Apologist Interview: Craig Blomberg

Today's interview is with New Testament scholar Dr. Craig Blomberg, distinguished professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary in Colorado. He talks about how he got into NT studies, the importance of the Gospels and their dating, how we determine the authorship of the Gospels, how we got four Gospels and not more, the selection of the Gospel canon, the use of non-canonical sources, dealing with miracles account found in historical documents, responding to the claim of contradictions in the Gospels, interpreting historical documents, differences in the Gospel of John, the work and impact of Bart Ehrman, the "all-or-nothing" approach to reliability of scripture, dealing with prophetic passages by Jesus, and advice to Christian apologists.

Full Interview MP3 Audio here (53 min)

Books by Craig Blomberg include:
• The Historical Reliability of the Gospels
• Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey
• A Handbook of New Testament Exegesis
• Interpreting the Parables
• Making Sense of the New Testament: Three Crucial Questions

Enjoy.

Sunday Quote: Allan Sandage on Design

"The world is too complicated in all its parts and interconnections to be due to chance alone. I am convinced that the existence of life with all its order in each of its organisms is simply too well put together. Each part of a living thing depends on all its other parts to function. How does each part know? How is each part specified at conception? The more one learns of biochemistry the more unbelievable it becomes unless there is some type of organizing principle - an architect for believers."

- Allan Sandage, "A Scientist Reflects on Religious Belief" 

Book Review: Five Sacred Crossings by Craig Hazen

Five Sacred Crossings by Craig Hazen is a work of fiction with an apologetics punch. Though fictional, the story is realistic and the content compelling. This short summary is less of a review and simply more of a recommendation. Here's a quick idea of what to expect from the content and the story without spoiling the plot.

The main character is Dr. Michael Jernigan, a college professor who teaches comparative world religions. Due to his expertise in languages, he finds himself caught up in an interesting situation involving a terrorist plot to detonate a radioactive “dirty bomb.” As the terrorist plot is investigated, Dr. Jernigan is also teaching at the local community college, where questions about religious extremism unfold into an exploration of the truth claims of world religions.

Weekly Apologetics Bonus Links (02/18 - 02/25)

Here are this week's recommended apologetics links. Enjoy.
• Words for Apologists
• The appearance of design
• The Absurdity of Life without God
• Check out Lee Strobel's new book
• Jesus the Logician
• How and When to Debate
• What does naturalism exclude?
• Book review: Is God a Moral Monster?
• Early Jewish Acknowledgment Of The Empty Tomb
• “If You Don’t Want God, You’d Better Have a Multiverse”
• Atheist Objections to the Cosmological Argument (MP3)
• Can computers become conscious because of increasing processing power?
• Richard Bauckham on the Gospels as (Reliable) Historical Biography

• Richard Bauckham on the Nature of the Gospels (part 2)

• Christian Fundamentalism: Fighting Ideas With Bullets 

• Free stuff alert: Chapter of Michael Behe’s Edge of Evolution

• Darwin v. Design Conference Coming to Oklahoma to Address Debate Over Science and God

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New Podcast: Fallacy Friday by Matthew Flannagan

The Fallacy Friday Podcast is the weekly audio version of Matthew Flannagan's Fallacy Friday posts over at the MandM blog. Matt has has occasionally been asked by para-church, church and home-schooling groups to put together a critical thinking or “mini logic” course, with a focus on fallacy spotting, and teach it to their youth. He has found the demand to be quite high from youth and adults alike, so he has decided to do a short piece on this every Friday on MandM entitled “Fallacy Friday.”

Apologetics315 will be producing the audio version, released every Friday as well. Subscribe using:
• RSS Feed, or
• Via iTunes, or
• one-click to your feed-reader

To navigate the series in print, use the Fallacy Friday tag over at MandM.org.nz. Check out the introduction to the series (text | MP3), and the first episode: What is an Argument? (text | MP3)

Be sure to visit and subscribe to MandM blog. Hear an interview with Matt Flannagan.

Enjoy.

