Sunday, June 30, 2013

Sunday Quote: Blaise Pascal on Holiness

"The serene beauty of a holy life is the most powerful influence in the world next to the power of God."

- Blaise Pascal

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Book Review: A Brief History of the Soul by Stewart Goetz & Charles Taliaferro

In A Brief History of the Soul Stewart Goetz and Charles Taliaferro provide a robust argument against the doctrine that humans are nothing more than atoms and molecules. The authors mine the Western philosophical tradition to sketch a sophisticated account of what it means to be an embodied, immaterial soul. This account is then tested against modern objections. The text is always interesting and enlightening; however, in many ways it is an extended version of the third chapter of Naturalism (Eerdmans: 2008) by the same authors, and should be read in conjunction with that book.

A Brief History of the Soul finds three main arguments for proposition that we have immaterial minds. First, Goetz and Taliaferro’s draw on an observation that was first made by Augustine. In every conscious moment I am aware of numerous, irreducibly different states of affairs. I can be simultaneously aware of the location of my body, the colors on a computer screen, a pain in my lower back, the smell of coffee, a sweet taste, beliefs about the nature of consciousness, a decision to type something about these beliefs, a desire to write something meaningful, frustration at my lack of progress and much else besides.

Friday, June 28, 2013

Weekly Apologetics Bonus Links (06/21 - 06/28)

Here are this week's recommended apologetics links. Enjoy.
• Shopping via Amazon? If you use this link, a bit of your purchase goes to fund Apologetics 315. Thanks for those of you using the link, as it helps Ap315.
Canada here. UK here.

• Would you like to help with interview transcriptionIf so, contact Ap315 here.

Get these sorts of links and more by following on Twitter.
For daily post links, please follow on Facebook.

Read Along: 12—Is Hell a Divine Torture Chamber?

Today we continue with Chapter Twelve in the Read Along with Apologetics 315 project. This is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book Is God Just a Human Invention? And Seventeen Other Questions Raised by the New Atheists by Sean McDowell and Jonathan Morrow. (Hear an interview about the book here.) Below you will find an audio intro for Chapter Twelve, a brief summary of the chapter, a PDF workbook with questions for the chapter, and some notable quotes. You're also encouraged to share your comments and feedback for each chapter in the comment section below. Feel free to interact!  Index page here.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

William Lane Craig Critiques "The Unbelievers"

On the Reasonable Faith Podcast, William Lane Craig critiques the recent movie The Unbelievers, a documentary film featuring Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss. In three parts, Craig gives an overview of the goal of the documentary, talks about attitudes towards science, and shows the many unscientific assertions within the movie. You can also read his article about the film here.

Part 1 MP3 | Part 2 MP3 | Part 3 MP3

Enjoy.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Daniel B. Wallace Interview Transcript

The following transcript is from an Apologetics 315 interview with Daniel B. Wallace. Original audio here. Transcript index here. If you enjoy transcripts, please consider supporting, which makes this possible.


BA: Hello. This is Brian Auten of Apologetics 315. Today, I’m speaking with Dr. Daniel B. Wallace, professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and an authority on Koine Greek grammar and New Testament textual criticism. He also influences students across the country through his textbook on intermediate Greek grammar, and it’s used in more than two-thirds of the nation’s schools that teach that subject. Dr. Wallace served as senior New Testament editor for the NET Bible and has founded The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts (CSNTM). The purpose of the CSNTM is to preserve the Greek text of the New Testament by taking digital photographs of all extant Greek New Testament manuscripts and that is found at CSNTM.org.

The purpose of our interview today is to find out more about Dr. Wallace’s work, his debates with Bart Ehrman, the reliability of the New Testament, and his advice for Christian defenders. Thanks so much for joining me today, Dr. Wallace.

DW: Thank you. I’m glad to be on the show, Brian.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Terminology Tuesday: Aseity

Aseity: The divine property of being completely independent of everything distinct from God himself. Everything other than God depends on God, but God depends on nothing besides himself.1

1. Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki & Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), p. 13.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Biologist Interview: Jonathan McLatchie

Today's interview is with apologist and biologist Jonathan McLatchie (twitter here). He talks about his background and influences, why he believes God exists and Christianity is true. Then the interview continues as an "intelligent design 101" discussion: what is intelligent design, main reasons to infer intelligent causation, the explanatory filter for design, the Darwinian view, reasons for controversy, responding to challenges to ID theory, design detection in biological systems, varying views of origins, "god of the gaps" objections, how to falsify intelligent design, ID's predictions, suggestions for those studying ID, lessons in apologetics, and more. Interview by Carson Weitnauer. Resources: Evolution News | Uncommon Descent.

