Podcasts about Agnosticism

The Impact of Religion on Mental Health: What Studies Reveal

We welcome first time guest Gabriel Kennedy to talk about his book "Chapel Perilous: The Life and Thought Crimes of Robert Anton Wilson". We delve into some of the events of Robert Anton Wilson's life, his involvement with the Discordians, and his experience of Chapel Perilous.Check out Gabriel's work at: https://www.prop-anon.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conspirinormal-podcast/donations

Surrendering our lives to Christ is the only means of salvation

Surrendering our lives to Christ is the only means of salvation

.From: American Atheist.Org Atheism is one thing: A lack of belief in gods. Atheism is not an affirmative belief that there is no god nor does it answer any other question about what a person believes. It is simply a rejection of the assertion that there are gods. Atheism is too often defined incorrectly as a belief system. To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods. Older dictionaries define atheism as “a belief that there is no God.” Clearly, theistic influence taints these definitions. The fact that dictionaries define Atheism as “there is no God” betrays the (mono)theistic influence. Without the (mono)theistic influence, the definition would at least read “there are no gods.” Atheism is not a belief system nor is it a religion. While there are some religions that are atheistic (certain sects of Buddhism, for example), that does not mean that atheism is a religion. To put it in a more humorous way: If atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby. Despite the fact that atheism is not a religion, atheism is protected by many of the same Constitutional rights that protect religion. That, however, does not mean that atheism is itself a religion, only that our sincerely held (lack of) beliefs are protected in the same way as the religious beliefs of others. Similarly, many “interfaith” groups will include atheists. This, again, does not mean that atheism is a religious belief. Some groups will use words like Agnostic, Humanist, Secular, Bright, Freethinker, or any number of other terms to self identify. Those words are perfectly fine as a self-identifier, but we strongly advocate using the word that people understand: Atheist. Don't use those other terms to disguise your atheism or to shy away from a word that some think has a negative connotation. We should be using the terminology that is most accurate and that answers the question that is actually being asked. We should use the term that binds all of us together. If you call yourself a humanist, a freethinker, a bright, or even a “cultural Catholic” and lack belief in a god, you are an atheist. Don't shy away from the term. Embrace it.  Agnostic isn't just a “weaker” version of being an atheist. It answers a different question. Atheism is about what you believe. Agnosticism is about what you know. Not all non-religious people are atheists, but… In recent surveys, the Pew Research Center has grouped atheists, agnostics, and the “unaffiliated” into one category. The so-called “Nones” are the fastest growing “religious” demographic in the United States. Pew separates out atheists from agnostics and the non-religious, but that is primarily a function of self-identification. Only about 5% of people call themselves atheists, but if you ask about belief in gods, 11% say they do not believe in gods. Those people are atheists, whether they choose to use the word or not. A recent survey from University of Kentucky psychologists Will Gervais and Maxine Najle found that as many as 26% of Americans may be atheists. This study was designed to overcome the stigma associated with atheism and the potential for closeted atheists to abstain from “outing” themselves even when speaking anonymously to pollsters. The full study is awaiting publication in Social Psychological and Personality Science journal but a pre-print version is available here. Even more people say that their definition of “god” is simply a unifying force between all people. Or that they aren't sure what they believe. If you lack an active belief in gods, you are an atheist.  Being an atheist doesn't mean you're sure about every theological question, have answers to the way the world was created, or how evolution works. It just means that the assertion that gods exist has left you unconvinced. Wishing that there was an afterlife, or a creator god, or a specific god doesn't mean you're not an atheist. Being an atheist is about what you believe and don't believe, not about what you wish to be true or would find comforting. All atheists are different The only common thread that ties all atheists together is a lack of belief in gods. Some of the best debates we have ever had have been with fellow atheists. This is because atheists do not have a common belief system, sacred scripture or atheist Pope. This means atheists often disagree on many issues and ideas. Atheists come in a variety of shapes, colors, beliefs, convictions, and backgrounds. We are as unique as our fingerprints. Atheists exist across the political spectrum. We are members of every race. We are members of the LGBTQ* community. There are atheists in urban, suburban, and rural communities and in every state of the nation.      

There are those who say they can only believe in something they can observe and measure in nature, and therefore do not believe in a supernatural God. However, there are also those of us who are compelled to believe in a First Mover or Orderer of all things in our scientific cause to find out why and how all things exist and function.

Guest Leon Stafford shares how he began to question God and became agnostic after growing up Catholic in Washington D.C. He also shares the negative remarks made to him as a gay man about God. Leon is a veteran news journalist and was a reporter with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for 27 years before leaving the media company last summer. #godislove #spiritualawakening #courseinmiracles #agnostic #love #catholicism #catholic #catholicchurch #spiritual #atlanta #washingtondc #journalist #god

A @Christadelphians Video: # Summary The PRESENTATION by Mark Johnson explores the concept of atheism and the "leap of faith" that atheists must make regarding their beliefs. It begins by defining atheism and distinguishing it from agnosticism, before delving into the origins of the universe and life. Johnson discusses the scientific method and the challenges atheists face in explaining existence without a deity. He presents arguments about the complexity of the universe and life, and contrasts atheistic views with biblical perspectives, ultimately suggesting that faith in God offers hope and purpose. # Highlights -

Growing up Catholic, Xiala Melody was aware of the spiritual realm, but never knew God personally. As a teenager she struggled with finding identity and purpose, which led her into adopting an LGBTQ lifestyle, liberal and agnostic beliefs—until she encountered the Holy Spirit. Xiala now dedicates herself full-time to ministry, passionately sharing the Word of God and testifying to the transformative power of Jesus Christ in her life. FOLLOW US: https://linktr.ee/elijahfireshow /// ElijahFire and ElijahStreams are part of Elijah List Ministries. Thank you for making the always-free Elijah List Ministries possible! Click here to learn how to partner with us: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/elijahfirepodcast

Agnosticism is the view that the existence of God is unknowable.

