Thinking to Believe

Jesus' ascension into heaven not only signaled a major transition of Jesus' ministry, but also a major transition for His disciples. It meant their training was over, and now it was time to pick up Jesus' mantle and carry on His ministry. In this episode, I begin to connect the dots between Jesus' ascension into heaven and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, showing how the latter was required to equip Jesus' followers to carry on His earthly ministry and fulfill God's plan to save humanity. In doing so, I'll explore Luke's theology of the Holy Spirit. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

I finished up my discussion of the significance of Jesus' ascension, arguing that it was when Jesus was fully glorified, and it includes a promise of His return to Earth. Then, I reviewed five things Jesus is doing right now in heaven:1. He's with His church2. He's preparing a place for us3. He's building His church4. He's dispensing the Holy Spirit5. He's functioning as our high priest, interceding on our behalfWeb: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

We don't talk much about Jesus' ascension into heaven, but historically, this was always recognized as a significant event in Jesus' life. And it is! I discuss the practical and theological significance of the ascension.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

In this final episode on the resurrection, look at some of the NT promises regarding our own future resurrection from the dead, explore what our resurrection body will be like, and explain the theological and practical implications of the general resurrection.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

I share some post-Easter thoughts (including a “pet the peeve” segment) and begin a discussion on our own future resurrection from the dead. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

In this final episode on the Shroud of Turin, I talk about art based on the shroud, reasons to doubt the Shroud is authentic, and where the Shroud shows up in the historical record. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

I look at various attempts to recreate the Shroud image through naturalistic means before moving on to other ways we can know the Shroud is older than what the carbon dating suggests. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

I discuss how the image on the shroud was made, as well as the age of the Shroud and the infamous C-14 dating from 1988.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

What is the evidence that the Shroud of Turin is the real burial cloth of Jesus and bears His crucified image? In this episode I begin to cover 17 points of evidence that point to authenticity. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

The Shroud of Turin is the purported burial cloth of Jesus Christ, bearing the image of a crucified man. Is it authentic and evidence for the resurrection, or just a medieval forgery? This is the first episode in the final sub-series in the resurrection series. I start by examining the features of the cloth itself, as well as the image of a crucified man that is embedded within the fibers of the cloth. The characteristics are quite distinct, and match the unique description of Jesus' death found in the gospels. View the shroud images by downloading my Power Point presentation at www.bit.ly/Jesusshroud. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

In this miscellany episode I offer my short thoughts on worship music, being thoughtful about our language, the centrality of truth, words of advice to aspiring preachers, why religion is not a bad word, conversation etiquette, and end with a Pet the Peeve segment about where waitresses place the bill on the table.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

I covered the final four differences in the gospel accounts:1.  Did Peter just look into the tomb, or did he enter it?2.  Why did the angels tell the women to tell the male disciples to meet Him in Galilee if Jesus was going to appear to the apostles that same day in Jerusalem?3.  Why did Jesus tell the apostles to stay in Jerusalem if they had not yet gone to Galilee?4.  Did Jesus ascend to heaven from Bethany or the Mount of Olives?I also show how the Evangelists agree on more than they disagree, reconstruct a video view of events, and explain why inerrancy is irrelevant to establishing the truth of Christianity. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

I address three Gospel differences:1. Did all of the apostles disbelieve the report of the Emmaus Disciples, or only some of them?2. Did Jesus ascend to heaven the same day as His resurrection, or weeks later3. Was Jesus' first appearance to the apostles to 10 or 11 apostlesWeb: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

We know the Synoptic gospels simplified their empty tomb narratives, so how did that affect their portrayal of the event? Why did Luke leave out the appearance of Jesus to the women? I also explore differences related to the Emmaus disciples narrative. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

I continue to examine differences in the empty tomb narratives. In this episode, I address differences in where the women were when the angels appeared to them. I show how the differences can be resolved when we recognize that there were two tomb visits. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb twice. She left before the angels/Jesus appeared to the remaining women, but saw the angels/Jesus when she returned to the tomb for the second time. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

