Evidence Against God

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2023 11:10


    Is the kind, degree, and distribution of animal suffering evidence against theism? We discuss why teleological evil, the scale of suffering in evolutionary history, and the moral randomness of animal pain is strong evidence against the existence of God. Transcript YouTube Tip Jar Linktree

    Debate: Is Animal Suffering Evidence That God Does Not Exist? w/ Perspective Philosophy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2023 107:27


    Perspective Philosophy and I recently had a friendly debate about the problem of evil, metaethics, the contingency argument, and how he maintains his worldview as a catholic and vegan. The Conversation Post-debate debrief – Patreon Linktree

    Unknown Arguments For & Against God

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2023 104:15


    Two Catholics (Dry Apologist & John Buck) and two atheists (Emerson Green & Chris Rhodes) talk about lesser-known arguments for theism and against theism. Chris joins us a little later, but he makes it in time to rack up several casualties on the battlefield of ideas. Originally hosted on Dry Apologist's channel. 00:00 Introduction 04:00 Evidential … Continue reading Unknown Arguments For & Against God →

    unknown arguments evidential john buck against god emerson green
    CA113 God’s Personality Change?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023


    Is there any moral clash between the depiction of Yahweh and Jesus Christ?  Catholic Answers recently responded to a question I had originally asked when I was 19. On Twitter, I'd recounted an experience I had with Frank Turek when I was struggling to hold onto my faith:  “I remember asking Frank Turek in person … Continue reading CA113 God's Personality Change? →

    Bonus: Mormonism is More Defensible Than You Think (w/ LDS Philosophy & Thoughtful Faith)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 3:55


    I was recently invited on Thoughtful Faith's channel to share my thoughts about why LDS theology may have a few philosophical advantages over more mainstream versions of Christianity. For example, Mormons reject perfect being theism in favor of a limited god, which opens up new avenues in responding to arguments from evil that are not … Continue reading Bonus: Mormonism is More Defensible Than You Think (w/ LDS Philosophy & Thoughtful Faith) →

    CA112 What’s the Best Explanation of Psychophysical Harmony? w/ Philip Goff & Dustin Crummett

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2023


    Philip Goff and Dustin Crummett debate psychophysical harmony, God, axiarchism, pan-agentialism, natural teleology, and explore some neglected terrain between theism and the hypothesis of indifference. What are our options in explaining the fine-tuning of consciousness? Subscribe on YouTube Twitter @waldenpod @Philip_Goff @dustin_crummett Dustin's Channel Mind Chat Consider supporting the show on Patreon here or Walden … Continue reading CA112 What's the Best Explanation of Psychophysical Harmony? w/ Philip Goff & Dustin Crummett →

    CA111 How to Be a Christian When You Don't Believe It's True w/ Randal Rauser

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2023


    I'm joined by Dr. Randal Rauser to discuss his new book, The Doubter's Creed: How to Be a Christian When You Don't Believe It's True. We discuss the uniquely creedal character of Christianity, the credibility of doxastic voluntarism (the view that we can choose our beliefs at will), prudential reasons to hope Christianity is true, … Continue reading CA111 How to Be a Christian When You Don't Believe It's True w/ Randal Rauser →

    CA110 Addressing Popular Forms of Theism vs. the Best Forms

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2023


    Should we address popular versions of theism? Or should we address the best, most defensible versions of theism?  To pursue the question of God's existence, we must engage with the best forms of theism, not the worst. As Michael Huemer put it, “Who cares if you can refute the craziest version of a view? … … Continue reading CA110 Addressing Popular Forms of Theism vs. the Best Forms →

    Miracles Panel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2023


    linktr.ee/emersongreen Subscribe on YouTube Listen to our sister show, Walden Pod here Music by ichika Nito & Whalers. Used with permission. Follow on Twitter @waldenpod Consider supporting the show on Patreon here or Walden Pod here

    CA109 Meager Moral Fruits w/ Real Atheology

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2022


    Ben Watkins of Real Atheology joins me to discuss the meager moral fruits argument, a few objections to the argument, and why we're interested in it in the first place. Subscribe to Real Atheology on YouTube and on iTunes  Follow us on Twitter @waldenpod @RealAtheology @SpeedWatkins  Subscribe on YouTube Listen to our sister show, Walden … Continue reading CA109 Meager Moral Fruits w/ Real Atheology →

    CA108 Psychophysical Harmony, Physicalism, & God w/ Brian Cutter

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 65:16


    Dr. Brian Cutter joins me to discuss his paper, ‘Psychophysical Harmony: A New Argument for Theism‘, coauthored with Dr. Dustin Crummett. After talking about epiphenomenalism and why William James' argument against it works against all views in philosophy of mind (with the lone exception of Type-A materialism), we explain why psychophysical harmony seems so improbable. … Continue reading CA108 Psychophysical Harmony, Physicalism, & God w/ Brian Cutter →

    CA107 The Participation Theodicy — w/ John Buck

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2022 145:43


    The participation theodicy holds, reasonably enough, that it would be good to create an ideal world. Since it would be good for God to do so, it would also be good for us to do so (as well as any other beings). The goodness would only be multiplied through our participation and contribution to the … Continue reading CA107 The Participation Theodicy — w/ John Buck →

    CA106 One Hell of a Problem – w/ Real Atheology & Counter Apologist

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2022 105:15


    I'm joined by Counter Apologist and Ryan from Real Atheology to discuss eternal conscious torment. First, we take a closer look at the views of William Lane Craig, who famously denies the possibility of an actual infinite in the context of the kalam, yet seems to argue that the guilt of those who reject God … Continue reading CA106 One Hell of a Problem – w/ Real Atheology & Counter Apologist →

    Metaethics & Moral Realism w/ Michael Huemer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022 123:13


    Dr. Michael Huemer joins me to discuss moral realism vs. antirealism, ethical intuitionism, phenomenal conservatism, moral disagreement, and much else in moral philosophy. (This aired originally on YouTube and Walden Pod.) Ethical Intuitionism Knowledge, Reality, and Value: A Mostly Common Sense Guide to Philosophy William Lane Craig vs. Erik Wielenberg Linktree   / The Five … Continue reading Metaethics & Moral Realism w/ Michael Huemer →

    CA105 Responding to Trent Horn’s “5 Atheist Double Standards”

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2022 56:38


    This is my response to Catholic apologist Trent Horn's recent video entitled “5 Atheist Double Standards.” (The first minute is a cold open. It makes more sense if you're watching the video version.) Watch on YouTube Interview on the Sentientism podcast The Meager Moral Fruits Argument My devil's advocate debate Follow me on Twitter @waldenpod … Continue reading CA105 Responding to Trent Horn's “5 Atheist Double Standards” →

    Debate Breakdown w/ Ben Burgis: Christopher Hitchens vs. David Berlinski

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2022 138:22


    This is my appearance on Ben Burgis's channel. Ben and I listen to and comment on a debate between Christopher Hitchens and David Berlinkski over the motion “Atheism poisons everything.” The video Linktree

    CA104 How did religion evolve? w/ Naturalism Next

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2022 90:26


    Naturalism Next joins me to discuss “the cognitive science argument against theism.” We talk about the psychology of religion, hyperactive agency detection, signaling theory, and more on the evolutionary origins of religious belief. Crucially, theories from modern cognitive science of religion are antecedently more likely on naturalism than on theism, and so provide good evidence … Continue reading CA104 How did religion evolve? w/ Naturalism Next →

    Bonus: The Fall – w/ Christian Idealism & Invoking Theism

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2022 17:58


    I'm joined by Christian Idealism and Invoking Theism to discuss how they see the Fall as non-young earth creationists. This was an impromptu recording in my hotel room at the Capturing Christianity conference in Houston. (You also might recognize the introductions from the previous episode.)  Subscribe on YouTube Consider supporting the show on Patreon here … Continue reading Bonus: The Fall – w/ Christian Idealism & Invoking Theism →

    CA103 Defeat, Evil, & Hell – w/ Christian Idealism & Invoking Theism

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2022 41:13


    I'm joined by Christian Idealism and Invoking Theism to discuss the problem of evil, the defeat condition, eternal conscious torment, alternative models of the afterlife, and whether we can have sex in hell. We're also joined on mic by John Buck for a few minutes. This was an impromptu recording in my hotel room at … Continue reading CA103 Defeat, Evil, & Hell – w/ Christian Idealism & Invoking Theism →

    CA102 The Most Plausible Form of Christianity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2022 25:22


    I outline a version of Christianity that doesn't suffer from some of the problems that I find the most troubling. Universalism, in conjunction with a handful of other views, seems capable of smoothing over some of my biggest reasons for rejecting theism. This is a clip from a longer interview on Adherent Apologetics. We didn't … Continue reading CA102 The Most Plausible Form of Christianity →

    CA101 Five Arguments Against God w/ Jonathan MS Pearce

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2022 111:29


    I'm joined by the author of “30 Arguments Against The Existence of ‘God': Heaven, Hell, Satan, and Divine Design” to discuss five arguments raised in his new book. Watch the interview on YouTube here Jonathan's column on OnlySky Follow me on Twitter @waldenpod Consider supporting the show on Patreon here or Walden Pod here linktr.ee/emersongreen

    Voicemail: (734) 707-1940

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2022 0:29


    Leave me a voicemail at (734) 707-1940 for a new call-in segment! Linktree

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