John Lennox & Peter Atkins in Dialogue Video/Audio

In this video (and audio), provided by The Big Questions website, Professor John Lennox and Professor Peter Atkins discuss the God question and what science can or cannot reveal about a Creator. Vimeo also provides the video here. A lively and interesting discussion. Be sure to explore The Big Questions for other interviews with Lennox and Atkins.

Full MP3 Audio here (1hr 36min)
More from John Lennox and Peter Atkins on Apologetics 315.
Enjoy.

Featured Website: One-Minute Apologist

Today's resource is the One Minute Apologist website. Designed to offer quick, nutshell answers on apologetic issues, this collection of videos can be a good starting point for responding to and exploring the issues. One Minute Apologist includes interviews with apologists such as Greg Koukl, Gary Habermas, William Lane Craig, Michael Licona, Dinesh D'Souza, Bill Dembski, Alex McFarland, Frank Turek, Sean McDowell, and more.

When you're done watching the short video snippets, go read the books by these apologists to get equipped.

Check out the One Minute Apologist.

Enjoy.

Apologist Interview: Hugh Ross

Today's interview is with astrophysicist Hugh Ross, founder and president of Reasons to Believe. He talks about his educational background and how he became a Christian, his approach to defending the faith, two books of God's revelation, the relationship between faith and science, RTB's creation model and how it is tested, the use of cosmological arguments, the integration of philosophy, theology, and science, the age of the earth controversy, critiquing young-earth views, advice for apologists, advice for those in the sciences, and more. Info on RTB chapters is here.

Full Interview MP3 Audio here (45 min)

Books by Hugh Ross include:
• Why the Universe Is the Way It Is
• More Than a Theory: Revealing a Testable Model for Creation
• A Matter of Days: Resolving a Creation Controversy
• Genesis One: A Scientific Perspective
• Who Was Adam?: A Creation Model Approach to the Origin of Man

Enjoy.

Sunday Quote: Bradley Monton on Methodological Naturalism

"If science really is permanently committed to methodological naturalism – the philosophical position that restricts all explanations in science to naturalistic explanations -  it follows that the aim of science is not generating true theories. Instead, the aim of science would be something like: generating the best theories that can be formulated subject to the restriction that the theories are naturalistic. More and more evidence could come in suggesting that a supernatural being exists, but scientific theories wouldn’t be allowed to acknowledge that possibility."

- Bradley Monton, author of Seeking God in Science: An Atheist Defends Intelligent Design

[HT: Faith Interface]

Joe Boot vs. Clare Rowson: Does God Exist? Debate Audio

On January 30, 2010, Rev Joe Boot debated retired psychiatrist Dr. Clare Rowson on the topic: Does God Exist? Full video of the debate, as well as original audio can be found at the Cobourg Atheist website. Boot is an evangelist, apologist and the Executive Director of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Canada and senior pastor of Westminster Chapel in Toronto. (Also author of Why I Still Believe)

Full Debate MP3 Audio here (1hr 32m)

Enjoy.

Weekly Apologetics Bonus Links (02/11 - 02/18)

Here are this week's recommended apologetics links. Enjoy.
• Anselm's ontological argument
• Purpose Without God?
• Leibniz's other ontological argument
• Answering Atheist Objections
• Relativism: What Do You Mean By "True?"
• John Lennox coming to New Zealand
• The Trinity: One What and Three Whos
• Is The Trinity Doctrine Biblical?
• Are Atheists Haunted by the Possibility of Being Mistaken?
• Understanding the Abortion Debate with Francis Beckwith
• Edward Feser: Why are (some) physicists so bad at philosophy?
• William Lane Craig on Sam Harris’ attempt to ground morality with science
• Currently Reading: The 10 Most Important Things You Can Say to a Jehovah's Witness by Ron Rhodes

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Featured Resource: Apologetics Press

Today's featured resource is the website Apologetics Press. It's been around quite a while, but has recently been revamped with a much more user-friendly layout, making finding articles a lot easier. You might be interested in checking out such categories as:
• Existence of God
• Deity of Christ
• Creation vs. Evolution
• Inspiration of the Bible
• Islam & World Religions
• Alleged Discrepancies ...and more...