I do a walkthrough of the four gospel accounts' concerning the empty tomb, resurrection, and post-mortem appearances of Jesus, comparing and contrasting them to identify similarities and differences. Then I begin to harmonize the empty tomb narratives, addressing the following differences:1. Which women went to the tomb?2. Did the women journey to the tomb when it was dark or at dawn?3. Did the women see angels or men?4. Did the women see one or two angels?5. Did the women encounter the angels inside the tomb or outside the tomb, and were the angels sitting or standing? Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

I explored the various compositional devices used in Greco-Roman biographies and provided Biblical examples of their use in the Gospels. These compositional devices explain many of the so-called errors and differences in the Gospels.  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

Part 2 of harmonizing the resurrection accounts. Still establishing the foundation  for harmonization by looking at how the ancients recorded history. Explained how differences in words and events can be explained. Started looking at Mike Licona's work on compositional devices. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

Skeptics point to so-called contradictions in the Gospel accounts as reasons to doubt their claims that Jesus rose from the dead. I'll spend several episodes harmonizing the resurrection accounts in the Gospels, but in this episode I begin to lay the foundation for how we should think about so-called contradictions and what's really at stake. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

Covered more objections to the resurrection of Jesus, including-- Why didn't Jesus' disciples always recognize Him after His resurrection?-- Why did the apostles wait so long to proclaim Jesus' resurrection?-- If the evidence for Jesus' resurrection is so good, why do only Christians believe it?-- Didn't Jesus tell Thomas he wasn't blessed precisely because he required evidence for the resurrection?-- Isn't evidence for the resurrection opposed to faith?Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

I address more questions and objections:-- Was Jesus' "appearance" to Paul truly a resurrection appearance?-- Jews did not bury crucified victims. Jesus was left in an open tomb and most likely eaten by dogs/birds.-- Jesus' Body Would have been Unrecognizable-- Why Didn't Jesus Appear to Unbelievers?-- The Doctrine of Resurrection was a Later Doctrine-- How did Mark know what the women saw at the tomb if they did not say anything to anyone? --Why were the unbelieving Jews anticipating a resurrection of Jesus, but not the apostles?Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

I address the following questions and objections:o   When Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?o   Where is Jesus' body now?o   It's difficult to know what's true about history. o   The ancients were just gullible and easily accepted miracle claimso   The Resurrection is Not a Historical Conclusiono   Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence, and you haven't provided extraordinary evidence.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

I continue my examination of non-miraculous explanations for the historical facts including the spiritual resurrection theory, deification theory, wish fulfillment theory, and more. Then, I argue that the resurrection hypothesis is the best explanation for the historical data. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

Now that we've established the historical facts, all that remains is to determine what best explains them. The explanation offered by Jesus' disciples was that Jesus was raised from the dead. Non-Christians, atheists, and anti-supernaturalists do not want to accept that explanation, so they have proposed a great number of alternative, non-miraculous explanations. I'll examine those alternative theories over the next two episodes. In this episode I examine the theft hypothesis, the switcheroo hypothesis, the apparent death theory, the hallucination theory, the wrong tomb theory, and the copycat of pagan mythology theory. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

I cover the four remaining historical facts that I'll argue are best explained by Jesus' resurrection from the dead:5. The conversion of James6. The conversion of Paul7. The changed behavior of the disciples8. The origin of the disciples' belief in the resurrectionWeb: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

Not only did the disciples discover Jesus' tomb to be empty, but Jesus also appeared in the flesh to various individuals and groups at different times and in different locations. I explore the reasons historians are convinced that the disciples had some sort of experience of Jesus after His death. I also harmonize all of the various resurrection appearances recorded in the gospels and 1 Corinthians, ordering them chronologically. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

I present six lines of evidence in favor of the historicity of the empty tomb, and explain why this historical fact is significant in the case for the resurrection of Jesus. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

I present the reasons that have convinced the vast majority of historians that Jesus was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea and why this historical fact is significant. I also address other matters related to Jesus' burial, including the location of Jesus' tomb, the rolling stone that covered the tomb, how long Jesus was in the tomb, and whether the guard at the tomb was Roman or Jewish. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

The first line of historical evidence for Jesus' resurrection is Jesus' death by crucifixion. In addition to providing the evidence that has convinced virtually all historians of this fact, I also explore the nature of crucifixion, how it killed its victims, the shape of the cross, the date of Jesus' crucifixion, and more. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

Some claim that there's no evidence that Jesus even existed, or that the evidence we have is less than compelling. Nothing could be further from the truth. I provide a number of reasons to think Jesus was a real historical person, including what is recorded about Him in early, non-Christian sources. Not only do non-Christians take it for granted that Jesus existed, but also provide information about Jesus and His followers that is corroborated in the New Testament. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

Even if it's true that Jesus rose from the dead, so what? It may be odd. It may be amazing. But why should it matter to me? What's the significance of Jesus' resurrection from the dead? I lay out nine reasons that Jesus' resurrection changed the world, and ought to change your life. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

I've started a new series on the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. In this first episode, I rehearse the various topics I'll cover in the series and talk about a historical approach to the resurrection of Jesus. Christianity is based on certain historical events, and and to the degree that those events can be verified or falsified, Christianity can be verified or falsified. NT historians examine the purported events of the NT using the same criteria historians of secular history do. This yields a number of historical facts about the life of Jesus that are best explained by His resurrection from the dead. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

In this final episode in my Political Theology series, I argue that our approach to voting ought to be to make a moral difference, not just a moral statement. As such, we should not vote for third parties or stay home on Election Day. I also make the case that Christians should still vote for Trump and the Republican Party despite the steps both have taken recently away from moral conservatism. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

God takes positions on moral issues. Political parties also take positions on moral issues. As such, God takes sides when it comes to politics. All political parties fail to represent God's point of view on certain issues, but they don't all fail equally. God is on the side of the party that will best fulfill His purpose for government: justice. That's why our vote is morally significant. We must vote for the party that will best fulfill God's purpose for government and avoid voting for those who will promote more evil. Right now, in the United States, the party that promotes the most amount of evil is the Democrat Party. If we care about what God cares about, we cannot vote for candidates from the Democrat Party. They are disqualified from holding office for many reasons, but the most important issue is their stance on abortion. Anyone who would use their political power to allow mothers to murder their own children should never be allowed to yield political power. If we wouldn't vote for a party that promoted the legalization of slavery, we should not vote for a party that promotes the legalization of baby murder. God cares how we vote. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

It's common knowledge that "you can't (or shouldn't) legislate morality," but in reality, this is a common misunderstanding. Morality is all that you should legislate. The only question is whose morality will be legislated. It would be religious discrimination and anti-democratic to exclude the voices of Christians simply because they are religious. When we vote, our vote should be based on policy rather than personality, race, sex, etc. And since law is a moral enterprise on its face, who and what we vote for is morally significant. We should be voting in ways that best fulfill God's purpose for government (justice), and that means moral issues ought to take precedent over all other political issues. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

Does the First Amendment require a strict wall of separation between the government and the people? No. It was intended to prevent the federal government from establishing a national religion or disestablishing any state religion, and to prevent the federal government from interfering in the religious beliefs and expressions of individual citizens. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

Many have claimed that America was founded as a secular nation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only were our Founding Fathers deeply religious, but they expressed their religion publicly and their Christian religion deeply informed the principles on which this nation was built. Contrary to the claims of those who wish to rewrite American history, most Founding Fathers were orthodox or semi-orthodox Christians, not Deists, and certainly not secular atheists. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

Government was God's idea. It's an institution He created to promote justice in human societies. As such, good government requires the participation of the just. Even God is involved in government. He sets up kings and kingdoms, and brings them down. There is no wall between politics and religion. There is a relationship between the two, but we must understand what that relationship is if we hope to properly relate to our government. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

In this final episode of the series, I answer objections to the wisdom model of decision making and respond to verses that are commonly used in support of the Spirit-led model. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