Our guest again this week is author and apologist Lindsey Medenwaldt, who continues to share with us insights and her personal experiences with apologetics and evangelism. The Apostle Paul tells his fellow Christians in Corinth to do all to the glory of God. What does that mean? Do we have to be a popular evangelist or a pastor or have a successful social media following to glorify God? Must we be gregarious, outgoing evangelists who have no fear of man in order to win the world to Jesus? No. In whatever situation in which God has placed us, we can do all for the glory of God. Our witness to the world is most effectively accomplished through how we live our lives, in whatever vocation that might be. Our witness should be authentic, sincere, and candid, so that a world in need of hope can see how we have a hope in Christ that does not disappoint. Lindsey Medenwaldt is the Director of Ministry Operations at Mama Bear Apologetics, and is the resident worldview and world religion specialist. She has a master's degree in apologetics and ethics from Denver Seminary, as well as a master's in public administration and a law degree. She's the author of Bridge-Building Apologetics (Harvest House, 2024). She's an editor and author for the Christian Research Journal, an editor for Women in Apologetics, and a member of the Pelican Project.Related Links: Access additional Watchman Fellowship resources related to this week's podcast: Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Deconstruction by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Deconstruction Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/notebook. SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

With Halloween arriving today and our All Souls worship service happening on Sunday, we are diving into one of life's biggest questions: What happens after we die? Join the ministers as they explore this profound topic from different perspectives, offering insights on how our actions, relationships, and legacies live on after death. From soul discussions and mystical experiences to navigating the mystery of what lies beyond, the team shares personal stories, cultural reflections, and faith-based perspectives. Whether you're curious, grieving, or simply pondering the unknown, this episode is a thoughtful exploration of life, death, and everything in between. We'd love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to share them in the comments. Remember to like, subscribe, and review the podcast if you enjoyed this conversation! Make your 2025 pledge here: 00:00 - Introduction: Exploring what happens when we die. 00:41 - The question of the soul: What do Unitarian Universalists believe? 01:27 - Beth's perspective: The unknown after death. 2:27 - Daniel's Buddhist perspective on habits and impact. 03:28 - Agnosticism on the afterlife: Embracing uncertainty 04:00 - Personal hopes for an afterlife and experiences of loss 06:09 - The mystery surrounding death and the acceptance of the unknown. 09:35 - Discussion on cultural practices surrounding death, particularly in India. 10:49 - Shared beliefs and experiences across cultures regarding death. 11:31 - The tradition of memorials in the church. 12:14 - Investigative approach to memorials: Learning about the deceased. 14:46 - Reflection on how the church navigates grief. 15:08 - Encouragement to reach out with questions about death and grief First Unitarian Church of Dallas is devoted to genuine inclusion, depth and joy, reason and spirit. We have been a voice of progressive religion in Dallas since 1899, working toward a more just and compassionate world in all of what we do. We hope that when you come here your life is made more whole through experiences of love and service, spiritual growth, and an open exploration of the divine. Learn more at New sermon every week. Subscribe here: Follow us on Instagram: Follow us on Facebook: Watch the livestream on Sundays at 9:30am, 11am, & 7pm CST: Give - your support allows us to transform lives and make UU values real in our community and beyond:

In the 12th chapter of Paul's first letter to Corinth, he reminds the church that "the body is not one member but many... the eye cannot say to the hand 'I have no need of you.'" The Spirit of God has distributed diverse gifts to the body of Christ. We each have unique gifts and abilities which we can use to help encourage and edify one another as fellow Christians. Though not all of us have the gift of evangelism, we are all called to be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in us, with gentleness and reverence. We are all included in the Great Commission. But we will each go about sharing our faith diverse and unique ways with others. Our guest this week and next is author and apologist Lindsey Medenwaldt. She shares some of her insights about apologetics and evangelism in her new book Bridge-Building Apologetics. Lindsey Medenwaldt is the Director of Ministry Operations at Mama Bear Apologetics, and is the resident worldview and world religion specialist. She has a master's degree in apologetics and ethics from Denver Seminary, as well as a master's in public administration and a law degree. She's the author of Bridge-Building Apologetics (Harvest House, 2024). She's an editor and author for the Christian Research Journal, an editor for Women in Apologetics, and a member of the Pelican Project.Related Links: Access additional Watchman Fellowship resources related to this week's podcast: Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Deconstruction by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Deconstruction Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/notebook. SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

It's fashionable these days for people to claim agnosticism when it comes to belief in God. It's ironic. It's the most important topic there is, and yet it's the one thing educated people take pride in not knowing. They figure a person can't be expected to know everything. That's certainly true—you can't be faulted for that. But at what point is it your fault when you remain ignorant about something?