Check out Apologetics Press.

Has Science Made Belief in God Unreasonable? MP3 Audio by J.P. Moreland

Philosopher J.P. Moreland gives a talk entitled: Has Science Made Belief in God Unreasonable? In it he shows how science is a friend (and not a foe) to Christianity. Original video can be found here. J.P. Moreland's website is here.

Full MP3 Audio here. (40 min)

Enjoy.

Be sure to check out Scaling the Secular City by J.P. Moreland.

William Lane Craig's Recommended Apologetics Books

This week's Question and Answer on William Lane Craig's Reasonable Faith website answered an email to Dr. Craig asking for his recommended reading for apologetics. Dr. Craig replied with a bibliography of helpful resources. For your convenience, here it is below. If you want more, check out the Recommended Apologetics Book Directory. Here's Craig's bibliography...

Apologist Interview: Fazale Rana

Today's interview is with biochemist Fazale Rana, executive vice president of research and apologetics at Reasons to Believe, a science-faith think tank based in Southern California. He talks about his journey to faith, the role of natural theology, trying to create life in the lab, the thesis of his new book, how we define life, two different approaches to synthetic biology, the goals for synthetic biology, possible moral issues behind artificial life (are we playing God?), the harmonization between new scientific discoveries and scripture, RTB's origin of life model, the plausibility of "pre-biotic soup," the future of synthetic biology, the apologetic value of science, having confidence in the scriptures, and more.

Full Interview MP3 here (47 min)

Books by Fuz Rana include:
• Creating Life in the Lab: How New Discoveries in Synthetic Biology Make a Case for the Creator
• The Cell's Design: How Chemistry Reveals the Creator's Artistry
• Origins of Life: Biblical and Evolutionary Models Face Off
• Who Was Adam?: A Creation Model Approach to the Origin of Man

Enjoy

Sunday Quote: Ravi Zacharias on Jesus

"The character of Jesus has not only been the highest pattern of virtue, but the strongest incentive in its practice, and has exerted so deep an influence, that it may be truly said that the simple record of three years of active life has done more to regenerate and to soften mankind than all the disquisitions of philosophers and all the exhortations of moralists."

- Ravi Zacharias, Jesus Among Other Gods, p. 4

Online Apologetics Conference 2011

Make plans now to attend the 2011 Online Apologetics Conference: April 7th, 8th and 9th. This conference takes place completely online. This year's theme is Defending Christianity and God’s Plan for Marriage, Family, and Life through Creative Arts such as Film and Literature. Keynote speaker: Dr. Gene Edward Veith Jr. Other speakers include Dr. Angus Menuge, Dr. Ryan MacPherson, Mikel Del Rosario, Holly Ordway, and more.

Check out the main conference page here.
Also see the list of presenters and topics and the event schedule.
There will also be a short film contest with awards and prizes.

So head over and register today.

Weekly Apologetics Bonus Links (02/04 - 02/11)

Here are this week's recommended apologetics links. Enjoy.
• Fallacy Friday: The Genetic Fallacy
• How to Critique a Doctrine
• Hope’s Reason: Volume One
• Dallas Willard on Science
• Doherty's Mythical Titanic

• Extra-Canonical Sources 

• The mysterious mind
• Meet the Skeptic
• Bridgeway Apologetics Conference
• Word of the week - Syllogism
• Case for Christianity Event: March 12, 2011
• Online Apologetics Conference: Get registered early
• Book giveaway: Did the Resurrection Happen...Really?
• Fallacy Friday: The Ubiquitous Ad Hominem
• Pentecostal Contributions to Christian Philosophy: Interview with James K. Smith

Get these sorts of links and more by following on Twitter.
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Dangers of the Lazy Apologist: MP3 by John Lennox

This is an audio interview from the Christian Persuaders podcast (featured here). John Lennox talks about the Dangers of the Lazy Apologist - common shortcuts that some take and pitfalls many fall into. Listen to become a better communicator. Subscribe to podcast here.

Full MP3 Audio here. (24 min)

Enjoy.