In this episode, I apply the wisdom model of decision making to ministry and marriage, showing how Biblical principles and wisdom should guide us in our ministry and choosing a spouse. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

I provide a number of Biblical examples demonstrating that most decisions are to be made in light of wisdom, not divine revelation. Then, I provide some principles for decision making, talk about how to obtain wisdom, and offer some clarifications regarding the wisdom model. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

When God speaks, how does He speak? There are five Biblical characteristics of divine revelation: (1) It was rare; (2) It came to those who were not seeking it; (3) It was clear; (4) It was supernatural in nature; (5) It often went against the dictates of wisdom. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

In part 2 of my series on Simplifying God's Will, I examine the Biblical data on God's will. I argue that the Bible teaches God's will for our lives is more general in nature, primarily related to our moral growth; not who we marry, what career we choose, etc. While God can have a specific will regarding some aspects of our lives, it is rare, and God will make that known to us in a very clear manner. Then, I examine the most common methods people use for deciphering God's will, and demonstrate how each of them is unbiblical. While many of these methods employ Biblical terminology, they do not reflect the Biblical meaning. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

I'm starting a 6-part series on finding the will of God. In episode 1, I compare and contrast the two models of God's will, and argue that only one is based in Scripture.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

In this miscellany episode, I exegete two passages in 1 Corinthians 3. I argue that when Paul warns people about the way they are building (with gold, silver, and precious stones vs. wood, hay, and straw), he is not talking about individual Christians' spiritual development. He is talking about the way in which ministers in Corinth were ministering to the body of Christ. Some of their efforts have eternal worth and some do not, and they need to be sure that they are building something of eternal value. When Paul goes on to warn against destroying God's temple, he's not referring to Christians sinning against their own bodies by smoking, drinking, etc., but warning ministers that if they destroy God's people, God will destroy them. Then, I explain why DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) is an evil, racist, unjust, Marxist philosophy that should be rejected by Christians because it requires discriminating against some groups to benefit others, and values group identity over personal merit. I also argue that those who have failed at some X can still be a source of advice regarding X.Finally, I pet the peeve...twice! I talk about Christian parents who have their kids involved in so many extracurricular activities that they don't have the time to focus on the family and spiritual development. I also talk about those who feel the need to tune out anyone who disagrees with them. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

I finish up the existential argument by showing how atheism cannot, but theism can satisfy our deep longing for objective morality, free will, immortality, and love. I end the podcast by providing a real life example of how an atheist came to Christianity, in part, because she realized that only Christianity could satisfy her existential needs. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

My final argument for God's existence is a version of the existential argument. I argue that our existential longings can only be explained by and fulfilled by a theistic God: the desire for meaning and purpose in life, objective morality, immortality, free will, and love. People must either (1) believe there is a God who can fulfill our deepest longings or (2) believe there is no God and that our deepest longings will never be fulfilled. In part 1, I argue that all human beings have a longing for the transcendent and explain why we need to make people want to believe in God before we provide the evidence for God's existence. Then, I contrast how atheism and theism account for meaning and purpose in life. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

I wrap up my discussion of Aquinas' Five Ways by examining both his Fourth and Fifth Ways. The Fourth Way demonstrate that the grades of perfection we observe in the world can only be explained by the existence of a maximally perfect being. The Fifth Way demonstrates the existence of an intelligent being who guides everything towards their natural ends.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

For his Third Way, Thomas Aquinas argues that the existence of contingent beings can only be explained by the existence of a necessary being whose essence is identical to His existence.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

For his Second Way, Thomas Aquinas argues that a causal series can only be explained by a first, uncaused cause who is the source of all causation. In a related argument - the existential proof - Aquinas argues that things whose essence is distinct from their existence can only be explained by a being whose essence and existence are identical; i.e. a being who just is existence itself. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve

I started my exploration of Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways, beginning with his First Way - the argument from motion. Aquinas argues that only God can explain why things change. Change can only be explained by a First, Unmoved Mover; i.e. a Being who is the ultimate source of all change, but is itself not changed by anything.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve