Thinking Out Loud with Alan Shlemon

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STR speaker Alan Shlemon provides a monthly update while answering questions across a wide range of topics including criticisms of Christianity.

Alan Shlemon


    • May 19, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 11m AVG DURATION
    • 92 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Thinking Out Loud with Alan Shlemon podcast is a highly informative and thought-provoking show that tackles difficult and controversial issues from a biblical perspective. Alan Shlemon has the remarkable ability to present these topics clearly, analyze them thoroughly, and provide concise points to support his case. This podcast is incredibly helpful for those seeking understanding on complex issues and serves as a valuable resource for navigating our culture with both grace and truth.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is Alan's skill in dismantling faulty arguments and exposing the flaws in bad thinking. He breaks down rhetorical tricks and logical fallacies, allowing listeners to see through persuasive yet flawed reasoning. It is impressive how he can take something that initially seems convincing and reveal its true nature through careful analysis. His ability to do so provides great clarity on important issues and helps listeners grasp them correctly.

    Although the content presented in this podcast is exceptional, one potential downside is its level of complexity. Understanding the biblical and philosophical perspectives discussed can be challenging at times, making it necessary to listen to episodes multiple times in order to fully comprehend the concepts being presented. However, this effort proves worthwhile, as Alan's insights are invaluable in shaping one's understanding of various subjects.

    In conclusion, The Thinking Out Loud with Alan Shlemon podcast is an absolute must-listen for everyone. The hard work put into providing well-reasoned and researched tools for engaging with our culture in grace and truth is greatly appreciated. Alan's friendly demeanor, combined with his ruthless dismantling of faulty ideas, creates a compelling listening experience. The only area for improvement would be increasing the frequency of posts, as each episode leaves listeners hungry for more thought-provoking content. Overall, this podcast serves as an indispensable resource for those seeking intellectual rigor coupled with a biblical worldview.



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    Latest episodes from Thinking Out Loud with Alan Shlemon

    Andy Stanley's Problematic Approach to Transgenderism

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 10:21


    A video was leaked showing leadership at Andy Stanley's church explaining how they minister to children who identify as transgender or experience gender dysphoria. Alan explains three concerns with their approach.

    Arguing Is a Virtue, Not a Vice

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 8:11


    Alan explains why people don't like to argue, and then explains why it's essential that we learn to argue well.

    Yes, Jesus Did Say Something about Homosexuality

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 10:41


    Alan responds to the common claim that Jesus never said anything about homosexuality.

    Should We Say “Allah” to Refer to God?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 7:20


    Alan explains why the word, “Allah” is not a general term for God.

    Which Requires Consent: Puberty or Puberty Blockers?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 10:27


    Alan responds to the claim that children should be required to consent to puberty.

    Does Christianity, Like Islam, Order the Death of Apostates?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 9:54


    Some skeptics of Christianity allege that the Bible, like Islam, commands Christians to kill apostates. Alan addresses this claim and explains the three steps he took to resolve this challenge.

    How the Film 1946 Fails to Advance Pro-Gay Theology

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 17:27


    Alan wrote two critical articles about the film, 1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted Culture, prior to ever watching the film. Now that he's seen it, Alan evaluates whether his assessment was correct.

    Why Study How to Interpret the Bible?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 9:18


    Alan offers two reasons why every Christian should study how to interpret the Bible.

    How to Engage Online

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2024 11:59


    Alan provides three tips for how to properly engage online.

    Does Eve Provide Evidence for Transgenderism?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2024 9:35


    Alan addresses the claim that because Eve was formed from a male rib, she represents the first transgender woman. Consequently, the Bible (and God) permits transgenderism.

    Christians, Speak Clearly and Not in Christianese

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2024 8:26


    Alan explains the importance of not speaking in Christianese when you're sharing your Christian convictions.

    Pro-Gay Theology Follows a Pattern of Past Interpretive Mistakes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 8:58


    Alan points out how the interpretive mistakes made by pro-gay theology advocates today have been made in the past.

    Eight Tips to Become a Professional Apologist

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2024 18:12


    Alan offers eight tips to help someone who is interested in pursuing part-time or full-time apologetics ministry.