It's fashionable these days for people to claim agnosticism when it comes to belief in God. It's ironic. It's the most important topic there is, and yet it's the one thing educated people take pride in not knowing. They figure a person can't be expected to know everything. That's certainly true-you can't be faulted for that. But at what point is it your fault when you remain ignorant about something--

This week's show explores the idea of a second deconstruction of faith with artist Angie Von Slaughter and Quoir author Heather Hamilton.If you want to call in to the Bonus Show, leave a voicemail at (530) 332-8020. We would love to get to your calls!Save 10% on Square 2 with the promo code "HAPPY"LINKSQuoirCast on PatreonQuoirCast on PatheosPANELAngie Von SlaughterHeather Hamilton

As we reach the conclusion of the section on the first commandment, we end by taking a closer look at agnosticism and graven images. Fr. Mike unpacks the different forms that agnosticism can take. He also examines the veneration of images and their relation to the first commandment. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 2127-2141. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Sita Slavov is a professor at George Mason University. She grew up in a Hindu family in Houston, Texas. Over time, she explored different faiths, including Zen Buddhism, and eventually embraced Christianity. She has a PhD in economics from Stanford University and now lives in Virginia with her husband, leading a women's Bible study at her church.Episode Summary:Rebecca talks with Sita Slavov about her spiritual journey from growing up in a Hindu family to embracing Christianity. Sita shares her experiences of exploring various faiths, including her deep engagement with Zen Buddhism and her personal struggles during the pandemic. She opens up about how these challenges led her to rediscover God and ultimately accept Jesus.Key Takeaways:Spiritual Exploration: Sita's journey shows the importance of seeking your own answers to life's big questions and being open to exploring different faiths.Challenges and Growth: Personal struggles, like anxiety and the pandemic, can be turning points that lead to deeper spiritual insights and transformations.Community Support: Engaging with a supportive church community can be crucial in one's faith journey, providing answers, support, and a sense of belonging.Open-Mindedness: It's important to examine evidence with an open mind when exploring faith, as initial skepticism can turn into genuine belief.Notable Quotes:"Faith is really a choice. You don't have to be the same faith as your parents.""Despite dedicating myself to daily meditation and attending rigorous retreats, I struggled to find the answers I sought.""When you fully embrace the gospel, it really is life-changing."Follow:Sita on X.Sign up for weekly emails at RebeccaMcLaughlin.org/SubscribeFollow Confronting Christianity:Instagram | XPurchase Rebecca's Books:Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest ReligionDoes the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships?: Examining 10 Claims about Scripture and Sexuality10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about ChristianityJesus though the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the LordNo Greater Love: A Biblical Vision for FriendshipConfronting Jesus: 9 Encounters with the Hero of the GospelsAmazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting!Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode we discuss several sins against the First Commandment like tempting God, Sacrilege, Divination, Magic, Occultism, Atheism and Agnosticism, and why it is important for you to know about them! - You can find these topics in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, numbers 2110 to 2128. - We discuss similar topics in Episode 32 (The problem with Magic), and Episode 16 (God and Divine Providence). These links connect you with the episodes in Spotify. Or on YouTube-Episode 16. - Fr. Patrick Wainwright is a priest of Miles Christi, a Catholic Religious Order. - Visit the Miles Christi Religious Order website: https://www.mileschristi.org - This Podcast's Website: www.forcollegecatholics.org - To learn about the Spiritual Exercises (silent weekend retreat) preached by the Priests of Miles Christi, visit: https://www.mileschristi.org/spiritual-exercises/ - Recorded at Miles Christi “Family Center” in South Lyon, Michigan. - Planning, recording, editing, and publishing by Fr. Patrick Wainwright, MC. - Gear: SHURE MV7 USB dynamic microphone. - Intro music from pond5.com

We take a look at some quotes from philosopher Bertrand Russell. We note the wisdom that we can glean from the atheist thinker and then ponder why he was an atheist. Each of needs to be open to further enlightenment from God and we heed Russell's admonition against prideful certainty (ignoring the fact that he was pretty sure about evolution for some reason). #theology #creation

There is no quick or easy answers to the questions and doubts people have about Christianity. If you have experienced a season of doubt or if you know someone who has or is passing through such a time, we often wonder what say or what to do. We wonder if we've been deceived or if we haven't thought through everything we should have. We are tempted to envy others who seem to have it all together and become fearful of expressing our doubts. Maybe we are intimidated by objections for which we have no answer. This week on the Profile we continue our conversation with author, apologist, and pastor Bobby Conway as he continues to share his experiences and wisdom from his own struggles with doubt and how we might respond to our own doubts or the doubts of our friends, loved ones, or ardent skeptics.Bobby Conway is a Christian apologist, author, and pastor. He holds a Master's Degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Ministry degree in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from the University of Birmingham in England. Bobby hosts the YouTube channel Christianity Still Makes Sense and serves as co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show Pastor's Perspective. He currently serves as the Lead Pastor of Image Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.Book: Does Christianity Still Make Sense? https://uhop.me/Conway1Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles: Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Postmodernism by Aaron Shamp: www.watchman.org/Postmodernism Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.Profile Notebook: Order the complete collection of every Profile we have published (over 650 pages covering 30+ years) in either printed and digital PDF formats: www.watchman.org/Notebook.SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Jesus tells us that in this world, we will have trouble. We also know from experience that part of that trouble includes times of intense and difficult doubts. Jesus, however, reminds us not to fear, that He has overcome this world and all its troubles and sorrows. He has even defeated death itself. The Apostle Paul encourages us likewise that the troubles through which we pass can be and often do serve as a means of encouraging others who are experiencing the same doubts and difficulties. This week and next on the Profile, we encourage you to hear our encouraging conversation with pastor, author, and apologist Bobby Conway, about how Jesus graciously restored and strengthened his faith.Bobby Conway is a Christian apologist, author, and pastor. He holds a Master's Degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Ministry degree in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from the University of Birmingham in England. Bobby hosts the YouTube channel Christianity Still Makes Sense and serves as co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show Pastor's Perspective. He currently serves as the Lead Pastor of Image Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.Book: Does Christianity Still Make Sense? https://uhop.me/Conway1Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles: Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Postmodernism by Aaron Shamp: www.watchman.org/Postmodernism Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.Profile Notebook: Order the complete collection of every Profile we have published (over 650 pages covering 30+ years) in either printed and digital PDF formats: www.watchman.org/Notebook.SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

It's Witness Wednesday at University of Georgia! This week Todd chats up Tiernan, and you won't believe what his Catholic school apologetics teacher actually suggested. Listen to daily episodes of Wretched Radio, hosted by Todd Friel. Learn about theology, evangelism, and much more. You might even get a laugh. Wretched Radio | Air Date: August […] The post AGNOSTICISM ADVICE IN CATHOLIC SCHOOL?? appeared first on Wretched.