Worldview 101: Worldview Training Camp for Teens

Worldview 101 is a Christian worldview training camp for teens, equipping them in the areas of Christian doctrine, ethics, and apologetics. Found online over at www.wv101.org, the organization's instructors include the likes of Paul Copan, Greg Ganssle, Chad Meister, James Spiegel, Douglas Blount and more.

Their blog is here. And be sure to check out the info on training camps.  Additional FAQ here.

Check it out.

William Lane Craig vs. George Williamson Debate Audio

William Lane Craig debates George Williamson on the topic: Does God Exist? at the University of Saskatchewan in 2011. Original Videos here. Also added to the WLC Audio Debate Feed. Their earlier 2008 debate can be found here.

Full MP3 Audio here.

Enjoy.

Pro-Life Interview: Scott Klusendorf

Today's interview is witth Scott Klusendorf, president of Life Training Institute. LTI is the first place to look for excellent resources to get better equipped to defend the pro-life position. Scott talks about defining abortion and its terms, the issue of the debate, the legal history of abortion, defending the pro-life view using science and philosophy, the four pillars of the pro-life argument, answering a litany of objections to the pro-life position, the right and wrong use of emotional appeals, taking on the right tone in the debate, how to get better equipped, and more.

Full Interview MP3 Audio here. (45 min)

Check out Scott's pro-life books:
• The Case for Life: Equipping Christians to Engage the Culture
• Pro-Life 101: A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Case Persuasively

More pro-life resources, media, and blog.

Enjoy.

Sunday Quote: Irenaeus on Error

“Error, indeed, is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest, being thus exposed, it should at once be detected.  But it is craftily decked out in attractive dress, as as, by its outward form, to appear to the inexperienced (ridiculous as the expression may seem) more true than the truth itself.”

- Church father Irenaeus (Against Heresies 1.2)

[HT: SB]

Featured Podcast: Christian Persuaders

Today's featured podcast is Christian Persuaders, brought to you by UCCF. Apologists are communicators, and learning from the experts as they offer their personal insights is invaluable. This podcast offers interviews with notable apologists and evangelists as they share their experience. Whether chatting with John Lennox about the dangers of the lazy apologist, or speaking with Michael Green about persuasive speaking in Cathedrals, or with Os Guinness about the demolition and construction of arguments -- this podcast offers some great insights.

Find it here: Christian Persuaders - RSS / iTunes / 1-click.
More about CP here.

Enjoy.

Weekly Apologetics Bonus Links (01/28 - 02/04)

Here are this week's recommended apologetics links. Enjoy.
• A comparison with meaning
• The Fifty Fruits of Pride
• Pro Life Tour: New Zealand
• Planned Parenthood - pure evil
• Free Audio Book: Adopted for Life
• How Did Jeffrey Dahmer Define Morality?
• Philosopher offers six signs of “scientism”
• Front-Loading and Theistic Evolution
• Revisiting the Corruption of the New Testament
• Historical Reliability of the Gospels #1
• Schedule of Speaking Events for James White in the UK
• The Journey: A Thinking Person’s Quest for Meaning – OS Guinness
• Book Review: Who Is Jesus...Really? by Josh McDowell and Dave Sterrett
• Book Review: Is There a God? by Richard Swinburne
• 2011 Christianity Today Book Awards - The Passionate Intellect is the Best of the Apologetics/Theology category

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History of the Crusades with Matt Philipps MP3

This audio comes from Todd Wilkin's Issues, Etc program. This is a five-part series going over the history of the crusades with Associate Professor of History Dr. Matt Phillips of Concordia University-Nebraska. This interview covers:

• Origins & The First Crusade
• The Second Crusade & Papal Politics
• The Third Crusade
• The Fourth Crusade & Pope Innocent III
• St. Louis & the 13th Century Crusades

All these audios are rolled into one file here:
• History of the Crusades MP3 (1 hour, 40 minutes)

You may also be interested in a three part series of interviews with Clay Jones on how Christians should think through the tough questions about the crusades.

Be sure to check out Issues, Etc, its podcast, and the on-demand archive for past shows.

Enjoy.