    The Problem with a Christian Attending a Same-Sex Wedding

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2024 15:58


    Should a Christian attend a same-sex wedding? Alan has attended a same-sex wedding in the past, but believes he made the wrong decision. In this episode, he unpacks his past reasoning, explains why he was mistaken, and offers a practical alternative.

    If Pro-Gay Theology Advocates Could Change the Past, Would that Change the Future Like They Want?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2024 18:44


    Alan explains what would happen if someone was to go back in time to 1946 and stop the RSV Bible translation team from using the word “homosexuals.” He unpacks whether this would change the Bible's teaching on marriage, homosexuality, and sexual ethics today.

    Problems with Creating Your Identity When You Reject God

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024 9:12


    When a person rejects God, they're left to determine for themselves their own identity. Alan unpacks some problems with this approach.

    Why It's Reasonable to Refuse to Use Preferred Pronouns

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2023 20:14


    Alan addresses whether it's reasonable to refuse to use a transgender person's preferred pronouns.

    Should You Violate Your Conscience to Maintain Your Relationship with an LGBT Person?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2023 8:12


    People who identify as LGBT routinely ask their Christian friends and family to accommodate various requests. Are you justified in declining to go along even if it might damage your relationship with them? Alan unpacks his thoughts on this thorny dilemma.

    What Are My Concerns with Andy Stanley's Unconditional Conference?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2023 36:48


    Alan attended Andy Stanley's Unconditional Conference, an event intended to equip parents and ministry leaders how to reach out to LGBTQ youth. In this episode, Alan provides his assessment of the conference, including three major concerns.

    Is it Difficult to Define a Woman?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2023 8:17


    Why has it become so hard to define a woman? Alan looks at a few definitions that are offered, explains what's wrong with them, and then offers his own definition.

    Do Christians Have an Ulterior Motive for Being Kind?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2023 8:17


    Alan addresses the objection that some people claim Christians are only kind to people so they can convert them.

    Should Abortion Remain Legal So Women Don't Pursue Back-Alley Abortions?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2023 7:17


    Alan offers three steps to respond to the rhetorically powerful, yet flawed argument that women might get injured or killed through dangerous, back-alley abortions if abortion is made illegal.

    The Puzzling Inconsistency of Abortion and Homicide Laws

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2023 6:22


    Alan describes the inconsistency in current laws surrounding abortion and homicide and offers a simple solution.

    Deconstructing Is Not Reforming Your Faith

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2023 7:52


    Some Christians and many former Christians are promoting a trendy approach to doubting and questioning your faith called deconstruction. Is it the same as reforming your faith? Alan explains the one key element that distinguishes between the two.

    Dishonest Images of the Unborn

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2023 6:03


    A recent article in The Guardian displayed some misleading images of what is removed in an abortion from a 9-week pregnancy. Alan explains the problems with the article and the images.

    Man or Maker: Who Has the Answers to Humanity's Most Critical Questions?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2023 7:16


    When it comes to answering critical questions about how we humans should live, identify, and behave sexually, who should we listen to? Man or our Maker?

    Gay Idioms Don't Time Travel

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2023 9:12


    Alan addresses a progressive Christian who claims that Jesus wants LGBT people to “come out,” by explaining how he misuses a common literary device.

    Christ's Crucifixion Isn't Child Sacrifice

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2023 8:12


    Some object to the idea that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins through his death on the cross, calling it "child sacrifice." Alan, however, offers three reasons why characterizing it that way is inappropriate.

    Why Pro-Choicers Insist Pro-Life Arguments Are Religious

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2022 9:12


    Alan explains two reasons why abortion-choice advocates insist that pro-life arguments are religious.

    Humans Come in Only Two Sexes

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2022 14:50


    Many biologists, doctors, and scientists tell us today that sex is on a spectrum or that there are more than two sexes. Alan addresses this claim by looking at the evidence from both Scripture and general principles of science.

    If God Became a Man, Can a Man Become a Woman?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2022 13:20


    A popular tweet claims that if someone can believe God became a man, then they can also believe that a man can become a woman. Alan unpacks this tweet, defines some key terms, and shows why the claim is misleading.

    God's Preferred Pronouns

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2022 10:00


    Alan responds to the claim by some gender theorists that God's pronouns should be they/them.