Thank you for supporting Scholastic Answers Here is the next part in my series for the New Aquinas Academy Support high quality scholastic content by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/MilitantThomist Or, by making a one time donation: https://www.christianbwagner.com/donate Series playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD6g674KC0g&list=PLTkdKVFbIe_2HLZkzEwZNt3t9QcUQsmTT&pp=gAQBiAQB NEW AQUINAS ACADEMY Link: https://www.christianbwagner.com/newaquinasacademy Discord: https://aquinas.cc/la/en/~DePrinNat.C1 Donate: https://www.patreon.com/newaquinasacademy FURTHER RESOURCES To get Tutoring: https://www.christianbwagner.com/book-online Annotated Thomist: https://www.christianbwagner.com/annotated-thomist Scholastic Courses: https://www.christianbwagner.com/courses SPONSOR Use the code “Militant” for 20% off to learn Greek here: https://fluentgreeknt.com/ MUSIC https://youtu.be/ePYe3lqsu-g https://youtu.be/Hi5YgbiNB1U SUPPORT Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ5DQ8zCOmeAqOcKTbSb7fg Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/MilitantThomist Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?business=9XM8FACTLFDW2&no_recurring=0&item_name=Support+my+Apostolate¤cy_code=USD SusbscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/militant-thomist FOLLOW Website: https://www.christianbwagner.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MilitantThomist Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/543689120339579 Twitter: https://twitter.com/MilitantThomist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/militantthomist/ WATCH https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ5DQ8zCOmeAqOcKTbSb7fg LISTEN Podcast: https://www.christianbwagner.com/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0exZN1vHDyLuRjnUI3sHXt?si=XHs8risyS1ebLCkWwKLblQ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/militant-thomist/id1603094572 Anchor: https://anchor.fm/militantthomist SHOP Book Store: https://www.christianbwagner.com/shop Merch: https://www.christianbwagner.com/merch

Thank you for supporting Scholastic Answers Here is the next part of the series on Divine Revelation. NEW AQUINAS ACADEMY Link: https://www.christianbwagner.com/newaquinasacademy Discord: https://aquinas.cc/la/en/~DePrinNat.C1 Donate: https://www.patreon.com/newaquinasacademy FURTHER RESOURCES To get Tutoring: https://www.christianbwagner.com/book-online Annotated Thomist: https://www.christianbwagner.com/annotated-thomist Scholastic Courses: https://www.christianbwagner.com/courses SPONSOR Use the code “Militant” for 20% off to learn Greek here: https://fluentgreeknt.com/ MUSIC https://youtu.be/ePYe3lqsu-g https://youtu.be/Hi5YgbiNB1U SUPPORT Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ5DQ8zCOmeAqOcKTbSb7fg Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/MilitantThomist Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?business=9XM8FACTLFDW2&no_recurring=0&item_name=Support+my+Apostolate¤cy_code=USD SusbscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/militant-thomist FOLLOW Website: https://www.christianbwagner.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MilitantThomist Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/543689120339579 Twitter: https://twitter.com/MilitantThomist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/militantthomist/ WATCH https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ5DQ8zCOmeAqOcKTbSb7fg LISTEN Podcast: https://www.christianbwagner.com/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0exZN1vHDyLuRjnUI3sHXt?si=XHs8risyS1ebLCkWwKLblQ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/militant-thomist/id1603094572 Anchor: https://anchor.fm/militantthomist SHOP Book Store: https://www.christianbwagner.com/shop Merch: https://www.christianbwagner.com/merch

Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Dragon Agnosticism, published by jefftk on August 1, 2024 on LessWrong. I'm agnostic on the existence of dragons. I don't usually talk about this, because people might misinterpret me as actually being a covert dragon-believer, but I wanted to give some background for why I disagree with calls for people to publicly assert the non-existence of dragons. Before I do that, though, it's clear that horrible acts have been committed in the name of dragons. Many dragon-believers publicly or privately endorse this reprehensible history. Regardless of whether dragons do in fact exist, repercussions continue to have serious and unfair downstream effects on our society. Given that history, the easy thing to do would be to loudly and publicly assert that dragons don't exist. But while a world in which dragons don't exist would be preferable, that a claim has inconvenient or harmful consequences isn't evidence of its truth or falsehood. Another option would be to look into whether dragons exist and make up my mind; people on both sides are happy to show me evidence. If after weighing the evidence I were convinced they didn't exist, that would be excellent news about the world. It would also be something I could proudly write about: I checked, you don't need to keep worrying about dragons. But if I decided to look into it I might instead find myself convinced that dragons do exist. In addition to this being bad news about the world, I would be in an awkward position personally. If I wrote up what I found I would be in some highly unsavory company. Instead of being known as someone who writes about a range of things of varying levels of seriousness and applicability, I would quickly become primarily known as one of those dragon advocates. Given the taboos around dragon-belief, I could face strong professional and social consequences. One option would be to look into it, and only let people know what I found if I were convinced dragons didn't exist. Unfortunately, this combines very poorly with collaborative truth-seeking. Imagine a hundred well-intentioned people look into whether there are dragons. They look in different places and make different errors. There are a lot of things that could be confused for dragons, or things dragons could be confused for, so this is a noisy process. Unless the evidence is overwhelming in one direction or another, some will come to believe that there are dragons, while others will believe that there are not. While humanity is not perfect at uncovering the truth in confusing situations, our strategy that best approaches the truth is for people to report back what they've found, and have open discussion of the evidence. Perhaps some evidence Pat finds is very convincing to them, but then Sam shows how they've been misinterpreting it. But this all falls apart when the thoughtful people who find one outcome generally stay quiet. I really don't want to contribute to this pattern that makes it hard to learn what's actually true, so in general I don't want whether I share what I've learned to be downstream from what I learn. Overall, then, I've decided to remain agnostic on the existence of dragons. I would reconsider if it seemed to be a sufficiently important question, in which case I might be willing to run the risk of turning into a dragon-believer and letting the dragon question take over my life: I'm still open to arguments that whether dragons exist is actually highly consequential. But with my current understanding of the costs and benefits on this question I will continue not engaging, publicly or privately, with evidence or arguments on whether there are dragons. Note: This post is not actually about dragons, but instead about how I think about a wide range of taboo topics. Comment via: facebook, mastodon Thanks for listening. To help us out wit...