Full Interview MP3 Audio here (37 min)

Enjoy.
Subscribe to the Apologetics 315 Interviews podcast here or in iTunes.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

C.S. Lewis on Christianity

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."

- C.S. Lewis

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Book Review: Truth Matters by Tom Gender

Tom Gender and his book Truth Matters was brought to this reviewer's attention just a few months ago. The opportunity came to receive a copy and review the book, which was gladly accepted. Excitement built after just reading the introduction and the preface. This review is designed to be a chapter-by-chapter summary to give the reader a mere taste of the content of each chapter. The reviewer's thoughts will be offered at the end of the summary. The book is 307 pages, divided into five sections. It has one appendix and an index of terms.

Preface
Before diving into the main reason for writing this book, Tom Gender provides a good worldview and logic primer for the reader to assist in properly evaluating his evidence and arguments. He begins with a quick overview of worldviews and their relationship to truth. He goes over the different general worldviews, the importance of testing each one for truth, and four different tests for truth. In the worldviews, he covers everything from atheism to panentheism. In the section on logic, he looks at three different ways to reason, then he finally proposes four different tests for discovering truth. He explains each of their strengths and weaknesses, emphasizing that all the tests must be used in tandem to keep the weaknesses in check.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Weekly Apologetics Bonus Links (06/14 - 06/21)

Here are this week's recommended apologetics links. Enjoy.
• Shopping via Amazon? If you use this link, a bit of your purchase goes to fund Apologetics 315. Thanks for those of you using the link, as it helps Ap315.
Canada here. UK here.

• Would you like to help with interview transcriptionIf so, contact Ap315 here.

Get these sorts of links and more by following on Twitter.
For daily post links, please follow on Facebook.

Read Along: 11—Does God Intend for Us to Keep Slaves?

Today we continue with Chapter Eleven in the Read Along with Apologetics 315 project. This is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book Is God Just a Human Invention? And Seventeen Other Questions Raised by the New Atheists by Sean McDowell and Jonathan Morrow. (Hear an interview about the book here.) Below you will find an audio intro for Chapter Eleven, a brief summary of the chapter, a PDF workbook with questions for the chapter, and some notable quotes. You're also encouraged to share your comments and feedback for each chapter in the comment section below. Feel free to interact!  Index page here.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Free: Essential Apologetics PowerPoint Series

In partnership with The PowerPoint Apologist, Apologetics 315 is offering a series of 12 Free PowerPoint presentations, released monthly. These cover 12 essential topics in apologetics. These are free to download, modify, and use for your own apologetics presentations. (However, please retain the final two slides featuring the PowerPoint Apologist and Apologetics 315 resources.)

The fifth in the series is
"Why God?—part 3: A Moral Cause"
Download it here. Slideshare here.
Enjoy.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Norman Geisler vs. Paul Kurtz Debate MP3 Audio

Norman Geisler and Paul Kurtz debate: Christianity vs. Secular Humanism on the John Ankerberg show. This is an older debate, but a classic. An intense debate between Dr. Geisler and Humanist Paul Kurtz (co-author of Humanism Manifesto II). Includes debate on: What is the origin of the Universe? How did life begin on earth? Is Humanism a threat to academic freedom? Is Jesus Christ God? And, Is there a basis for morality?
Full MP3 Audio here.
Be sure to subscribe to the John Ankerberg podcast via iTunes also.
Enjoy.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Terminology Tuesday: Aesthetics

Aesthetics: The area of philosophy formally concerned with defining the nature of beauty and discovering criteria or standards by which something can be evaluated as beautiful. In Christian theology beauty is usually defined as what reflects in some way God's own character and nature.1

1. Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki & Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), p. 8.

Last year's post: John Lennox on "God of the Gaps"

Monday, June 17, 2013

Apologist Interview: Richard Howe

Today's interview is with Dr. Richard Howe, Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics and the Director of the Ph.D. Program at Southern Evangelical Seminary. He talks about his background and work, the apologetics program at SES, how theology needs philosophy, integrating apologetics practically, do's and don'ts for apologists, spiritual advice, upcoming conferences, including tomorrow's Tactical Faith hangout, and much more.

Full Interview MP3 Audio here (56 min)

Enjoy.
Subscribe to the Apologetics 315 Interviews podcast here or in iTunes.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

James A. Herrick on Science and Spirituality

"Though science may point to God, we cannot experiment our way to God. Knowledge of the divine and of salvation must be revealed to us by God himself, who ever remains in ultimate control of knowledge as well as of power. No scientific discovery will lead us from the lab to the heavens, though it may take us to space. Nature must be explored as a gift that points us to the Giver, not as an Aladdin's lamp yielding up to the diligent inquirer unlimited powers both physical and spiritual. The biblical message is that transforming grace rather than an evolving human race is the means of discovering our spiritual destiny."

—James A. Herrick

Scientific Mythologies: How Science and Science Fiction Forge New Religious Beliefs (Kindle Locations 3320-3323).

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Book Review: Why It Doesn't Matter What YOU Believe If It’s Not True by Stephen McAndrew

This reviewer is always on the look out for books that take different apologetic issues and puts them into bite-sized chunks that a complete beginner can understand and begin interacting with. That task is quite difficult because many authors take concepts and mutilate them in such a way that the beginner would actually be more confused than when they began.

The opportunity was given a while back to review a copy of Stephen McAndrew's new book Why It Doesn't Matter What YOU Believe If It’s Not True. The book is a short read of only 86 pages. The eleven chapters break up the short book into sections that are extremely manageable for those with only spurts of time to read or need time to digest. This format holds much promise to being a great introductory book. But does it come through?

Friday, June 14, 2013

Weekly Apologetics Bonus Links (06/07 - 06/14)

Here are this week's recommended apologetics links. Enjoy.
• Shopping via Amazon? If you use this link, a bit of your purchase goes to fund Apologetics 315. Thanks for those of you using the link, as it helps Ap315.
Canada here. UK here.

• Would you like to help with interview transcriptionIf so, contact Ap315 here.

Get these sorts of links and more by following on Twitter.
For daily post links, please follow on Facebook.

Read Along: Chapter 10—Is Religion Dangerous?

Today we continue with Chapter Ten in the Read Along with Apologetics 315 project. This is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book Is God Just a Human Invention? And Seventeen Other Questions Raised by the New Atheists by Sean McDowell and Jonathan Morrow. (Hear an interview about the book here.) Below you will find an audio intro for Chapter Ten, a brief summary of the chapter, a PDF workbook with questions for the chapter, and some notable quotes. You're also encouraged to share your comments and feedback for each chapter in the comment section below. Feel free to interact!  Index page here.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

The Problem of Evil Explained in Three Videos


In this set of three videos, Christian philosopher Greg Ganssle explains the classic argument that God does not exist, called ‘The Problem of Evil’. He distinguishes two versions of that argument. He gives a response to the deductive version of the Problem of Evil on behalf of someone who believes that God exists. Then Greg considers the evidential version of the Problem of Evil, and gives a theistic response. More resources by Greg Ganssle here. More videos like these here. [HT: Doug Geivett]

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Apologetics Group Directory

Are you looking to find a group of like-minded individuals with a passion for defending the faith? Do you run an apologetics study group in your church, campus, or community? The Apologetics Group Directory is a central directory for finding apologetics study groups in your area.

To request that your group be added, email Apologetics315 with your contact information, description of your group, and your location.

This listing is first by U.S. state, then by country.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Terminology Tuesday: Platonism

Platonism: The philosophical system of the Greek philosopher Plato, which has immeasurably influenced Western thought. Plato's philosophy rests primarily on his concept of forms, cosmology and immortality. According to Plato, actual created things are imperfect copies of transcendent, objective and eternal "forms," the highest of which is the form of the Good. Human knowledge is innate and can be apprehended by rational reflections and Socratic "extraction." At death the body releases the imprisoned soul, which is then able to contemplate truth in its pure form.1

1. Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki & Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), p. 91.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Alister McGrath Interview Transcript

The following transcript is from an Apologetics 315 interview with Alister McGrath. Original audio here. Transcript index here. If you enjoy transcripts, please consider supporting, which makes this possible.


BA: Hello this is Brian Auten of Apologetics 315.
Today's interview is with professor Alister McGrath, professor of theology, ministry, and education and head of the Centre of Theology, Religion & Culture at King's College, London. His studies range from a DPhil in molecular biophysics to a Doctor of Divinity at Oxford. He is noted for his work in historical, systematic and scientific theology. He is also author of a number of theology textbooks, scholarly articles, academic textbooks, as well as popular works. His works range from books in systematic theology and scientific theology to works dealing with the new atheism, apologetics and the Christian intellect.

Thank you so much for joining me today for this interview, Professor McGrath.

AM: Well it's a great pleasure. I look forward to our discussion.

BA: Now as you know, many people have heard of an atheist professor from Oxford, who was raised in a Christian home but who became an ardent voice for atheism. But others might want to hear about this Oxford atheist who became a Christian. Obviously, I'm talking about you, but would you mind telling me a bit more about your background and that journey?

Sunday, June 09, 2013

Brendan Sweetman on the Faith of Secularism

"For the secularist, the belief that everything that exists is physical is based on faith in part; it cannot be fully proven by rational argument or by appeal to the evidence. In particular, the secularist has not proved that the human mind (consciousness, thoughts, ideas, etc.) is physical. Of course, he might believe that it is physical or hope to prove it one day (a misguided hope, I hold), but right now he believes this on faith. He might claim that it is a rational faith; whatever about this point, it is still a belief based partly on faith."

—Brendan Sweetman
Why Politics Needs Religion: The Place of Religious Arguments in the Public Square (pp. 119-120). Kindle Edition.

Saturday, June 08, 2013

Book Review: Molinism: The Contemporary Debate

First developed by the sixteenth-century Spanish Jesuit Luis de Molina, Molinism was accidentally reinvented by Alvin Plantinga in the 1970s, when he unwittingly presupposed it in his Free Will Defense against the logical version of the problem of evil. Molinism is a proposed solution to the age-old problem of reconciling human freedom and divine sovereignty. Its distinguishing claim is that, logically prior to deciding which world to actualize, God knows what any possible person would freely choose in any possible (appropriately specified) situation in which He might place them. Dressed up in more distinctly Molinist terminology, the claim is that God has so-called “middle knowledge,” by which he knows the truth-values of counterfactuals of creaturely freedom (hereafter ccfs), which take the form “If person P were in circumstances C, P would freely do X.” By means of this special sort of knowledge, God providentially plans out all the events of history in detail, without any abridgement of human freedom.

Since its reintroduction into contemporary philosophical theology, Molinism has been enthusiastically applied to a wide range of theological problems. In addition to issues of divine sovereignty, predestination, and foreknowledge, as well as Plantinga’s application of the concept to the problem of evil, Molinism has been applied to issues of prayer, prophecy, the incarnation, papal infallibility, the inspiration of Scripture, Christian exclusivism, the perseverance of the saints, evolution, original sin, the demographics of theistic belief, divine hiddenness, sinlessness in heaven, and more. But despite the apparent fruitfulness of the idea, Molinism has formidable critics as well. Ken Perszyk’s volume Molinism: The Contemporary Debate provides a snapshot of the current state of what Perszyk calls “the Molinism Wars.”1

Friday, June 07, 2013

Weekly Apologetics Bonus Links (05/31 - 06/07)

Here are this week's recommended apologetics links. Enjoy.
• Shopping via Amazon? If you use this link, a bit of your purchase goes to fund Apologetics 315. Thanks for those of you using the link, as it helps Ap315.
Canada here. UK here.

• Would you like to help with interview transcriptionIf so, contact Ap315 here.

Get these sorts of links and more by following on Twitter.
For daily post links, please follow on Facebook.

Read Along: Chapter 9—Is God Just a Human Invention?

Today we continue with Chapter Nine in the Read Along with Apologetics 315 project. This is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book Is God Just a Human Invention? And Seventeen Other Questions Raised by the New Atheists by Sean McDowell and Jonathan Morrow. (Hear an interview about the book here.) Below you will find an audio intro for Chapter Nine, a brief summary of the chapter, a PDF workbook with questions for the chapter, and some notable quotes. You're also encouraged to share your comments and feedback for each chapter in the comment section below. Feel free to interact!  Index page here.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Agnosticism vs Christianity:
William Lane Craig Debates R.I.G. Hughes


In this video, Dr. William Lane Craig debates R.I.G. Hughes on the subject: Agnosticism vs Christianity. This took place at University of South Carolina, sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ. From YouTube: "Hughes argues for the agnostics' position by explaining that neither logic nor science has anything to say about the existence of God. Any arguments for God come from an extra-logical premise. Craig reveals, however, that the claim "we cannot know that God exists" is a huge claim that needs to bear the burden of proof. He goes on to show that there are different forms of agnosticism and that rational agnosticism is compatible with Christian faith. Dr. Craig defends theism while presenting a multi-faceted argument for the untenability of agnosticism." Video part 1 here; part 2 here. Enjoy this old one.

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Kenneth Samples Interview Transcript

The following transcript is from an Apologetics 315 interview with Ken Samples. Original audio here. Transcript index here. If you enjoy transcripts, please consider supporting, which makes this possible.


BA: Hello, this is Brian Auten of Apologetics 315. Today I’m speaking with philosopher and theologian, Ken Samples. He is senior research scholar at Reasons to Believe, and he is the author of Without a Doubt and A World of Difference. He’s contributed to numerous other books as well. He’s written articles for Christianity Today and Christian Research Journal, and he regularly participates in RTB’s podcasts, including Straight Thinking, a podcast dedicated to encouraging Christians to utilize sound reasoning in their apologetics. So, thanks so much for speaking with me today, Ken.

KS: Hi, Brian. It’s a pleasure to be with you. I enjoy your site and enjoy an opportunity to interact with you.

BH: Well, for those who may not be familiar with you, could you tell us a little bit more about your background and how you came to be a philosopher and a theologian?

KS: Yeah. Brian, I grew up in a kind of a nominal Catholic family, and by the time I kind of hit my teens, I was really kind of looking for deeper answers in life. I just kind of felt like I needed a greater sense of purpose and significance and meaning, and I began kind of asking the big questions: How do I know that God exists? Where do I find meaning in my life?

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Terminology Tuesday: Deism

Deism: The belief that understands God as distant, in that God created the universe but then left it to run its course on its own, following certain "laws of nature" that God had built into the universe. An analogy often used to illustrate the deist view is that of an artisan who creates a mechanical clock, winds it up and then leaves the clock alone to "run out." Deism became popular in the early modern era and was prevalent among several of the founding fathers of the United States of America, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.1

1. Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki & Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), p. 36.

Monday, June 03, 2013

Free: Essential Apologetics PowerPoint Series

In partnership with The PowerPoint Apologist, Apologetics 315 is offering a series of 12 Free PowerPoint presentations, released monthly. These cover 12 essential topics in apologetics. These are free to download, modify, and use for your own apologetics presentations. (However, please retain the final two slides featuring the PowerPoint Apologist and Apologetics 315 resources.)

The fourth in the series is
"Why God?—part 2: An Intelligent Cause"
Download it here. Slideshare here.
Enjoy.

Sunday, June 02, 2013

H.G. Wells on the Historicity of Jesus

"I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history."

—H.G. Wells

Saturday, June 01, 2013

Book Review: Did Jesus Really Rise From the Dead? A Surgeon-Scientist Examines the Evidence

Imagine with me for a second if a respected scientist whose been widely published in scholarly journals, lectured at prestigious universities and served in a prestigious role for the National Institutes of Healthy for twenty-six years wrote a book on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thankfully we do not have to imagine this; we have such a book in Did Jesus Really Rise From The Dead A Surgeon-Scientist Examines the Evidence by Dr. Thomas A. Miller, MD.  In his book, Dr. Miller responds to the idea that many believe to be true that science is “all authorative”. This approach leaves many in and outside the science community doubting Jesus’s resurrection as a verifiable, historical event. Miller challenges the notion that modern medicine has disproved the possibility of the resurrection through a careful investigation of the evidence and evaluation of its reliability by demonstrating that science and religion are not incompatible. His approach is a compelling one that will help speak to people in the science community.

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