    A Verse That Illustrates Three Interpretive Principles

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2022 12:17


    Alan looks at passage of Scripture that skeptics like to use to challenge Jesus' integrity. Then, he clarifies the meaning and application of the passage by using three key interpretive principles.

    Are Transgender People Fixing God's Mistakes?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2022 9:16


    Alan responds to a tweet that suggests that transgender people are fixing God's mistakes.

    Must You Remain Silent on Abortion Unless You Adopt a Baby?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2022 8:49


    If you've never adopted a child, does this disqualify you from speaking out against abortion? Alan offers five reasons why this challenge is mistaken.

    Abortion Is Unjust Discrimination

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2021 8:27


    Do abortion-choice advocates hold a morally superior view or is their position discriminatory? Alan unpacks this question in this month's episode.

    Biology's Divorce from Teleology

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2021 8:38


    Alan takes notice of a cultural trend to reject teleological language when describing human anatomy and shows how this explains modern thinking on sex and sexuality.

    Does the Bible Limit Gender to Just Male and Female?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2021 10:56


    Alan responds to a trendy new argument that claims that a non-binary interpretation can be imposed on the Genesis account of creation.

    Three Big Bangs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2021 10:23


    You've heard of the Big Bang, but are you aware of the other two big bangs, each of which represents the beginning of a fundamentally new thing that didn't exist before? Alan explains what they are and their theistic implications.

    Christianity Is the Best Explanation for Reality

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2021 13:18


    If someone asked you how you know Christianity is true, how would you answer them? In this episode, Alan offers his response to that question by appealing to some powerful truths that people live by.

    The Claim about Homosexuality in the Film 1946 Is Irrelevant

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2021 17:07


    An upcoming film claims that Christian opposition to homosexuality is based on a 1946 mistranslation of a Greek word in the RSV Bible. Alan explains why their argument doesn’t change the Christian understanding of sexuality.

    How to Receive Critical Feedback

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2021 11:04


    Alan received some harsh feedback from a recent event. He explains three steps he takes when he gets these kinds of critical comments.

    Live According to a Plumb Line, Not a Pendulum

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2021 7:24


    When you realize your theology is in error, do you overcorrect by swinging wildly to the opposite position? Alan offers a biblical approach to correcting your view, one that looks more like using a plumb line than a pendulum.

    The Fear of “Phobic”

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2021 9:53


    Have you ever been called a "phobic" term like homophobic, Islamophobic, transphobic, or xenophobic? Alan discusses three reasons why you don’t have to fear the “phobic” label.

    Will Faith as Small as a Mustard Seed Save You?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2021 7:05


    Does God require a certain amount of faith before he accepts it? Alan addresses this question by clarifying the nature of faith.

    Atheism’s Empty Soul

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 8:56


    A worldview that denies God and embraces naturalism has serious repercussions, the most egregious being a logical slide to nihilism. Alan unpacks three reasons why nihilism flows logically from naturalism.

    Coffee Cup Christianity

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2020 7:53


    Alan sounds the alarm on a pop Christian culture habit called Coffee Cup Christianity. He unpacks three of its harms and explains how they are fueling biblical illiteracy.

    How to Prepare for the Next Cultural Revolution

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2020 10:57


    Alan talks about how Christians were caught off guard by the current cultural revolution sweeping society today. He offers a two-step strategy to prepare for the next revolution and to protect believers from succumbing to its ideas.

    Why the Problem of Evil Is Still a Problem

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2020 10:53


    Skeptics and atheists find the problem of evil so repugnant and our solutions so hollow because they refuse to accept a fundamental reality that every Christian believes. Alan explains what that reality is in this episode, thereby demonstrating why the problem of evil is still a problem for many non-Christians.

    How 2020 Is Taking a Toll on Your Soul

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2020 30:55


    Alan explains why you’re likely feeling fatigued and frustrated with 2020. He quotes what he believes is the comment of the year because it provides valuable insight into how God made us and what we’re created to handle. This episode is from the STR broadcast when Alan was a guest host.

    Christians Can’t Play Mortal Kombat

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2020 5:41


    Believe it or not, there’s a valuable lesson that Christians can learn from the violent video game Mortal Kombat. Alan explains the lesson and how it should affect your conversations with people who don’t share your convictions.

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