If someone were to ask you why you think the New Testament is historically reliable, what might you tell them? If you're not sure, or just need a bit of a refresher course on how to respond to skeptics and non-Christians who doubt the veracity of the New Testament accounts, our episode again this week can surely be a great place to start. We continue our conversation with author Dr. Benjamin Shaw about his new book Trustworthy - Thirteen Arguments for the Reliability of the New Testament (www.ivpress.com/Trustworthy). Whether you are familiar with the topic or just getting started, Ben's thesis is sure to be an encouragement to your defense of the faith.Dr. Ben Shaw has been working with Dr. Gary R. Habermas for over a decade doing philosophical, historical, and theological research while also publishing multiple works together. Additionally, part of his responsibilities was to minister to various people who had questions about Christianity: disciples, doubters, and skeptics. Dr. Shaw has authored or co-authored over two dozen publications (see below) and has given presentations at conferences (AAR, etc.) and universities (UVA, etc.). He has taught at Liberty University and Colorado Christian University. Ben has an MA in Religious Studies and a Ph.D. in Theology and Apologetics from Liberty University.Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles: Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman, Jr: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Bart Ehrman by Dr. Rhyne Putman: www.watchman.org/Ehrman Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Biblical scholarship can be intimidating for many of us. Textual criticism, history, philosophy, original languages, you name it. Books on these subjects can be daunting and overwhelming to digest. Where to begin? This week and next on the Profile, we think we have a helpful recommendation. Author Dr. Benjamin Shaw, longtime research assistant to Dr. Gary Habermas, has written a brand-new and concise book on the topic of the historical reliability of the New Testament - Trustworthy - Thirteen Arguments for the Reliability of the New Testament (www.ivpress.com/Trustworthy). Whether you are familiar with the topic or not, Ben's book serves as a helpful reminder to those who already are familiar with the subject, and an insightful easy-to-understand primer for those just curious or for those who have recently become Christians.Dr. Ben Shaw has been working with Dr. Gary R. Habermas for over a decade doing philosophical, historical, and theological research while also publishing multiple works together. Additionally, part of his responsibilities was to minister to various people who had questions about Christianity: disciples, doubters, and skeptics. Dr. Shaw has authored or co-authored over two dozen publications (see below) and has given presentations at conferences (AAR, etc.) and universities (UVA, etc.). He has taught at Liberty University and Colorado Christian University. Ben has an MA in Religious Studies and a Ph.D. in Theology and Apologetics from Liberty University.Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles: Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman, Jr: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE: youtube.com/indiethinkerThe RNC hosts a pagan prayer while Lucre and Matt Chandler discuss if we should be "political".

Aniket Kumar Singh is a Vision Systems Engineer at Ultium Cells, skilled in Machine Learning and Deep Learning. I'm also engaged in AI research, focusing on Large Language Models (LLMs). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Large Language Models: Challenges and Insights // MLOps Podcast #248 with Aniket Kumar Singh, CTO @ MyEvaluationPal | ML Engineer @ Ultium Cells. // Abstract Dive into the world of Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPT-4. Why is it crucial to evaluate these models, how we measure their performance, and the common hurdles we face? Drawing from Aniket's research, he shares insights on the importance of prompt engineering and model selection. Aniket also discusses real-world applications in healthcare, economics, and education, and highlights future directions for improving LLMs. // Bio Aniket is a Vision Systems Engineer at Ultium Cells, skilled in Machine Learning and Deep Learning. I'm also engaged in AI research, focusing on Large Language Models (LLMs). // MLOps Jobs board https://mlops.pallet.xyz/jobs // MLOps Swag/Merch https://mlops-community.myshopify.com/ // Related Links Website: www.aniketsingh.me Aniket's AI Research for Good blog that I plan to utilize to share any new research that would focus on the good: www.airesearchforgood.org Aniket's papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=XHxdWUMAAAAJ&hl=en --------------- ✌️Connect With Us ✌️ ------------- Join our slack community: https://go.mlops.community/slack Follow us on Twitter: @mlopscommunity Sign up for the next meetup: https://go.mlops.community/register Catch all episodes, blogs, newsletters, and more: https://mlops.community/ Connect with Demetrios on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpbrinkm/ Connect with Aniket on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/singh-k-aniket/ Timestamps: [00:00] Aniket's preferred coffee [00:14] Takeaways [01:29] Aniket's job and hobby [03:06] Evaluating LLMs: Systems-Level Perspective [05:55] Rule-based system [08:32] Evaluation Focus: Model Capabilities [13:04] LLM Confidence [13:56] Problems with LLM Ratings [17:17] Understanding AI Confidence Trends [18:28] Aniket's papers [20:40] Testing AI Awareness [24:36] Agent Architectures Overview [27:05] Leveraging LLMs for tasks [29:53] Closed systems in Decision-Making [31:28] Navigating model Agnosticism [33:47] Robust Pipeline vs Robust Prompt [34:40] Wrap up

This week Daniel Ray concludes his discussion with Malcolm Yarnell about his latest book, God: Theology for Every Person. Why should we fully embrace theology? Knowing, loving, and worshiping God is the call and privilege of every disciple of Jesus. Because all Christians are part of his royal priesthood, theology is not just for those teaching in the academy or serving in ministry vocations. God is Malcolm's first volume of a three-part series entitled Theology for Every Person. The other volumes will include God's Word to the World, which considers God in Christ and his works of creation, humanity, and redemption, and God's Work in the World, which explores God the Holy Spirit and the divine works of salvation, the church, and the end.Malcolm B. Yarnell III of Benbrook, Texas serves his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as an author, teacher, and pastor. His most recent books include the first volume of a popular-level theology, God (Brentwood, 2024); a systematic treatise, Special Revelation and Scripture (Brentwood, 2024); and a biblical theology, Who Is the Holy Spirit? (Nashville, 2019). Whether speaking to international academic colloquia or to local congregations, Dr. Yarnell's personal passion is to bless people and glorify God. He currently serves the Lakeside Baptist Church in Granbury, Texas, as Teaching Pastor and the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention as Research Professor of Systematic Theology at the Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles: Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman, Jr: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Scott Kaufman writes under Treading Softly for High Dividend Opportunities and talks affording retirement and dividend investing (0:40). Looking at yield alone can lead to trouble; look to cash flow (2:00). Taking in the macro picture agnostically (4:00). (JEPI) ETF update - what's the real total return? More about CEFs (12:50). Bond ETFs - watch out for holdings (16:00). Sachem Capital baby bonds (19:00). How investors should quantify dividend cuts (28:40).Read the transcriptShow Notes:Is The JEPI ETF Actually Worth It?Beyond SavingRida MorwaFor full access to analyst ratings, stock quant scores and dividend grades, subscribe to Seeking Alpha Premium at seekingalpha.com/subscriptions

Can you be Agnostic, Atheist, or Humanist AND Unitarian Universalist? In this episode of Tiny Pulpit Talks, Revs. Beth Dana and T. J. FitzGerald discuss the differences between these systems of thought and how they fit into our Unitarian Universalist community. 00:00 - Welcome to episode 13 of Tiny Pulpit Talks. 00:43 - "Is it okay if I come to this church if I'm an atheist?" 01:11 - Exploring what atheism means. 03:19 - Young people's journeys with atheism throughout the course of our Coming of Age program. 06:34 - Different types of humanism. 09:05 - Discussing what it means to be agnostic. 11:12 - The role of faith development in forming your religious identity. 12:18 - Finding meaning in the Unitarian Universalist church as an atheist. Tiny Pulpit Talks is a podcast series from First Unitarian Church of Dallas that takes a behind-the-scenes look at ministry from a Unitarian Universalist perspective. This is a rare opportunity to see what goes into crafting meaningful and inspirational sermons, learn how worship comes together each Sunday, and explore the many facets of spiritual leadership. Subscribe to get updates about new episodes here on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

This week and next, Dr. Malcolm Yarnell discusses his latest book, God: Theology for Every Person, with Watchman staff apologist, Daniel Ray. Why should we fully embrace theology? Knowing, loving, and worshiping God is the call and privilege of every disciple of Jesus. Because all Christians are part of his royal priesthood, theology is not just for those teaching in the academy or serving in ministry vocations. God is Malcolm's first volume of a three-part series entitled Theology for Every Person. The other volumes will include God's Word to the World, which considers God in Christ and his works of creation, humanity, and redemption, and God's Work in the World, which explores God the Holy Spirit and the divine works of salvation, the church, and the end.Malcolm B. Yarnell III of Benbrook, Texas serves his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as an author, teacher, and pastor. His most recent books include the first volume of a popular-level theology, God (Brentwood, 2024); a systematic treatise, Special Revelation and Scripture (Brentwood, 2024); and a biblical theology, Who Is the Holy Spirit? (Nashville, 2019). Whether speaking to international academic colloquia or to local congregations, Dr. Yarnell's personal passion is to bless people and glorify God. He currently serves the Lakeside Baptist Church in Granbury, Texas, as Teaching Pastor and the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention as Research Professor of Systematic Theology at the Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles: Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman, Jr: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Robert Charles Wilson joins us to discuss his books The Perseids and Other Stories and Owning the Unknown: A Science Fiction Writer Explores Atheism, Agnosticism, and the Idea of God. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we conclude our discussion with Christian apologist and best-selling author, J Warner Wallace, about his latest book, The Truth In True Crime. What can investigating crime, particularly murder, teach us about the true meaning of life? A cold case homicide detective, Wallace made a remarkable journey from atheism to Christianity. His decades of experience investigating the motives behind murders and chasing one lead after another has given him some unique insights into the purpose and value of life. Every murder investigation has the potential of revealing certain truths of human nature: what's important to us, what threatens our well-being, and what causes us to flourish.J. Warner Wallace is a cold-case homicide detective, popular national speaker and best-selling author. He continues to consult on cold-case investigations while serving as a Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He is also an adjunct professor of apologetics at Biola University and a faculty member at Summit Ministries. J. Warner was a conscientious and vocal atheist until the age of thirty-five, when he took a serious and expansive look at the evidence for the Christian Worldview and determined that Christianity was demonstrably true. After becoming a Christ follower in 1996, Jim continued to take an evidential approach to truth as he examined the Christian worldview. He eventually earned a Master's Degree in Theological Studies from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles: Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman, Jr: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

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) →

In this episode of History 102, WhatifAltHist creator Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg dive deep into the Axial Age, a transformative time that birthed new philosophies and religions. Uncover the surprising link between the invention of coinage, explore the decline of traditional religions, and discover the reasons why people sought new spiritual paths in 500 BC.

Ben Sixsmith is a journalist and contributing editor at The Critic. He writes for many outlets on culture and politics including at his own substack The Zone. Ben has also written about about his own religious upbringing and his search for faith as an agnostic. In a disenchanted age Justin and Belle talk to Ben about what it takes to believe…Ben Sixsmith: https://bensixsmith.substack.com/For Re-Enchanting: https://www.seenandunseen.com/podcast There's more to life than the world we can see. Re-Enchanting is a podcast from Seen & Unseen recorded at Lambeth Palace Library, the home of the Centre for Cultural Witness. Justin Brierley and Belle Tindall engage faith and spirituality with leading figures in science, history, politics, art and education. Can our culture be re-enchanted by the vision of Christianity? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week and next, we talk with Christian apologist and best-selling author, J Warner Wallace, about his latest book, The Truth In True Crime. What can investigating crime, particularly murder, teach us about the true meaning of life? A cold case homicide detective, Wallace made a remarkable journey from atheism to Christianity. His decades of experience investigating the motives behind murders and chasing one lead after another has given him some unique insights into the purpose and value of life. Every murder investigation has the potential of revealing certain truths of human nature: what's important to us, what threatens our well-being, and what causes us to flourish.J. Warner Wallace is a cold-case homicide detective, popular national speaker and best-selling author. He continues to consult on cold-case investigations while serving as a Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He is also an adjunct professor of apologetics at Biola University and a faculty member at Summit Ministries. J. Warner was a conscientious and vocal atheist until the age of thirty-five, when he took a serious and expansive look at the evidence for the Christian Worldview and determined that Christianity was demonstrably true. After becoming a Christ follower in 1996, Jim continued to take an evidential approach to truth as he examined the Christian worldview. He eventually earned a Master's Degree in Theological Studies from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles: Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman, Jr: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

This week, we continue our conversation with the world's leading resurrection expert Dr. Gary Habermas, who has plumbed the depths of liberal-critical scholarship and has mined a great many historical gems from their writing that can be of edifying use for believers in defense of Jesus's resurrection.  We talk more about his latest work, On the Resurrection: Vol 1: Evidences.  Gary Habermas (Ph.D., Michigan State University) is a distinguished Research Professor at Liberty University Graduate School. He has dedicated his professional life to the examination of the relevant historical, philosophical, and theological issues surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus. His extensive list of publications and debates provides a thorough account of the current state of the issue. He has also contributed more than 60 chapters or articles to additional books, and over 100 articles and reviews in journals and other publications. In recent years, he has been a visiting or adjunct professor at about 15 different graduate schools and seminaries in the United States and abroad. He is the author of fifty books, half of them on the resurrection of Jesus. See: www.GaryHabermas.com.Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles: Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman, Jr: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Deconstruction by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Deconstruction Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Bart Ehrman by Dr. Rhyne Putman: www.watchman.org/Ehrman Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

What benefit is there in studying New Testament scholars who do not affirm the resurrection of Jesus? According to our guest this week, resurrection scholar Dr. Gary Habermas, who has spent the majority of his academic career doing this very thing, much in every way. This week and next on the Profile Gary discusses with us volume one of his life's labor of love, On the Resurrection: Vol 1: Evidences. It is over a thousand pages and there is arguably nothing like it out there today. Gary's magnum opus ontains an unparalleled, extensive commentary about what skeptical scholars affirm about the Gospel accounts and the New Testament in general regarding the deity, death, and resurrection of Jesus.Gary Habermas (Ph.D., Michigan State University) is a distinguished Research Professor at Liberty University Graduate School. He has dedicated his professional life to the examination of the relevant historical, philosophical, and theological issues surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus. His extensive list of publications and debates provides a thorough account of the current state of the issue. He has also contributed more than 60 chapters or articles to additional books, and over 100 articles and reviews in journals and other publications. In recent years, he has been a visiting or adjunct professor at about 15 different graduate schools and seminaries in the United States and abroad. He is the author of fifty books, half of them on the resurrection of Jesus. See: www.GaryHabermas.com.Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles: Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman, Jr: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Deconstruction by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Deconstruction Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Bart Ehrman by Dr. Rhyne Putman: www.watchman.org/Ehrman Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Another free book giveaway this week and next (a $99 value!). If you'd like a copy of the book, Atheists Finding God,  we're featuring on the next two broadcasts, just drop Daniel Ray an email at Dray@watchman.org with your current mailing address (USA only) for your chance to win. In Matthew 19, the disciples were astonished at Jesus' teaching about salvation. "Who then can be saved?" they wondered. Jesus told them "With men, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." If you have been a believer for any amount of time, you have likely experienced what the disciples experienced, the seeming impossibility of an unbelieving friend, family member or neighbor coming to believe in Jesus. Here on part two of our conversation with author and Teaching Fellow at the C.S. Lewis Institute in Atlanta, Dr. Jana Harmon, you'll be encouraged to hear how God has moved and still is moving in the hearts of unbelievers to do the impossible. Come and see.Jana Harmon, Ph.D, is a Teaching Fellow for C.S. Lewis Institute Atlanta and serves on the Atlanta Advisory Board and is an Adjunct Professor of Cultural Apologetics at Biola University. Her doctoral research studied the religious conversion of atheists to Christianity looking at the perspectives and stories of 50 former Atheists. She views apologetics through a practical, evangelistic lens. She is the host of Side B Stories podcast for the C.S. Lewis Institute. Jana received her PhD from the University of Birmingham, England.Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles: Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman, Jr: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Evangelical Christians claim that Atheists and Non-Believers can't know what true love is because God is love. Join Eve_WasFramed, Laci Bean and Kyle Butler to discuss why being a good person has nothing to do with faith in the God of the Bible.If you want to call in to the Bonus Show, leave a voicemail at (530) 332-8020.LINKSQuoirCast on PatreonQuoirCast on PatheosPANELEve_WasFramedLaci BeanKyle Butler

Another free book giveaway this week and next (a $99 value!). If you'd like a copy of the book, Atheists Finding God,  we're featuring on the next two broadcasts, just drop Daniel Ray an email at Dray@watchman.org with your current mailing address (USA only) for your chance to win. As we've been covering over the first part of 2024 here on the Profile, there has been a growing trend called #deconstruction where people are leaving the church and deconstructing their faith. But now for some good news. God is still at work. Despite what you might hear on line or in statistical trends about the growth of the "Nones" and the rise of atheism and unbelief, there are in fact atheists walking away from atheism. That's our focus this week and next as we speak with author and Teaching Fellow at the C.S. Lewis Institute in Atlanta, Dr. Jana Harmon, who discusses with us her 2023 book, Atheists Finding God. It's a conversation you don't want to miss!Jana Harmon, Ph.D, is a Teaching Fellow for C.S. Lewis Institute Atlanta and serves on the Atlanta Advisory Board and is an Adjunct Professor of Cultural Apologetics at Biola University. Her doctoral research studied the religious conversion of atheists to Christianity looking at the perspectives and stories of 50 former Atheists. She views apologetics through a practical, evangelistic lens. She is the host of Side B Stories podcast for the C.S. Lewis Institute. Jana received her PhD from the University of Birmingham, England.Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles: Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman, Jr: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

235 Why Believe? [Part 2] with Dr. Tawa Andersonapologetics, apologetics profile, watchman fellowship, Christianity, deconstruction, Tawa Anderson, Daniel Ray, evangelism, defend the faith, atheism, agnostic, skeptic, postmodern, gospel, God, JesusWith the advent of modern transportation and communication technologies, we are daily inundated with news, information, and ideas from all over the world. Such easy access to so many ideas and concepts wholly foreign to our own can, at times, be overwhelming without having an anchor of truth to which we may cling. Even as believers, much of what makes the news today, much of what you hear coming from other religions, secular science or contemporary sociology tends to dismiss the Christian faith or simply disregard it as irrelevant.Our guest again this week, Dr. Tawa Anderson of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, gives us some encouraging reminders about why Christianity is true and how we can defend it in this day and age of skepticism and clashing worldviews.Dr. Tawa Anderson was raised in a non-Christian home and came to faith in high school. He was called to ministry and served as English Pastor at Edmonton Chinese Baptist Church from 2001-2008. After completing his PhD, Dr. Anderson taught at Oklahoma Baptist University from 2011-2022 before joining the faculty at NOBTS. Tawa is the author of Why Believe? Christian Apologetics for a Skeptical Age (B&H Academic, 2021) and co-author of An Introduction to Christian Worldview: Pursuing God's Perspective in a Pluralistic World, (IVP Academic, 2017). Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles: Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman, Jr: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Divine Hiddenness by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Hidden Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Relativism by Parker Stilley: www.watchman.org/Relativism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Deconstruction by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Deconstruction Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

The world often appears to us as though it is spinning out of control. Words don't mean what they used to mean. We live amidst a great deal of moral and societal confusion. Statistics are cited that seem to show an increasing number of people who no longer believe in God. The central message of the Christian faith, the deity, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, no longer seems to be credible to our postmodern world.The good news is that the Gospel is as relevant and powerful today as it was when it was first proclaimed centuries ago. On this episode, we talk with professor of philosophy and apologetics at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary about his 2021 book Why Believe? Christian Apologetics for a Skeptical Age (B&H Academic, 336-pages bit.ly/WhyBelieve2). Tawa's work provides Christians and non-believers alike timely and insightful reminders about why Christianity remains defensible and credible, even in a world that seems to be spiraling out of control. Dr. Tawa Anderson was raised in a non-Christian home and came to faith in high school. He was called to ministry and served as English Pastor at Edmonton Chinese Baptist Church from 2001-2008. After completing his PhD, Dr. Anderson taught at Oklahoma Baptist University from 2011-2022 before joining the faculty at NOBTS. Tawa is the author of Why Believe? Christian Apologetics for a Skeptical Age (B&H Academic, 2021) and co-author of An Introduction to Christian Worldview: Pursuing God's Perspective in a Pluralistic World, (IVP Academic, 2017). Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles: Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman, Jr: www.watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Divine Hiddenness by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Hidden Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Relativism by Parker Stilley: www.watchman.org/Relativism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Deconstruction by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Deconstruction Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Agnostics claim there is a lack of evidence for the existence of God even as all creation continually proclaims His glory. In this episode, R.C. Sproul warns that ignorance will excuse no one's unbelief on the day of judgment. A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.ligonier.org/donate/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Even though all creation reveals the existence of God, many people try to feign ignorance. Today, R.C. Sproul points out the problem with agnosticism: it attempts to blame God for unbelief. A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.ligonier.org/donate/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts